Nobody likes the sensation of insect repellent. I’ve vivid reminiscences of being sprayed down with the stuff as a child earlier than venturing into the woods in northern Minnesota on household holidays and feeling like chemical warfare was being waged on all of my senses. I used to be keen to endure it as a result of being coated in mosquito bites is even worse. Carrying repellent can save your life, defending you in opposition to West Nile virus and Lyme illness, simply to call just a few of the pathogens mosquitos and ticks can cross on.
“Insect repellents are designed to have an effect on bugs’ senses and stop them from discovering people,” says Sonja Swiger, a professor at Texas A&M College’s Division of Entomology. “Using these merchandise gives safety to people that can not be achieved by anything.” Primarily, environmental mosquito administration applications can’t utterly shield you from the bugs. If you happen to’re going to be outdoors for an extended time period, particularly in areas the place biting bugs are frequent, making use of repellent is a brilliant concept.
The excellent news is that there are far more merchandise with completely different formulation obtainable now than, say, once I was a child. Defending your self doesn’t must be a completely depressing expertise. Right here is all the pieces you could find out about numerous insect-repelling chemical substances, how to decide on the best product on your wants, and our prime picks for the very best insect repellents available on the market.
Try a few of our different outdoors-related shopping for guides like Greatest Tents, the Greatest Sunscreens, and the Greatest Day-Climbing Backpacks.
Up to date Could 2025: We added repellents from Ranger Prepared, Grand Tongo, Cutter Backwoods, and Murphy’s Naturals. We additionally up to date hyperlinks and costs.
What Chemical compounds Are Utilized in Insect Repellents?
There are 4 extensively obtainable topical repelling chemical substances which have been accepted to be used by the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), the CDC, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which suggests there’s ample proof that they’re secure and efficient in opposition to mosquitoes and ticks. These are DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus (additionally referred to as OLE and p-menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD, its artificial type).
There’s additionally permethrin, which is a repellent you’ll be able to apply to gear like tents and clothes, which can be accepted by the EPA and CDC. Citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, soybean oil, and peppermint oil don’t have sturdy analysis to point out that they’re nice repellents for ticks and mosquitos. Although some people could discover them helpful, they aren’t long-lasting or efficient in environments with a lot of bugs, in keeping with the EWG. Under, you’ll find the professionals and cons of the 4 aforementioned EPA-approved bug repelling chemical substances which you can apply to pores and skin.
DEET: N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, in any other case referred to as DEET, might be the chemical you’ve heard essentially the most about, because it’s been used since 1957 and extensively studied as an insect repellent. “It’s the gold customary that each one different merchandise are examined in opposition to,” says Swiger. It’s one of the crucial efficient choices—research within the EPA’s database present that, at various concentrations, DEET can beat back ticks for 2 to 10 hours, and mosquitoes for 2 to 12 hours. Per an EPA-approved label, a product with 20 % DEET can forestall bites from mosquitos for 11 hours.
In most situations, 30 % or much less of an lively ingredient will likely be enough for cover, says Swiger, and per an EPA-approved label, a product with 20 % DEET can forestall bites from mosquitos for 11 hours. Per the EPA, DEET can be utilized on youngsters with none age restriction. The downsides are that DEET smells terrible, is oily, and might harm something with plastic in it, like artificial clothes and tenting gear.
Picaridin: This chemical hasn’t been in use so long as DEET, nevertheless it’s been proven to be simply as secure and efficient, and it has fewer downsides. A product with 20 % picaridin may give you as much as 14 hours of safety in opposition to mosquitoes and ticks, per an EPA-approved label.
A overview from the Journal of Journey Medication analyzed 11 research that in contrast DEET and picaridin, discovering that “the research confirmed little potential distinction between DEET and picaridin utilized on the identical dosage, with some proof pointing to a superior persistence for picaridin.” Picaridin gained’t spoil materials like DEET.
IR3535: Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, or IR3535, isn’t fairly as efficient as DEET or picaridin in opposition to mosquitoes, nevertheless it’s more practical in opposition to ticks, per the EWG. Like DEET, it may possibly harm plastics.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus: Oil of lemon eucalyptus enhanced with para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) may fit in addition to DEET in opposition to mosquitoes and ticks (at concentrations between 20 to 26 %), per the EWG. Basically, oil of lemon eucalyptus and PMD don’t final so long as DEET and the opposite choices on this checklist. They gained’t harm plastics. As a result of an absence of analysis on youngsters, it shouldn’t be used on youngsters below 3.
Are Insect Repellents Protected?
To ensure that a chemical to get EPA-approval, it faces rigorous testing and analysis for its efficacy, security, and potential hurt to the setting. However folks nonetheless have issues concerning the lively substances in these merchandise. Most of that fear revolves round DEET, as a consequence of studies of neurotoxicity. In line with the EWG, “in very uncommon instances, DEET has been reported to impair the nervous system, with signs together with seizures, tremors and slurred speech—this most frequently happens after publicity to excessive concentrations of the chemical.” That is extraordinarily uncommon. The EPA has concluded that the speed of antagonistic reactions happens on the order of 1 per 100 million individuals.
Nonetheless, that’s actually scary. However extra analysis factors to DEET’s security. A report from 2017 discovered that it’s unlikely that DEET causes neurotoxicity. A 2020 College of Florida research discovered there was no elevated threat of unfavorable well being impacts for individuals who used DEET, and a 2003 report found no proof of an elevated threat of antagonistic poisonous results in youngsters.
Different chemical substances on this checklist, like picaridin, don’t pose the identical neurotoxicity issues as DEET. Finally, the repellent you select comes right down to what you are feeling secure utilizing and your degree of concern about bug bites, which may result in critical well being circumstances.
“These merchandise are constantly evaluated to substantiate their security,” says Swiger. And the advantages of utilizing repellents seemingly outweigh the dangers. “The profit is stopping biting by mosquitoes or ticks that carry disease-causing pathogens. With out the usage of repellents, an individual might be bitten by a tick or mosquito carrying a pathogen that may result in a illness corresponding to West Nile virus, Lyme illness, japanese equine encephalitis, or dengue.”
Is a Larger Focus Higher?
Not essentially. DEET’s repelling results, for instance, are likely to plateau at round 50 % focus, per the CDC. Once more, 20 % to 30 % focus of DEET or picaridin appears to be sufficient to get stable safety. Larger concentrations do have their place, although. “Some mosquitoes should not deterred by the lesser charges,” says Swiger. “Larger charges last more time intervals and work finest in opposition to giant floodwater mosquitoes.”
How Ought to You Use Insect Repellent and Sunscreen Collectively?
Swiger recommends making use of sunscreen first, then insect repellent, and she or he says to keep away from combo merchandise, per the CDC’s tips. Since sunscreen must be utilized extra typically than a repellent, merchandise that embrace each might lead to pointless publicity to the repellent chemical substances.
Are Insect Repellent Sprays, Lotions, or Wipes Higher?
What sort of components you select will actually come down to non-public desire. Sprays are simpler to use over garments and pores and skin. Lotions are likely to really feel much less greasy and sticky. Wipes are nice for journey and for instances whenever you need to pack gentle, like throughout backpacking journeys.
How We Examined
I used 19 merchandise on hikes, runs, and nights outdoors close to Denver, Colorado. All of them had been efficient in stopping bug bites, however given the dry local weather the place I dwell, I don’t encounter swarms of mosquitoes fairly often. In my analysis for this text, I’ve discovered that an insect repellent that’s thought-about efficient for one individual, in a single setting, gained’t essentially be efficient for a distinct individual in that very same setting, or a distinct individual in a distinct setting.
Primarily, mosquitoes and different bugs select who to chunk primarily based on total odor, physique warmth, and sweat, and are clearly rather more prevalent in moist and heat elements of the nation. So score these repellents on their effectiveness in opposition to bugs (primarily based on my expertise) doesn’t actually provide you with a lot useful data.
The one approach to know if a repellent will be just right for you is to attempt it on your self in your setting, in opposition to your bugs. (And take into accout, a product that works effectively for you at house may not do it in opposition to completely different bugs on trip.) In case your repellent isn’t working, you want a better focus of the repelling chemical, or a distinct repelling chemical. However, as I wrote above, beginning with a decrease focus is the transfer—there’s no purpose to show your self to extra chemical substances if the decrease degree can present reduction from biting.
All that stated, I did take thorough notes on how effectively these went on, felt on the pores and skin, and smelled, and these are my prime picks for every chemical class, primarily based on these standards.
Greatest Picaridin Bug Repellents
Greatest Dry Really feel
With a large, even, fine-mist spray, this product is simple to use and doesn’t pool in your pores and skin. It has a chemical odor a bit like rubbing alcohol, however the scent is way milder than that of any DEET merchandise I attempted. On my pores and skin, the product feels a bit greasy and sticky, however once more, a lot much less so than DEET. General, I used to be happy with the light-weight really feel of the product and appreciated the locking lid on the bottle. Per the label, this spray accommodates 20 % picaridin and might present as much as 12 hours of safety.
Greatest Spray
This small spritz bottle offered thorough protection, however the product did should be rubbed in a bit. Regardless of its barely sticky really feel, this “scent zero” spray didn’t have an overwhelmingly sturdy insect repellent odor. The model additionally makes scented variations of the product, with choices like Evening Sky and Ranger Orange. The 20 % picaridin focus will provide you with 12 hours of worry-free time outdoors, sans mosquitos and ticks.
Greatest Lotion
I’d by no means tried a lotion repellent earlier than, and I used to be pleasantly shocked by how good they felt and the way a lot much less they smelled than the sprays. This one specifically appeared to have an excellent milder scent than different picaridin lotions, and left my pores and skin feeling extra hydrated than oily. It feels prefer it absorbs into your pores and skin slightly than sitting on prime of it. It accommodates 20 % picaridin and gives as much as 14 hours of safety.
After testing almost 20 completely different bug sprays (that just about all smelled at the very least just a little disagreeable and chemical-y), this picaridin spray from Grand Tongo really blew me away. I don’t know the way the model managed to do it, however this product smells subtly candy and recent, with out a trace of harsh repellent odor. The model additionally provides a citrus and sandalwood scent, however the inexperienced tea and mint was my private favourite. There’s a fragrance-free choice, which dries right down to have zero scent on the pores and skin. It appears like magic! The extensive, even spray, shockingly stunning (?) bottle, and locking lid are good touches. With 20 % picardin, it is best to have 12 hours of safety.
Greatest DEET Bug Repellents
This product has the distinct chemical-y, bug spray odor of DEET, however the really feel is nicer than most DEET sprays. It’s not completely weightless, nevertheless it dries down actually properly and feels mushy and solely barely greasy to the contact. The spray is even, however the lack of a locking lid makes me cautious to pack it for a hike.
This DEET spray goes on evenly in a advantageous mist and dries right down to a pleasant, solely barely oily end. The locking lid stayed in place even once I hauled the bottle round in a backpack for a day. The odor was chemical-y, however not extraordinarily sturdy. The product claims to be sweat-resistant, and it didn’t simply soften away on my hike and even later once I wiped it off with a moist washcloth. With a 25 % focus of DEET, it gives as much as 10 hours of safety.
The DEET stink remains to be there, however the lotion components feels extra nice and fewer greasy to me than most sprays. This product specifically accommodates DEET (at a 20 % focus) that’s encapsulated in a slow-dissolving protein, which suggests the DEET is launched over an extended time period, offering as much as 11 hours of safety.
These pocket-sized wipes are a bit moist and messy, however that additionally means one wipe goes a great distance when it comes to protection. The odor is much less intense than different wipes; it jogs my memory of rubbing alcohol. These are perfect for throwing in a mountain climbing bag or getting by TSA. They’ve a 30 % focus of DEET, and the bundle claims as much as seven hours of safety.
Greatest IR3535 Bug Repellent
Of all of the sprays I examined, this was my favourite. It felt really dry to the contact after a couple of minutes, in contrast to any of the DEET or picaridin sprays. It was additionally virtually utterly odorless, which gained main factors in my guide. The spray isn’t as even and advantageous as I’d prefer it to be, nevertheless it wasn’t an enormous barrier to utility. General, I used to be actually impressed by this one’s light-weight, barely-there really feel.
Greatest Oil-of-Lemon-Eucalyptus Bug Repellent
This product makes use of a combo of p-menthane-3,8-diol and oil of lemon eucalyptus, with a 30 % focus. It’s very oily and does pool on the pores and skin, so you could actually rub it in. It additionally has a really sturdy eucalyptus scent that’s fairly off-putting, nevertheless it does fade over time. It has a locking lid, and the packaging says it gives six hours of safety.
For a small spritz bottle, the spray is even and advantageous, and I solely wanted to rub this product in just a little earlier than it dried down, leaving a barely greasy end. The odor is much less intense and extra nice than different oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays I attempted—as soon as it dried, it was extra recent and citrusy than eucalyptus-forward. With a 30 % focus of oil of lemon eucalyptus and 65 % focus of p-menthane-3,8-diol, it is best to get six hours of safety from mosquitos and 4 hours of safety in opposition to ticks.
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