Mosquitos... 'tis the season...

"Mosquito bites and treatment

Mosquito prefer some people over others. The preferential victim's sweat simply smells better than others because of the proportions of the carbon dioxide, octenol and other compounds that make up body odour [38]. The powerful semiochemical that triggers the mosquito's keen sense of smell is Nonanal.[39] A large part of the mosquito’s sense of smell, or olfactory system, is devoted to sniffing out human targets. Of 72 types of odour receptor on its antennae, at least 27 are tuned to detect chemicals found in perspiration.[40]

Visible, irritating bites are due to an immune response from the binding of IgG and IgE antibodies to antigens in the mosquito's saliva. Some of the sensitizing antigens are common to all mosquito species, whereas others are specific to certain species. There are both immediate hypersensitivity reactions (Types I & III) and delayed hypersensitivity reactions (Type IV) to mosquito bites (see Clements, 2000).

There are several commercially available anti-itch medications, including those taken orally, such as Benadryl, or topically applied antihistamines and, for more severe cases, corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and triamcinolone. Many effective home remedies exist, including calamine lotion and vinegar. A paste of meat tenderizer containing papain and water breaks down the proteins in the mosquito saliva. Both using a brush to scratch the area surrounding the bite and running hot water (around 49 °C) over it can alleviate itching for several hours by reducing histamine-induced skin blood flow.[41]
[edit] Repellents

The chemical DEET repels mosquitoes and other insects.[42] However, with increasing reports of the harmful effects DEET has on humans (including a small number of fatalities, psychological effects, and birth defects[43]), there has been a move to rely on alternative, safer repellents, repellents that are organic and otherwise of the kind that have had traditional household purposes prior to their becoming used now more often as mosquito repellents.

For example, the much safer[44] compound nepetalactone (found in catnip essential oil) has been found by Iowa State University researchers to be about 10 times more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes."

OK. I read all of that. The full article is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito
And I thought it might be fun to do an experiment. If mosquito's are drawn to our perspiration by smell, then if we alter our odor we should be able to essentially hide from the mosquito's. I've been using Auric Blends perfume oils, which we sell in the store and so far I've had pretty good results with the Black Coconut fragrance. The Jasmine didn't seem to work as well. So, if you're willing to help me out with this experiment post your findings here in the comments. I'm anxious to find a way to avoid DEET this summer!