Camping is an age-old practice that has morphed into a popular hobby and family activity over time. It has seen a great rise in recent years, with over seventy-eight million camping households reported in 2019. The incursion of Covid-19 has only made camping, a vacation that allows for social distancing, more appealing. However, camping does have its downsides. One major problem encountered by those who enjoy the outdoors is the swarms of bloodthirsty bugs eager to suck from their veins. Mosquitos are a plague most campers and hikers are familiar with. While there are treatments for existing bites and itchy spots like Bite Away and anti-itch cream, it is generally preferable to avoid being bit in the first place. Here are four tips for keeping mosquitos away on your camping trip.

1. Add Sage or Garlic to Your Fire

Sage and garlic can both serve as a natural repellent. Mosquitos are not fond of how either plant smells. Throwing a little dried sage or garlic in your campfire can help keep them away. The smoke from campfires themselves already act to keep mosquitos and other bugs away, and adding sage or garlic can only stack on to their preventative power.

2. Pick Drier Camping Spots

Because mosquitos enjoy wet, humid habitats, picking a less wet place to set up camp can lower the number of pests you encounter. Dry places naturally have less of them since the female ones lay their eggs on bodies of water. You should avoid camping too close to not just rivers and lakes, but also deep puddles.

3. Burn Candles

Sage is not the only herb mosquitos dislike. They also hate citronella, lemon balm, lemongrass, lavender and mint. Burning candles with any of these scents can help discourage them. The smoke, light and smell from herb-scented candles can all act as natural deterrents.

4. Use Repelling Products

While this may seem obvious, you should use bug repelling products like sprays and wristbands. Utilize the tools available, especially the ones specially designed to obtain the desired end result. There are also creams and diffusers designed to keep the insects away. While some are less effective than others, there is a wide variety available, and they generally produce some of the wanted effects.

These are only a few of the tricks that can help you stay bite-free. They are all known to work through, so maybe try one out the next time you go camping.