Does Garlic repel mosquitoes

[Greenback]

Reading Doug’s reply to mosquito repellents got me thinking about what little I actually know about DEET.

Doug explained roughly how it works but what is it really?
Also,

Most importantly, there is no genuine evidence that DEET is toxic; what evidence exists is largely anecdotal or without adequate experimental control, and about the most one can say is that one should be cautious about applying large doses routinely, especially to very young children.

So is it toxic or not? “No evidence” but “be cautious” seems to suggest an unknown. Shouldn’t most of this have been determined before DEET received approval to be sold?

[John_W.Kennedy]

@Greenback

Reading Doug’s reply to mosquito repellents got me thinking about what little I actually know about DEET.

Doug explained roughly how it works but what is it really?
Also,
So is it toxic or not? “No evidence” but “be cautious” seems to suggest an unknown. Shouldn’t most of this have been determined before DEET received approval to be sold?

It’s a no-win case for the manufacturers. Can you imagine the schrei if they actually EXPERIMENTED ON CHILDREN???

Reasonable tests don’t seem to show harm. Slathering the stuff on in ten times the manufacturer’s recommended amount might.

[t-keela]

It seems to me that anything that will damage synthetics the way DEET does probably isn’t the healthiest thing to be be rolling around in.

I can’t testify to whether or garlic sprays work. But the regular consumption of garlic appears to have an effect in my own experience.

[Chefguy]

Alaskan mosquitoes are quite fond of a garlic/deet reduction sauce. The Interior regions of the state require the heaviest concentration of the stuff one can find, and even then the square millimeter of non-deeted skin will attract a substantial queue of bloodsuckers.

[li_l_Dickie_Dirtz]

This stuff works pretty well on my kids. It has a strong wintergreen scent. I can’t get to the Staff Report. Do mosquitos not like wintergreen either?

[Greenback]

Thanks for the replies to the toxic part of my post.

Now, what is DEET? Is it just a chemical concoction invented for a different use but was found to ward off mosquitoes? What is it made from?

[Chronos]

From the article,

Garlic is only one of a list of plant compounds with similar “repellent” effects, including citronella, cedar, verbena, geranium, lavender, pine, cinnamon, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice, and peppermint.

So it looks like wintergreen would probably work as well. But Doug goes on to say that while these natural concoctions work, they don’t work as well as DEET.

[Chefguy]

@Greenback

Thanks for the replies to the toxic part of my post.

Now, what is DEET? Is it just a chemical concoction invented for a different use but was found to ward off mosquitoes? What is it made from?

DEET info.

[Greenback]

Thanks chefguy

[Tenar]

I just wish the staff report had mentioned the fact that you should NEVER use DEET on pets.