Everyone loves summer and warmth. But this wonderful time of year is often marred by the nuisance of mosquitoes and gnats. A warm evening outdoors or a trip to the countryside almost always brings with it the problem of bites from these blood-sucking insects. While indoors you can protect yourself from them with mosquito nets or other barriers, outdoors, direct contact is inevitable. Today, humanity has come up with a variety of methods to combat the scourge of mosquito bites. One of them is mosquito repellent bracelets.
Content
The principle of operation and advantages of mosquito bracelets
A mosquito bracelet is a modern, convenient, affordable, and, according to manufacturers, highly effective mosquito repellent. Let's take a look at how and why this product works. Every person breathes. In doing so, we exhale carbon dioxide, which attracts blood-sucking insects.
The bracelet's effectiveness is due to the material it's made from being impregnated with essential oils. This is primarily citronella, but the manufacturer sometimes adds other oils (lemon, mint, lavender, eucalyptus). When placed on the arm or leg, the bracelet is exposed to body temperature and begins to emit a faint aroma of the oils, which neutralizes the smell of carbon dioxide. As a result, mosquitoes "don't see" the person and don't perceive them as a food source, which is ultimately the bracelet's intended purpose.
The bracelets work due to the essential oils with which they are impregnated.
What are the advantages of bracelets over other mosquito repellents?
- Ease of use. Other methods require time for spraying, application, finding a power source, etc. The bracelet, however, is simply placed on your wrist or ankle—and that's it. It requires no effort; you can do it on the go, without paying any special attention.
- Safety. Safety is a crucial consideration when choosing mosquito repellents. Bracelets are made from hypoallergenic materials such as microfiber, silicone, and plastic. These materials are infused with natural oils that are harmless to the body. Another safety advantage is that nothing needs to be applied directly to skin or clothing. This eliminates the risk of chemicals coming into contact with eyes or other mucous membranes, and the risk of fire is also eliminated.
- Duration of operation. The bracelet is designed to last up to 250 hours, which is a significant amount considering it's used for about eight hours per day. Therefore, one bracelet should last for one calendar month.
- Practicality. You can forget or lose canisters and tubes, but the bracelet will always be with you. Other products need to be reapplied periodically. Mosquitoes generally only repel those areas of skin where the protective substance is applied. If you miss a small area, it may be susceptible to bites. The bracelet is permanent and covers the entire body. In extreme cases, very tall people should wear two bracelets—one on an arm and one on a leg.
- Aesthetics. The bracelets come in a variety of colors, widths, and designs. This advantage will be especially appreciated by children, who will view the protective device as a form of entertainment or decoration and enjoy wearing it.
Storage conditions
When not wearing the bracelet, place it in an airtight container and keep it out of direct sunlight. Store at a temperature no higher than 25°C. OC. This will help extend the life of the bracelet. After all, when exposed to sunlight or other heat, the product will constantly emit oil vapors, gradually weakening its effectiveness and eventually simply drying out.
Contraindications and side effects
Any mosquito repellent has its drawbacks. But bracelets don't have many:
- Allergic reaction. The bracelet can be worn not only on a bare arm or leg but also over clothing, minimizing the risk of allergies. However, allergies are possible, as each person's body is unique.
- Individual intolerance. Even if you don't have an allergy to the essential oil, the bracelet's scent may be a hindrance. As the saying goes, there's no accounting for taste. If you don't like the scent, you can always try a different brand with a different aromatic blend.
- Age up to 3 years. The two factors mentioned above give rise to a third: you can never predict how a child's body will react to the bracelet's impregnation. The scent composition may irritate a child, but they likely won't be able to communicate this. Be careful.
- Pregnancy. It's not clear that the bracelet is harmful to pregnant women. This is simply a caveat due to the lack of clinical studies, as no expectant mother would agree to be a test subject in experiments investigating the harmful effects of its components on fetal development.
Therefore, there are no strict contraindications to using bracelets. Many people wear them successfully without experiencing any discomfort. If you experience any discomfort, simply remove the bracelet or try a different brand.
Review of bracelets from various manufacturers
Let's look at bracelets from the most popular manufacturers and try to highlight the features of each brand.
Gardex Baby
This brand's bracelets are made in China and are wide, solid pieces made of silicone and metal. Each package includes three replaceable thermoplastic rubber oil cartridges. The essential oils include citronella, lavender, geranium, and peppermint. The product is designed for use in areas with medium to low levels of insect infestation. Children are not recommended to wear the bracelet for more than 6 hours a day.
The bracelet is designed for small concentrations of blood-sucking insects
Gardex Baby Bracelet Reviews
Mosquitoes aren't bothered at all [by Gardex bracelets], they smell terribly. Don't buy them. It's better to treat your child's clothes with a regular spray.
They don't bite! But only that hand and no further than 10 cm))) nonsense! Definitely!
It doesn't help at all. Not for eighteen-month-olds, not for eight-year-olds, not for those over forty.
In short, these [Gardex] bracelets might help some people avoid mosquito bites, but not us. Perhaps they work on a specific species of mosquito, and our local blood-sucking insects aren't one of them. But I won't buy another Gardex bracelet. It's not suitable for walks in the woods, at the dacha, or relaxing by the water or on the city embankment. And in the concrete jungle, there aren't enough mosquitoes to warrant wearing it constantly.
After swimming, the kids ran around naked, as expected. We put [Gardex] bracelets on the youngest and were disappointed. Mosquitoes devoured his back and stomach whenever we stopped moving. We had to spray his clothes and dress him. Now we only use the bracelets for walks in urban areas; the protective properties don't work in nature.
Conclusion: The bracelet's instructions state that it works only with a small number of mosquitoes, which is concerning. However, judging by the reviews, this manufacturer's bracelet is ineffective.
Bugstop
Made in China. Material: high-density polyethylene. Ingredients: citronella oil. Bracelet designs vary widely, and toys are included for children. There are three lines of bracelets: family, children's, and universal. The latter are designed for adults and come in packs of one or more. Family-size bracelets may contain only three universal bracelets, or three universal bracelets and two children's bracelets. The latter, of course, are designed for children aged 3 years and older, and come in packs of at least one bracelet. The wear time is at least 180 hours. Children may wear no more than two bracelets for no more than eight hours per day.
Bagstop bracelets come in three types: family, children's and universal.
Bugstop Bracelet Reviews
My daughter was 8.5 months old when we went on a picnic with friends. I bought her a BugStop bracelet. It turned out it was for children three and up, but the salesperson told me there was nothing wrong with that. It smelled strongly (not stinking, but fragrant, as the scent is quite pleasant, albeit pungent). It repels mosquitoes, of course, but not all of them, as one still managed to bite my daughter right under her eye. The bracelet is easy to put on and stays on securely. If stored in its packaging, it will retain its effectiveness for a long time.
I was working in the garden with the [Bugstop] bracelet on my ankle. I liked the effect; not a single mosquito came near me, and I went about my gardening without any problems.
..the smell is very strong [about Bagstop bracelets], although you quickly get used to it in the fresh air, mosquitoes bother you much less, but it is still worth using it as an auxiliary means, and not as the main one, since it mainly protects only part of the body.
The BugStop mosquito repellent bracelet is a godsend for me. Firstly, it lasts a long time, and secondly, the effect is simply amazing—no bites. Thirdly, it's very convenient; you can put it on your child's arm or leg without worrying about it falling off or wearing out, so you can safely spend the night at the dacha.
Well, we have a girl walking around our yard with a bracelet like this [Bugstop]. She's 1.8 years old. Actually, we bought the bracelet in Russia. Well, it seems to help them.
Conclusion: Bugstop bracelets show good results. The effect is individual and can be determined through trial and error.
Bugslock
This brand's bracelets are made in Korea. They are made of soft, velvety microfiber and come in a variety of colors. They are infused with citronella oil. They are suitable for both adults and children, including newborns. They last at least 200 hours.
Soft and colorful Bugslock bracelets are designed to protect against mosquitoes.
Bugslock Bracelet Reviews
I bought five Bugslock mosquito bracelets... Hoping to keep the mosquitoes away from my son, I put them on his ankle at night. (I was a bit scared to put them on his arm because the bracelet had a strong, but tolerable, smell.) The next morning, I discovered new bites on my son. It was obvious, I decided. — Another piece of consumer goods. But still, the second night I put two bracelets on both ankles again—the effect was the same.
I'll say I was very pleased with my purchase [of the Bugslock bracelets]. After trying them myself, I was convinced they provide protection. I wore them on my leg, but you can also wear them on your arm, and the packaging says you can simply place them near you for the same effect. I recommend trying these miracle bracelets—you'll be delighted with the results. Personally, I'll be buying them again this year.
Having read that children could wear them, we took a chance and went outside. To my surprise, when we got home, we realized we'd completely forgotten about the mosquito repellent. The advantage of this product is that it can be used repeatedly, meaning my child wore it for almost a month, considering we were out for two to three hours at a time. Afterward, its effectiveness wore off; apparently, all the mosquito repellent simply evaporated... I later bought more of these bracelets myself, and I really liked them. My daughter is two years old... the bracelet has become a kind of decoration for her. Although bracelets are not cheap, I didn't feel sorry for the money, because they are truly worth it.
I've been buying BugsLock bracelets from Spa for three years now, and I'm very happy with them. When my daughter was little, I put them on her stroller, when she started walking, I put them on her foot, and now I put them on her arm, and I'm happy with the results. I recently tested them out in the woods again: mosquitoes bit everyone except my daughter.
We also use BugsLock, they don’t bite.
Conclusion: Bugslock bracelets have more positive reviews than negative ones. Those who were dissatisfied may have received either expired products or counterfeits. The advantage of this manufacturer's bracelets is that they can be used to protect children from birth.
Green luck (Greenluck)
The manufacturer of Green Luck bracelets claims their products will last at least 240 hours. The instructions also state that there are no age restrictions for their use. The bracelets are made of microfiber and infused with citronella and lavender oils. They come in a wide variety of colors.
Green luck bracelets are suitable even for the smallest children.
Reviews of Green Luck bracelets
It looks like a regular non-woven strip with a snap button to fasten it to the correct wrist size. Yes, it does emit a slight (not unpleasant) scent. So what do you think? A minute later, not a single mosquito was buzzing around us! It's hard to believe, but it's true. Now I'll definitely be looking for more like this. Brand: Greenluck.
[Regarding Greenluck bracelets,] it really does help. I didn't even expect such an effect... My child is allergic to some ointments... This caused us a lot of problems. As soon as I saw the bracelets on the store shelf, I didn't even think twice about buying them. I'm still amazed at the results. Now I don't have to run around my child trying to repel the bloodsuckers. I've recommended them to my friends, and they were also pleased with the results. Finally, we've found salvation from those pesky midges and mosquitoes.
I have sensitive skin and haven't had any irritation. The [Greenlak] bracelet seems to work when you're in the gazebo. But the main thing is missing—it doesn't repel bloodsuckers as well as I'd like outdoors.
My daughter wasn't actually bitten by mosquitoes... on the arm she was wearing the [Greenlak] bracelet. But her other arm suffered quite a bit—five mosquito bites. We tested the bracelet at our dacha, where there were plenty of mosquitoes.
However, lately, these colorful miniature bracelets [by Greenlak] have been saving us. They do their job effectively and repel mosquitoes like a charm. They cost next to nothing. They're very convenient to wear: you can attach them to your wrist or ankle, or hang them on a stroller, and that's it, you or your child are protected. Incidentally, small children can also wear them; they like them as decorations, too.
Last year, towards the end of the season, I found these wonderful bracelets [by Greenlak]. They're inexpensive and work well. And most importantly, you can go to bed at the dacha with them on and not worry about anything. Now that I have a baby, I'll be putting one on him too. He's very susceptible to all these nasty things, so he needs good protection. And these bracelets are completely safe, even for babies.
Conclusion: In most cases, Greenluck bracelet users were satisfied with the results. Therefore, this manufacturer's products are quite effective.
Mothercare (Mazekea)
Mothercare latex bracelets are made in the USA. They contain several essential oils: citronella, geranium, and lemon. They are suitable for use by adults and children over 3 years old. They last 100 hours. Like other brands, the bracelets come in a variety of colors. The design is simple. A distinctive advantage is that the bracelet is water-resistant. You can wear it while swimming without affecting its mosquito repellent properties.
Mothercare bracelets can be worn in the bath
Mothercare Bracelet Reviews
The mosquitoes, while not exactly frightened, darted off in all directions, flew up to my daughter, circled around a bit, and then flew back. I can't say for sure what range it's effective over. They didn't bother my daughter, but they bit me no matter what [about the Mazekea bracelet].
A friend recommended a Mothercare insect repellent bracelet. I soon bought one for myself and my family, and I can tell you—it's become indispensable for outdoor trips. We've attached it either to our wrists or ankles. We also easily attach it to clothing, a crib, a stroller, or patio furniture.
The Mazecare bracelet is fantastic. We bought it two years ago when my daughter was very little. It's a lifesaver for the dacha. She's completely unaffected by the bites she gets. ))) I recommend it. We bought it from Mazecare. It lasted us two summers, by the way. The main thing is to remember to put it back in its packaging and close it after use to keep it smelling fresh.
This bracelet [Mazekea] is rubbish, it stinks terribly, and it’s of no use, mosquitoes actually landed and bit the hand that the bracelet was on.
Is it possible to make a mosquito repellent bracelet yourself?
Since the bracelets use essential oils as their active ingredients, you can try making your own. You can also apply the oil to your skin (keep allergy risks in mind) or spray it on a mosquito net. Applying it to clothing can leave unpleasant stains that are difficult to remove. There are reviews online of people who have successfully made oil-based mosquito repellents at home.
Reviews of homemade mosquito repellents
I've been vacationing in Abkhazia for years—and it's a true mosquito paradise! They're so ravenous, it feels like they'll carry you off to the mountains, mattress and all, to finish the meal. I keep them away with essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, and thyme. But clove oil is a must-have, but it's not suitable for children. Only tea tree oil is suitable for children's skin (unless they're allergic). I spray window and door openings with a homemade repellent: 30-40 drops of oil diluted in alcohol, vodka, or inexpensive cologne (like Novozaryasny Lily of the Valley, Jasmine, or Lilac) in a 30-ml spray bottle. When my children were little, I made medallions out of Kinder eggs for them. I put cotton wool soaked in the oil inside. Since the medallion is detachable, the oil can be refilled.
For example, if you light an aroma lamp before bed, the mosquitoes will definitely rest until morning, and so will we. The smell is a bit pungent, but you quickly get used to it. I'd also like to point out that clove essential oil is also a good protection against horseflies. In hot weather, especially near water, horseflies are a real nuisance. But cloves saved us here too. And now, when it's dry and hot, the mosquitoes are gone; flies have taken their place, or rather, flown in. So we continue to scent the room with clove essential oil; flies don't like it either. Now I confidently recommend clove essential oil to all my friends and, of course, to you, dear readers, as the best remedy for these pesky flying monsters.
I also used clove oil to protect my granddaughter when she was little, in her stroller. I'd put a few drops on the tulle covering the stroller, and it didn't bother her.
As we can see from the reviews, essential oil can be used as a mosquito repellent. And you don't need to wear bracelets for this.
Video: Mosquito repellent made with essential oils
Bracelets aren't the only means of protection against mosquito bites. However, they are a modern, affordable, and convenient mosquito repellent. User reviews suggest this method has its audience, but some are dissatisfied with the results. Negative reactions can be due to product quality, counterfeits, or failure to follow instructions. Before purchasing a mosquito repellent bracelet, read the instructions, check the expiration date, and ensure the packaging is intact. If the product is expired or the packaging is damaged, avoid purchasing it to avoid disappointment. Be careful when choosing a seller: avoid ordering from dubious websites, lured by lower prices. It's better to buy from an authorized dealer or from stores and pharmacies that have quality certificates.
