Fragrance: Mosquito Magnet Or Repellent?

Mosquitoes are a nuisance, and understanding what attracts them is key to preventing bites. They are drawn to certain scents, and fragrances play a significant role in making you a target. So, does fragrance attract mosquitoes? The short answer is yes, and here's why.

Floral and fruity fragrances

Mosquitoes are attracted to sweet and fruity smells, and floral or fruity fragrances in perfumes, lotions, deodorants, shampoos, hair products, and scented sunscreens can make you more enticing to mosquitoes. They are also attracted to the subtle floral fragrances from fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Similarly, mosquitoes enjoy the aromas of ripe fruits, such as citrus, mangoes, and bananas.

If you're going to be outside a lot, try using only subtly scented or unscented products on your skin and hair. If you pack a picnic, keep your basket or cooler sealed before and after the meal.

It's not just fragrances that attract mosquitoes. They are attracted to carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which is why they may target those who are actively exercising or sweating more. They can also sense body heat, so they are drawn to warmer individuals and pregnant women.

Human or animal sweat

Mosquitoes use a variety of clues to locate their hosts, including body heat and carbon dioxide in our breath. They have highly sensitive sensors that can detect these cues from a distance, helping them target warm-blooded animals. When we engage in physical activity, our bodies produce more sweat, which contains lactic acid, making us more attractive to mosquitoes.

The role of sweat in mosquito attraction was further confirmed by a study that genetically altered mosquitoes to block the activity of a specific olfactory receptor called Ir8a. These modified mosquitoes were no longer attracted to lactic acid and showed reduced interest in human skin and sweat-soaked nylon sleeves.

In addition to lactic acid, mosquitoes are also attracted to certain chemicals in our sweat, such as sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin and hair follicles. Sebum mixes with sweat and evaporates into the air, altering our body odour in a way that becomes appealing to mosquitoes.

To avoid attracting mosquitoes, it is recommended to maintain good hygiene, such as showering after physical activity and wearing clean clothes. Avoiding scented products like perfumes, colognes, and lotions can also help, as mosquitoes are drawn to these fragrances.

Carbon dioxide

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, which humans emit with every breath. Female mosquitoes, the ones that bite, have nerve cells called cpA neurons that have a receptor to detect carbon dioxide. This enables them to sense the plumes of air we exhale from over 30 feet away. After detecting carbon dioxide, mosquitoes follow the trail of the odour and begin to sense body heat from the host.

Larger individuals and pregnant women emit more carbon dioxide, which can attract mosquitoes even when other people are around. Exercise also increases the amount of carbon dioxide we release, which is why mosquitoes seem to swarm when we are huffing and puffing after physical activity.

The combination of carbon dioxide and body heat is a surefire way to attract mosquitoes. However, mosquitoes are still attracted to human skin even in the absence of carbon dioxide. Researchers found that briefly exposing mosquitoes to a chemical that shut down their carbon dioxide receptors rendered them unable to react to carbon dioxide from exhaled breath. However, they were still attracted to human skin odour.

To avoid attracting mosquitoes, it is best to avoid fragrances and scented products, as well as exercise and alcohol consumption, which increase carbon dioxide production and body heat.

Lactic acid

Mosquitoes are attracted to the lactic acid we emit through our skin in sweat when we exercise. The more we sweat, the more attractive we are to mosquitoes. Eccrine sweat, which is associated with increased body temperature and exercise, is odourless to humans but not to mosquitoes, who can smell the lactic acid and ammonia it contains.

Washing with soap after exercising and thoroughly drying can help reduce lactic acid on the skin, making it harder for mosquitoes to detect you.

In addition to lactic acid, mosquitoes are attracted to other scents such as carbon dioxide, body odour, and certain blood types. They are also drawn to dark colours, so wearing lighter colours can help reduce your attractiveness to mosquitoes.

Alcohol

It is widely believed that consuming alcohol increases your attractiveness to mosquitoes. A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that the likelihood of being bitten by a mosquito is higher if you've been drinking alcohol. The study, which involved 13 participants, showed that mosquitoes landed on participants to feed more often after they had consumed a bottle of beer.

It is unclear why mosquitoes are more attracted to people who have been drinking alcohol. One theory is that alcohol increases the levels of ethanol in your sweat, acting as a chemical signal to mosquitoes that a potential meal is nearby. Additionally, alcohol can increase your body temperature, and mosquitoes are known to home in on humans with higher body temperatures.

Reducing Mosquito Bites

If you want to reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes, it is recommended to take some precautions, especially if you plan on consuming alcohol. Here are some tips:

• Use mosquito repellent: Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin areas, especially if you plan on drinking or exercising, as these activities can make you more attractive to mosquitoes.
• Wear light-colored, loose clothing: Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and can bite through tight-fitting fabrics.
• Avoid scented products: Mosquitoes are attracted to certain fragrances in perfumes, colognes, lotions, soaps, and shampoos. Opt for unscented or lightly scented products.
• Stay indoors during peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so plan your outdoor activities accordingly.
• Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so remove any sources of standing water around your home, such as containers, buckets, or puddles.

Frequently asked questions