BUG OFF
We put 16 mosquito repellents to the test
I am very itchy. And I’m about to make you very itchy, too. My apologies.
I spent the last week testing 16 mosquito repellents in the woods by my house. First I sprayed or applied each repellent on half a cutie, a quarter of a banana and an eighth of a potato — all foods mosquitoes are supposed to love. I sat back and watched who came crawling or flying in to eat the fruit.
Then I tried out each remedy on a limb of my body at dusk. With my trusty dog as my companion, we frolicked in the mosquito-heavy woods, especially by the wet weather creek. I took notes on ease of use, scent (or stench), how it felt to the touch, how the mosquitoes reacted and whether we got bitten.
In addition to the ones s old specifically for their mosquito-fighting powers, we tried out two beauty products that had become internet sensations to see if there was any truth to the rumors.