The 10 Best Mosquito Repellents

Editor's Notes

November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:

Picaridin takes the top spot. The Sawyer Picaridin Pump Spray works about as long as a mid-strength DEET spray, has no smell and won't eat through sunglasses or a fishing line, so it's the bottle we'd hand most people. Cutter Backwoods Dry stays as the DEET choice, and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus stays for readers who want a plant-derived option that's backed by health agencies.

We also widened the list to the other ways to keep mosquitoes off: the Sawyer Permethrin Spray for clothes and tents, and the Thermacell E-ZoneGuard Patio Max for sitting still outside. The Off! Clip-On is dropped as its stock runs out, the Off! Deep Woods repeats what Cutter does, and Bug Mace and Bugger Off Bracelets are out because neither relies on a registered active ingredient.

Each pick was weighed on its active ingredient and strength against CDC and EPA guidance, the hours on its label, GearJunkie's field review and Wirecutter's published picks, and the complaints that recur among owners, mostly sprayers that clog or leak.

Earlier notes

April 20, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:

There's a considerable amount of scientific evidence that DEET and picaridin are effective at repelling mosquitoes, and a growing body of evidence suggests the same for PMD, which is a primary element of the oil of the lemon eucalyptus plant. Outside of those, there's been little else that shows promise, though there have been a few field studies that show some other essential oils to have a minor effect. Notably, turmeric, clove, thyme, and lemongrass have seen anecdotal use for years, and show potentially increased effectiveness when paired with vanillin. But the fact remains that no "natural" compound touted as an alternative even comes close to DEET, picaridin, or PMD. So if you're in a place where bloodborne disease is an issue, it's a good idea to stick to the big guns. And here's the real kicker: when used properly, those three repellent powerhouses are all perfectly safe, even for pregnant women. Don't drink them, of course; that would constitute improper use. But there's no evidence that proper use of any of these common chemicals is actually harmful, although the Internet would absolutely have you believe something far, far scarier.

What nobody can argue about is that DEET stinks. And it usually leaves an unpleasant, slightly oily film on the skin. But mostly it smells really bad. So a lot of experts and dedicated backwoods enthusiasts now support picaridin-containing products, and of those, Sawyer Premium is one of the most popular. Natrapel is also pretty well-known, and it claims to last even longer than Sawyer. As far as Repel's plant-based formula goes, it's one of the first and most popular products to include 30% PMD as an active ingredient. As such a close relative of the oil of lemon eucalyptus (which is not actually closely related to the lemon or eucalyptus plants, go figure), it smells awfully nice. And it works pretty well, to, though it doesn't last as long as picaridin or DEET.

Speaking of DEET, we included 4 products that use this proven solution to insect bites. Ben's 30% offers a balance of comfort and effectiveness, as 30% is the recommended minimum for travelers to regions susceptible to malaria, Zika, or dengue. If you're flying to Panama anytime soon, it's worth a solid look. Off! Deep Woods and Cutter are both commonly seen in households, and their aerosol operation makes them a breeze to apply. Just make sure not to get the vapors in your eyes, which can be quite painful. And if you're headed to parts of South America or Africa where bloodborne disease is a major factor, Repel 100 should at least be on your radar. It apparently stinks to high heaven and isn't especially comfortable on the skin, but malaria is for life, Zika causes problems we don't even understand yet, and dengue is known as "bone-break fever" for a very good reason. If those or any other conditions are prevalent where you're going, consider this nearly pure DEET option.

Which brings us to the alternative products. Off! makes a clip-on machine that's relatively effective as long as you keep fresh cartridges in it, which can get somewhat pricey. But you can clip it to yourself and enjoy a relatively bug-free outdoor experience, as long as you're not moving around too much. If you hunt around the web, you can find evidence suggesting that some of the ingredients in Bug Mace do confer a little bit of repellent activity, especially when paired with vanillin, which they are in this blend. And we decided to include a wristband option because a lot of users claim that it's very effective, even though in scientific studies they don't usually do much outside of a range of several inches. But if you load up your wrists and ankles with them, they could very well minimize the number of mosquitoes that come near you, and you won't have to apply anything to your skin.

Finally, if you are traveling to a tropical area, consider treating your clothing with permethrin, which isn't a repellent, but an actual insecticide that kills mosquitoes, ticks, and couple other bugs with ruthless effectiveness. When used alongside a good repellent, this level of attention to your gear should keep you malaria-free for your entire trip.