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Is it true that eating garlic or rubbing it on the skin can repel mosquitoes?
The science:
It sounds plausible that garlic - a plant known for its pungent odor - would repel mosquitoes.
Eating garlic, for instance, might seem like an easy way to ward off the pesky insects. "But it doesn't quite do what you would think garlic would do, with it being so smelly," said Daniel Markowski, a technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association.
In food form, garlic has no effect on mosquitoes, research shows. In a 2005 study, participants were asked to consume either garlic or a placebo and were then exposed to laboratory-reared mosquitoes. There did not seem to be a notable difference in mosquito bites between the two groups.
There is some evidence, however, that certain essential oils, including garlic oil - when applied on the skin - can protect against mosquitoes to varying degrees. In one study, researchers tested 20 essential oils and reported that clove oil was the most effective, reducing mosquito bites for nearly two hours. Garlic oil had a protection time of about a half-hour.
The essential oils were diluted before application as some undiluted essential oils, including garlic oil, can be toxic or cause skin irritation.
Another study on essential oils found similar results: that garlic oil did reduce mosquitoes' attraction to human odor, but only for about 30 minutes, said Immo Hansen, senior author of the two essential oil studies and a professor of biology at New Mexico State University.
Most experts don't recommend it.
"My official stance on garlic is that it tastes really good. I enjoy it. I grow it in our garden so we have nice, fresh garlic in late summer," Markowski said. "But as a repellent, I think it's extremely mild at best."
• What else you should know:
For the best protection against mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and chiggers, many experts recommend DEET, a synthetic repellent deemed the "gold standard" for preventing bites.
Safety. When used as directed, such as not over-applying and avoiding open cuts or wounds, DEET is considered safe. In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency found no "risks of concern" to people, including children. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents use DEET "sparingly" on children younger than age 2.
Application. Those who do not want to apply DEET to their skin can spray it on their clothing, particularly on the cuffs of long-sleeved shirts and pants, Chris Adigun, a board-certified dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said in 2024.
Alternative. Picaridin, another synthetic repellent, has been shown to be just as effective - if not more so - at repelling mosquitoes as the same concentration of DEET.
• The bottom line: In studies, garlic oil has shown some repellent effect against mosquitoes for a short time, but experts recommend more effective repellents for the best protection.
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