Home & Garden Home The 7 Best Natural Insect Repellents of 2023 Keep bites away the natural way with REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent. By Lorraine Wilde Lorraine Wilde Twitter Lorraine Wilde is a freelance writer for Treehugger. She is the Owner and Strategist of the public relations and content company Wilde World Communications. Learn about our editorial process Updated November 2, 2022 Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan University of Tennessee Elizabeth MacLennan is a fact checker and expert on climate change. Learn about our fact checking process Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Treehugger / Chloe Jeong Treehugger Tested & Approved REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent earned our Best Overall spot, for effectiveness and natural ingredients. Whether you’re working in the garden, hosting a BBQ, or camping, it's frustrating to be pestered—or attacked—by biting insects like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and biting flies. If you're looking for an insect repellent without any synthetic ingredients, like DEET or picaridin, there are many products available on the market. However, mosquitoes spread diseases like West Nile, dengue, and Zika viruses and depending on where you live, tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever among many others, so it’s important to use an insect repellent that's been proven effective at repelling insects by rigorous scientific evaluation.If you want to use products that are free of DEET and picaridin, we rigorously researched the market and reviewed the science to find the best natural insect repellents available. The Rundown Best Overall: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Kids: Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent at Thrive Market Jump to Review Best for Babies: Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Backyards: All Terrain Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent at REI Jump to Review Best Candle & Incense: Murphy's Naturals Mosquito Candle at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wipes: Auntie Fannie's Mosquito Wipes at Amazon Jump to Review Best Packaging: Chagrin Valley Don’t Bug Me Lotion Bar at Chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com Jump to Review Best Overall Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent 5 Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Basspro.com Derived from the leaves of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, the active ingredient, p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), is an effective ingredient found in a number of insect repellents. REPEL's plant-based repellent comes in a convenient pump spray goes on easily without being sticky or oily. Safe for 3-year-olds and up, a single application is good for six hours of protection. The spray is made up of a 30% solution of the natural oil. The remaining 70% by weight contains 45% ethanol (a natural alcohol). The solution is flammable due to the ethanol, and can cause eye irritation so you’ll notice warnings on the label to keep it away from children and pets. But it earns the Best Overall spot because it works so well in a variety of situations. This product is registered with the EPA, which verified that it is effective against mosquitoes for up to six hours. You’ll find comparable products on the market with an almost identical ingredient list under other popular brand names like Cutter, Murphy’s Naturals, and Natrapel. "Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent has served my family well on many adventures along the rivers of the Southwest and throughout the Pacific Northwest. I found the fresh lemon scent pleasant without being overpowering." ~ Lorraine Wilde, Treehugger Write Price at time of publish: $12 "Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent has served my family well on many adventures along the rivers of the Southwest and throughout the Pacific Northwest. I found the fresh lemon scent pleasant without being overpowering." ~ Lorraine Wilde, Treehugger Write Best for Kids Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme DEET-Free Insect Repellent Thrive Market View On Thrive Market View On Amazon Safe for the entire family, Buzz Away natural insect repellent is entirely plant-based. It's main active ingredients are castor oil (8%), geranium oil (6%), soybean oil (3%), cedarwood oil (1.5%), and citronella oil (1 %). It's also free of fragrances and parabens, and is formulated to repel both ticks and mosquitoes. The manufacturer recommends shaking the bottle before applying, and formula is also available in a towelette format. This product is registered with the EPA, which verified that it is effective against mosquitoes for up to two and a half hours. However, we noticed that Buzz Away's packaging states that this product qualifies for EPA exemption. Price at time of publish: $17 Best for Babies Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent Rite Aid View On Walmart View On Buybuy BABY View On CVS Made from 100% plant-based oils, Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent doesn’t contain the alcohol found in many insect repellents. That means it won’t dry out a baby’s sensitive skin. Instead, this repellent is made from 95% certified organic soybean oil mixed with small amounts of rosemary, citronella, geranium, cedarwood, peppermint, and lemongrass oils that drive off pesky invaders. Parents appreciate that this spray contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, or dyes. It works equally well against mosquitoes, gnats, and biting flies. Like all insect repellents, you’ll need to use soap to remove it thoroughly at the end of your day. Because it is 100% oil, it may stain some clothes and gear. Not just for kids, this product works well for the whole family, and you’ll feel good knowing that Babyganics never tests their products on animals. The company is committed to sustainability in packaging and obtaining ingredients. Its formulations also avoid a list of “never use” ingredients so you’ll feel confident when spraying this product directly onto your child’s skin. The EPA has not evaluated this product for efficacy. Price at time of publish: $22 The 7 Best DEET-Free Bug Sprays Best for Backyards All Terrain Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent REI View On REI View On Amazon All Terrain Herbal Armor DEET-Free Natural Insect Repellent spray works using some of the same plant-based oils as Babyganics Insect Repellent. But it is less oily and goes on like a light lotion. This formulation contains more citronella oil (10% compared to 1% in Babyganics) as well as small amounts of peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, and geranium oils. Each of the inactive ingredients included are rated with the best safety rankings of 1 or 2 on EWGs Skin Deep cosmetic database, which evaluates over 9,000 ingredients against strict standards for health and safety. All Terrain has committed to using “increasingly natural ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging” while financially supporting local and national organizations that get kids active outside to promote healthy lifestyles.The EPA has not evaluated this product for efficacy. Price at time of publish: $13 The 6 Best Mosquito Traps That Don't Zap of 2022 Best Candle & Incense Murphy's Naturals Murphy’s Mosquito Candle Amazon View On Amazon View On Murphysnaturals.com View On The Grommet Those with sensitive skin may want to avoid spraying repellents directly on their body and instead try Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Candles and Incense. Both work best on calm days while adding a fresh scent to your patio, porch, or backyard barbecue. The warm flicker of a candle also adds cozy festivity to any party. Murphy’s Naturals combines plant-based essential oils of rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, cedar wood, and citronella. The soy/beeswax blend candle offers 30 hours of burn time while the sustainable bamboo incense sticks cover a 12-foot radius for up to 2.5 hours. You’ll enjoy the refreshing fragrance without the DEET or petroleum products of other candles and incense. Poured in the United States, the candle comes with a cotton wick in a recyclable metal tin. Murphy’s Naturals offers both as part of a kit along with a mosquito repellent balm. You can also feel good about your purchase because Murphy’s is a certified B Corporation. That means they’ve met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. They’re also business members of 1% for the Planet, a movement where businesses make annually verified donations to environmental nonprofits. Although this candle has “mosquito” in the name, it uses the same essential oils that other citronella-based repellents use to chase away gnats and biting flies as well as those annoying little blood suckers. The EPA has not evaluated this product for efficacy. Price at time of publish: $24 Best Wipes Auntie Fannie's Mosquito Wipes Aunt Fannie's View On Amazon View On Grove.co View On Auntfannies.com Although single-use wipes are more wasteful than a bottle of cream or spray, there are situations where a potentially leaky liquid spray just isn’t the right fit. To avoid air travel limits on liquids or situations where you just can't risk a leak, Aunt Fannie’s Mosquito Repellent Wipes is a good alternative to sprays. The wipes are biodegradable, and are available in a canister containing 25 wipes or individually wrapped. Aunt Fannie’s wipes use the same repellent essential oils found in Babyganics, Murphy’s, and All Terrain repellents. They’re considered suitable for children who are six months and older, so they’ll be great for the diaper bag. In addition to the essential oil ingredients, the remaining 80% is made up of vitamin E, regenerated cellulose (vegetable fiber), and isopropyl myristate. Isopropyl myristate is a common cosmetic compound that does double duty as an emollient that also kills lice, fleas, and ticks by dissolving the wax that covers their exoskeletons. Its presence increases the effectiveness of the repellent essential oils against these insects. The EPA has not evaluated this product for efficacy. Price at time of publish: $9 Good to Know You might notice that these wipes (and other natural repellent products) are not available for purchase in or shipment to Indiana or Washington State (and other states). That’s because it's not registered with the EPA and is on the list of products made from active ingredients that the EPA considers of minimal risk to human health, including many of the essential oils upon which these natural repellents rely. But states with regulations that are more restrictive than the EPA may limit the sale of these products without further testing at the state level. Many smaller companies just accept that they cannot sell their products in these states rather than spend the money and navigate each state’s red tape. Several essential-oil-based products fall into this category of being considered safe at the federal level, but lack evaluation required at the state level. Best Packaging Chagrin Valley Don’t Bug Me Lotion Bar 5 Chagrin Valley View On Chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com View On Freetheocean.com This Nifty Natural Bug Repellent Comes in a Metal Tin Spray bottles are difficult to recycle, particularly the pump part of the bottle that’s made from a combination of metal and different plastic parts. That’s one reason why we love this solid insect repellent, which comes in an easy to recycle metal tin. We also love that all the ingredients are USDA certified organic. The key active ingredients are lemon eucalyptus essential oil, citronella essential oil, and neem oil. The other elements of the formula include shea butter, jojoba oil, and several other herbal essential oil. Note that this product does contain beeswax, which some vegans prefer to avoid. The solid bar should be rubbed onto any exposed skin to deter biting insects, and is best if applied five minutes before going outside. The maker recommends that anyone with sensitive skin do a patch test before applying the product more broadly. You should also avoid applying it to children’s hands or near the eyes. The EPA has not evaluated this product for efficacy. Price at time of publish: $8 Final Verdict When possible, pick a bug spray that's been evaluated by the EPA. REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent earned the Best Overall spot for EPA registration and effectiveness. For a spray that's safe for kids under the age of 3, pick Buzz Away Natural Mosquito Repellent, which is also EPA registered. What to Look for in a Natural Insect Repellent Ingredients The only natural ingredient that the Centers for Disease Control considers as effective against mosquitoes and ticks as DEET is oil of lemon eucalyptus. Note that products containing more than 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus are not safe for children under the age of 3. The chemical p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which can be derived from lemon eucalyptus or made synthetically is also approved by the CDC. Most skin-applied repellents must be registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for human safety and effectiveness, and this registry includes products that have been shown to be effective and use oil of lemon eucalyptus, citronella oil, and catnip oil as the primary active ingredients. EPA Registrations Whenever possible, select repellents that have been registered with the EPA; you can find a registration number on the back of the bottle. The makers of some natural insect repellents have voluntarily registered their products for EPA evaluation, but sadly this list is limited, and the EPA's public registry was last updated in June of 2019. Many of the unregistered natural repellents have comparable ingredient lists to registered products, but keep in mind that any unregistered repellents may be less effective at preventing insect bites, and therefore disease. Because of the lack of government oversight, some health experts do not recommend bug repellents with only essential oils for active ingredients. If you live, camp, hike, or travel in a location with a high risk of insect-borne disease or are buying a product for deep woods use, it is important to select an insect repellent that has been registered with the EPA. Non-registered products should only be used in more urban or backyard applications in areas with a lower risk of disease. Duration of Effectiveness While some insect repellent products can be effective at repelling mosquitos or ticks for up to 6 hours, others need to be reapplied every 2 hours—or even more often. Pay close attention to the instructions on the container. If a product is registered with the EPA, the EPA website will note how long it is effective for and against what insects. Frequently Asked Questions Why should you use a natural insect repellent? Unfortunately, both of the most popular approaches to repel or kill mosquitoes, DEET-based insect repellents and electric zappers, have significant drawbacks. DEET is an acronym for an organic chemical, N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, and for some, unregulated use of DEET-based repellents have caused adverse skin reactions, seizures, brain malfunction, fatigue, and respiratory conditions.While electric zappers work without chemicals, they are also known to kill beneficial insects including vitally important pollinators like bees. Unattended zappers are also potentially dangerous to young children and curious pets, and are capable of starting a fire. There are a number of non-toxic traps available, the approach that’s best for the environment may be to repel them from your person. Do natural insect repellents work? Natural repellents work just as well as those containing DEET, but this isn't true of all the natural products on the market.Because there's less government oversight of natural repellents containing essential oils, not all natural formulations have been shown to be effective. When possible, pick an insect repellent that's been evaluated by the EPA, or look for ones with oil of lemon eucalyptus, citronella oil, or catnip oil as the primary active ingredient. Is picaridin natural and safe? Since 2005, some insect repellent sprays have employed picaridin to avoid DEET. A synthetic compound designed in the 1980s, picaridin resembles the naturally-occurring compound, piperine, which is found in plants and used to produce black pepper. Although picaridin is as effective as DEET and also repels chiggers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still considers it slightly toxic to humans, a moderate irritant to our eyes, and moderately toxic to freshwater fish. While science-backed consumer watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG) found picaridin to have many of the advantages of DEET without the same disadvantages, they recognize that the compound has not been tested thoroughly enough over the long term.If you would prefer a repellent with picaridin, consider our list of DEET-free bug sprays. What is the most effective natural bug spray? Look for a bug spray with lemon eucalyptus oil, which studies have shown is a natural ingredient that’s effective at repelling mosquitos. Our top choice for a spray containing this ingredient is REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent. Other Approaches to Repelling Insects Nothing is more frustrating than the swatting, itchy welts, and scratching that these invaders cause. But insects are also an important part of terrestrial and aquatic food chains so—where possible—scientists recommend we avoid killing them and instead try to deter and repel them and accept that we might be annoyed or have to scratch occasionally. Another defense you might want to consider to deal with unwanted insects is to change your home environment to discourage biting insects, plant insect-repelling plants, or mix up your own homemade repellent. You can also consider using a mosquito trap that won't zap beneficial insects. Why Trust Treehugger? To make our recommendations, Treehugger carefully evaluated the ingredient list of dozens of products to make sure all our recommendations include ingredients shown to be effective. We also reviewed records from the EPA, and we've noted if each repellent has or has not been evaluated by the agency for effectiveness. We also found that some repellents have packaging that say they have not been evaluated by the EPA, although in fact they have been.Our team also tests top products in the real world, and shares our first-hand insight. Lorraine Wilde grew up swatting at and itching bites from a range of biting insects in rural Michigan. She and her family have tested a number of products while camping and river rafting in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest. Lorraine holds a Master’s degree in environmental science and is a firm believer that consumers can make healthy, informed, and environmentally-conscious choices to protect our planet. Avoid PFCs With Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear and DIY Techniques Additional research by Margaret Badore Margaret Badore Maggie Badore is an environmental reporter and editor based in New York City. She started at Treehugger in 2013 and is now the Associate Editorial Director. Learn about our editorial process View Article Sources "Skin-Applied Repellent Ingredients." Environmental Protection Agency. Mutebi, John-Paul and Gimnig, John. "Mosquitoes, Ticks & Other Arthropods." Center for Disease Control, Yellow Book. "Find the Repellent That is Right for You." Environmental Protection Agency. "Prevent Tick and Mosquito Bites." Center for Disease Control. "DEET General Fact Sheet." National Pesticide Information Center. "New Pesticides Fact Sheet: Picaridin." Environmental Protection Agency. "EWG's 2018 Guide to Bug Repellents." Environmental Working Group.