Natural Mosquito Repellents--Which ones work?

You've probably heard some of the recommendations: wipe yourself with a Bounce fabric softener sheet, cover yourself with Avon's Skin-So-Soft. But do they work? Or do they work for very long?

The list of home remedies and natural products keeps growing as people seek alternatives to chemical pesticides. Some people are convinced these home remedies work, but solid research is harder to find.

I have been testing natural products on my family and friends for at least 20 years. I have actively observed and questioned football fans at our neighborhood mosquito rich football stadium as they splash Listerine mouthwash and spray various obnoxious concoctions. I have traveled the world, every state in the US and every national park, looking for a cure. Here are some of the results of my findings.

Garlic: Eating garlic emits an odor that mosquitoes (not to mention humans) find offensive. But it's unclear how much garlic must be eaten to get the full effect. There has been at least one study on the use of garlic as a repellent, but the participants apparently didn't eat enough garlic to make a difference.

Catnip oil: It drives cats crazy, but does it do the same thing for mosquitoes? Researchers at Ohio State University found that catnip can repel mosquitoes 10 times more effectively than DEET. Other herbs in the mint family are believed to do a good job of repelling mosquitoes.

Vitamin B1: When taken three times a day, 25 milligrams to 50 milligrams of vitamin B1 is said to produce an odor that pregnant mosquitoes can't stand. It's odorless to humans, but it takes about two weeks to be effective. Not everyone is convinced that the vitamin is a major turnoff for mosquitoes. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found it had no effect. My own experience? While going attending university and maintaining a full time administrative position, I began adding Vitamin B Stress supplements to my daily routine 25 years ago, under advice of my doctor. Before I realized it, perhaps within a week, I noticed that mosquitos rejected me where ever I camped, hiked, or parked myself in nature. Looking into that, I found recommendations for B1 as a mosquito repellent in something like Sunset Magazine (about the only mag I read in those days). As things eased up, I decided to drop the Stress Vitamins but continue to supplement with B1. Guess what? The mosquitos still either refuse to land, or...if they occasionally land and bite, I never have an itch. My children have found the same result, but only when they take the vitamin.

Clove oil: Undiluted clove oil repels mosquitoes for up to two hours, honest! Test it first, though, as undiluted clove oil may cause a skin rash.

It also has an odor, but...your headache may go away.

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Spray: This tiny spray bottle packs a wallop—one pump of the formula, which is 40 percent lemon eucalyptus oil, will singe your nostril hairs and the strong scent means cuddling under the moonlight is out. But does it keep the bugs away? The folks at the CDC knew what they were talking about when they added this active ingredient to the list of effective repellents. Whether at a backyard cookout or down in the stagnant river bottoms, Repel lived up to its name, lasting all night long with just a single application.

Oh yeah, what about Bounce and Skin-So-Soft? Those results seem all over the charts. For the most part, the results last for only a few minutes. Most folks I have been around have had no results at all, including myself (when I have been off my vitamins for a few days). However, you may be one of the lucky ones, and it certainly can't hurt to try . . . except for the itch if it doesn't work.

Sources: National Institute of Health, Avoidmosquitobites.com, altmedicine.about.com, DrGreene.com.