- Vanilla extract fails to repel biting, adult mosquitoes. But vanilla extract made from stems and not beans can kill mosquito larvae. The stems and leaves are placed in alcohol, left to soak and strained to make the insecticide.
- Combining vanillin and N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET, makes an affective adult mosquito repellent. This combination should be placed directly onto the skin.
- According to a 2001 study in "Journal of Vector Ecology," an extract of 5 percent vanillin added to oil of kaffir lime repelled mosquitoes for three hours. Adding the same vanillin to DEET repelled mosquitoes for eight hours.
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