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 lined in mosquito bites is even worse. Sporting repellent can save your life, defending you in opposition to West Nile virus and Lyme disease, simply to call a number of of the pathogens mosquitoes and ticks can go on.
“Insect repellents are designed to have an effect on bugs’ senses and forestall them from discovering people,” says Sonja Swiger, a professor at Texas A&M College’s Division of Entomology. “The usage of these merchandise gives safety to people that can’t be achieved by anything.” Basically, environmental mosquito administration packages can’t fully defend you from the bugs. In the event you’re going to be exterior for a protracted time period, particularly in areas the place biting bugs are widespread, making use of repellent is a great thought.
The excellent news is that there are far more merchandise with totally different formulation obtainable now than, say, once I was a child. Defending your self doesn’t must be a very depressing expertise. Right here is every part you should find out about varied insect-repelling chemical compounds, how to decide on the fitting product on your wants, and our prime picks for the most effective insect repellents in the marketplace.
Try a few of our different outdoors-related shopping for guides just like the Best Tents, Best Sunscreens, and Best Day-Hiking Backpacks.
Up to date Might 2026: We have added new suggestions from Avon, Off!, and Grand Tongo, and we have up to date the FAQ, hyperlinks, and costs.
What Chemical substances Are Utilized in Insect Repellents?
There are 4 broadly obtainable topical repelling chemical compounds which have been authorised to be used by the Environmental Protection Agency (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 known as OLE and p-menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD, its artificial type).
There’s additionally permethrin, a repellent you may apply to gear like tents and clothes, and it is authorised by the EPA and CDC. Citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, soybean oil, and peppermint oil lack sturdy analysis displaying they’re efficient repellents for ticks and mosquitoes. Although some of us might discover them helpful, they aren’t long-lasting or efficient in environments with a lot of bugs, in line with the EWG. Beneath, you’ll find the professionals and cons of the 4 aforementioned EPA-approved bug-repelling chemical compounds that you may apply to your pores and skin.
DEET: N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, in any other case generally known as DEET, might be the chemical you’ve heard probably the most about, because it’s been used since 1957 and broadly studied as an insect repellent. “It’s the gold normal that every one different merchandise are examined in opposition to,” Swiger says. It’s one of the vital efficient choices—research within the EPA’s database present that, at various concentrations, DEET can keep off ticks for 2 to 10 hours, and mosquitoes for 2 to 12 hours. Per an EPA-approved label, a product with 20 % DEET can stop bites from mosquitoes for 11 hours.
In most situations, 30 % or much less of an lively ingredient can be enough for cover, Swiger says. 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, but it surely’s been proven to be simply as secure and efficient, and it has fewer downsides. A product with 20 % picaridin can provide you as much as 14 hours of safety in opposition to mosquitoes and ticks, per an EPA-approved label.
A evaluation from the Journal of Travel Medicine 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 damage materials like DEET.
IR3535: Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, or IR3535, isn’t fairly as efficient as DEET or picaridin in opposition to mosquitoes, but it surely’s more practical in opposition to ticks, per the EWG. Like DEET, it might harm plastics.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus: Oil of lemon eucalyptus enhanced with PMD may go in addition to DEET in opposition to mosquitoes and ticks (at concentrations between 20 to 26 %), per the EWG. Usually, 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. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is secure to make use of on youngsters beneath three if the focus is 30 % or much less, per the EPA.
Are Insect Repellents Protected?
To acquire EPA approval, a chemical goes by way of rigorous testing and analysis of its efficacy, security, and potential hurt to the atmosphere. However individuals nonetheless have issues concerning the lively substances in these merchandise. Most of that fear revolves round DEET, resulting from studies of neurotoxicity. In response to the EWG, “in very uncommon circumstances, 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 hostile 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 study discovered there was no elevated danger of adverse well being impacts for individuals who used DEET, and a 2003 report found no proof of an elevated danger of hostile poisonous results in children.
Different chemical compounds 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’re feeling secure utilizing and your stage of concern about bug bites, which might result in critical well being circumstances.
“These merchandise are constantly evaluated to verify their security,” Swiger says. And the advantages of utilizing repellents possible outweigh the dangers. “The profit is stopping biting by mosquitoes or ticks that carry disease-causing pathogens. With out using repellents, an individual may very well be bitten by a tick or mosquito carrying a pathogen that may result in a illness comparable to West Nile virus, Lyme illness, japanese equine encephalitis, or dengue.”
Is a Greater Focus Higher?
Not essentially. DEET’s repelling results, for instance, are inclined to plateau at round 50 % focus, per the CDC. Once more, a 20 to 30 % focus of DEET or picaridin appears enough for stable safety. Greater concentrations do have their place, although. “Some mosquitoes aren’t deterred by the lesser charges,” Swiger says. “Greater charges last more time durations and work greatest 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 pointers. Since sunscreen ought to be utilized extra typically than a repellent, merchandise that embrace each might lead to pointless publicity to the repellent chemical compounds.
Are Insect Repellent Sprays, Lotions, or Wipes Higher?
What sort of system you select will actually come down to private desire. Sprays are simpler to use over garments and pores and skin. Lotions are inclined to really feel much less greasy and sticky. Wipes are nice for journey and for occasions whenever you need to pack mild, like throughout backpacking journeys.
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 scent 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. Total, 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 incorporates 20 % picaridin and might present as much as 12 hours of safety.
Greatest Spray
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Ranger Prepared Repellents
Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray
This small spritz bottle offered thorough protection, however the product did have to be rubbed in a bit. Regardless of its barely sticky really feel, this “scent zero” spray didn’t have an overwhelmingly sturdy insect repellent scent. The model additionally makes scented variations of the product, with choices like Night Sky and Ranger Orange. The 20 % picaridin focus gives you 12 hours of worry-free time exterior, sans mosquitoes and ticks.
Greatest Lotion
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Confirmed Insect Repellent Lotion
I’d by no means tried a lotion repellent earlier than, and I used to be pleasantly stunned by how good they felt and the way a lot much less they smelled than the sprays. This one specifically appeared to have a good 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 reasonably than sitting on prime of it. It incorporates 20 % picaridin and gives as much as 14 hours of safety.
Greatest Wipes
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Avon
Pores and skin So Gentle Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Towelettes
These wipes are giant—9 by 5.5 inches—so that you solely want one or two to cowl all of your uncovered pores and skin. They miraculously lack that typical bug spray scent, and as an alternative have a pleasant mild, powdery scent. The ten-percent picaridin system additionally incorporates moisturizing vitamin E and aloe (therefore the Pores and skin So Gentle within the identify); it appears like a light-weight physique oil as soon as it dries. The scent and the feel make this extra like a skincare product than an insect repellent.
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Grand Tongo
Inexperienced Tea + Mint Insect Repellent
After testing practically 20 totally different bug sprays (that just about all smelled not less than slightly disagreeable and chemical-y), this picaridin spray from Grand Tongo actually blew me away. I don’t understand how the model managed to do it, however this product smells subtly candy and contemporary, with out a trace of harsh repellent scent. The model additionally affords a citrus and sandalwood scent, however the inexperienced tea and mint was my private favourite. There’s a fragrance-free possibility, which dries right down to have zero scent on the pores and skin. It appears like magic! The broad, even spray, shockingly stunning bottle, and locking lid are good touches. With 20 % picardin, you must have 12 hours of safety.
Greatest for Journey
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Grand Tongo
Pocket Pump Spray Insect Repellent
This tiny spray bottle is ideal for journey—it’s TSA-friendly and might simply slide in a pocket or be thrown in a mountaineering pack whenever you don’t need to carry an entire bottle. Made with 20 % picaridin and a light-weight system that dries quick, this repellent gained’t go away a greasy end and really smells nice. Grand Tongo is thought for pleasantly scented insect repellents, just like the “greatest smelling” suggestion above, and the orangey citrus plus sandalwood scent is a winner. You gained’t get any whiffs of bug spray with this product.
Greatest DEET Bug Repellents
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Off!
Deep Woods Dry Insect Repellent
This product has the distinct chemical-y, bug spray scent of DEET, however the really feel is nicer than most DEET sprays. It’s not completely weightless, but it surely dries down actually properly and feels comfortable 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.
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Cutter
Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
This DEET spray goes on evenly in a tremendous 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 scent 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.
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Sawyer 20 P.c DEET Premium Household Insect Repellent Managed Launch
The DEET stink remains to be there, however the lotion system feels extra nice and fewer greasy to me than most sprays. This product specifically incorporates 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.
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Ben’s Tick and Insect Repellent Wipes
These pocket-sized wipes are a bit moist and messy, however that additionally means one wipe goes a good distance by way of protection. The scent is much less intense than different wipes; it jogs my memory of rubbing alcohol. These are perfect for throwing in a mountaineering bag or getting by way of TSA. They’ve a 30 % focus of DEET, and the bundle claims as much as seven hours of safety.
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Off!
Lively Sweat Resistant Insect Repellent
Going for a run in a buggy space is really the worst. Bugs are drawn to sweat, so you actually need an efficient repellent when you don’t need to spend your exercise swatting them away. The Off! Lively Sweat Resistant Insect Repellent is made to remain put by way of train like mountaineering, operating, and kayaking, and I discovered that it held up properly throughout sweaty jogs round Denver. It sprays in a large, even mist, and you’ll even spray it the wrong way up, which makes it straightforward to use shortly on the again of your physique. It dries to a comfortable, nongreasy end and has a barely candy albeit chemical-like scent. I used to be impressed by how mild the scent was given it’s a DEET product.
Greatest IR3535 Bug Repellent
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Coleman Insect Repellent Spray (makes use of IR3535)
Of all of the sprays I examined, this was my favourite. It felt actually dry to the contact after a couple of minutes, not like any of the DEET or picaridin sprays. It was additionally virtually fully odorless, which gained main factors in my e-book. The spray isn’t as even and tremendous as I’d prefer it to be, but it surely wasn’t an enormous barrier to software. Total, I used to be actually impressed by this one’s light-weight, barely-there really feel.
Greatest Oil-of-Lemon-Eucalyptus Bug Repellent
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{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Repel Plant-Based mostly Lemon Eucalyptus Insect 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 should actually rub it in. It additionally has a really sturdy eucalyptus scent that’s fairly off-putting, but it surely does fade over time. It has a locking lid, and the packaging says it gives six hours of safety.
{Photograph}: Kristin Canning
Murphy’s Naturals
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Mosquito and Tick Repellent
For a small spritz bottle, the spray is even and tremendous, and I solely wanted to rub this product in slightly earlier than it dried down, leaving a barely greasy end. The scent is much less intense and extra nice than different oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays I attempted—as soon as it dried, it was extra contemporary and citrusy than eucalyptus-forward. With a 30 % focus of oil of lemon eucalyptus and 65 % focus of p-menthane-3,8-diol, you must get six hours of safety from mosquitos and 4 hours of safety in opposition to ticks.
How We Examined
I used 27 merchandise on hikes, runs, and nights exterior close to Denver, Colorado. All of them have been efficient in stopping bug bites, however given the dry local weather the place I reside, 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 atmosphere, gained’t essentially be efficient for a special individual in that very same atmosphere, or a special individual in a special atmosphere.
Basically, mosquitoes and different bugs select who to chew based mostly on total scent, physique warmth, and sweat, and are clearly far more prevalent in moist and heat components of the nation. So score these repellents on their effectiveness in opposition to bugs (based mostly on my expertise) doesn’t actually provide you with a lot precious data.
The one method to know if a repellent will be just right for you is to strive it on your self in your atmosphere, in opposition to your bugs. (And be mindful, a product that works properly for you at dwelling may not do it in opposition to totally different bugs on trip.) In case your repellent isn’t working, you want a better focus of the repelling chemical, or a special repelling chemical. However, as I wrote above, beginning with a decrease focus is the transfer—there’s no purpose to reveal your self to extra chemical compounds if the decrease stage can present reduction from biting.
