10 Aromas That Fight Off Mosquitoes
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Mosquitoes are hard to deal with and the aftermath of a mosquito bite is even harder to tackle. Now that the summer season has begun spreading heatwaves all around, most of us feel like going into hibernation. Interestingly, the mosquitoes around us are having a ball and they flourish more with the rise in mercury levels. Before we fall prey to the perils of mosquito bites, however, we must take quick actions to ward them off. Do you want simple ways to keep them at bay? Read on.
1. Vanilla
The fragrance of vanilla is so enticing, especially when you bake. But did you know that the same aroma can act as a mosquito repellent? Mix vanilla essence with baby cream in a 1:10 ratio. Apply this mixture all over your body to keep the mosquitoes away. Alternatively, you could mix the vanilla essence with water and use it to spray all over your body. While you enjoy the divine fragrance, mosquitoes will be having a hard time!
2. Anise, Clove, And Basil Essential Oils
A mix of anise, clove, and basil essential oils work great to shoo those mosquitoes away. They can be mixed with water in a 5:10 ratio and this can be sprayed all over one’s body. This mix can also be kept near the campfire, barbecue place or grill to keep the mosquitoes away. One could even dip a cloth in this essential oil solution and keep it on the window, which will make sure that mosquitoes do not enter your home at all.
3. Elderberry Branches
Elderberry branch has a strong smell that can be difficult for humans too. It is best kept on the window sill of your bedroom and your child’s bedroom to keep those mosquitoes out of the window!
4. Clove
Clove is a well-known, ubiquitous spice in the Indian household. Apart from being known to add spice and aroma to food, it is also known to keep cavities at bay. But besides this, it also plays the role of a mosquito repellent. To use it to ward off the mosquitoes, you must first boil 2-3 cloves with water for about 15 minutes. Once this cools down, use it as a spray on the areas of your body that are exposed.
5. Juniper Branches
While on a camping trip, make sure you throw some juniper branches into your campfire. This will ensure that you carry only beautiful memories from the scenic trek and not mosquito bites!
6. Cedar Oil
Cedar oil works like magic on not just those silly mosquitoes, but also on those irritating flies that keep hovering around as well as those nasty cockroaches that are capable of scaring us to near death!
7. Chamomile
We all have heard about the health benefits of drinking chamomile tea, haven’t we? But we perhaps missed out on the fact that chamomile has been used to fight mosquitoes and this has been a centuries-old practice! How does chamomile keep the mosquitoes out? Well, chamomile fragrance is so strong that it can affect the nerve cells of the mosquitoes by casting a numbing effect. Thus, causing them to steer clear of your home!
8. Basil Leaves
Basil leaves hold an important place in the Indian household, be it in the kitchen or in the prayer room, they are a must. Basil leaves can also work wonders in scaring mosquitoes away. All one needs to do is to rub them on the exposed areas of the body. Alternatively, a few twigs of basil can be hung on the bedroom window to avoid letting any tiny, uninvited creatures in to ruin your sleep.
9. Oil, Shampoo, And Vinegar
I am sure most of us aren’t aware that the combination of oil, shampoo, and vinegar, but it’s a great mosquito repellent! Well, all one needs to do is to mix these 3 magic ingredients to form a white foamy mix. Apply this to the exposed areas of your body or even keep this mix in a container and keep it in your home. By taking these measures you will surely manage the menace called mosquitoes.
I am sure by now you know of simple yet highly effective ways to fight the army of mosquitoes flying around you. Most of these remedies are natural and have minimum (or even zero) side effects plus a lot of advantages. Imagine yourself smelling the divine aroma of vanilla or a mix of exotic herbs that make you feel great and work as insect repellents. This works as good as having the cake and eating it too!
So, throw caution to the wind, make outdoor plans, wear those strappy dresses and keep the windows open to let the warm, summer breeze in without worrying a bit about the mosquitoes invading your space. On this note, I wish you a summer full of tall glasses of iced coffee (Yeah, we need coffee or tea even if it is summer, don’t we?), a beach vacation, and memorable times at home!
