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10 DEET-Free Natural Bug Repellents to Help Keep You Bite-Free All Summer Long
Enjoy a full season of pest-free outdoor rest and relaxation
One downside to warmer weather? Bug bites. Waking up covered with those itchy red welts is enough to make you wish winter lasted all year (OK, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but still). Unfortunately, a lot of bug repellents give us that sticky, I-just-doused-myself-in-chemicals feeling.
Many parents are leery of the ingredient DEET that can be found in some mainstream bug repellents, as they are worried about the potential dangers and side effects. To learn more about this controversial ingredient, we spoke with Dr. Jeannette Graf, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
She tells Best Products, “Bug sprays that contain DEET have been considered the most effective repellents for years, and endorsed by the World Health Organization. The ingredient is safe and long-lasting.” Unfortunately, however, sprays containing DEET can be oily and irritating to people with very sensitive skin, and children are sometimes turned off by sprays with this ingredient, according to Graf.
Best DEET-Free Insect Repellents
What Are Some DEET Alternatives?
Picaridin
If you're looking for a DEET-free bug repellent, Graf recommends trying to use bug sprays that contain the active ingredient picaridin — a synthetic chemical that mimics the natural chemical piperidine — as an effective alternative for people with sensitive skin. Picaridin is usually sprayed on the clothing instead of directly on the skin, making it easier to handle.
Natural Alternatives
There are also several natural ingredients that work as bug repellents.
- Lemon eucalyptus oil: This is an essential oil that can be found in natural bug repellents, and it's one that Graf recommends. Note that this is different from oil of lemon eucalyptus. However, both are used in natural repellents. They can cause skin irritation, though, so watch out for redness and rash.
- Cinnamon oil: Cinnamon oil kills mosquito larvae and repels adult mosquitos. (It also smells just lovely!) It is in very few insect repellants, and can be more irritating than other essential oils.
- Thyme oil: Studies have shown that thyme oil can be effective in insect repellents. Burning thyme leaves in your general vicinity also appears to have some repelling effects. It does smell a lot like weed, though: Be warned!
- Citronella: Graf suggests that parents try citronella in the form of candles. “Some people prefer to continuously apply citronella oil to their wrists (obviously not as effective and long-lasting, but they prefer it)," she adds. "You have to apply this about every hour, but they are safe for kids and can be effective with constant reapplication.”
The options for DEET-free insect repellents have never been better or more plentiful, so the team at Best Products has put together a list of the best natural options that don't contain the potentially irritating ingredient. These DEET-free natural bug repellents will keep you safely insect-free and comfortable all season long.
OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent
OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent
Primary Ingredients
- Pine oil
We're all familiar with the Off! bug spray brand. Now, there's Off! Botanicals natural bug repellent.
It’s made with a form of pine extract called menthane diol that works similarly to eucalyptus oil, and it surprisingly doesn’t smell like a medicine cabinet. It's effective for two hours. It's inexpensive, well-known, and a darn good option.
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent (2-Pack)
Primary Ingredients
- Lemon-eucalyptus oil
For adults and kids older than 3, Repel's plant-based spray is a highly effective natural bug repellent.
The active ingredient — oil derived from the leaves of a lemon eucalyptus plant — protects against mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks for up to six hours, which is just as good as products containing 25% DEET.
Squito Ban Organic Mosquito Repellent
Squito Ban Organic Mosquito Repellent
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
- Clove oil
- Rosemary oil
This formula is made with citronella, clove, and rosemary oil. These ingredients give this effective, all-natural bug repellent a light, herbal fragrance that is pleasant without being pungent. (It smells a bit like Thanksgiving, to be honest.)
The plant-based formula is easy to apply, thanks to the handle-grip easy nozzle, which is ready for reapplication at any time.
Sawyer Products Insect Repellent With 20% Picaridin
Sawyer Products Insect Repellent With 20% Picaridin
Primary Ingredients
- Picaridin
The Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent is one of our favorite DEET-free repellents that contain picaridin.
It’s touted as being a camping must-have by reviewers, leaving behind virtually no grease or odor, but repelling biting bugs very effectively.
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
- Cedarwood oil
- Lemongrass oil
For your tiny tots, you'll want to use a natural bug spray that's free of any and all potential irritants. Hello Bello's bug spray is 100% USDA-certified organic and designed to keep away 56 different types of pesky bugs.
According to Hello Bello's own lab tests, this natural bug spray will keep your kids bite-free for up to four hours.
Medella Naturals Insect & Mosquito Repellent (2-Pack)
Medella Naturals Insect & Mosquito Repellent (2-Pack)
Primary Ingredients
- Lemongrass oil
- Vanilla
Lemongrass oil, vitamin E, castor oil, and a little vanilla make this pack of natural bug repellents from Medella an irresistible fragrance to humans, all while being disgusting to bugs. In fact, this option repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other creepy crawlies for up to two hours. It's not oily or greasy, and it's safe for sensitive skin.
Medella sells their bug spray in a pack of two, making it affordable and available to most families. We recommend buying multiple pairs early and often, especially if you plan on being outdoors frequently.
All Terrain Kids Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent
All Terrain Kids Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
- Peppermint oil
- Cedarwood oil
- Lemongrass oil
With a blend of essential oils like citronella, peppermint, and cedar, All Terrain is a natural approach to keep the mosquitos away.
The DEET-free formula is perfectly safe for your kids — plus, the convenient spray bottle makes the application super easy. Toss a bottle in your kid's summer camp bag for on-demand protection.
Murphy's Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks
Murphy's Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
- Rosemary oil
- Peppermint oil
Get your relaxation on and light up Murphy's Naturals incense sticks to steer clear of annoying bugs. There are eight sticks in each tube, and each stick provides more than two hours of burn time — depending on which way the wind blows, of course!
Abarli 5-Ounce Citronella Candles (4-Pack)
Abarli 5-Ounce Citronella Candles (4-Pack)
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
Bring home this set of four citronella-infused candles that look inviting to humans, but will still scare the mosquitos away. The jars are beautifully designed, resembling cool old pottery, and the candles burn for up to 30 hours each.
California Baby Plant-Based Natural Bug Repellant Spray, Pack of Two
California Baby Plant-Based Natural Bug Repellant Spray, Pack of Two
Primary Ingredients
- Citronella oil
- Cedarwood oil
- Lemongrass oil
Though a little pricey, this essential oil-based insect repellent from California Baby is one that you'll want to have by your side this summer.
With ingredients like lemongrass and cedar, this biodegradable formula keeps mosquitos and ticks away without the harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your baby's skin.
Cat Bowen has been writing about all things parenting for well over a decade. She spends her days researching, reviewing, and testing everything from strollers to breast pumps to changing tables. Her work has been featured in Romper, Bustle, and franchised across dozens of media outlets. In her spare time she loves volunteering at her kids' schools, reading everything she can get her hands on, running, and cooking for her family.
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