TikTok is Convinced This Victoria's Secret Perfume Doubles As Insect Repellent
Science may think otherwise.
In this week’s TikTok news, users of the app are raving about a new beauty and health hack involving an old reliable perfume—Victoria’s Secret's Bombshell.
Some savvy beauty-tokers out there believe the lingerie brand’s signature scent doubles as an effective mosquito repellant, and, as many questionable TikTok suggestions do, the idea took off. It makes sense that someone would want to avoid wearing bug spray if they could. It doesn’t exactly smell great on its own and having that scent clash with that of your perfume sounds (and likely smells) even worse, but how effective is this new trend?
It’s unclear what caused the new life hack to go viral. Some outlets credit TikTok user @absolutely.lm, who shared a TikTok on July 2, 2022, expressing fears over the circulation of a news article about mosquito-borne diseases and putting out the “PSA” that not only Bombshell but Amber Romance have been scientifically proven to ward off mosquitos “better than repellant.” In the comments, she added, “If your perfume has Methyl dihydrojasmonate, chances are this video applies.”
However, @trinidad1967 shared the revelation on June 10, reporting that she had read elsewhere that the Bombshell perfume repelled mosquitos, and that it had worked for her.
Neither user shared the scientific reports or articles they were referencing in their videos, but, according to chemical company Sigma-Aldrich, Methyl dihydrojasmonate is a synthetic chemical “mainly used in the perfumes, fragrance formulations, personal care and cosmetic products.” It’s derived from ingredients found in pine and/or rhododendron honey, and smells like jasmine.
In 2015, an article from Quartz, which recapped a study that may have first determined the effects of Bombshell on mosquitos, was quoted by multiple publications, which may be the original source of this innovative suggestion. The article shared results from a study published in the Journal of Insect Science, where researchers used Bombshell in an attempt to attract mosquitos due to its floral scent and found it to be almost as effective as DEET in keeping them at bay. They did, however, note the high concentration of perfume used in the experiment, and warned that lower concentrations may not prove as effective.
In 2018, a study was published in the National Library of Medicine comparing two different perfumes—Bombshell and Ivanka Trump eau de parfum—and their strength against mosquitoes. They found that Methyl dihydrojasmonate, as well as an aromatic ingredient called lilial, activate the same odorant receptors in mosquitoes that DEET would.
However, these scientists warned against using perfumes as “off-label” repellents, particularly when the end goal is to prevent disease transmission, as higher doses of repellent are usually necessary.
Some TikTokers got lucky repelling mosquitos when they tried out the recommendation for the sole purpose of content creation, but skipping the proven repellents is not worth it to risk Zika, Malaria, West Nile, or other diseases spread through mosquito bites.
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