2026-05-14 12:02:40
A musky fragrance loved by men in the 1960s could become an unlikely weapon in the war against mosquitoes, scientists say.
Researchers in Brazil discovered that patchouli oil, famous for its earthy scent and hippie-era popularity, completely stopped mosquitoes from landing on skin for up to three hours during lab tests.
The oil was tested against Aedes aegypti, the insect responsible for spreading dangerous diseases including dengue fever, Zika and yellow fever.
Scientists turned the oil into a topical cream and asked volunteers to apply it to their forearms before exposing them to 50 female mosquitoes.
The bugs reportedly refused to land on treated skin throughout the entire three-hour testing period.
Lead researcher Lizandra Lima Santos, from the Federal University of Amapa, Macapa, Brazil, said: “Unlike many natural repellents that lose effectiveness quickly due to volatility, our formulation achieved complete protection against A. aegypti for up to three hours at a relatively low concentration.”
Patchouli oil comes from the leaves of the patchouli plant and became hugely fashionable in the 1960s and 70s thanks to its heavy, woody aroma.
Researchers believe a compound called patchouli alcohol, which gives the oil its distinctive smell, may interfere with the way mosquitoes identify human targets.
One ingredient, alpha-guaiene, appeared to affect mosquito proteins in a similar way to DEET, the chemical found in many insect repellents.
Scientists say this could pave the way for a more natural alternative to DEET products, which some people claim can irritate the skin.
The cream remained stable for 90 days during testing, with no changes in smell, texture or colour.
Despite the promising results, researchers stressed more safety testing is needed before patchouli-based repellents could hit shelves.
Health experts also warned people should still rely on proven repellents when travelling to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are common.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend DEET and other approved repellents as safe and effective when used properly.
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