Vanilla Extract in Mosquito Repellents

Vanillin, the primary component in vanilla bean extract, increased the efficacy of mosquito repellents.

Several mosquito repelling home remedies have been tested by universities to reveal their efficacy. Ingesting garlic and vitamin B supplements, for instance, were revealed as ineffective, while dark-colored clothing proved less attractive to mosquitoes than lighter shades.

Vanilla Extract

The University of Wisconsin's Integrated Mosquito Management program states that studies conducted by their institution, as well as others, reveal vanillin--the primary component of vanilla bean extract--is ineffective in repelling mosquitoes.

Vanilla Extract Plus DEET

When added to DEET, a chemical mosquito repellent endorsed by the CDC, vanillin increased the efficacy of that product by as much as 25 percent. The National Institute of Health published a study revealing that when 5 percent vanillin was added to an application of DEET, it increased the amount of time the mosquito species An. dirus was repelled by two hours.

Vanillin and Other Natural Oils

A study published by the National Institute of Health states that the volatile oils of turmeric, kaffir lime and citronella grass could be added to vanillin to create a mosquito repellent equivalent to DEET. When a 5 percent vanillin extract was added to these oils in experiments, it created a repellent that lasted up to eight hours--the same as DEET.

References

• University of Wisconsin: Integrated Mosquito Management: Home Remedies
• National Insitute of Health: Repellency of volatile oils from plants against three mosquito vectors