Vanilla bean extract has a very powerful scent that may repel some insects.
Vanilla extract is a safer alternative to repelling insects than many of the DEET-laden chemical repellents available on the market. It purportedly works specifically on flying insects like mosquitoes, gnats and flies by overcoming their scent receptors that they would normally use to find their targets. Vanilla's effectiveness as a repellent is debatable, however, and has been refuted by health organizations. Does this Spark an idea?
Mechanisms
Many flying insects use the scent of carbon dioxide on human breath to help locate their target, according to WebMD. They are also attracted to the smell of lactic acid, which forms in your sweat. Vanilla oil extract may mask this scent and keep mosquitoes, gnats or black flies at bay. The strong vanilla scent could potentially be enough to confuse the bugs and make them unable to locate you. It may be less effective with non-flying insects or insects that do not use scent as their primary hunting mechanism.
Usage
Vanilla extract spray is used as a repellent in the same way as many DEET-based products. A spray made with a certain percentage of vanilla is applied to the skin, where it will purportedly protect the wearer. According to a study in the "Journal of Vector Ecology," vanilla was effective at repelling mosquitoes for up to eight hours only when added to other natural repellents like citronella or basil. Vanilla-enhanced bug spray is only reported to be effective when sprayed on a users arm and not in the surrounding area.
Controversies
There is discrepancy over whether vanilla oil extract actually works as an effective insect repellent. According to Health Canada, vanilla oil extract does not work as a repellent against mosquitoes. Even in the "Journal of Vector Ecology" study, vanilla was only effective if used in conjunction with a proven mosquito repellent and not on its own.
Other Natural Options
There are numerous other natural remedies for repelling insects. Citronella oil has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as an effective repellent against mosquitoes and various other flying insects. It can be applied directly to the skin or burned as a candle, which creates an odorous barrier. The University of Florida reported that 2 percent soybean oil extract is effective at keeping mosquitoes away for approximately 90 minutes and lemon eucalyptus oil was effective for two hours.
Tags: flying insects, against mosquitoes, Journal Vector, Journal Vector Ecology, mosquitoes gnats