Mosquitoes have a thing for me. It's an attraction I've been trying to discourage for decades, but the bugs, they love me. And since my reaction to mosquito bites causes them swell up to roughly the circumference of a softball and the shape of Ohio, I have to either slather myself in insect repellant or stay inside until after Halloween. So this year I was determined to find effective DEET-free options that would keep me itch-free without loading up on the chemicals.
I enlisted my fellow mosquito-magnet friends as testers during recent trips to the Caribbean and the South (read: bug nightmare zones), and I'm happy to report that, overall, these products helped us elude the onslaught of mosquito bites. What's your favorite DEET-free bug repellent?
1 With essential oils like cedar, clove, and rosemary, this insect repellent doubles as an earthy, herbal fragrance.
2 Not only does this herbal spray ward off bugs, but the essential oils also moisturize skin.
3 Spray this repellent on your hands before applying to children.
4 The metal bottle is tough enough to withstand a summer full of travel.
5 Carry this stick in your bag for reapplications on the go, and breeze through TSA.
1. Intelligentsia Nutrients Certified Organic Perfume Spray, $28
2. Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent, $8
3. BabyGanics Shoo Fly DEET-Free Bug Spray, $11.99
4. Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray, $10.19
5. Beekman 1802 Bug Stick, $12
From: Alicia | 7/12/12 at 5:41 pm
I rely on Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) for mosquito protection. It is a great natural alternative to DEET based products and is just as effective. The EPA and Center for Disease control recommend Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus as the only plant based active ingredient in repellents to work as well as DEET. If you are interested in finding out more about it check out http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm. Cutter, Repel and Coleman all have products that contain OLE and are widely available at stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, sporting good stores, and on-line.