Is Your Backcountry Skincare Routine Attracting Mosquitos?

Most hikers know not to carry too many scented products into the backcountry—but new research shows it’s not just bears they could be attracting. According to a 2023 paper, perfumes and soaps—especially those with natural, plant-derived scents—can act like mosquito magnets. The same is true of scented deodorants, sunscreens, and other skincare products.

You might read that and be tempted to give up your backcountry hygiene routine altogether. However, research also shows that mosquitos are attracted to the scent of human sweat and BO. So, what’s worse: using mosquito-attracting skincare products, or skipping out on personal hygiene altogether?

Continue reading to learn more, written by Amelia Arvesen.

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November 1, 2024

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Amelia Arvesen

Author

Based in Portland, Oregon, Amelia Arvesen is an independent journalist exploring the intersection of humans and their environments, whether they’re on the trail or in their studios. As a maker and artist herself, she gravitates toward stories about how things are made and the people who make them. Her work appears in nationally and internationally-recognized publications like Outside, Backpacker, Women’s Health, Men’s Journal, Via Magazine, Texas Monthly, Field Mag, and Adventure.com.

In her earlier reporting days, Amelia served as an editor of an outdoor industry business journal (eventually acquired by Outside) and reporter at local newspapers in Colorado, Kansas, and California. Fresh out of journalism school, she covered the crime and court beat, including an investigation of dishonest cops in Boulder County. In 2016, she was the co-recipient of the investigative Victor Murdock Award for reporting on a truck salvage yard in Kansas tied up in civil battles and EPA violations.

Since 2020, Amelia has written the newsletter Honing Her Craft about reflections, connection, and creativity. She is also an organizer with Empowerment Avenue, which amplifies the work of incarcerated artists and writers.

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미디어 언급

의류와 장비(피부 제외)의 경우, 소이어 프로덕츠의 퍼메트린 기피제는 진드기와 모기를 퇴치하는 데 유사한 포뮬러만큼 효과적이며 트리거 스프레이는 더 쉽게 제어할 수 있습니다.

Wirecutter Staff
Staff

미디어 언급

최고의 벌레 퇴치제 - 소이어 제품 20% 피카리딘 벌레 퇴치제

Wirecutter Staff
Staff

미디어 언급

There's nothing worse than running out of water mid-hike, but with the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System, you can make any fresh water ready to drink in minutes. It filters out everything from sediment to bacteria from the water, and can be a real lifesaver in a pinch.

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스쿼드에서

스쿼드 멤버와 앰배서더부터 브랜드 파트너와 소이어 팀에 이르기까지 다양한 커뮤니티와 캠프파이어 대화를 나눕니다.