Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Mosquito Repellent, Pump Spray, 4 Ounce, (Pack of 2)

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.

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!

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.

I’m very impressed with this Repel lemon eucalyptus insect repellent. The scent is fresh and natural, without the harsh chemical smell that many bug sprays have. It goes on smoothly, dries quickly, and doesn’t feel sticky on the skin. Most importantly, it really works mosquitoes stay away for hours, even outdoors in the evening. The plant based formula is a big plus for me, and the 4 oz pump bottle is convenient to carry and easy to apply. If you want a natural repellent that provides strong, long lasting protection, this one is an excellent choice.

This insect repellent exceeded my expectations. The lemon and eucalyptus scent is fresh and not overwhelming, and I love that it’s DEET-free. It keeps mosquitoes away for hours, even outdoors, and the two-pack is perfect for keeping one at home and one in my bag. Great value and excellent protection—I’ll definitely keep buying it!

Great at repelling mosquitos (who do love to bite me). I took it to Tanzania and it worked great.

I’ve tried just about every mosquito repellent out there, and this lemon eucalyptus version from Repel really surprised me. It’s plant-based, but it keeps mosquitoes away just as effectively as some of the heavy-duty DEET sprays I’ve used in the past. The scent is actually pleasant — fresh and citrusy — without that overpowering chemical odor. It does have a bit of an herbal undertone, but I found it way more tolerable than most repellents. The pump spray is easy to use, applies evenly, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling sticky or greasy. I used it during an evening hike near a swamp (a true mosquito paradise), and I didn’t get a single bite for about 5–6 hours. I did reapply after that just to be safe, which is normal for non-DEET formulas. Bonus: it’s small enough to toss in a daypack, and this two-pack means I can keep one in my hiking bag and one at home. Pros: Effective for hours, even in heavy mosquito areas Fresh citrus scent instead of chemicals Non-greasy and quick-drying Compact bottle, easy to carry Cons: Needs reapplication after several hours Scent might be a little strong for scent-sensitive folks Overall, this is my new go-to repellent when I want something effective and plant-based. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants serious mosquito protection without the DEET.

This is a great product, but the oils in it will eventually cause the plastic bottle to become oily and tacky, not from the product dripping on the outside, but from the oils interacting with the bottle from the inside-out. The plastic bottle is fine for people who will be going through this quickly enough that it won't matter, but if you're not going to burn through this, then it will become gross to use, due to the tackiness of the bottle. Plastic has it's drawbacks. Anyway, though, I used this, or something like it, in the 1970's while hiking and the group remarked that there were mysteriously no mosquitos that day, for everyone in the group. I haven't used anything like this since then until about fifteen years ago, when I bought something similar from a Native American woman, who made her own batches. Hers were sold in plastic bottles and that's how I know the effective ingredients will break down the plastic bottle over time. I will probably try to find a four ounce glass spray bottle to use for this, since I don't use it that much. But it's really nice to have when you need it, and I would say that this should be a staple in every household, especially since it's safe to use!! I'm glad it's so affordable, too, since many companies will jack up the price for this kind of thing, based on people's desperation for it. Profiting from the suffering of others --this company does not do that and truly makes their product accessible by keeping it affordable. Despite not offering a glass bottle option, I highly recommend Repel, as it works so well and is also safe!