Last year, there was a small West Nile Virus outbreak and quite a few people actually lost their lives from being bitten by infected mosquitoes. The mosquito repellent companies made a killing and I was one of those people that marched straight to the drugstore to stock up on some Off Mosquito Repellent. What I didn't realize was that there are tons of carcinogenic ingredients in mainstream repellents and not to mention, if you accidentally touch your mouth, your tongue may go numb if you still have Off on your fingers. At least, that's what happened to mine. However, there are natural alternatives that some people swear work just as well, if not better, than mainstream repellents. I haven't really tried anything other than burning a citronella candle when I'm outdoors and I certainly didn't find myself scratching those little raised bumps later. Natural Ways to Repel Mosquitoes: Insect Repellent Plants: plants such as crushed basil, lemon thyme and lemongrass have reportedly been successful in keeping those little buzzards away. Lemon balm also works and contains the natural repellents citronella, geraniol and geranial. Citronella Candles: These are odorless candles that you can burn in your home or outdoors. I've used these quite a few times outdoors and they seem to work well in keeping mosquitoes away. Wear Light or Neutral-colored and Loose Clothing: Mosquitoes tend to be attracted to bright colors just like bees and areas of the body that are moist, the skin is thin and blood vessels are close to the body. This is why most people find they've been bitten in areas such as the feet, ankles, ears, and wrists.
