The following is an unabashed commercial plug for a product that I have found so much superior to what most people use that I consider I should share this secret with all.
Whilst I have found that I am generally invisible to the female of the species
homo, my attractiveness to the females in all the species in the family
Culicidae is astounding. They seek me out in crowds. People like having me around at nights as I am the perfect decoy. To avoid these little blood suckers, I have used that product in the blue can for many years. I have put up with the smell, and the sticky residue on my skin and bed clothing. Even so, I am still regularily buzzed and about half a dozen desperate females always manage to find those few patches of skin that only have one layer of repellant on, rather than several. Last night was typical, with a number of bites from some pesky mozzies who are unable to read the "tropical strength" label on the side of the can, or to find the smell of this stuff repugent enough to forgo a meal. Of course, there is much written (on this forum and other) about observing equipment and techniques. There is a little less on observer comfort - adjustable chairs, cold weather clothing etc. Very few talk about mosquitoes. The only article I have ever read on them (in a publication aimed at the amateur astronomy market) was by Rod Mollise in his excellent Skywatch newsletter. This quarterly publication is downloadable from his site. Rod wrote an article where he basically said that the only useful repellants
contains DEET. Nothing else will work. So for years I have used the stuff in the blue can, until recently I was told about RID. I was told that applying it will mean that you think there is no mozzies around tonight. So I tried the stuff in the purple can, and it works. Well. Really well. The smell is pleasant and the mozzies keep their distance. For someone like me, this is great. All my blue cans have gone in the bin, replaced by purple cans. It smells like perfume to me, and as long as it keeps those females away, I will be one happy sky brower.