# Does Garlic repel mosquitoes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 7, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480 "2004-09-07T13:50:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/1 "2004-09-07T13:50:07Z")
Reading **Doug’s** [reply](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmosquitorepel.html) 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? ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/2 "2004-09-07T15:48:28Z")
> [@Greenback](#): > > Reading **Doug’s** [reply](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmosquitorepel.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/3 "2004-09-07T17:01:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/4 "2004-09-07T17:15:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/5 "2004-09-07T19:57:16Z")
[This](http://www.bioganic.com/msds/MSDS_ShooBug_Cool_Breeze_2.pdf) 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? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/6 "2004-09-07T19:58:14Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/7 "2004-09-07T21:01:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/8 "2004-09-07T21:06:40Z")
> [@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.](http://www.deet.com/deet_fact_sheet.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/9 "2004-09-07T21:15:08Z")
Thanks **chefguy** ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-garlic-repel-mosquitoes/263480/10 "2004-09-08T00:56:09Z")
I just wish the staff report had mentioned the fact that you should NEVER use DEET on pets.