According to Adam Mamelak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Austin, Texas, most bug sprays are actually bug repellents. “As opposed to killing insects like insecticides, repellents mask the carbon dioxide naturally produced by the body, forming a smell that insects don’t like,” he tells Verywell Health. “Different repellents will claim to defend you from a certain set of insects, but not necessarily all insects and bites,” Dr. Mamelak says.
When shopping for a bug spray, “consider the consistency of the product, its length of effectiveness, and its smell. Make sure the spray you purchase serves your needs,” he says. We researched dozens of bug sprays and evaluated them for effectiveness, duration, cost, and ingredients.
Here are the best bug sprays on the market today.
Price at time of publish: $15
All Terrain Herbal Armor uses natural oils to help ward off insects and has a relatively inoffensive smell (for a bug spray) while being safe for skin and the environment. While it doesn’t last as long as some other bug spray options, it can be reapplied without irritating the skin.
Price at time of publish: $11
Price at time of publish: $11
Price at time of publish: $10
“Repel is an alternative to DEET; great for those looking for a ‘natural’ alternative and wanting to avoid chemicals,” Dr. Mamelak says. However, it’s important to be aware that oil of lemon eucalyptus may not be any safer (or indeed as safe) as DEET.
Price at time of publish: $11
Though it also helps keep other insects away from you, it’s one of the few treatments out there that is truly effective at repelling ticks, thanks, in part to its active ingredient: permethrin. “For extra protection, apply permethrin to your clothing,” Dr. Mamelak explains. “A powerful synthetic insecticide, permethrin can also protect against fleas, ticks, and a number of other insect threats.”
Price at time of publish: $22
Price at time of publish: $13
Price at time of publish: $13
Concentration of Ingredients
The concentration of ingredients in a bug spray matters just as much as the ingredients themselves. “According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, insect repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET and should not be applied to newborns and children under two months of age,” Dr. Mamelak explains.
In some situations, knowing the concentration of active ingredients can help you pick a bug spray based on how long you’re going to be outside. If you’re only spending a short time outdoors—as in, two hours or fewer—products containing a low level of picaridin or DEET (5-10%) will suffice, Chimento says, while a bug spray that contains at least 20% DEET or picaridin is a better option when spending longer periods (like eight to 10 hours) outside.
How it Feels and Smells on the Skin
In order for a bug spray to be in any way effective, it has to be something you’re willing to spray on yourself and/or your clothing. So if you can’t stand the way it feels on your skin, you’re probably not going to use it. For example, “DEET repellents can have an oily finish on the skin,” Dr. Mamelak says, which may cause some people to avoid it.
An insect repellent’s scent can also mean the difference between using it and venturing off into the woods without protection. No one expects to love the smell of bug spray, but you want to at least be able to tolerate it. For instance, “lemon eucalyptus oil can have a rather potent smell that sometimes can be overpowering,” Dr. Mamelak notes, while others will choose that aroma over the one of chemicals every time.
And though they likely won’t be as effective as the sprays on the list, some people find that wearing certain essential oils can be beneficial. “Lavender, peppermint, basil, garlic and eucalyptus smell great in their own right and also help repel mosquitoes,” Thomas Marbut, general manager and corporate trainer at Mosquito Squad tells Verywell Health.
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And if your outdoor activities involve water, Chimento says you’re going to need to reapply your insect repellent more frequently. “Bug sprays can wash off in the water, so you should reapply afterward if you are sweating profusely or swimming,” she says.
When used in higher concentrations, DEET can cause skin irritation, Dr. Mamelak says—though he points out that DEET itself doesn’t present a health concern, so long as it’s used properly. “Excessive or prolonged use of DEET may cause skin rashes, blisters, and skin and mucous membrane irritation,” says Dr. Mamelak, while adding that “health problems associated with bug spray almost always stem from improper use of that spray.”
For this reason, Chimento suggests doing a patch test before using any products containing DEET. “I would recommend applying a small amount of bug spray that contains DEET to the skin to see if your skin reacts poorly before spraying all over the body,” she says.
DEETPicaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)IR3535Oil of lemon eucalyptus Para-menthane-diol 2-undecanone
If you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor about using bug spray before dousing yourself in it—even if it’s something natural, like lemon eucalyptus oil. Otherwise, the CDC recommends using the EPA’s search tool to find an insect repellent that contains what you need (and doesn’t contain ingredients you might decide to stay away from).
