Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent 4 Ounces, Repels Mosquitoes Up To 6 Hours, Oil,Spray

Update 11/10/2014: Executive summary or tl;dr: When applied correctly, this works as well as DEET on mosquitoes. Approved by governmental agencies for use in malaria-prone areas. EXTREMELY SMELLY. Buy and use it with confidence. I have been using this product to repel mosquitoes exclusively for seven years. I became so confident in it that I volunteered to survey wildlife in New England bogs and swamps for six years running. I can't think of a better test than standing around in prime mosquito territory for four hours at a time just daring them to bite. It works every time and they don't get their free lunch. I also used it in Alaska, Kenya, and India and was NEVER BITTEN. This is the only non-DEET product that the International Travel Clinic at Dartmouth-Hitchcock recommends to those with destinations in malaria-prone countries, and oil of lemon eucalyptus is one of only two non-DEET chemicals approved by the CDC. There are many reviews here that say this product didn't work well for them. I wonder if it may be that some people are not applying it correctly. This is an oil, not an aerosol, and it must be applied like sunscreen. The pump is merely for convenience. You spray some on, and then rub it over the entire area to be protected. If you fail to cover everything, the mosquitoes will home in on the uncovered area and bite there instead. You must apply this to your skin UNDER your clothes! Mosquitoes can bite through jeans, so thin summer shirts and shorts are no barrier to them. You must also apply enough of the oil. If you stretch it too thin, it will not protect you. I cannot overstate how PUNGENT this stuff is; I wonder if some people don't apply enough because of the strong smell. You may have to try different amounts a few times until you find the amount that works right for you. Still, you don't have to slather on half a bottle or anything. The quickest I've ever gone through a supply was the one summer where I spent four days a week of swamp slogging with eight hours logged each day, and that only used one bottle. I'm pretty sure most people won't need nearly as much. You must re-apply the oil at regular intervals. The effectiveness will wear off long BEFORE the smell does, so many people may think they are still protected when they are not. Re-apply every four to six hours. As an oil, this stuff is somewhat water resistant, but you will have to reapply sooner if you are swimming. Another reason why people may think this isn't working is because it only keeps the mosquitoes from biting. It won't keep them from seeking you out. This is because it does not jam their long range radar, only the short range. A mosquito tracks potential prey using different senses when hunting for a potential lunch, than when it is looking for the safest place to bite an already discovered one. What happens with this stuff is they get close, and then get really confused. It's like they can see you until they get within a foot, and then you disappear. You can have several mosquitoes hovering around you, but none of them can find a good place to bite. They eventually give up and look for a less confusing blood source. Lemon Eucalyptus will NOT work for you if you primarily want to repel black flies, ticks, or chiggers. In my experience, it is only so-so in repelling deer flies. Finally, this stuff is AMAZINGLY SMELLY. In outdoor environments, this usually isn't a problem. But you really, really, really don't want to apply it before getting in a small enclosed space like an elevator or a car. Even outside, some people will hate the smell, others like it better than the DEET spray alternatives. It kinda smells like cough drops mixed with citronella. Unlike most repellents, the smell does not fade much with time. You are going to smell like this until you shower. If you wore clothes over it, they will smell of it until they are washed. But I think the smell is a small price to pay to stay bite-free. Original review from 2007: I am allergic to Deet. I've been the one at the back of the camping/hiking/fishing trips silently feeding millions of mosquitoes and other biting insects in misery for years- until now. I've tried everything on the market and was always disappointed, since all the deet free products I tried either triggered my allergies or just plain didn't work. This year, my doctor recommended I try the deet-free Repel, and I am sold. The difference is like night and day. We took it on a trip photographing butterflies and dragonflies in swamps in the Rio Grande Valley, TX, and came away bite free. Didn't work on chiggers, but I don't think it's supposed to. I'm not sure it lasts as long as the deet-containing products- my husband started using it exclusively as well, and he has to apply it more often than the Off or Cutter products he used to use. But I'm talking a drop from six hours of effectiveness to four, hardly a problem if you have room in your pack to carry the stuff. Also, it smells like Eucalyptus, which some people don't like, and you will smell of it for HOURS, even after it has lost it's effectiveness or until you take a shower.

This lemon-based plant repellent works really well for preventing mosquito bites. I like that it uses plant-based ingredients instead of harsh chemicals, and the scent is fresh and not overpowering. I’ve used it both indoors and outdoors, and it’s been very effective—cero mosquito bites . It’s easy to use and feels safe on the skin. Overall, a very effective product that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a natural way to keep mosquitoes away.

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent really does keep mosquitoes away—probably the only one I’ve found that works so well. The only downside is that the smell is super strong, which can be a bit overwhelming. Overall, very effective and reliable, just not my favorite scent.

This mosquito repellent REALLY works. No fooling. Mosquitos and other small bothersome insects, like biting flies, really seem to dislike this Lemon Eucalyptus repellent. They seem to hate it much more than they hate other popular mosquitos repellents. I kind of like the smell of this stuff, but the little critters sure don't. I use this bug repellent not because it's "natural." That doesn't appeal to me. Actually, I am negatively predisposed against these sorts of "natural" products. I figure modern science, including modern chemists, have got the necessary details of things we humans need worked out to our benefit. I grew up in a household that embraced these sorts of "alternative," natural products, and so naturally I rebelled against natural-type products completely. WELL, that impulse was counterproductive here. I don't like DEET because it dissolves plastic, and I had some mosquito spray on my leg mess up part of my car's plastic interior when I brushed against it. So, no DEET for me. I went that other route, with that Picaridin stuff. It wasn't as popular as DEET, apparently because it is newer and thus not as well adopted. Picaridin works pretty well. But not as well as this Lemon Eucalyptus. I hope insects and flies don't get used to the smell of this stuff, because it is shockingly effective at keeping them away. Deep down, I felt a little weird spraying my head and near my mucous membranes (eyes, mouth) with regular mosquito spray. I did it anyways, very gingerly though, because I am a favorite treat of biting insects. Using this Lemon Eucalyptus is appealing due to its naturalness (despite my knee-jerk prejudice), so I spray it on my head and around my face (some flies target one's eyes!), as well as the typical body parts mosquitos target, like arms, neck, lower leg, any exposed skin they get their devious little blood-sucking apparatus on, and my bug problem goes away. Basically, this stuff is magic. It is not perfect, however. It tends to be more expensive than regular mosquito or insect repellant. I buy it anyways because it works so well. A bigger drawback is that for whatever reason, it seems to evaporate from the container its in faster than regular mosquito/bug repellant. I'm guessing because the Lemon Eucalyptus is some kind of "essential oil" and volatile? I'm not sure why, but despite these issues, I get it because it's worked so well for me. Naturally, your mileage may vary. My mileage with the bugs we have here in So Cal has been excellent, so I've settled on this spray and will keep buying it for the foreseeable future. My recommendation: give it a try. If it works half as well for you as it does for me, it's a "keeper."

This stuff works great. No bites from mosquitoes nor gnats. Aug. 1, 2018 - Upping from 4- to 5-star review. *** Is there a place I can live to avoid mosquitoes?! I REALLY don't like mosquitoes. But I love being outdoors. *** As I understand it - ? - these repellents work by smells mosquitoes don't like, and also by hiding/overpowering the carbon monoxide "smell" that emits from your skin/sweat and breath as well as other skin odors that attract mosquitoes. >>>> How I use it and what info I can give: ~ I do need to ** spray most all exposed skin,** but I don't usually spray and apply to my face, and haven't had bites there. This might be because the spray's smell from other body areas is enough to deter the biting bugs, or might be because I've not tested it long enough when mosquitoes are "bad." ~ I do hold my breath while spraying it; not pleasant to inhale. After it's sprayed on, though, ** the smell isn't bad to me. Eucalyptus and lemony.** ~ I can't say DEFINITELY how long it works without reapplying, as I've not been out for extremely long periods. ** Yet, I sweat. And when I've been out for … oh, a couple of hours, sweating … I've not had to reapply.** I'll update if that changes or if I test it for longer periods of time. ~ ** It does not leave me sticky or otherwise icky.** However, I like to shower at some point after using it and before going to bed. :) I just tend to want my own choice of skin care on, and not sure how much my spouse would like the smell. If I'm outside using this, it's often when I'm getting dirty, anyway, like when gardening. ~ ** It's not a bunch of chemicals! ** 'Just don't see any sense in adding chemicals to my body without reason and without it being worth the possible problems caused by the chemicals. ~ ** No skin reactions ** - and I have fairly sensitive skin. ~ I haven't noticed it repelling hummingbirds, other birds, and butterflies (as they feed nearby). :) My input for what it's worth, on a few other "methods to avoid mosquito and gnat bites" - -- I also sometimes use a certain *liquid soap that's pH-balanced* and keeps mosquitoes from biting. But I've been reaching for this more, since it's a quick spray. -- As for *plants* repelling mosquitoes, I've found that *catnip* does so better than others I've had growing. However, it seems the leaves/stems must be crushed or broken to release the "repellent." So before this stuff, I used to break off pieces of the catnip plant and tuck it here and there - under sandal straps, bra straps, waistband, … ;) That really helped, but not as well as this or my soap method. I'm not sure that the catnip plant helped by being near the doorway unless I had just mashed a few leaves. -- I don't believe that bug zappers kill as many mosquitoes as other bugs, including "good bugs," even lightning bugs. -- I've not yet tried other "natural" bug repellent sprays, like Buzz Away Extreme. That one's ingredients might work well, too. If anyone's compared it to this one, and if you're still reading at this point ;) … please comment and let me hear.

This spray was GREAT for our Thailand trip! BUT we warned, spray this outside! The scent is very strong, like makes you cough a long strong, but very effective!

UPDATE(7/9/18): I've had this original bottle now for 3 years and it's basically empty. I'm not sure if it loses it's effectiveness over time, but I still put it on before I go on extended outdoor activities when the bugs are active. It does smell potent still(you never really get used to the smell), but I guess that means the bugs smell it too! I still prefer this product over the DEET-based ones and the all-natural stuff my wife makes herself(it does smell better-peppermint maybe?). I'm going to purchase another bottle soon. Still recommended! ORIGINAL: I purchased a bottle of Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Natural Insect Repellent for a family vacation I'm currently on in the woods of the Midwest. We've been getting A LOT of rain this year so you know what means - lots of annoying little biters! Although I've only tried this product once so far, I felt the need to post a review while it's still fresh in my mind. Mileage may vary so keep that in mind! The Good: Natural. After reading stories concerning DEET I was hesitant to continue using it on myself and my family. I read good things about this alternative and my family is very conscious of what we put on/in our bodies. Pump. Something I haven't heard anyone comment on is the design. I've always felt sprays waste product and the propellant used is bad for the air. Pumps put the product only where you need it with more control(this is important especially for this particular product- keep reading). Size. 4oz. Bottle is compact and fits easily in a pocket if you want to reapply later. Effective. I didn't get bitten once while wearing it. I did notice several times 'little blood-suckers' hovering around me, but none made a landing. The Bad: Smell. As others have noted the smell is offensive to anyone with a sensitive nose. I wasn't sure how bad it would really be so I went ahead and bought some. I applied it very moderately in my opinion(3-4 pumps per arm/leg and I sprayed some in my palms to smear on my face/neck as per the instructions). The lemon eucalyptus smell is STRONG! My wife said I smelled like a giant citronella candle and made me go back outside. After a couple hours I had to shower because the smell was getting to me. Finish. It doesn't go on dry like some deodorant/antiperspirants do. It leaves an oily feeling on the treated skin as others have also noted. For this reason I didn't test it on my clothing. Bottom line: This product definitely does what it's supposed to while keeping harmful chemicals away from your body. For me personally the smell was unbearable, but I suppose getting bites all over could have been worse! I will definitely keep it and use it again if necessary, but I will be much more conservative with the application. A little bit goes a long ways! 3 stars for having legitimate pluses/minuses. Jae

For those of you who would prefer a plant based extract rather than an industrially produced chemical repellent, this just might be the product for you. I had an infestation of no-see-ums (biting midges) in my home that were literally eating me alive; inflicting multiple itching bites all over my body that caused nasty welts that lasted for weeks. Repel goes on wet, thus allowing you to spread it around a bit before it dries—usually 5-10 seconds after it is sprayed on. I found it to be very effective in keeping away the little invisible flying vampires, as I did not receive a single bite on any of the exposed areas of skin to which this oil had been applied (I sprayed it on twice a day for several weeks before the problem abated) The oil dries completely and is non-greasy and invisible. It didn’t stain my clothing and kept the bugs at bay for at least 6 hours. However, unlike many chemical repellents on the market that are unscented, eucalyptus oil has an extremely powerful aroma that some may find objectionable—I do not mind it so this was not a factor in my purchasing decision. If I have one criticism, it would be that I would expect Repel to be available in larger sizes that would give me the opportunity to purchase at a volume discount—for instance pint or even quart containers as opposed to the rather small 4 ounce bottle that is to my knowledge the only option. People you hang out with my think that you own a pet koala, but this product works as advertised!