Anisha Riggs
Many insects rely on their sense of smell as their primary way to find food, mates, and shelter. As a result, certain scents in perfumes can attract bugs. For example, bees and mosquitoes are drawn to floral and fruity scents, as well as the lactic acid in human perspiration. However, some fragrances may help to repel insects, such as perfumes with citrus notes or those containing botanicals like geranium, lemongrass, and sage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Insects attracted by perfume | Bees, mosquitoes, moths, wasps, butterflies, sandflies |
| Insect-attracting perfume ingredients | Sweet and floral scents, vanilla, fruity notes, synthetic sweet notes, lactic acid |
| Insect-repelling perfume ingredients | Geranium, lemongrass, sage, oregano, rosemary oils, citrus, lemon, lemon verbena, grapefruit |
| Other insect-attracting factors | Carbon dioxide, sugary drinks and treats, sweat, body odour, clothing colour, fertiliser |
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What You'll Learn
Sweet scents like vanilla, fruit, and florals attract insects
It is a known fact that certain scents can attract insects. While some may find this surprising, sweet and floral scents such as vanilla, fruit, and florals can often attract insects. This may be disappointing news for those who enjoy spritzing on tropical or floral perfumes, but it is important to be aware of this to avoid unwanted insect attention.
Floral perfumes, hair products, and lotions, for example, can be very appealing to insects. This is because the strong floral scent acts as a giant neon sign for certain pests, drawing them towards the source. The response is biological, as real flowers create their signature scents to attract insects for pollination. However, it is worth noting that not all insects are attracted to floral scents, as some bees may be able to differentiate between synthetic floral notes and natural floral scents.
Vanilla is another scent that can attract insects. While pure vanilla extract is thought to keep insects away, the addition of sugar can reverse this effect. The sugar content can leave a sticky residue that attracts a variety of insects. This is similar to the effect of sugary drinks, which can become even more appealing to insects if left exposed for long periods.
Fruity scents are also among the fragrances that can attract insects. While these perfumes may be appealing to humans, they can unfortunately also attract unwanted attention from pests. This is why it is recommended to use fragrances with notes that insects are not fond of, such as woody, citrus, or herby scents, which can help deter bugs while still providing a pleasant aroma.
Overall, while sweet scents like vanilla, fruit, and florals may attract insects, there are alternative fragrances available that can provide a better option for those wanting to enjoy the outdoors without the nuisance of bugs. These insect-repelling perfumes can be a great choice, offering a pleasant aroma while helping to keep pests at bay.
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Some perfumes may repel mosquitoes
While some perfumes can attract mosquitoes, others may repel them. People have reported that certain perfumes can help prevent mosquito bites. For example, Victoria's Secret Bombshell and Amber Romance have been known to keep mosquitoes at bay. However, it is unclear whether these perfumes contain ingredients that are known mosquito repellents or if the scent itself acts as a repellent.
TikTok users have also claimed that Victoria's Secret Bombshell can repel mosquitoes, and a clinical study may support this. Cosmetic chemist and FanLoveBeauty founder Ginger King notes that while the perfume may smell like vanilla and peony, it might not contain these ingredients. Dr. Shockley suggests that the volume of perfume used in the study could be the reason for its effectiveness, as it was well above the typical amount a person would use.
Natural repellents such as lemon eucalyptus oil are recommended by experts, but they emphasize the need for a high concentration to achieve desired results. Additionally, lavender oil derived directly from the plant can also be effective in deterring mosquitoes.
Some fragrances, like Akro Haze's green and herby scent with notes of mint, eucalyptus, and clary sage, can offer a pleasant aroma while potentially aiding in deterring bugs. Similarly, ESCAPE Noir de BUZZ is a unisex cologne and repellent that combines essential oils with organic, non-GMO sugarcane alcohol, resulting in a woody scent.
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Insects are attracted to chemicals in perfumes
Bees and mosquitoes are particularly drawn to heavily scented products like perfumes, soaps, shampoos, and lotions, especially those with floral or fruity notes. Some people have reported being chased by wasps when wearing certain perfumes, while others have noticed bees swarming around their perfume bottles. It is not just the sweet and floral scents that attract insects; spicy and dense fragrances can also be a problem.
To avoid attracting insects, it is recommended to opt for perfumes with green, herby scents containing notes of mint, eucalyptus, and clary sage, or perfumes with citrus notes of lemon, lemon verbena, and grapefruit. These scents are less appealing to insects and can help keep them at bay. Additionally, using botanicals such as geranium, lemongrass, sage, oregano, and rosemary oils can help repel insects.
It is worth noting that the attraction of insects to certain perfumes may vary depending on the region. A fragrance that is safe in one country might attract insects in another due to local fragrance trends and the types of insects prevalent in the area.
While it is challenging to completely avoid attracting any insects with perfume, understanding which scents they are drawn to can help reduce the chances of becoming a bug magnet.
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Insects are drawn to heavily scented soaps, shampoos, and lotions
Insects are attracted to certain scents and can be drawn to heavily scented soaps, shampoos, and lotions. Scent is one of the strongest tools insects use to locate food, mates, and shelter.
Bees and mosquitoes, in particular, are drawn to heavily scented products, as floral smells trigger their senses. Floral scents tend to attract mosquitoes because they use plant-emitted volatiles to find these types of plants to obtain sugars from the nectar. Linalool, a popular floral chemical found in over 200 different flowers and plants, is used in 60% to 80% of perfumed hygienic products.
Mosquitoes are also attracted to certain chemicals in soap. A study by Clément Vinauger, a PhD assistant professor at Virginia Tech, found that three out of four soaps tested increased mosquito attraction. These soaps had in common that they were rich in terpenes, a class of chemicals typically produced by plants and found in the scent of flowers and fruits.
However, it's important to note that the added fragrance from soaps and other products interacts with a person's unique odor profile, so different people will have different results even when using the same fragrances. For example, while floral scents generally attract mosquitoes, coconut-scented soaps are among the most effective at repelling them. Multiple publications have shown that coconut-derived chemicals tend to have a repellent effect on blood-feeding insects.
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Sweat and body odour attract mosquitoes
It is true that sweat and body odour can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are drawn to people who have higher levels of certain acids on their skin. The female Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for spreading diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, is attracted to carboxylic acid, which is produced when sebum is eaten by the millions of microorganisms on human skin. This can produce an odour that smells like cheese or smelly feet.
Mosquitoes use a variety of clues to track down humans, including body heat, carbon dioxide in our breath, moisture, and visual cues. They also have an olfactory receptor that serves as a detector of humans, responding to smelly chemicals in our sweat. This receptor, known as Ir8a, is found in the antennae of mosquitoes. Studies have shown that mosquitoes carrying a mutant version of Ir8a were not attracted to lactic acid and could not detect other acidic components of human odour.
Additionally, mosquitoes are incredibly sensitive to human odour, and perfume or cologne can’t always cover it up. However, certain perfumes with notes of geranium, lemongrass, sage, oregano, and rosemary oils tend to repel insects. On the other hand, sweet and floral scents such as vanilla, fruity, and floral notes can often attract insects.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, perfume can attract bugs. Insects are drawn to certain scents, such as sweet, floral, and fruity fragrances.
Bees, mosquitoes, moths, and butterflies are all attracted to various perfumes.
Yes, some fragrances can help keep bugs away. Insects are repelled by scents such as citronella, geranium, lemongrass, sage, oregano, rosemary, basil, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
