Sweat bees eat nectar and pollen and are beneficial as pollinators, so I like the idea of repelling them instead of killing them. They crave salt. It's the salt in the sweat that attracts them, not the moisture. There are thousands of varieties worldwide so they come in different sizes and colors. Some of this I knew, some I just read.
Smelling like a flower will attract them so cool it with the perfume, cologne, or aftershave until you are done working outside. The salt in your sweat will attract them anyway even if you don't smell like a flower but why make it worse. They are happy with you smelling like a salt mine. If you work outside in summer you will probably sweat. They will crawl underclothing and in your clothing to get to the sweat.
From what I read commercial insect repellents are supposed to work. I'd look at the label and see if they or just "bees" are listed. If you try to trap them, you need a special trap. They are so small they fly out of the regular traps. They nest in are soil so mulching is supposed to get them to leave the area, but how practical is that? Maybe it will help.
The sweat bees I remember are from when i as growing up. Those reminded me of an over-sized flying black ant. They were not as bad as yellow jackets, bumblebees, paper wasps, or hornets but when they stung it hurt.
