Mosquito Repellent Doesn’t Have to Be Gross
It’s summertime and that means lots of chances for outdoor fun. But that means lots of chances to be bitten by mosquitoes, too.
To summarize their fascinating ecology and evolutionary history, the tiny ectoparasites are just doing what they evolved to do: feast on juicy animals like us.
And we have evolved to not like it.
Mosquitoes Suck—But It Doesn’t Have to Be Your Blood
Between the simple annoyance of being bitten, the itching, and the specter of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile, Zika, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Malaria—all of which are becoming increasing threats as the climate emergency alters mosquitoes’ ranges—there are plenty of reasons to want to avoid being bitten.
Still, mosquitoes are just doing what comes naturally to them, and they are living beings who deserve that chance just like everyone else. So to avoid killing them there are basic steps you should take, like dumping out stagnant water, using nets, and covering up your skin. But sometimes you just want to let it all hang out and honor the summer season.
Natural Repellents Work
Humans have been trying to repel mosquitoes for thousands of years. The twentieth century saw the development of powerful chemicals like DEET to add to our arsenal. They worked, but at the potential expense of human and environmental health. Plus they’re just gross and chemically.
Fortunately, there is a range of natural, non-toxic mosquito repellents available. I tested the main ones myself, putting different repellents on different parts of my body to see which worked best. I also took the top performers and tested them on some friends who happen to be very attractive to mosquitoes.
The results were conclusive: Lemon Eucalyptus Oil and Picardin were the best. Both have been tested and approved by the US EPA as safe and effective mosquito repellents. The major difference was in how they smell: I prefer Lemon Eucalyptus.
We also found that recently applied natural repellents performed about as well as DEET. The only real difference was that the natural repellents have to be reapplied more often.
Your Best Options
If you’re looking to add natural, effective, and cruelty-free mosquito repellent to your summer carry, these companies are in PETA’s Cruelty-Free Database, which means neither the products nor their ingredients were tested on animals. All of these products’ ingredients are also vegan.
Badger Anti-Bug Spray
Based on citronella, cedarwood, and lemongrass essential oils, this woodsy and fresh-smelling spray comes in a lightweight and infinitely recyclable aluminum bottle.
Meow Meow Tweet Insect Repellent
Including oils of citronella, cedar, lavender, and geranium, this spray is herbaceous and astringent and it is so easygoing it can be used as a deodorant spray too.
Make It Yourself
You can make an effective, if homespun (there’s no emulsifier, so it looks like salad dressing and you have to shake it a lot) mosquito repellent using three simple ingredients.
Just get a spray bottle, fill it three-quarters with witch hazel, add a drop or two of vegetable glycerin (you can even omit this, but it will be harsher on your skin), and fill the rest of the way with Lemon Eucalyptus oil. Adjust amounts to suit your needs—more oil is more effective, but it also smells more strongly.
Making your own repellent is by far the cheapest option, and you can customize the scent and other attributes with additional essential oils.
And now that you’ve taken the pledge, get started with PETA’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide!
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