5 Everyday Habits That Attract Mosquitoes Without You Knowing

TL;DR: Small, everyday choices (your clothes, scents, routines) can make you a mosquito magnet. Here’s how to tweak them - without compromising your style - so you can enjoy Singapore’s outdoors bite-free.

Who this is for: Families, pros on the go, travellers, outdoor lovers, kids & adults. Basically anyone who wants more outdoor time and fewer bites!

Singapore life = sun, parks, hawkers… and mozzies

From East Coast Park bike rides to late-evening runs at your favourite hawker centre, we live outdoors in Singapore. But dengue alerts pop up year-round, and Aedes mosquitoes love our urban, humid environment. They bite mostly at dawn and dusk, and only need a tiny bit of clean, stagnant water to breed (i.e. plant trays, puddles or outdoor gear left out after rain).

If you’ve ever wondered why mozzies seem to pick you and not your friend right beside you... continue reading. The good news is that a few tweaks go a long way.

1) Wearing dark or red-toned outfits, especially after work

In a nutshell: Your clothes can signal “buffet open.”

Mosquitoes detect your breath (CO₂) first, then zoom in on long-wavelength colours like red, orange, and black. Research in Nature Communications showed that once CO₂ put mosquitoes into “search mode,” they lock onto those colours, ignoring green, blue, or purple.

I know, most of us love black athleisure and dark corporate fits. But combine that with dusk commutes or an evening at the park, and you’ve stacked two STRONG attractants: colour and mozzies’ peak biting window.

If you want to catch a break, here is what to do tonight:

• Favour light, desaturated colours for evening outdoor time.

• If you must dress dark, add a physical repellent strategy (see #5).

• Keep covered with long, airy fabrics = less surface area for bites.

  
  

2) Scent layering with soaps, lotions & perfume

In a nutshell: Your “fresh” scent might be fresh bait.

Personal-care fragrances interact with your natural skin odour. In a 2023 Virginia Tech study, washing with certain soaps made people more attractive to mosquitoes, even when the soaps contained “repellent” like limonene. One coconut-scented soap reduced attraction; others increased it, showing it’s the blend that matters.

Now, floral or sweet grooming products are common in SG humidity. If you’re heading to parks, waterbodies or green corridors near dusk, heavy fragrance can amplify your “come bite me” signature.

What to do tonight:

• Go lighter or unscented before outdoor plans.

• Apply perfume to clothing (sparingly), not warm pulse points.

• Prioritise proven repellents like PMD (oil of lemon eucalyptus) or DEET.

3) “Tidying later” (leaving clean water in small containers)

In a nutshell: Aedes breed in coins’ worth of water.

Singapore’s dengue vector prefers clean, stagnant water in everyday containers. NEA’s Mozzie Wipeout campaign emphasises that even small volumes (as little as a 20-cent-coin sized pool) can be enough. Peak biting is dawn/dusk, and live cluster maps show where risks are highest.

HDB corridors, balconies, condo BBQ decks, post-rain puddles, canvas covers and dish-drying trays are classic breeding spots. NEA has even fined residents for breeding sites...

What to do tonight:

• Empty trays and pails after watering plants.

• Change vase water and scrub the slimy rings.

• Clear gutter leaves; cover containers.

• Scan NEA’s cluster map if you’re hosting outdoors.

  
  

4) Exercising or drinking outdoors at dusk

In a nutshell: More CO₂ + warmer skin + sweat = “bite me.”

As we said on point #1, mosquitoes start with CO₂ from your breath, then look at the colours you're wearing. Then, they hone in on body heat and skin odours. As you might've guessed, physical activity = higher CO₂ + hotter skin. Add alcohol, and you become even moree attractive. A PLOS One study found beer consumption consistently increased volunteers’ attractiveness to mosquitoes.

What to do tonight:

• Try to work out outside of peak dawn/dusk hours.

• Cool down, towel off sweat, and change promptly.

• Outdoor beers? Pair with a fan or repellent patch (see #5).

  
  

5) Skipping simple physical defenses (fans, coverage & repellents)

In a nutshell: A little breeze and the right repellent go a long way.

Here is the good news: Mosquitoes are weak fliers. Fans disperses CO₂ and odour cues, making landing harder. Fans at balconies or BBQ tables can drastically cut bites, especially at ankles where mosquitoes often strike. A simple fan and consistent repellent application can make a difference.

Besides sprays and lotions, Singaporeans are turning to discreet mosquito patches. NEA and WHO recommend proven repellents such as DEET or PMD (oil of lemon eucalyptus). If you're looking for the best mosquito repellents in Singapore, I've covered the subject here.

What to do tonight:

• Place a fan under tables or near seating.

• Wear light-coloured clothing and cover calves/arms at dusk.

• Apply repellent and reapply as needed; combine with patches or spatial repellents for best results.

  
  

Small tweaks, big bite-free wins

You don’t need to hide indoors to stay mosquitoes free. You just need to be a little less findable. Lighter clothes. Softer scents. A quick wipe-out of puddles. A fan on your balcony. And a repellent strategy that actually works in Singapore humidity.

If you want a DEET-free, family-safe option that won’t clash with your outfit, Outdoors mosquito repellent patches are one to try.

Mini-FAQ

• What colours attract mosquitoes most? Red, orange and black are most attractive once CO₂ is detected.

• Do perfumes attract mosquitoes? Some soaps/perfumes can increase attractiveness depending on chemistry. Virginia Tech study.

• When do mozzies bite most in SG? Aedes bite at dawn and dusk.

• How little water is enough to breed mosquitoes? Even a coin-sized pool can breed them.