While DEET remains the Centers for Disease Control鈥檚 repellent of choice for warding off mosquitoes and ticks, it鈥檚 not always the best option for outdoor adventurers.
It鈥檚 been known to eat through synthetic clothing and gear, it鈥檚 easy to OD kids and sensitive adults, and it鈥檚 harmful to fish and other aquatic life. So many companies are turning to less reactive alternatives鈥攍ike picaridin, which won鈥檛 chew through clothing but is still somewhat toxic to humans, and IR3535, which is nontoxic but can irritate skin if over-applied. 聽
Fortunately, for those who want to forego chemicals altogether, there are nature-made options that work almost as well. The Environmental Protection Agency approves three plant-oil repellents for covering the whole family, and research stands behind a few more for less-buggy situations.
Citronella
The reason this citrusy option is so ubiquitous? It鈥檚 safe for children, sensitive adults, and wildlife. Just keep the spray on hand鈥攜ou鈥檒l need to reapply at least every 60 minutes.
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Citronella makes up a whopping ten percent of the formula, which guarantees maximum lasting power. The slim bottle is easy to stick in a pocket for touch-ups. $8.99,
Catnip
Early research suggests that catnip, a member of the mint family, may work better than DEET when diffused in the air, where it can last up to 15 hours. It鈥檚 less effective when worn on skin or clothes, but its track record with felines still makes it a safe choice for protecting pets as well as humans.
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The catnip here is Canadian, which is 45 percent stronger than other varieties, paired with skin-soothing witch hazel and vitamin E. And yes, it鈥檚 four-legged friendly, too. $15.15,
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
This specially processed oil is the only natural DEET alternative that鈥檚 also endorsed by the CDC, and it keeps mosquitoes and ticks at bay for up to six hours (though it鈥檚 not for kids under three). Just don鈥檛 confuse the repellent oil with the essential oil, which is manufactured differently and doesn鈥檛 contain enough of the bug-offending chemical (for you chemistry nerds, that鈥檚 p-menthane-3, 8-diol), to keep the biters away.
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This cooling spray delivers lemon eucalyptus that packs 65 percent of the repellent chemical. It also comes in a travel-friendly pen as well as a full-size bottle. From $3.99,聽
Runner Up: Geraniol
Found in geranium and rose flowers, geraniol is a solid second to DEET, according to some studies. One found that it reduced mosquito bites by up to 99 percent, versus citronella鈥檚 40 to 57 percent. In another study, it held off bugs for a solid 94 minutes, while other natural selections fizzled after 20.
But before you start spraying away, there are reasons it didn鈥檛 make the EPA short list鈥攎ostly because it can cause skin irritation. Make sure to do a patch test before taking it on the trail. It can also have the unfortunate effect of attracting friendly interest from honeybees, since it鈥檚 similar to a nesting pheromone. You鈥檙e not likely to get stung, but obviously skip this one if you鈥檙e allergic.
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It鈥檚 blended with coconut and soybean oil, both of which have fatty acids that may help deter mosquitoes and also boost the repellent鈥檚 lasting power. $8.99,
Honorable Mentions: Cedar, Patchouli, Peppermint, Thyme
Many essential oils contain the same or similar repellent chemicals as the all-stars above, just in lower concentrations that won鈥檛 deter aggressive biters鈥攚hich is the main reason why the EPA and the CDC don鈥檛 give them the stamp of approval. There鈥檚 still plenty of research to stand behind some of them, though, especially for times when insects are few and a hard-hitting repellent is overkill. Look for cedar, patchouli, peppermint, and thyme: they鈥檙e the top performers in studies.
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Brooklyn perfumer Christopher Brosius blended cedar, geranium, oregano, and patchouli with lavender and bergamot to ward off flying insects and make you smell like a great cologne. It might not be potent enough for the backcountry, but you鈥檒l be glad you wore it when drinks on the patio turn buggy. From $16,
