Colognes That Attract Mosquitoes: Cheap Scents, Big Bites

Mosquitoes are a nuisance, and it seems that cheap cologne could be making the problem worse. It's not just you; certain people are more prone to mosquito bites than others, and this could be due to their choice of fragrance. Mosquitoes are attracted to sweet and fruity smells, and carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which are emitted when we breathe and sweat. Perfumes, colognes, lotions, soaps, and shampoos can all attract mosquitoes, so it's best to avoid these products if you want to keep the insects at bay. However, other scents, such as peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, and garlic, are known to repel mosquitoes. So, if you're looking to avoid mosquito bites, you might want to opt for these more pungent fragrances instead.

Floral and fruity fragrances attract mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are attracted to sweet and fruity scents. They have highly developed antennae with receptors that can detect odours from a distance, allowing them to locate potential hosts for feeding. While mosquitoes are primarily drawn to human body odours, floral and fruity fragrances, found in many perfumes, lotions, deodorants, and shampoos, may inadvertently attract mosquitoes due to their resemblance to human scent.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to the scent of ripe fruits, such as citrus, mangoes, and bananas. Therefore, if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, it is advisable to use subtly scented or unscented products on your skin and hair. Similarly, when packing a picnic, keep your basket or cooler sealed before and after the meal to avoid attracting mosquitoes.

In addition to perfumes and personal care products, other sources of floral and fruity fragrances can also attract mosquitoes. For example, be mindful of the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

It is worth noting that while floral and fruity fragrances may attract mosquitoes, other factors also influence their behaviour. These include carbon dioxide, body heat, lactic acid, and individual body chemistry.

To reduce the attraction of mosquitoes, consider opting for perfumes or fragrances that contain ingredients known to repel mosquitoes, such as citronella, lavender, or eucalyptus. Additionally, focus on applying perfume to pulse points rather than spraying it all over your body to minimise the amount of scent emitted.

Alcohol consumption increases your chances of mosquito bites

It's true! Drinking alcohol does increase your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes. This is due to a number of factors, including the ethanol in your sweat, your body temperature, and the carbon dioxide you exhale.

The Science Behind the Bite

A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that the likelihood of being bitten by a mosquito is significantly increased by consuming alcohol. The study involved 13 participants who ingested 350ml of beer, and it was observed that mosquitoes landed on them more frequently than on a sober control subject. The ethanol content in sweat, sweat production, and skin temperature were measured before and after alcohol ingestion, and while there was no clear correlation between ethanol content or skin temperature and mosquito landings, the number of mosquito landings did increase after beer consumption.

Why Alcohol Makes You More Attractive to Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are attracted to certain chemicals and scents, and alcohol consumption can affect these. Firstly, alcohol increases the levels of ethanol in your sweat, which can act as a chemical signal to mosquitoes that there is a potential blood meal nearby. Additionally, alcohol can slightly raise your body temperature, making you more noticeable to mosquitoes as they are drawn to warmth. Finally, when you drink alcohol, you exhale more carbon dioxide, and mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide as it indicates the presence of a human or animal host.

Other Factors That Make You Attractive to Mosquitoes

Apart from alcohol consumption, there are several other factors that can make you more attractive to mosquitoes. These include:

• Body odor: The combination of sweat and bacteria on the skin creates an irresistible scent for mosquitoes.
• Lactic acid: Produced through physical activity and emitted through sweat, lactic acid is another scent that attracts mosquitoes.
• Blood type: People with blood type O may be more attractive to mosquitoes and should take extra precautions.
• Carbon dioxide: Larger individuals and pregnant women emit more carbon dioxide, making them more attractive to mosquitoes.
• Body heat: Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat, so if you're exercising or running a fever, you may be more likely to get bitten.
• Dark clothing: Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors as they help retain body heat and promote sweating, which increases lactic acid and carbon dioxide levels.

Ways to Protect Yourself

To reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes, especially if you're consuming alcohol, consider the following:

• Use mosquito repellent: Apply an effective store-bought repellent containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin to exposed skin areas.
• Wear clean, light-colored clothing: Mosquitoes are attracted to body odor and dark colors, so opt for loose, light-colored, and fragrance-free clothing.
• Shower regularly: Shower after physical activity to wash away sweat and reduce body odor and lactic acid levels on the skin.
• Avoid scented products: Avoid using perfumes, colognes, lotions, soaps, or shampoos with strong fragrances as these can attract mosquitoes.
• Utilize mosquito-repelling fragrances: Some scents, like citronella, lavender oil, and lemon eucalyptus oil, have been found to repel mosquitoes.

Dark clothing makes you more susceptible to bites

It's not just cheap cologne that can attract mosquitoes – these insects are attracted to a variety of factors, including the colour of your clothing.

Mosquitoes are a nuisance, and if you want to avoid their bites, it's best to avoid dark clothing. This is because mosquitoes are attracted to black, dark, and bright colours. They can spot these colours more easily than lighter shades, and darker hues also trap heat, making you a more appealing target.

Mosquitoes use their IR21a receptor, or heat-sensing antenna, to locate their next meal. They are drawn to body heat and sweat, and darker colours make people sweat more, especially when combined with exercise. The more you perspire, the more carbon dioxide you release, and mosquitoes love excess CO2.

Dark clothing also absorbs the sun's heat, which can make you sweat more. This is why it's recommended to wear light-coloured clothing in hot weather. Lighter colours are more difficult for mosquitoes to detect, and they also keep you cooler, reducing sweat and carbon dioxide emissions.

So, if you want to avoid mosquito bites, it's best to leave the dark clothing in your wardrobe and opt for lighter, more subdued hues such as white, beige, khaki, pastel yellow, or soft grey. These colours will not only help you stay cooler, but they'll also make it harder for mosquitoes to find you.

Of course, wearing light colours isn't the only way to avoid mosquito bites. You can also try using mosquito repellent, keeping a fan going, or burning a citronella candle when spending time outdoors.

Carbon dioxide and lactic acid attract mosquitoes

While it is unclear whether a cheap cologne can attract mosquitoes, there are certain factors that make people more prone to mosquito bites. One of the main factors is the carbon dioxide we exhale. Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide from more than 30 feet away, and they use it to locate potential targets. The amount of carbon dioxide we exhale varies from person to person and is influenced by factors such as physical activity, body weight, and pregnancy. Larger individuals and pregnant women emit more carbon dioxide, making them more attractive to mosquitoes.

In addition to carbon dioxide, mosquitoes are also attracted to lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced by our bodies during physical activity and is emitted through the skin in our sweat. Mosquitoes can detect the presence of lactic acid, which is why they often target individuals who are exercising or sweating. The buildup of lactic acid on the skin can be reduced by showering with soap after working out and thoroughly drying off.

The combination of carbon dioxide and lactic acid creates a unique "cocktail" that mosquitoes use to identify human targets. The specific composition of this cocktail depends on various factors, including genetics and diet. While there is no way to completely mask our carbon dioxide output, maintaining good hygiene and reducing lactic acid buildup can help minimize the attraction of mosquitoes.

The attraction of mosquitoes to carbon dioxide and lactic acid is not just a matter of smell but also plays a crucial role in their feeding behaviour. Mosquitoes use these chemical cues to locate potential blood sources and navigate towards them. By following the scent of carbon dioxide and lactic acid, mosquitoes can identify humans and other mammals as potential hosts.

While carbon dioxide and lactic acid are key attractants, other factors also influence mosquito behaviour. Body heat, for example, helps mosquitoes determine where to bite. They use heat to quickly locate areas of the body where blood is closest to the surface, such as the forehead, wrists, elbows, and neck. Additionally, certain blood types, such as Type O, are more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

Body heat and body odour attract mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are attracted to human body odour and body heat. They use a combination of olfactory cues to find their source of protein, with the three most important ones being body heat, carbon dioxide, and skin odour.

Mosquitoes have supercharged receptors that can hone in on scents from more than 100 feet away. Female mosquitoes, in particular, are the ones that bite and use a special olfactory receptor to home in on our sweat. They follow the odour and use other sensory cues, such as heat and humidity, to guide their flight toward the source of the scent.

Mosquitoes are drawn to the unique combination of sweat and bacteria that emanates from our skin. When sweat dries and settles on the skin, it combines with bacteria to create an irresistible scent for mosquitoes. Unwashed clothes, socks, and shoes can also be a culprit, so maintaining good hygiene is essential to keeping mosquitoes at bay.

Additionally, larger individuals and pregnant women emit more carbon dioxide, making them more attractive to mosquitoes. Other factors that may increase your attractiveness to mosquitoes include your sweat composition, diet, and alcohol consumption.

Frequently asked questions