Get an Effective Natural Insect Repellent

Chemical-based insect repellents with DEET are useful for five-alarm bug situations, but what if you want something natural and milder for around home or the park? Several plant-based repellents work effectively on mosquitoes, ticks, head lice – even flies – and leave a scent that may please you, but disgusts biting pests...

Bug sprays can be a lifesaver in the summer. Their strong chemical odors and oily films repel biting insects – and people too!

But you can stay bite-free without unpleasant odor and sensation. Consider natural plant-based insect repellents instead. In many cases, they’re as effective as products with the chemical DEET, or diethyltoluamide, an oily fluid that repels biting bugs.

“To wear in the backyard swimming pool or to a local park, natural repellents work just fine,” says Alfred Scott Lea, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas’ Institute of Tropical Medicine in Galveston.

However, they may not be as effective in tropical countries where malaria and dengue fever are problems.

In those cases, “stick with a DEET-based repellent, which offers longer-lasting protection than natural insect repellents,” says Frederick Schaffer, M.D., a Charleston, S.C.-based allergist and immunologist and chief medical officer of United Allergy Labs, a San Antonio-based pharmaceutical company.

Most plant-based insect repellents haven’t undergone the safety testing that DEET-based repellents have, but are deemed safe because they’ve been around a long time, according to a 2011 study of plant-based insect repellents conducted at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania.

“Natural insect repellents are based on a variety of plant-based ingredients, such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, citronella, soybeans, Neem [tree] oil and even wild tomatoes,” says Jeffrey Band, M.D., an infectious disease specialist, epidemiologist and chief of infectious diseases at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., and director of the hospital’s Interhealth: Health Care for International Travelers.

Natural insect repellents can cost slightly more than those with DEET. For example, OFF Smooth and Dry Insect Repellent costs $4.79 for 4 ounces, while 4 ounces of Repel, which contains oil of lemon eucalyptus, is $5.99.

But if you’re not fond of chemicals, they’re worth considering. Read on to learn how to choose a natural insect repellent that discourages mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats and other pests.
Natural Insect Repellent #1: Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
Oil of lemon eucalyptus, which comes from leaves and twigs of an Australian tree, repels mosquitoes, ticks and flies.

“It’s the only plant-based insect repellent recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if you’re traveling to an area where malaria and yellow fever are primary concerns,” Band says.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus and PMD, or para-Menthane-3,8-diol, its synthesized version, masks more than 340 different scents given off by human skin that insects use to locate targets, according to the Agricultural Research Service, the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

PMD “provided high protection from a broad range of insects,” including mosquitoes that carry malaria and yellow fever, the London School study found.

In the study, Repel’s Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent provided 120 minutes of mosquito protection, while a repellent with 4.75% DEET (Off Skintastic for Kids) provided only 88 minutes of protection.

But before buying PMD, be careful: It’s easy to confuse oil of lemon eucalyptus with essential oil of lemon eucalyptus, which isn’t approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an insect repellent. The essential oil provides only an hour of protection and isn’t recommended for use in disease-endemic countries, Lea says.

Available in: Lotions, gels, sprays and towelette wipes

Look for: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent

Apply: Every 4-6 hours

Pros:
Long-lasting and effective against malaria and yellow fever

Won’t stain or melt synthetic fabrics

Cons:
Has a strong, distinctive odor that people love or hate

May irritate skin if applied more than twice a day, according to the EPA

Don’t use on children under 3, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises
Natural Insect Repellent #2: Soybean oil
Soybean oil is an effective repellent when combined with certain essential oils, like coconut and geranium, and other ingredients, such as glycerin, lecithin and vanillin. It repels mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, midges and flies, which are disgusted by its smell.

A soybean oil “cocktail” can repel mosquitoes for up to seven hours and keep ticks at bay for two hours, the 2011 London School study found.

It also works for kids, according to a 2002 study by Chapel Hill Dermatology in North Carolina and the University of Florida. Researchers found that the soybean-based insect repellent BiteBlocker for Kids was more effective at repelling mosquitoes than a DEET-based insect repellent for children (which contains a lower concentration of the chemical).

In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranked BiteBlocker the second-best natural insect repellent after Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent in a 2002.

Available in: Sprays and lotions

Look for: BiteBlocker (contains geranium, soybean and coconut oils); Buzz Away Extreme (soybean oil and a blend of essential oils)

Reapply: Every 3.5 hours

Pros:
Waterproof and sweat-proof

Won't stain or damage fabrics and can be applied to clothing for added protection

Cons:
Not EPA-approved

Natural Insect Repellent #3: Citronella oil
Citronella is one of the oldest and most widely used plant-based insect repellents. Derived from dried cultivated grasses, its strong smell repels mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, midges and flies by masking the smell of human skin with a scent that is also unappealing to pests.

Available in: Sprays, lotions and oils

Look for: California Baby Citronella Bug Spray; Citronella Oil by Triple J Insect Repellent

Apply: At least every 2 hours

Pros:
As effective as DEET

Has a 50-year safety record, says the CDC

EPA-approved

Cons:
Evaporates quickly and must be reapplied often, London School researchers say

Strong odor may be offensive to some people

May irritate sensitive skin if applied more than twice daily, the EPA says

May stain some fabrics

Not recommended for children under 6 months old unless directed by a physician, the EPA says
Natural Insect Repellent #4: Neem oil
Neem oil, extracted from the seeds of the Indian Neem tree, is a well-documented “antifeeding” ingredient that disrupts molting and reproductive cycles of mosquitoes, head lice and fleas. Because the insects can’t feed or reproduce, they take off.

Unfortunately, there's not enough conclusive research as to whether or not Neem oil is an effective natural insect repellent.

Neem oil offered eight hours of protection from mosquitoes, according to a 2003 study conducted at Venezuela’s Instituto de Salud Publica, which recommended its use in countries with malaria and yellow fever.

Available in: Oils, lotions and sprays

Look for: Organix South Herbal Outdoor Spray Neem Protection; Natural Insect Repellent Pest-Off Body Oil with Neem Oil; Ark Naturals Neem Protect Spray.

Apply: Every 2-4 hours

Pros:
Neem oil is a common ingredient in skin moisturizers and soaps, according to the EPA (bonus!).

Because it’s a skin lubricant, it doesn’t need to be washed off after use, as other repellents do.

Cons:
Strong nutty or garlic scent that offends some people

Not waterproof and must be reapplied after swimming, rigorous exercise and sweating

Not EPA-approved

Not recommended for use in countries where insect-borne diseases are prevalent.

Natural Insect Repellent #5: BioUD (wild tomato)
This natural insect repellent is made with 2-undecanone, a substance derived from wild tomatoes, Lea says.

BioUD products offered the same protection as insect repellents with 98% DEET (among the most potent repellents on the market today) or 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus, according to a 2009 North Carolina State University study. It kept mosquitoes away for 4.5 hours and ticks up to two hours.

Available in: Sprays and lotions

Look for: BioUD Insect & Tick Repellent Lotion 3.5 oz

Apply: Every two hours for ticks and every 4.5 hours for mosquitoes

Pros:
EPA-approved

Won’t damage synthetic fabrics

Cons:
“Not everyone likes the smell,” Lea says of undecanone, which has been likened to fruit, perfume and overheated plastic.

Not waterproof, so you need to reapply it after swimming, rigorous exercise and sweating.
Natural Insect Repellent #6: Essential oils
For short-term protection against biting pests in the U.S. and Western countries, where malaria and yellow fever aren’t endemic, some essential oils may offer short-term relief against biting bugs, reports the London School study.

“You may have to reapply essential oils more frequently than chemical-based ones, but they’re very powerful against mosquitoes, flies and ticks, smell nice and aren’t toxic to you or the environment,” says Reese Halter, Ph.D., a biologist, research scientist and professor of environmental sciences at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The best essential oils for repelling insects include thyme, geraniol, peppermint, cedar, patchouli and clove, says the 2011 London study.

Clove oil is the clear winner, providing 100% protection for two to four hours, according to a 2005 study by Mahidol University in Bangkok on the bug-repelling efficacy of 38 essential oils. For maximum protection, consider using clove oil alone or with other oils.

“You can create your own natural insect repellent from essential cedar, rose, geranium or clove oils,” says Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., a Hawaii-based naturopath and physician who specializes in alternative medicine.

Here’s her recipe: Combine 10 to 25 drops of essential oil(s) with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sunflower oil or another vegetable oil, Halter says.

Available in: Oils only

Look for: Organic Infusions; iHerb; Young Living oils

Apply: Every two hours or more.

Pros:
Pleasant smell

Customizable to your preference

Cons:
Essential oils (except citronella) are not EPA-approved

Evaporate quickly and require continual reapplication

Not for use in countries where insect-borne disease is endemic

May stain clothing

May cause skin irritation, especially when skin is exposed to direct sunlight, according to the London School study
Ward off bugs safely
Many plant-based insect repellents can be toxic if not applied correctly, the London School says.

The CDC offers these application tips:
Choose repellents with around 30% active ingredients. Products with less than 10% may protect only for an hour. Those with 50% don’t offer much more protection.

Apply repellent only to exposed skin and never under clothing because it increases the risk of skin irritation. Instead, tuck pant legs into socks and wear long sleeves, Lea advises.

Don’t put on cuts, wounds or rashes, because bug sprays can worsen the irritation.

Don’t apply near eyes or mouth and use sparingly around ears.

Don’t spray directly on the face. Instead, apply on hands first and then rub on your face.

Wash hands after application to avoid accidental exposure to eyes.

Never let children apply insect repellent themselves. Instead, put some on your hands first and then gently spread on exposed skin, avoiding their hands, which often go into mouths.

Use just a thin layer of repellent to cover exposed skin. More isn’t necessarily better. If the insects are still biting you, apply more repellent.

After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.

Wash treated clothing before wearing it again.

If you experience a rash, itching, swelling or other side effects, wash off repellent with mild soap and water and discontinue use.

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