My packing list for holidays, trips, days out, includes insect repellent.
Repellent - Lavender
Lavender is also said to repel mosquitos. I used to yo-yo between Singapore and London, before and after Covid. In London I would stock up on lavender cosmetics to take back to Singapore. Marks & Spencer stocked pefumed products in the UK and later in Singapore. But UK products were cheaper in the UK than in Singapore. A British lavender brand is Norfolk Lavender.
I travel with lavender and lemon scented cosmetics and perfumes. As well as mosquito and insect repellent, anti-insect spray for hotel bedrooms, and sting relief.
Singapore Anti Mosquito Action
Singapore is fighting insects constantly. I remember the first time I saw white mist rising up outside my apartment block, condo. I thought it was a fire. I phoned down to reception to ask if they knew. They told me, "It is fogging, anti moquito. Shut your windows."
This happened every Friday. You would see the workers, with masks over their faces, waving machines left and right over the vegetation around the skyscraper's grounds. You could hear the noise.
Now they are breeding mosquitos which are part of the fight against malaria and dengue fever.
Insect Inspections
In Singapore there are strict rules. If there is an outbreak of dengue fever, and people in your area are being hospitalised, inspector will coe around, looking for sources of standing water. That could be gutters, saucers under plant pots, even plastic bags lying around on balconies. Pails on balconies or in gardens could be filling up with rain water. Water from the rain in old unused boots. Toilets with lids left up.
Flower vases are banned in cemeteries.
Anti Mosquito Apparel
In Australia I bought traditional cowboy hats with corks suspended. The corks kept hitting my face and were a nuisance. You have to get hats the right size.
Mosiguard
For hiking trips, to Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Madeira, Romania, Spain, I bought mosquito repellent clothing. It's quite expensive. I bought second hand on ebay.
Useful Websites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2025/06/stings-and-bites-prevention-and-cure.html
