Mosquitos repel ’60s fragrance | PerthNow
The musky scent beloved by men in the 1960s could be an unexpected weapon in the war against mosquitoes, scientists say.
Researchers in Brazil discovered that patchouli oil, famous for its earthy scent and hippie-era popularity, completely stopped mosquitoes from landing on the skin for up to three hours during laboratory tests.
The oil was tested against Aedes aegypti, the insect responsible for the spread of dangerous diseases such as dengue fever, Zika and yellow fever.
The scientists turned the oil into a topical cream and asked volunteers to apply it to their forearms before exposing them to 50 female mosquitoes.
The insects reportedly refused to land on the treated skin for the entire three-hour test period.
“Unlike many natural repellents that quickly lose their effectiveness due to volatility, our formulation provided complete protection against A. aegypti for up to three hours at a relatively low concentration,” said lead researcher Lizandra Lima Santos, from Amapa Federal University in Macapa, Brazil.
Patchouli oil is derived from the leaves of the patchouli plant and became very trendy in the 1960s and 70s thanks to its heavy, woody aroma.
Researchers believe that the compound called patchouli alcohol, which gives the oil its distinctive scent, may interfere with the way mosquitoes identify human targets.
An ingredient called alpha-guaiene appeared to affect mosquito proteins in a similar way to the chemical DEET found in many insect repellents.
Scientists say this could lead to a more natural alternative to DEET products, which some people claim can irritate skin.
The cream remained stable for 90 days during testing, with no change in scent, texture, or color.
Despite the promising results, the researchers stressed that more safety testing is needed before patchouli-based repellents hit shelves.
Health experts also warned that people should rely on proven repellents when traveling to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are common.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that DEET and other approved repellents are safe and effective when used correctly.
