Nothing ruins a day outdoors like an entourage of pesky mosquitoes on your arms and legs. An insect repellent is the solution, but among the various active ingredients and concentrations, it is difficult to know what really works, let alone find a spray that doesn't smell like chemistry class or makes you feel like you've jumped into a vat. of oil.
That is why we have decided to look for the best ones and test how they feel, how they smell and all that you would like to know before using one. After consulting with multiple experts to make sure we include repellants that are truly effective we test only sprays that have an active ingredient approved by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) : DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, p-Mentane-3,8-diol (which is in lemon eucalyptus oil), IR3535 and 2-Undecanone. DEET was a strong favorite among the experts we interviewed, but everyone raved about the effectiveness of the other ingredients as well, especially picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
To be clear, we did not test every spray on its effectiveness in repelling insects, as there are many external variables that come into play. Instead, we use our extensive research and expert opinions to choose a set of repellants that science has shown to be effective.
After several weeks of testing, we found three that were above the rest:
- Best Overall Bug Spray & Best DEET Free Spray: Proven Repellent Spray
- Finalist: Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Insect Repellent Spray
- Best Bug Spray with DEET: Cutter Backwoods Bug Repellent
Proven bug repellent spray proved to be the winner during our tests. The bottle features a quick and easy-to-use spray head (it's also one of the most portable bottles), and users noted its almost complete lack of scent. Even with its wide coverage, Proven was nice and light to the point that we hardly felt it on our skin. However, even though you might forget you're wearing it, the bugs won't. We found in our research (and the experts agreed) that picaridin, the proven active ingredient that comprises 20% of its formula, is one of the best at repelling insects.
Very close was the DEET-free Coleman SkinSmart insect repellent spray, a 30% IR3535 spray bottle that worked very well. Spray consistently and in a wide cone. It dried instantly and did not leave any greasy residue on our skin.
The top-scoring DEET option was Cutter Backwoods insect repellent, which is a 25% DEET formulation. We were not sold on any of the DEET repellants we tried, as they often smelled bad or felt greasy on our skin. Cutter's spray scored better than the other picks in large part due to its relative durability and its consistent score in most of our tests. So if you are looking for the best active ingredient backed by science and with consensus to repel insects, DEET is your favorite. And since Cutter wasn't as hard (or as greasy) as the rest we tried, we think it's the ideal choice.
Best Overall Bug Spray: Proven Bug Repellent Spray ($ 12.99; amazon.com)
This picaridin formula from Proven is one of the most portable options, perfect for hikers or simply to stash in your bag so you're always prepared. The nozzle, despite its small design, is incredibly consistent and applies evenly. It is not a spray can, but it is equipped with a long pump so spraying was nice and easy, even though it becomes more difficult when you spray upside down. Despite this fact, it didn't take us long to spray. With an average application time of just over 21 seconds, it was the fastest pump spray we tested.
The aroma of Proven is largely non-existent. Each bug spray went through two separate testers, and both testers using Proven said they could barely smell anything. Proven wasn't greasy either and scored near perfect for the way the spray felt on our skin. It was easy to forget that we had used it.
The repellent was also remarkably portable, thanks in part to its slim bottle. It can fit in basically any bag, but it's not so small that you can easily lose it. The bottle also comes with a simple cap to protect the purse or pocket from any leaks, which remained firm during our tests. While it doesn't provide perfect protection because it can fall off, when one of our testers dropped it in a bag and went for a bike ride, it stayed completely safe.
We love the way Proven disappears on our skin and its basically odorless formula. If you are looking for an insect repellent that is easy to use and easy to forget, you can't get much better spray than this.
Finalist: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent Spray without DEET ($ 7.29, originally $ 7.99; amazon.com)
Coming near the top spot in our ratings is Coleman SkinSmart DEET-free insect repellent spray. It was one of our best sprays in the performance category (covering tests like spray smell, feel, quality, and others), falling a bit short on portability due to its slightly bulky bottle.
IR3535 repellent has a wide, even spray that made application a breeze. And since it is an aerosol can rather than a pump spray, we didn't have a problem with the pump not diving into the spray when applied upside down. Just be careful to spray upside down too often, because like all aerosol products, if you do too much the gas will escape.
The feel of the Coleman SkinSmart was not greasy or sticky at all. The formula uses a drying technology that makes it disappear almost instantly on your skin. The only big bump we found with this spray was its smell. It's marketed as toilet, and while that sounded true to one of our testers, another said it had a chemical smell that could easily make you cough when spraying, and it lingered for a while.
Another highlight of the Coleman IR3535 formula is the bottle it comes in. It is equipped with a lock switch to keep it safe. It was right in the middle in terms of size, but it's also not slim and portable like some of the other options we tested.
If you're looking for a spray repellent with similar performance to our top pick, and you're willing to forgo some portability, Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Bug Repellent is a good choice.
Best DEET Bug Spray: Cutter Backwoods Bug Repellent, 5-Pack ($ 42.92; amazon.com)
During our research, we found DEET to be the standard when it comes to bug repellants (read more about how we chose our test pool below). But despite their reputation, aerosols containing DEET did not score as well overall in our tests as other options. If you don't care so much about the smell and feel of the spray and want the science-backed, best-in-class ingredient for repelling insects, DEET is the way to go.
Of the multiple DEET-based repellants we tested, Cutter Backwoods bug repellent outperformed the competition.
The Cutter has a solid spray, although it sometimes comes out slightly damp and cold. The nozzle is larger than others we tested, resulting in a wide application area. This, in addition to its ability to spray upside down, achieves ultra-fast application times, less than 13 seconds on average for mainly full body coverage.
The spray wasn't too offensive, but it's still a bit harsh. It has that classic chemical smell that you expect from bug spray. The repellent also left a slight residue that took a long time to dry completely, but it didn't feel terribly greasy.
While this repellent didn't perform badly in most of our tests, its biggest drawback was the size of the bottle. It's a bulky spray, which makes it easy to handle but difficult to just put in a bag during a day out. The size makes it quite durable though, as both testers noted its rugged construction. And after all the testing and spraying it worked like new, in contrast to some other sprays that had clogged caps or nozzles.
If you're looking for a DEET spray, willing to sacrifice some comfort in terms of the feel and smell of the spray, and don't mind carrying a larger can, Cutter Backwoods should top your list.
How we choose our test group
We selected 10 bug sprays after thoroughly researching the most effective ingredients and speaking with various experts to find the best of the best at repelling bugs. We choose only repellants with an active ingredient approved by the CDC and EPA, which are DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, p-menthane-3,8-diol (which is a component of oil of lemon eucalyptus, but is regulated separately), IR3535 and 2-Undecanone.
Our experts largely echoed the CDC and EPA, praising the effectiveness of all of these ingredients, but heralded DEET above all else as the industry standard. "DEET is still the standard for many," says Elmer Gray, a public health extension entomologist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Many of his peers also agree.
"The gold standard for insect repellants continues to be DEET-based products sold under a host of brand names," echoes Dr. Jerome Goddard, an extension professor of medical entomology at Mississippi State University. "Many studies over the years have shown its efficacy against a variety of flying insects and (somewhat) against ticks."
While some may harbor concerns about the safety of DEET and its toxicity, all the experts we spoke with said those concerns are largely unfounded. "The first law of toxicology is that everything is toxic," says Dr. Jeffrey G. Scott, professor of insect toxicology in the department of entomology at Cornell University. "It is only the dose that determines the effect." The EPA has concluded that DEET is safe, and many of the disturbing stories of people having seizures or even dying occurred after ingestion or "applications not consistent with label directions."
The EPA has been testing DEET for decades and found that if used as directed, it is completely safe for everyone, even pregnant women and children older than 2 months. However, repellants with the active ingredient lemon eucalyptus oil and p-menthane-3,8-diol are not recommended for children under 3 years of age because the dangers of applying them to children under that age have not been fully explored. .
The CDC recommends using products with an active ingredient concentration of more than 10% for limited protection and says that the effectiveness of DEET does not increase after 50%. The experts we spoke to agree. "In general, higher concentrations of an active ingredient provide a longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient," says Dr. Eva Buckner, assistant professor and state extension specialist in the Laboratory of Medical Entomology at the Institute of Food Sciences. and Agriculture from the University of Florida. “However, concentrations above around 50% do not offer a noticeable increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% active ingredient may offer limited protection, often one to two hours. ' Following that guide, all the repellants we tested have between 10% and 30% concentration of their active ingredients.
Other bug sprays we tested
Off! Deep Woods Insect & Mosquito Repellent VIII, Pack of ($ 7.97, originally $ 11.89; amazon.com)
This spray was one of the leaders early in the testing process, but fell down the rankings after some durability issues. The cap came off on a bag during a day of hiking, and after some serious spraying (much of it upside down) the spray in the bottle ran out, resulting in a can that still has bug spray but no way to get it out. If you are careful with the tin that is a bit more delicate and you avoid over-spraying it, the OFF! Deep Woods is a first class pick.
Ben's 30 Bug Repellent Spray, 2-Pack ($ 15.98; amazon.com)
Ben's had an incredibly strong, unpleasant, chemical smell along with a thick, damp feeling that left our two testers eager for a shower. Its spray mechanism mimics the distribution you'd get from an aerosol can without actually using any of the gases, yet the spray itself came out extremely dense and sticky, obscuring any of its other benefits.
Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent, 2-Pack ($ 12.78; amazon.com)
The pump spray on the Sawyer repellent provided small short streams that didn't cover much area, so we found ourselves spraying a lot to get even coverage. Its small size makes it a bit difficult to hold and spray all over, but it doesn't have a terribly strong smell. It dried pretty quickly, but the pump also clogged quite a bit during testing. The highlight was definitely the double-locking lid, which ensured a leak-free experience.
Off! Picaridin Family Care Spray ($ 5.88; amazon.com)
This picaridin option from Off! It also impressed our testers, with a wide spray and quick-drying feel. One tester said it didn't smell at all when you applied it and another said it smelled like orange peel, so even if you do smell something it's not a harsh, flashy scent. This repellent scored the highest in our performance category, but it doesn't have a lid or lock, is a bit bulky, and comes in only one size, which subtracted a few points. Just one point behind our second-ranked Coleman SkinSmart spray, it is still a high-quality option.
Off! Mosquito and Insect Repellent IV ($ 4.96; amazon.com)
This repellent is made with p-menthane-3,8-diol, but its small size and small pump made it difficult to apply. The spray itself didn't apply particularly evenly and sometimes it just squirted out a jet of spray instead of misting, but it didn't have an odor at all, which was a huge plus. It's also available in one of the smaller size options, at 2 ounces, so if you want a truly small spray that can fit in your pocket, this might be for you.
Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Bug Repellant ($ 4.97, originally $ 7; amazon.com)
The scent of this lemon eucalyptus spray was polarizing for our testers - one loved the herbaceous hues and the other was left coughing due to its strong, pungent smell. (Even if you enjoy the scent, we recommend applying it outdoors.) This repellent was also extremely greasy and took a while to dry. Similar to Ben's spray, the first thing we wanted to do after applying it was shower.
Coleman Naturally Based DEET-Free Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent ($ 7.99; amazon.com)
This spray had a pleasant smell due to its lemon eucalyptus base oil, although it was sometimes too strong. The pump worked fine, but it took too long to apply and the bottle is a bit stubborn - it can't be sprayed upside down due to its pump function, and it's easy for a finger to slip off the little nozzle. It was oilier than other options and the spray dripped around the mouthpiece.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.
