Tea tree oil stopping Mosquitos from biting?

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My DP has been advised by a colleague that if you put tea tree oil on your ankles, wrists & neck every night in the run up to a holiday abroad, you won't get bitten by mosquitos [sceptical emotion]

AIBU to not want to smell of tea tree oil for a week before I go to Greece?

Has anyone got any evidence of this working?

AIBU to complain about the smell when I get to go abroad for a week of course I know I am unreasonable It bloody stinks in our room tonight and it reminds me of my teenage years using the stuff to clear up my spots didn't work then either

Tea tree oil works but it stinks so YANBU.

The best thing I've found to deter insects is Avon's Skin So Soft spray oil! Bizarre but true, google it! It also works at deterring fleas on dogs and cats, and stops horses getting bitten.

See the reviews on Amazon!

I know fishermen that use it for this purpose and it smells nice to boot :)

Thanks itsnotahoover! Purchased already - it's got to smell better than tea tree oil

I am tasty.

I get bitten to DEATH (well, not quite, I am being dramatic)

Clove oil, tea tree oil, Vitamin B supplements and marmite.

I am not sure which one works, but I know one must because this year I've been okay. (This is not a controlled experiment!!) Also, Avon's Skin So Soft has fab reviews (as you've seen) but I've only EVER used it in conjunction with everything else.

I do stink though, in a marmitey citrusy, spicy way... and that may not be appealing (though I seem to attract unkempt types) but it's certainly better than the misery of A&E with bites!

The only thing that really works is DEET. Skin So Soft apparently only works for a very limited time. Look for it on snopes.com, a great source of myth-busting info.

Citronella works quite well and smells lemony.
But best thing is to wear loose, light full length trousers and sleeves and a hat at dawn and dusk. Put Deet on wrists ankles and clothes. Stay near sea breeze.

(Live in tropics with Dengue fever outbreaks and bad ass mozzies)

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronella_oil

You need to reapply every half hour - but a tiny bottle of essential oil is easy to carry.

Marmite. And, smoking but that might be worse in the long run. I can go one better than TrucksAndDinosaurs as I have actually HAD Dengue fever.

No. I am Australian and teatree oil will not prevent bites, it does help a bit with the swelling/itchiness though.

Get yourself some bug buster lotion from Napiers herbalist. You can buy it via amazon. It lasts ages, smells pleasant and really works. I've only ever been bitten when I've forgotten to use it. No deet in it so safe for infants and smells like a mix Of citronella and lavender.

Yeah, wearing loose fitting clothes really worked for me the other day, the bastards bit me through my clothes, and I ended up with about 8 bites.

They love my blood wonders if the Hungarian in me isrelated to Dracula

Last time I went to Greece I got bitten so badly I ended up on antibiotics. The bites blistered, some blisters were 3-4 inches wide, they were massive and really sore and itchy. Got told by lots of people, tourists and locals, lots of different things but only thing that worked was something containing deet. Also, think about getting a plug in for your hotel room. I woke up one morning with loads of little blisters on my legs but after buying the plug in didn't get bit in the room again.

No wait! It's on offer on the Avon site! 1/2 price!

here you go!

I 2nd Deet, preferably 50%. I like the wipes from Boots, perfect for carrying about.
Of course covering up helps.

Olbas oil - used it all the time in the Far East and it worked.

It also helped with insect bites.

Lived many years in tropics and agree with Trucks - citronella oil is the way to go. Tea tree is fantastic for many things but doesn't prevent biters. Citronella applied, esp. at dusk is a good bet. Also, Tiger Balm applied on itchy bites helps take the itch away (unless you have issues with it to begin with, like my DH who has very sensitive skin).

You can use lavender oil instead. It does work. I don't think you should be putting neat tea tree oil nor neat citronella essential oils onto your skin, it must be blended with something first. Lavender you can use neat.

I cannot bear the smell of tea tree, I think it also works better for apply to bites etc if you have already been bitten.

Not in UK, but don't you get Tabard or Peaceful Sleep or those types of repellents in UK?? You spray them onto your skin, they do work the best.

I did have this device that used to whistle a low pitch noise, that warded off the mozzies.
Apparently, the noise was a female mossie buzz, and that would ward off the biters.
I really must dig it out, as we're off to Thailand next month.

www.amazon.co.uk/Powered-Mosquito-Insect-Repellent-Repeller/dp/B009O5MCMG/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&qid=1375774605&sr=8-34&keywords=mosquito+repellent

This thing from Amazon, if you're Amazon anti, try eBay.

There was a TV programme about this subject some time ago - the ONLY effective repellant is DEET, the rest are Urban Myths.
Some people are just really attractive to mossies no matter how much repellant is used, even the DEET ones.
I should know - I am one of those poor sods! I have this morning about 11 bites, all of which are very painful and swollen as I react so badly to being bitten.
Where in the world am I? What exotic location?

Sodding Southampton..............

I don't know if Tea tree works but if is incredibly poisonous if DC get thier hands on it. Keep well out of reach oc kids.

Just a quick note on DEET - if you have painted your nails/toes for your hols then don't get the DEET spray on them. It makes the nail varnish go all weird and gooey. Goodness only knows what it's doing to your skin if it can strip two coats of Essie and a top coat (shudder)...

Pixie I once put my foot up on the toilet cover to spray my foot and it made the plastic cover go weird and gooey. It is a carcinogen, isn't it?

I think Skin so soft smells horrible, but so do the mozzies so it's all good. I use that, eat marmite, and take Vitamin B.

I read something about Smidge online the other day. Apparently that works. Good luck!

Thanks all. I'll resign myself to the fact i will be bitten. I'm like you BMW6 they just are attracted to my blood I came back with 80 odd bites last time we went to Greece a good 7 years ago. Not been back since because I had awful memories of being bitten and miserable.

Mexico wasn't so bad but a big tropical storm had wiped them out.

I didn't want to use deet because of the reasons you've mentioned pixie how scary it can do that to nail varnish?! Funnily enough I was at an NCT tea party thing down the park on Sunday and some idiot had graffitied fuck off on the band stand. I had my suntan lotion P20 all day stuff with me, sprayed it on the permanent marker and it came off with one wipe to think what that does to your skin!?