Let’s be honest — the saying “you’re a pest” likely originated from the influx of bug bites (we blame you, mosquitos and other bite-causers) that land on our bodies throughout the warmer months.
Some proclaim, “oh, you get bites because you’re so sweet!” and “I can play connect-the-dots with all of my bites!” but, in all honesty, they’re not cute nor wanted, which is why we always need to keep one of the best bug and mosquito repellents handy. (Related: best bug zappers).
We honestly don’t know where we’d be without things like Ranger Ready Picardin Insect Repellent Spray or Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Natural Mosquito Repellent in our hiking bag. Probably indoors!
- Best Overall: Ranger Ready Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray
- Best Natural: Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Natural Mosquito Repellent
- Best DEET: OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent 25% DEET Bug Spray (2-Pack)
- Best Long Lasting: Repel Sportsman Max Outdoor Repellent 40% DEET Bug Pump Spray
- Best Smelling: Four Elements Lavender Outdoor Body Bug Spray
- Best for Mosquitoes: OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Towelettes with 25% DEET (2-Pack)
- Best Budget: Aunt Fannie’s Mosquito Repellent Wipes with Citronella & Lemongrass Oils
- Best Value: Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Pump Spray(4-Pack) & HAO Moist Towelettes (6-Pack)
- Best Unscented: BugX Insect Repellent Towelettes with 30% DEET (50-Pack)
- Best Non-Sticky: Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion (2-Pack)
We listed our favorite bug repellents below for you to shop, along with an FAQ section for a detailed overview of what to keep in mind when using them.
Click to jump to a specific bug repellent:
Best Bug Sprays
Best Overall: Ranger Ready Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray
Some bug sprays can leave a sticky residue. Fortunately, this repellent from Ranger Ready isn’t one of them. It’s deet free, dries fast and protects for ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers and other pest for up to 8 hours. Hundreds of Amazon shoppers trust it to keep them bite-free all summer long.
Best Natural: Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Natural Mosquito Repellent
If you’re looking for an all-natural mosquito repellent that’s akin to your favorite body lotion, check out Kinfield’s Golden Hour. Instead of containing DEET, it has a lovely and light Indonesian citronella scent that’s paraben-free, vegan and has been put through independent trials. For $22, you’ll feel good about your purchase.
Best DEET: OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent 25% DEET Bug Spray (2-Pack)
More than 25K people who want to eradicate bugs for good love the OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent — and for a good reason. For less than $15, you can snag two full-sized sprays that help repel mosquitos, ticks, biting flies, gnats and chiggers. Plus, it contains 25% DEET for approximately five hours of protection.
Best Long Lasting: Repel Sportsman Max Outdoor Repellent 40% DEET Bug Pump Spray
Similarly, Repel’s Sportsman Max has 40% DEET, which may last a bit longer, and is only $4 right now. Not to mention, it’s the perfect size to stash in your travel backpack.
Best Smelling: Four Elements Lavender Outdoor Body Bug Spray
Containing the expert-recommended ingredient lavender, Four Elements has a lovely Outdoor Body Bug Spray that also contains aromatic basil and earthly sage for freshness. Impressively, it’s said to dry quickly on the skin so you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors instead of preparing your body to repel those bugs.
Best Bug-Repellent Wipes
Best for Mosquitos: OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Towelettes with 25% DEET (2-Pack)
The same brand as one of our recommended bug sprays has bug wipes for easy application and on-the-go use. Containing 25% of DEET, it should hold up for about five hours of protection, and the two-pack bundle is less than $20 right now.
Best Budget: Aunt Fannie’s Mosquito Repellent Wipes with Citronella & Lemongrass Oils
We’re so glad we found Aunt Fannie’s Mosquito Repellent Wipes. The biodegradable bug-preventers contain citronella and lemongrass oils — both of which are expert-backed — and helps repel bugs for up to four hours. Easy to use, easy to carry.
Best Value: Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Pump Spray(4-Pack) & HAO Moist Towelettes (6-Pack)
If you’re looking for a great value, add Repel’s spray and towelettes bundle to your online cart ASAP. You’ll receive the best of both worlds: a long-lasting spray and easy-to-apply wipes. Plus, the lemon eucalyptus scent just sounds heavenly.
Best Unscented: BugX Insect Repellent Towelettes with 30% DEET (50-Pack)
Containing 30% DEET, BugX’s Insect Repellent Towelettes are long-lasting and in a buy-in-bulk nature. Whether you’re going hiking or camping (or, simply outdoors), you’ll want to have these trusty packets on hand.
Best Bug-Repellent Lotions
Best Non-Sticky: Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion (2-Pack)
Sawyer Products’ Insect Repellent Lotion contains 20% of Picaridin which, according to Harberman, is a synthetic compound comparable to DEET and approved by the CDC as an effective repellent to insects. That said, grab two, just $20 collectively.
Best for Children: Sallye Ander No-Bite-Me Natural Bug & Insect Repellent & Anti-Itch Cream
Sallye Ander’s No-Bite-Me Cream is a wonderful tub to keep on deck for the whole family. It’s formulated with lemongrass to help prevent bug bites for up to four hours. You’ll also appreciate its organic, infant-safe nature.
Best Moisturizing: Sarna Original Steroid-Free Anti-Itch Lotion
Sarna has one of the best expert-approved body lotions we rounded up, so there’s no surprise its Steroid-Free Anti-Itch Lotion made the cut. Uniquely, it’s recommended for after-bite use (less of a preventive measure), but a great essential to store in your medicine cabinet for those inevitable itches.
Best All Season: Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Hand & Body Lotion
What’s great about Avalon Organics’ Hand & Body Lotion is its inclusion of lavender, which Haberman recommends as an effective scent to help combat frequent pests. It’s formulated without parabens and sulfates, too.
Best Bug-Repellent Bracelets
Best Wearable for Adults: PARA’KITO Mosquito Repellant Wristband
Our all-time favorite bug repellent bracelet is this PARA’KITO wristband. It keeps the bugs (especially mosquitos) away with it essential oil pellet that easily fit into a mesh slot in the wristband. Secure it to your wrist and go about your adventures. It’s that easy.
We even tested the PARA’KITo bracelet for a month in the Amazon jungle, and it really worked. Read our full review here.
Best Wearable for Kids: PARA’KITO Mosquito Repellent Kids Wristbands
The great PARA’KITO bracelet discussed above is also available in kids’ sizes. Best of all, they come in a two-pack and in an array of captivating prints and colors.
Best Multipack: Cliganic 10 Pack Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Another great option is this 10-pack of essential oil bracelets. They are DEET free and come individually wrapped in resealable bags. One size also fits most.
Best with Citronella: BuggyBands 12 Pack Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Fight off the bugs while looking stylish with this 12-pack of mosquito repellent bracelets. In fun and bright colors, these bracelets effectively work to keep pesky bugs away. Ingredients used include citronella, lemongrass and geraniol essential oils.
An FAQ on bug sprays and mosquito repellents
Ahead, learn about ingredients and notes on best practices when using these products all summer long — backed by an entomologist.
“While bug repellent sprays are generally non-specific to the insects they repel, keep in mind the target pests are biting insects such as mosquitoes and ticks while outside playing, hiking, hunting, or boating,” Jamie Haberman, medical and veterinary entomologist and owner of A Ablaze Pest Control in New Jersey — with 41 years in the industry — told the New York Post.
Luckily, we spoke to Haberman to give us the 411 on what ingredients to look for in a good bug spray or mosquito repellent.
Which bug spray is most effective?
The most effective and safest product to repel insects is DEET, otherwise known as Diethryltoluamide. “It has been the active ingredient of choice for use as an insect repellent,” Haberman explained. “First developed for use by the army infantry in 1946, it was put into public use in 1957.”
In concentrations lower than 30%, it’s widely approved for use on bare skin and clothing without secondary affects. “One should avoid applying stronger concentrations to skin as there might be a reaction such as skin rash or even rare seizures when used in very high doses,” he advises.
Additionally, Picaridin is a relatively new active ingredient recognized by the CDC as an effective repellent to insects. “It’s is a synthetic compound similar to that produced by the black pepper plant,” he notes.
One of the best DEET bug sprays is from OFF. OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent 25% DEET Bug Spray, specifically, is one of our favorites, not only because it comes in a 2-pack, but because its concentration is below 30%, as Haberman recommends, and it has more than 30,000 Amazon ratings.
We also like the spray from Ranger Ready. It’s under $15, and also repels ticks. And if you like things more natural, go with Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Natural Mosquito Repellent. It doesn’t use DEET, but relies on citronella and has a hint of vanilla in it — simply lovely, especially for a bug spray!
What scent repels the most bugs?
While it’s universally known that citronella (see: citronella candles) is a common fix to make those pests wander away, there are other scent notes to keep in mind, too.
“Repelling scents include lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, citronella and garlic,” Haberman lists. “Some people actually are less attractive to insect due to what they eat and what seeps through their skin pores.”
How long does bug spray last before I have to reapply?
“While 30% of DEET may give five hours of protection, 98% of DEET may give 10 hours of protection,” Haberman explains. That said, check the product ingredient list before reapplying (and, of course, make sure you’re doing so safely).
How do I apply a bug spray or mosquito repellent safely and effectively?
Speaking of, Haberman details exactly how to use these handy-dandy products to achieve the best results — without harming your body, of course.
“Only apply the product to exposed skin and clothing in an outdoor environment (once a day should be sufficient),” he said. “It isn’t necessary to treat covered skin if wearing long sleeves or pants; the more coverings of the body, the less application is necessary.”
And, do not apply indoors. “You don’t want to breathe in the vapors,” he strongly emphasizes. “Thoroughly wash the treated areas when going back indoors and change repellent-treated clothing as to not transfer the product to couches, chairs and anything else one comes in contact with.”
What’s the best way to repel mosquitos?
Per Haberman, mosquitoes are most active at dusk (depending on the species), while ticks prefer to hang out on blades of grass waiting for a host to come along and attach to.
“Avoid outdoor areas when possible, but cover up and use the proper repellent products as approved for increase exposure outdoors,” he recommends. “When returning from outdoor activity, wash all exposed treated skin and check all areas of the body for ticks.”
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