Hate the chemical scent of mosquito repellents? Some social media users have been turning to an unconventional yet sweet-smelling alternative to repel mosquitoes—vanilla extract.
Several TikTok users have highlighted the hack in videos, such as @brennadehaas, who shared a video of herself spraying vanilla extract on herself while standing outdoors.
A note across the video reads, "My absolute best hack for keeping mosquitoes away in the summer: vanilla extract." The clip has had 3.5 million views since it was posted on July 6.
"It's natural and doesn't contain any of the toxins that shelf bought bug spray does, so it's great to use on kids," the poster wrote in a caption shared with the video, adding, "And it smells so good."
Lauren Kissee (@laurenkissee) also praised the natural repellent in a video posted on June 29, saying, "I'm telling you, it is the best natural mosquito repellent."
"Pure vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla) works so well for my family as mosquito repellent!!!" she said in the post's caption.
In a video posted on July 8, grinning from ear to ear, user @coconuthead159 said that she sprayed vanilla extract on herself and "just watched a mosquito hover me and didn't land."
Does Vanilla Extract Work as a Mosquito Repellent?
As positive as the experiences mentioned above of using vanilla extract as a mosquito repellent may have been, how effective is it against those pesky insects?
Nicole Carpenter, a pest expert and the CEO of Black Pest Prevention, weighed in on the matter, starting with the fundamentals of what attracts mosquitoes to humans.
Carpenter told Newsweek that "it is worth understanding what attracts mosquitoes to humans, namely body heat and the carbon dioxide we exhale."
Some people are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than others, and "this is because some people emit specific odors that are particularly attractive to mosquitoes," she said.
Natural repellents, including vanilla extract, fall under a category of alternative remedies that people often turn to.
"These alternative repellents usually include natural extracts and oils that have a pungent odor and thus repel insects. Popular options include oils of lemon eucalyptus and citronella, but vanilla extract can also act as an alternative repellent," Carpenter said.
Despite their popularity, natural repellents like vanilla extract have limitations.
"In terms of efficacy, all-natural repellent methods are organic and safe for humans, which is what attracts many people to them," Carpenter said.
"However, they all have one major drawback—they are short-lived. The efficacy of such remedies is very limited and fades quickly. It is true that vanilla extract can provide some degree of repellency due to its ability to mask human odors that attract mosquitoes. However, this effect usually lasts only about 30 minutes and may not work for everyone," she said.
Scientific studies offer additional context to the discussion. Carpenter referenced research that provides some support for the use of vanilla extract.
"Without being unsubstantiated, if you look at actual studies on the subject, you will find only a few sources," she noted, referring to a February 2021 study published in The Scientific World Journal.
The study says: "Vanilla extract has been reported as significant insect repellent due to its distinct aroma and flavor. It works well in safeguarding homes and body skin against insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and gnats."
Carpenter explained that the study noted that "the presence of vanillin (phenolic aldehyde) in the extracts studied may have contributed to the observed repellent effect. However, a short-lived effect of this repellent was also observed.
The study recommends reapplication of the vanilla extract repellent every 30 minutes "or even more frequently when exposed to high temperatures, which may cause rapid evaporation, or in cases of dilution by water elements such as rain," she added.
For those considering trying out this viral trend, Carpenter warned: "My verdict is that you can try vanilla extract as a repellent, and it may give you a positive effect, but you should not expect a miracle from this remedy. Mosquitoes have evolved over time to sniff us out among other competing odors in the environment, so all-natural remedies are good, but only to a certain extent."
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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