This popular soap was NOT a hit with mosquitoes in a recent study. You, on the other hand, should heed the buzz and grab some. (Photo: Amazon)(Photo: Amazon)
It's an unfortunate side effect of the warmer months: Mosquitoes are everywhere. With that comes a risk of bites — along with maddeningly itchy bumps and, worst-case, serious diseases. If you're a mosquito magnet, it only makes sense to want to do what you can to lower your risk of being preyed on. Well, recent research has shown that Native Body Wash might help keep the bloodsucking critters away. Inspiring — and it's available at Amazon right now.
A new study published this week in the journal iScience found that Native was the most likely of all soaps tested to repel mosquitoes. The study involved four volunteers and each had a signature body odor that the researchers identified before they were asked to lather up with four soap brands: Dial, Dove, Simple Truth and Native.
The researchers then took fabrics worn by the volunteers and exposed female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to them, keeping tabs on which scents were the most likely to attract and repel the bugs. There was some variation in the results given that everyone's body odor is different and can create a unique scent when it interacts with various soaps. However, the researchers found that the mosquitoes were more likely to be attracted to people who used Dove and Simple Truth, and were most likely to be repelled by Native brand soap.
"Overall, the Native soap biased mosquitoes’ responses in a way that was significantly different from all other treatments," the researchers wrote in the study.
Another tidbit worth noting: A coconut scent seems to repel mosquitoes the most, according to the findings.
The researchers were careful to point out that the scent you give off after showering with any soap is unique — meaning, it's hard to say for certain that Native soap will repel mosquitoes for everyone. But it was also clear in the experiment that the mosquitoes were not into the brand...which means maybe you should be.
Native's Coconut & Vanilla scent is one of its most popular options, and it's (unsurprisingly) hard to find right now. However, there are a few packs that are available at Amazon that include the Coconut & Vanilla scent.
What's the deal with Native body washes? Here are a couple of things we like: They're made with natural, clean ingredients that are free of free of phthalates, sulfates, parabens and dyes. They also have fresh scents that aren't overwhelming and include coconut oil, which helps hydrate your skin and gives off a slightly beachy feel. It's also worth noting that they're vegan and cruelty-free.
Native soaps have amassed a big following at Amazon. "I love this soap. I use it every single day," raved a satisfied sudser. "The scent is amazing. It literally makes my whole house smell good."
Shared a fellow fan: "I absolutely love this body wash. Smells amazing and lathers great!" Many happy customers say a little goes a long way with this wash. "Smells really good and doesn’t break my sensitive skin out," one added.
As the weather gets hotter, so will these body washes. So if you're a mosquito magnet, you might want to bite on one of these deals before they sell out!
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.