Not Your Mama’s Mosquito Repellent
Mosquito season never really ends in Tampa, it just lessens in intensity for a few precious months. Native Americans used to rub their bodies with mud or even rancid alligator fat to keep mosquitos at bay. But if you’re fresh out of gator fat, you may be yearning for something—anything—to effectively repel mosquitoes without also repelling friends, neighbors and innocent passersby. Luckily, there have been some pretty cool advancements in mosquito tech.
Asian Inspired Wood Coils
Fredericks & Mae makes these super cute citronella incense beehives that made Architectural Digest say “I’d hang these mosquito-repelling coils even if they did nothing but look cool.” But they DO do something. The form, inspired by traditional Southeast Asian temple incense, really works. Made of compressed wood soaked in citronella oil, it burns the way incense does: slowly. A large one will burn for nearly a full week if you never put it out. Now that’s a lot of S’Mores.
Heat-Activated Repelling Device
Such a cool device. Thermacell calls it an “appliance” that emits a super fine repellent. No need to spray yourself, no flame, no smoke, no DEET, no odor, no sound—just 12 hours of mosquito-free outdoor living for less than 20 bucks. Even better, it comes in a rainbow of colors!
Lightweight Mexican Falsa Blanket
The fibers of these lightweight blankets are imbued with a special insect repellent that wards off mosquitos, fleas, ticks, ants, redbugs, no-see-ums and probably more. And the repellent stands up to wash after wash! Outdoor yoga, picnics in the park, soccer fields and football stadiums—where can’t you use one of these?
Tabletop Tie-Dye Tiki Torches
Any product with this many T’s has to work, right? They certainly do look cool, and 15 oz of anti-bug torch fuel burns for 5 hours and costs less than $15.
Tabletop Fan with Holographic Blades
Who needs sticky sprays and smelly candles when you could have this battery-powered fan. The trick is the holographic blades, which are said to disorient mosquitos. Put it in the center of your outdoor dining table to enjoy a bug-free meal without weird smells. The blades are soft and designed to stop as soon as they come in contact with anything. Kid-friendly!
