Humans exhale carbon dioxide (CO₂) with every breath. Flies—and many insects—use CO₂ as a tracking signal to locate animals, food sources, and warm-blooded creatures.
This means:
-
The more you move
-
The more you talk
-
The heavier you breathe
…the more CO₂ you release, which makes flies more likely to follow you.
This is also why flies sometimes circle around your face—they’re navigating toward the air you exhale.
4. Certain People Attract Flies More Than Others
Believe it or not, flies don’t treat everyone the same. Scientists have found that some people naturally attract more flies due to differences in:
-
body temperature
-
skin bacteria
-
hormone levels
-
diet
-
how much they sweat
For example:
-
People who are naturally warmer may draw flies more often
-
People with sweeter or stronger body odors might attract more attention
-
People who move more tend to attract curious flies
This is similar to how mosquitoes choose certain individuals more often.
5. Perfumes and Fragrances Can Attract Flies Too
Flies have sensitive noses. They don’t just smell sweat—they also smell:
-
perfumes
-
scented lotions
-
deodorants
-
hair products
-
fruity fragrances
Some floral or fruity scents mimic the smell of food or plants flies are naturally drawn to.
So, the more scented products you use, the more likely you are to attract insects.
