‘Tis the season. Malaria apparently sucks, and even itchy bites are a summer scourge. So, what actually keeps them away?
Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2, warmth and humidity. They also like: sweat, lactic acid, dark clothing, and fruity fragrances. In other words, your skin is going to draw them, even if you’re one of the lucky few whose chemistry, for whatever reason, they find less Bella-Swan-delicious. And for centuries, we’ve been trying to repel them – ideally, without harming children and other living things in the process. On a recent nature walk with a homeopath forager, I asked him what he recommended as an effective, natural repellent. “There is none,” he said glumly. “And I’ve been searching for 30 years.” Well, it’s not quite that grim: there are, of course, options, even if you’re as scrupulous as my guide. A few?