Testing 100-Yen-Shop Goods to Fight Insects

As soon as summer starts in Japan I always have the same problem: mosquito bites. I mean, they already liked me when I was still in Germany, however, when it comes to Japanese mosquitoes I often have an allergic reaction and the small bites become huge, hot, hard and itch like hell.  

Over the years I have found some methods on how to handle the bites but, for sure, it would be better if I didn't get bitten at all. For our summer trip, where we spent most of our time outdoors and sometimes close to water (places where mosquitoes often live), I got prepared with a collection of goods from 100-yen shop Daiso which promised to help.

Daiso has a nice collection of goods. While some are more for your home most are for use outside and on your body / clothes.

They have many different kinds of aroma goods: clips, tapes, stickers, rings, bracelets and so on. The method behind them is the same: insects usually don’t like the smell and keep away. However, it’s also written on the packaging that it is not working on all insects.

I bought some clips, an anklet and stickers. The clips have different designs and I put them on my bag. They have a strong lavender smell and also include peppermint oil and more. I like the smell, but if you are sensitive about smells, maybe you shouldn’t use it.

The same goes for the anklet, which I put around my ankle on the left leg, and the stickers. The stickers are super cute and actually for kids, but I didn’t care about this. I put them on the ends of my underpants (knee-long), the inside of my skirt and one day on my t-shirt. And they are sticking pretty good! They remained in place after the whole day out.

Next to all this, I also bought one of the small bottles of insect spray. I have a big bottle at home, but it is nice to have a small one for your bag so you can spray in between.

However, the question is: Did it work? 

I would say: At least it helped!

During our 5-day trip I was not completely free from mosquito bites, but I guess I would have gotten more without any protection. Also, I only got two of my allergic reactions, the other bites stayed small. So maybe the mosquitoes I’m reacting on dislike the smell more than others.

I will keep on using the clips and stickers and also keep the spray in my handbag. Only the anklet I think I won’t go on using (or only put it on my bag), because I got two mosquito bites directly next to it – and my skin became green from the metal used.

Did you try any of the products yet?

What do you use for protection against mosquitoes?