We’ve all heard people say, “mosquitoes love me.” It turns out that there’s in fact truth to that. When you go to bed and wake up with 100 bites, and your boyfriend doesn’t have a single one, odds are it’s not just a case of bad or good luck. 1 in 10 people are said to be very attractive to mosquitoes. First off, mosquitoes love people with Type 0 blood and people who have a high concentration of cholesterol under their skin, and they love anyone that is particularly big or tall; this has to do with the amount of CO2 that is given off. Mosquitoes are also really great at sensing C02 so be careful if you’re working out because when you’re out of breath, the smell of C02 will likely attract the noxious bugs to you. They also love people wearing black clothes, and are attracted to anyone with sweet scents (think summer floral fragrances). The good news is that some of these factors are under your control. The bad news is that the uncontrollable factors like genetics account for 85% if you don’t take any action.
It’s the modern age however so we can arm ourselves to help fight mosquito season! We’ve all heard that the chemical DEET found in many bug sprays is bad, but most doctors are now saying it’s safe. If you’d like to be on the safe-not-sorry side however check out Burt’s Bees herbal insect repellent (on drugstore.com for $7.99). Not only is it all-natural, but the formula doesn’t smell bad like your typical spray so you’re likely to actually use it. Burt’s Bees blends rosemary, lemongrass, citronella oil, and other essential oils. It’s also lightweight, so if you spray this on top of sunscreen you won’t feel like a chemically, gross, sticky mess…
Another tip: Replace your candle (even if you’re indoors) with Hillhouse Naturals mosquito repellent candles. Just like Burt’s Bees, they use essential oils to repel bugs, so they’re safe, effective, and smell great. These are packaged in a reusable container. While these are heavy, the candles do come in a variety of shapes and sizes (including hanging ones). If you have any mosquito repelling tricks or favorite products, please share in the comments!
