Southerners know the true horror of a beautiful summer afternoon ruined by a swarm of mosquitoes. They love warm, humid environments (basically all of the South) and attack anyone and everyone they can, leaving itchy, raised bite bumps that can swell on some people and annoy everyone regardless.
If you’re going to enjoy the summer months, mosquito repellent is a must in any Southern state. And while there are plenty of external repellent options, like citronella candles and mosquito coils, mosquito repellent you put on your skin is the best option to keep the pests away. “Mosquitoes find their prey by sense of scent, and mosquito repellent confuses the insect’s sense of smell and therefore inhibits its ability to locate its victim,” says Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, a board-certified dermatologist in San Antonio.
Meet the Expert Dr. Elizabeth Hughes is a second-generation, board-certified dermatologist in San Antonio.
“As a South Texas girl, I am definitely very acquainted with mosquitoes and their pesky, itchy bites that can make the most idyllic and beautiful garden views just dreadfully uncomfortable,” says Hughes.
Mosquito repellent comes in sprays, lotions, or wipes, usually made with DEET, picaridin, or IR 3535, which are all EPA-approved synthetic chemicals that keep mosquitoes from biting. Here, we’ve made a list of the best mosquito repellents on the market that work well for hot summer days.
Our Top Picks Best Overall: Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best With DEET: OFF! Deep Woods® Insect Repellent V at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Lotion: Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Wipes: Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Non-Greasy: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent at Amazon ($3) Jump to Review Best Long-Lasting: Sawyer Controlled Release Insect Repellent at Amazon ($8) Jump to Review Best for Ticks & Mosquitoes: OFF! Clean Feel Insect Repellent at Amazon ($7) Jump to Review Best for Kids: EarthKind Stay Away Mosquitoes Insect Repellent at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review
Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent
View On Amazon View On REI View On Sawyer.com What’s Great About It Picaridin is effective with minimal odor
Spray formula easy for travel
Protects against mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects
What Could Be Better Bottle is a bit small
Sprayer can get clogged
Whether you’re sitting on the beach, having an outdoor picnic, or doing yard work, Sawyer’s Picaridin Insect Repellent is a winner for any outdoor activity that keeps away not only mosquitoes, but ticks, biting flies, gnats, and chiggers.
It will protect against mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours, and biting flies and other insects for up to eight hours. The spray formula is safe to use on skin, clothing, and outdoor gear, and the active ingredient is picaridin, which is comparable to DEET in terms of efficacy but with minimal odor.
Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, board-certified dermatologist “Picaridin is as effective as DEET, has a little bit less odor and a less oily texture, and is also biodegradable, which increases its popularity for the environmentally conscious."
— Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, board-certified dermatologist We love the spray version because it’s super easy to apply, and it works well for travel. Just store it in your beach bag or purse, and you’ve got mosquito protection whenever you need it.
We also like that it’s not greasy and is fragrance free, meaning you won’t be bothered by a strong odor while using it compared to other mosquito repellents.
Type: Spray | Active Ingredient: Picaridin | Longevity: Up to 12 hours
OFF! Deep Woods® Insect Repellent V
View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target What’s Great About It Powder-dry formula isn’t sticky
Keeps mosquitoes away for hours
Comes in numerous sizes
What Could Be Better Has a slight smell
If you find yourself in a dense, wooded area, or somewhere in the South where humidity is high and mosquitoes are swarming like crazy, consider a product made for these conditions, like OFF! Deep Woods.
The DEET formula works to repel mosquitoes carrying Zika, Dengue, and West Nile viruses, and it also fights against ticks, biting flies, gnats, and chiggers.
The powder-dry formula absorbs quickly on your skin and isn’t greasy, although some may find it a bit dry, but that’s because it’s made to feel powdery. It does have a slight chemical fragrance, but isn’t strong and doesn’t linger on clothing. It also comes in smaller bottles and larger packs, so you can store them easily in your camping backpack, RV, or fanny pack while out on the trail.
Type: Spray | Active Ingredient: DEET | Longevity: Up to 8 hours
Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion
View On Amazon View On REI What’s Great About It Offers 14 hours of protection
No smell
Not sticky
What Could Be Better Takes a bit longer to rub in than spray
Greasy application until it’s absorbed
A lotion formula is great for those wanting a bit of extra protection, as it generally absorbs into the skin better than spray-on repellents. Lotions do take a bit longer to apply though, and you have to make sure you apply it to all areas of exposed skin.
Similar to Sawyer’s picaridin spray, this lotion formula lasts for up to 14 hours for mosquitoes and ticks, and up to eight hours against flies, chiggers, and gnats. It’s a white color, so it’s easy to see where you’re applying it. And like the spray version, it’s also fragrance free and dries quickly after application.
The bottle size is great for throwing in your purse, backpack, or fanny pack, making it easy to stay protected while kayaking, hiking, and exploring on hot summer days.
Type: Lotion | Active Ingredient: Picaridin | Longevity: Up to 14 hours
Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes
View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Basspro.com What’s Great About It Great for travel
Easy to use
Not sticky
What Could Be Better Not great for kids
Wipes are not individually packaged
Insect repellent wipes are a fast alternative to lotions, and some people love them because they feel that the wipes are easier to use for full coverage. These wipes from Repel offer DEET protection against mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, biting flies, gnats, and fleas.
Each pack contains 15 wipes, making them an easy option for traveling or for tucking into your bag for humid outdoor concerts, bike rides, and lake days. Just swipe the wipe across your skin, paying careful attention not to get it in your eyes or mouth.
It is advised to not let children handle these wipes, and to not use them on children’s hands. You should also wash your own hands after using the wipes.
Type: Wipes | Active Ingredient: DEET | Longevity: Up to 10 hours
Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent
View On Amazon What’s Great About It Wide spray cast
Dry feel
Locking bottle
What Could Be Better Need to reapply more often if sweating
The dry feel of this spray repellent means it delivers mosquito protection without that greasy feeling often associated with bug sprays. It’s DEET-free, with IR 3535 being the active ingredient, and it also protects against ticks, gnats, chiggers, fleas, and biting flies for up to eight hours.
It dries quickly, and has a faint odor when you first apply it, but that quickly fades. We like the twist-lock cap, which makes it easy to lock the bottle and throw it in a beach bag or purse without worry of leaking.
Plus, it has a wide spray cast, meaning it takes just a few sprays to cover arms, legs, and the rest of your body. You can also spread the liquid around on your skin once it’s sprayed on to make sure you get even coverage. Use it at the beach, on a camping trip, hiking, and for those sweltering, humid days in the South.
Type: Spray | Active Ingredient: IR 3535 | Longevity: Up to 8 hours
Sawyer Controlled Release Insect Repellent
View On Amazon What’s Great About It Releases DEET slowly over time
Lasts up to 11 hours
Doesn’t have to be reapplied as often
What Could Be Better Slightly greasy at first
If you’re going to be out in a hot and humid environment for a long period of time, you might want to consider a product like Sawyer’s Controlled Release Insect Repellent. It releases DEET over time, extending the duration of its effectiveness against ticks and mosquitoes.
The EPA-approved formula encapsulates DEET in a protein that dissolves slowly, releasing the DEET over a longer period of time. It’s great for all-day hikes, kayaking, or any outdoor activity where you might not have time to reapply repellent often. It will last up to 11 hours and has a faint odor that fades after application.
Type: Lotion | Active Ingredient: DEET | Longevity: Up to 11 hours
OFF! Clean Feel Insect Repellent
View On Amazon View On Target View On Walgreens What’s Great About It Non-greasy
Locking cap
Fragrance free
What Could Be Better Can feel sticky
EPA-recommended OFF! Clean Feel is made with picaridin and works to keep mosquitoes, ticks, and biting fleas at bay for up to eight hours. It’s fragrance free, and the aerosol spray design dries fast and isn’t sticky.
Just spray it on and spread it over your skin with your hands for protection while you’re hiking a wooded trail or in a humid area that’s full of mosquitoes. You can also spray the repellent over your clothes if you wish, as picaridin won’t damage clothing or plastics like DEET sometimes can.
Type: Spray | Active Ingredient: Picaridin | Longevity: Up to 8 hours
EarthKind Stay Away Mosquitoes Insect Repellent
View On Amazon View On Earthkind.com What’s Great About It Great for sensitive skin
Not sticky
No smell
What Could Be Better Spray pump can spray unevenly
Need to reapply more often in humid environments
If your kids are sensitive to smells, a picaridin-based mosquito repellent might be a better option than DEET, as picaridin typically doesn’t have a scent, whereas DEET formulas can be pungent.
EarthKind’s Stay Away Mosquitoes formula is picaridin based and unscented, meaning there’s no lingering scent on skin or clothing. It protects against mosquitoes and ticks for up to 14 hours, and provides up to eight hours of protection from chiggers, gnats, and biting flies.
Spray the solution into your hands, and then apply to skin for even coverage. The formula isn’t sticky either, so you don’t have to worry about kids complaining over a sticky residue. This formula is also safe for pets and pregnant women.
Type: Spray | Active Ingredient: Picaridin | Longevity: Up to 14 hours
Sawyer repellents get the job done with both picaridin and DEET formulas, and the Insect Repellent Spray is an awesome choice for any time you need mosquito protection. It works for up to 12 hours and is made with picaridin, which has a comparable efficacy to DEET but with minimal fragrance, and it won’t damage fabrics.
For a traditional DEET option, OFF! Deep Woods® Insect Repellent V has always been a leader in the game, and this powder-dry formula dries fast on your skin and protects against an array of insects.
Application Type Choosing a type of mosquito repellent comes down to convenience, space, and time. Wipes work well for those who are traveling, as it’s one less liquid item they have to consider, and wipes are easy to pack in a small bag or purse and then take out whenever needed.
Lotions tend to last a bit longer than sprays and wipes, as the solution is able to soak into your skin a bit more. However, lotion takes a bit more time to apply, and might not work well for reapplication if you’re pressed for time on the trail or have antsy kids not willing to sit still.
Spray repellents are generally the fastest to apply, which works well for children or those on the go that need a fast option.
Ingredients EPA-approved options for mosquito repellent include DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, and a few oils such as catnip oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, and citronella oil. The most effective mosquito repellents are DEET, picaridin, and IR 3535, which are synthetic chemicals that fight against mosquitoes and other bugs.
“They all work by a similar mechanism, and they confuse the insect’s sense of smell, therefore inhibiting its ability to locate its victim,” says Hughes. “We don’t know exactly what smells they are looking for, but we think it is probably carbon dioxide, which is what we exhale when breathing and also lactic acid, which can be found on the skin surface.”
According to Hughes, picaridin is as effective as DEET, but with less odor and less of an oily texture. Plus, it won’t damage fabrics and plastics like DEET. She says that the recommended picaridin concentration for effectiveness is 20%.
And those with hesitations about using DEET can rest easy: “There was a time when there was concern and rumor that DEET was not safe (in particular there was rumor it was bad for the central nervous system), but that has since been disproven,” says Hughes. She adds that the recommended DEET concentration for effectiveness is 30% for adults and 10% for children, because of skin sensitivity.
What about other types of mosquito repellents? There are many products marketed as alternatives to mosquito repellent, including citronella candles, mosquito coils, ultrasonic machines, and mosquito repellent bracelets. The problem with these things though is that there's often not enough mosquito protection, and you need mosquito repellent on your body to keep mosquitoes away.
“When you remember that the way we can avoid being found and bitten by mosquitoes and other insects is by hiding our scent from them, it will make sense that these other mechanisms do not work nearly as well,” says Hughes. “The skin surface needs to be covered with an active ingredient in order to be hidden from the insect’s sense of smell.”
Bracelets are geared towards kids because they’re easy and you don’t have to rub anything into the skin, but they’re not super effective, as you’re relying on a small band on the arm to protect the entire body. It’s just not enough protection. Researchers agreed in a 2017 study on wearable mosquito devices.
Citronella candles are similar, in that they do offer some protection against mosquitoes, it’s just not enough. Ultrasonic machines are made to emit sounds that humans can’t hear, but drive mosquitoes crazy. But with these, there’s no proof that they actually work.
How can you prevent mosquitoes in your yard? Aside from hiring pest control to come in and spray your yard for bugs (which might help with mosquitoes for a bit), the CDC recommends that you remove any standing water, which is where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty out items that hold water like bird baths, buckets, toys, and planters, and cover water storage containers like rain barrels, so mosquitoes can’t get inside and lay eggs.
The CDC also says to use larvicides to treat large bodies of water that won’t be used for drinking and can’t be covered or dumped out, and to use outdoor adulticide to kill mosquitoes in areas where they rest, like dark, humid areas and under a carport or patio furniture.
Furthermore, there are some plants you can add to your yard to ward off mosquitoes naturally, including basil, catnip, citronella, and more.
Amanda Ogle is a freelance writer and editor with seven years of experience covering general lifestyle topics. For this list, she researched different types of mosquito repellents, considering factors such as longevity, application, size, and ingredients. For expert insight, Amanda consulted Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, a second-generation, board-certified dermatologist in San Antonio.
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