I tried a simple camping hack that helps keep the mosquitoes away – it works!

And it smells pretty good, too

Men in bushland sitting around campfire
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Camping is one of the best things you can do this time of the year, but there is one thing that can ruin any trip: mosquitos. You can pitch the best tent, buy the best lightweight sleeping bag and walk around in the best hiking boots; nothing will protect you from these pesky insects. There is one thing that might, though; certain herbs wrapped in aluminium foil.

Next time you buy herbs you usually use for seasoning over baked turkey, set a bunch of sage and rosemary aside for your next camping trip. All you have to do is to make a little campfire first, then wet the herbs a bit so they don't burn, warp them in aluminium foil, poke a few holes in the foil and chuck the bundle on the fire. "Burning them not only smells great, but it drives insects nuts and wards them off," says HPC Fire Inspired.

One trick I found useful is not to throw the parcel in the middle of the roaring fire. You want it to be close to the heat, but not too close, so that the herbs start smoking. If the fire is huge, throwing the foil bundle in the middle just incinerates the content. Leave the herby package in the fire but close to the edge for the best results.

For even more helpful information about camping, read these 12 camping and hiking tips and nine more camping tips for beginners. Plus, what to pack for a spring camping trip. Finally, we have seven essential camping cooler tricks to keep your stuff chilled for longer when on a trip. 

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.