For outdoor gathering or for just sitting outside without being attacked by 'skeeter's, garlic spray, either bought or homemade, will keep them away. Just spray an hour or so ahead of outdoor time, and everybody will be fine. Now, the Master Gardeners are saying that dried, crushed garlic spread out throughout the yard will keep the skeeter's away, also. Plus repel bee's, evil-eye, all kinds of stuff. However, reports made states that it attracts Italians, so use accordingly.