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Backpacker Magazine – October 2007
Medicine Man - Eau de Mosquito
Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into bug sprays and bears
Q: Are bears attracted to bug sprays containing sweet-smelling citronella or lemon eucalyptus? R.B., Scott Plains, NJ
A: Not when they're masked by your three-days-in-the-woods body odor, Mr. Pungent. Bears tend to investigate aromas that could lead to something edible. Citronella has a distinctly sweet smell, as do some deet products and sunscreens—which means it's smart to hang or canister those bottles with your food when camping in bear country. That said, I haven't seen any studies that indicate that bears find these substances attractive, and bruins have a well-documented aversion to the, um, rich fragrance of unshowered backpackers.
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