Study Finds Which Soap Brands Attract Mosquitoes and Which Soaps Repel Them

Apparently, I’m a mosquito magnet. I don’t use shampoo because I shave my head, and I use one soap for everything. It just so happens, according to a recent study, that mosquitos are attracted to the one and only soap I slather all over my body on a daily basis.

I was just thinking that with the warm weather now rather consistent and summer just moments away, we’re going to spend a lot more time outside, especially at night. It’s the season for cook-outs, barbeques, or just hanging on the deck with our summertime visitors, mosquitoes. Some people are just naturally more attractive to the pests for whatever reason, but researchers from Virginia Tech now say certain soaps make people much more attractive to the flying menaces who are out for blood.

The scientists chose several different soap brands, tested them on humans, and learned that most of the people who washed with the brand's Dove or Simple Truth became significantly tastier to a mosquito.

Here’s the good news, they found that if you use a brand that smells like coconut, that helps keep the bugs away. They tested the brand Native which has a coconut scent.

Their findings, which were published in the journal iScience, showed that bug spray didn’t really help those like me who use soaps that attract mosquitoes

Even the folks in the study who used bug spray were still swarmed if they used those brands, say the scientists, whose findings were published in the journal iScience.

They say that they plan more testing to see if time affects their results. They plan to study if the effects wear off throughout the day if someone showers in the morning versus someone who has used the soap recently.

They also hope to learn exactly what chemicals are responsible for the attraction of the bloodsuckers.

Be careful out there!

The Jersey City Craft Beer Festival will be held on Friday, May 5. It will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty State Park Ferry Terminal. The terminal is located at 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City.

Take a look below for all of the information you need to know to attend:

The Jersey City Craft Beer will have fermented beer, cider, and of course, craft beer that will be located in a Beer Garden. Guests will be able to sample from an array of varieties throughout the evening. You will receive a souvenir four oz. tasting glass with a two ounce pour line. You can sample any beer that the brewers have.

According to NJ.com, the participating breweries for the event are as follows: Yale Terrace Brewery, Wet Ticket, Drink Tribini, Velvet Llama, Departed Soles, Hoboken Brewery, 902 Brewing Co., Toms River, Untied Brewing Co., KCBC Brewery, Seven Tribesmen, Ashton Brewing, Buttzville Brewing, Czig Meister Brewing, New Trail Brewing, Birdsmouth Beer, Bout the Hops, Twinlights Brewing, Newark Local Beer, Four City Brewing, Ironbound, Lawsons, Radiant Pig, Senor Sangria, Heineken, The Long Drink, Burlington Beer Company, Good Dog Brewing, Howie Spiked, and Five Dimes Brewing.

No one under 21 is allowed at the festival. No children or pets are permitted. Designated drivers will be charged $15 for a ticket. Designated drivers will receive a different colored wristband to indicate heir status and will not receive a tasting glass. They can enjoy the live music and games at the event but they are not allowed to drink alcohol. Any designated driver who is seen drinking will be escorted out immediately.

Knapsacks and large bags are forbidden from the event. The event does not specify what kind of bags are allowed other than the even prohibiting larger-sized bags.

Smoking will not be permitted during the festival. There will be a designated smoking area.

Tickets are non-refundable and no one will be re-admitted for any reason if they exit the event. Tickets can be purchased here.