Does Soap Repel Mosquitoes?

There are several soap brands marketed as having mosquito repellent properties, but can conventional soaps repel mosquitoes in the same way?

We can all agree that it would be nice to be able to take a shower and be protected from mosquitoes. Would this work? We did in-depth research to determine if your everyday soap can repel mosquitoes. 

Can Soap Be Used as a Mosquito Repellent?

Some conventional soaps may repel mosquitoes, but there are no studies to back this up.

The research as to whether or not soap is an effective mosquito repellent is anything but abundant. However, we can say that neither the FDA nor CDC lists soap as a mosquito repellent. Not all hope is gone, though.

According to the CDC, effective mosquito repellents have more than 10% of chemicals or compounds that are proven repellents. For example, they say that if you use DEET as the active ingredient for an insect repellent, your solution should contain at least 20% of it. 

Which Soaps Can Repel Mosquitoes?

When we’re talking about soaps that repel mosquitoes, we can break it down into two different categories: conventional soaps and soaps specifically created to repel mosquitoes

Regular Soaps That Repel Mosquitoes 

The answer to this isn’t exactly straightforward. Brands tend to be protective of the exact ingredient ratios they use. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible to tell which soaps, if any, have enough repelling ingredients for the soap to be an effective mosquito repellent. 

If you are looking for regalar soaps to repel mosquitoes, check the ingredients. 

You will want to try ones that contain essential oils that repel mosquitoes. A couple of soaps that incorporate essential oils are Sabun Co. and Simplici. Sabun Co. has a soap made with cinnamon oil and Simplici has one made with lemongrass and calendula oil.

Soap Designed to Repel Mosquitoes 

There are a few brands that make soaps solely for the purpose of repelling mosquitoes. 

These soaps have high concentrations of ingredients known to repel mosquitoes: 

• Skin Armour – This soap contains eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, menthol, and calendula oil. All of these are proven to repel mosquitoes. Reviewers say it helps keep mosquitoes from biting them! 
• Beekman – Beekman makes a soap designed to repel mosquitoes. It contains strong   amounts of citronella and tea tree oil. 

Can Irish Spring Soap Repel Mosquitoes?

It’s unclear if Irish Spring soap repels mosquitoes because there are no documented studies. The likelihood of it being effective, however, is not high.

There is little information about the repellent efficacy of each of Irish Spring’s ingredients. However, it is not likely that there would be enough of them to be an effective mosquito repellent.

Can Soap Attract Mosquitoes?

Sometimes, yes – certain types of soap can actually attract mosquitoes. Here’s why. 

Mosquitoes are attracted to many of the scents we naturally give off as humans. 

Specifically, some of the acids we secrete when we sweat. Knowing this, you would think that any soap we use to rid our skin of these smells should at least make us less attractive to mosquitoes. However, this isn’t necessarily the case – the type of soap you use matters. 

According to dermatologist Jennifer Lucas, MD, floral-scented products tend to attract mosquitoes. So, even though you might be washing off certain smells mosquitoes are attracted to, if you’re doing so with a floral soap, it could do more harm than good. 

That said, she recommends using scentless soap to avoid this problem. It also will help wash off some of the natural scents you produce that contribute to mosquitoes being attracted to you in the first place.

In Conclusion… Soap Can Attract AND Repel Mosquitoes? 

While there are certain types of soaps created to repel mosquitoes, other floral-scented soaps can actually attract them. 

If you want to use soap to repel mosquitoes, your best bet is to stick to ones designed for that purpose. Some trusted brands include such as Skin Armour or Beekman.

While many people have benefited from soaps from these companies, there are plenty of household items that repel mosquitoes.

Repel Mosquitoes With Mosquito Magician

Mosquito bites shouldn’t be the first thing on your mind when thinking about planning a cookout or outdoor event with friends and family. 

To eliminate mosquito bites and gain some peace of mind, try our mosquito solution. It’s safe to use around kids and pets, when used as directed!