Best mosquito repellents

Whether you're spending summer at home or in warmer climes, insect repellent is important for preventing bites and stings and the associated diseases transmitted by biting bugs.

We've tested popular repellents including Jungle Formula, Autan, Xpel and Incognito, as well as some own-brand products, to uncover the products you can rely on.

In our tough tests, a panel of brave volunteers applied the repellents and placed their arm in mesh cages filled with mosquitos. We checked every half hour to see if any bites had occurred.

We uncovered three Best Buys and one Great Value repellent that protected effectively over a long period in our tests, but some products barely lasted half an hour. 

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Best mosquito repellents

Only logged-in Which? members can view our full independent insect repellent test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations. Non-members will see an alphabetically-ordered list of products we've tested.

The mosquito repellents we tested

All the insect repellents we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best mosquito repellents from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy and Great Value recommendations below.

Asda Extra Strength Insect Repellent

Available from: Asda £4 for 125ml (£3.20 per 100ml)

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: 2+ years
• Active ingredient/s: DEET + PMD
• Claims: Up to eight hours protection against mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects
• Tropical strength: Yes

Autan Multi-Insect Repellent

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: 2+ years
• Active ingredient/s: Icaridin 16%
• Claims: Up to eight hours for common mosquitos, up to six hours for tropical and tiger mosquitos, and up to four hours for ticks, horseflies and biting flies.
• Tropical repellent: No

Also available as a pump spray. Autan Multi-Insect Repellent pump spray

Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: 2+ years
• Active ingredient/s: DEET + PMD
• Claims: Up to eight hours protection against mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects
• Tropical strength: Yes (Boots Strength rating - 4)

Also available as Boots Repel Maximum Pump Spray 50ml size. Other products in this range with the same concentration of active ingredients include Boots Repel Maximum Pump Spray Boots Repel Maximum Roll-on, Boots Repel Maximum lotion although we haven't tested these formats.

Forclaz Decathlon Repellent Spray 

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: 1+ years
• Active ingredient/s: Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil 10%
• Claims: Protection against mosquito and tick bites for up to eight hours
• Tropical repellent: No

Incognito Anti-Mosquito Spray Repellent

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: 6 months +
• Active ingredient/s: PMD 10%
• Claims: Up to seven hours against mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects which may carry infectious diseases - the manufacturer says it 'also protects against bed bugs'. 
• Tropical repellent: Yes

Also available in a smaller size - Incognito Mini Anti-Mosquito Repellent £7.65 for 50ml, Ocado.

Jungle Formula Dry Protect

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Age 3+
• Active ingredient/s: Icaridin 20%
• Claims: Up to seven hours of protection from mosquitos including tiger mosquito and protects against flies including horse flies, sand flies and black flies as well as midges and other biting insects.
• Tropical repellent: No

Going on a trip? Make sure you also pack some Best Buy sunscreen. Plus we reveal the sun creams which failed our protection tests

Jungle Formula Maximum

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Age 12+
• Active ingredient/s: DEET 50% and Geraniol 1%
• Claims: Up to nine hours protection against mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects which may carry infectious diseases.
• Tropical repellent: Yes

Moskito Guard Mosquito & Tick Repellent

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Age 2+ and during pregnancy
• Active ingredient/s: 20% icaridin (trade name Picaridin)
• Claims: Up to eight hours protection.
• Tropical repellent: Yes

Superdrug Buzz Off Extra Strength Insect Repellent

Available from: Superdrug, £8.99 for 125ml (£7.19 per 100ml) 

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Age 2+
• Active ingredient/s: DEET 50% and PMD 1% 
• Claims: Up to eight hours protection against mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects which may carry infectious diseases.
• Tropical repellent: Yes

It is also available in a smaller size (Superdrug Buzz Off Extra Strength aerosol, £5.49 for 50ml) and in a pump spray (Superdrug Buzz Off Extra Strength pump spray, £7.99 for 100ml)

Theye Mosquito Repellent Aerosol Spray

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Age 6 months + (and pregnant women)
• Active ingredient/s: Citrepel 20%
• Claims: Up to six hours protection against mosquitoes, gnat and other biting insects.
• Tropical repellent: No

The formulation is also available as Theye Mosquito Repellent Micro Spray and Theye Mosquito Repellent Pump Spray.

Xpel Tropical Formula Mosquito & Insect Repellent

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Key specs:

• Suitable for: Not stated
• Active ingredient/s: Citrepel
• Claims: Up to four hours protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects.
• Tropical repellent: Yes

How we test mosquito repellents

We selected a range of widely available and popular insect repellents from UK retailers, including different formulations and active ingredients, to uncover the best options.

We buy all of the insect repellents that we test and use an independent lab to test them. 

Our tests are based on established efficacy tests, but we made them tougher because we wanted to see which repellents will stand up to the toughest conditions. In real-life, activity, sweating and inconsistent application will all work against you, and with the stakes increasingly higher we wanted to find the very best repellents that you can rely on. 

Aside from how good the repellents are at keeping insects at bay, we also check the safety profile of the ingredients, and how useful the information on the packaging is. Here are the key facts about our tests:

• We use the blinded 'arm-in-cage' method. This involves real-life volunteers having insect repellent applied to their arms then placing them in a box containing mosquitos. The arm is left in the box for a set amount of time before it is removed, repeating every half hour until a bite is confirmed - the longer the protection, the better the product.
• We test under harsher conditions than most. We carried out our test under harsher conditions than the established industry test methodology. Given the danger of new mosquito-borne diseases coming to Europe, we wanted to check how well non-tropical products would cope in tougher environments, to see how they fare as climates are changing. We did this by increasing the amount of mosquitos used and the temperature of the test environment. Because of this, non-tropical products were unlikely to do as well in our harsher test, although some performed better than others.
• Ingredient safety. Insect repellents are designed to be used on the skin for long periods and include approved repellent ingredients. While they should as standard be safe for use, we examine the acute and chronic toxicity of the active ingredients on the average-sized man, woman, child (age 6-8) and toddler (age 2) to help you know which products are best on this front. All were rated good or excellent in our test.
• Label clarity. We also check the information provided on the label to ensure it's clear and easy to understand. Some products have differing age and user restrictions, so it's important to check this before use.

Tropical vs non-tropical repellent

Tropical repellents are designed to fend off more aggressive mosquitoes that carry diseases such as malaria and dengue. They tend to use higher concentrations of active ingredients and sometimes in combination too.

While there is an established testing approach for mosquito repellents, set out by the European Chemicals Agency, we carried out our mosquito repellent test under harsher conditions more akin to tropical environments. Because of this, we can't directly compare claims around length of efficacy to manufacturer claims, and non-tropical products are likely to fare less well.

However, we found that some products exceeded their claims even under tougher test conditions, so we're confident our tests have found the products you can really rely on.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Which insect repelling ingredients really work?

There are four active ingredients that are scientifically proven to repel mosquitos: three are synthetic/chemical based (DEET, IR3535 and Icaridin) and one is plant-based (PMD). 

However, our tests found that not all products that contain these ingredients work well, it depends on the formulation and concentration, and some may work better than others. 

Here's a bit more about the key active ingredients:

DEET

This is one of the most common insect repellent options you'll find, and with good reason: it's highly effective at keeping mosquitos away at a concentration of 20-50% and is the WHO (World Health Organization) gold-standard insect repellent for protection against malaria.

Products containing DEET tend to be cheaper than those with other active ingredients, but the downside is that it has a distinct odour and can melt some rubber, vinyl and plastics, such as watch straps, so you need to be vigilant when using it. 

Some people find it irritates their skin, although this may be the case for any repellent depending on how your skin responds to products.

IR3535

This synthetic repellent should be used at a concentration of 20% and only in places where there isn't malaria.

While it's been shown to offer protection comparable to DEET against several mosquito species, it doesn't provide adequate protection against the malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquito.

Icaridin

Also known as picaridin, piperidine and by trade names including Saltidin, icaridin is recommended by the WHO for protection against mosquito bites that can cause both Zika virus and malaria.

However, none of the three icaridin mosquito repellents that we tested provided protection against mosquito bites for as long as those containing DEET.

PMD

The only 'natural' repellent of the four, PMD is derived from the lemon eucalyptus gum tree (Eucalyptus citriodora or Corymbia citriodora) and has been shown to provide protection against Aedes, Culux and Anopheles mosquito species at a concentration of 30% or more.

PMD typically needs to be applied more frequently than DEET, and results were mixed for PMD-containing products in our tests so it's important to choose wisely. 

PMD is a byproduct from the distillation of oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). It can be confusing, as there are lots of similar-sounding ingredients and products, but be aware that eucalyptus, citronella and even lemon eucalyptus oil are not the same as oil of lemon eucalyptus and aren't effective in the same way.

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Choosing the best insect repellent

There are many different insect repellent formats on the market – from sprays, creams, lotions and roll-ons to plug-ins, candles and even repellent clothing –  varying in efficacy from highly effective to barely useful.

For example, a 2017 study on the effectiveness of wearable or external repellent devices compared with spray-on repellents found that citronella candles didn't keep mosquitos away at all.

The WHO says insect repellents, mosquito nets, mosquito coils and protective clothing (treated with permethrin or etofenprox for extra protection) are the first line of defence against mosquitoes.

Insect repellent products to steer clear of

Whether it's repellent patches, B vitamins or even being told to eat yeast extract or garlic to keep bugs away, there are plenty of myths about what can protect you from mosquitos and other biting bugs, as well as unusual product solutions for those who don't like applying repellent on their skin.

But many of these don't actually work. The following don't have strong evidence for their effectiveness:

• Herbal extract bracelets. These typically contain strong-smelling oils such as citronella, lavender and peppermint, but they aren't supported by the science. When tested for their ability to deter mosquitos, bracelets containing herbal extracts made little difference. Don't rely on DEET bands or bracelets either, as these can only offer localised protection.
• Sonic mosquito repellers. These claim to drive mosquitoes away with high-frequency sound but, again, studies show that they don't work.
• Citronella. This is a popular choice but research shows that citronella's volatility means its repelling properties only last for a short time and there is insufficient information for it to be seen as a reliable repellent.

Avon's Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray (£6.50 for 250ml at Avon) is another one that has made headlines in the past for its purported insect repelling abilities. It contains citronella, but it's not classed or proven as an insect repellent, and other ingredients have more solid science behind their protective abilities.

How to apply insect repellent properly

Much like sunscreen, good insect repellent protection is only as good as the application. Here's how to do it properly:

Use on all exposed skin

Ankles, wrists, hands and the neck are areas that tend to be exposed, so don't forget to apply repellent – mosquitos will easily find that tiny patch of skin you missed. Don't apply repellent directly to the face. Spray it into your hands in a well-ventilated area and then apply, and make sure you wash your hands after application. 

Re-apply regularly 

As a rough guide, DEET and IR3535 should be reapplied every six to eight hours, and PMD and Icaridin every four to six hours, although you should follow the instructions on the bottle. Re-apply sooner if they've worn off because of swimming or sweating, and check if there are any limits on re-application – some products state a maximum per 24 hours.

Cover up with clothing

Long sleeves, long trouser legs, tops with a high neckline and even an insect-net hat are advisable if you're somewhere rife with biting insects, especially if in areas with risk of disease-transmitting insects. 

Apply repellent to cuffs or the bottom of trousers to stop insects creeping up, but don't apply to the clothing of children or babies, and be aware that DEET can disintegrate some synthetic fabrics and plastic. 

Level up with pyrethroid-treated clothing if you're travelling to areas with a serious risk of insect-borne disease.

Don't let children apply it themselves, and wash it off them at night

Make sure you choose a repellent that is age-appropriate, too.

Sunscreen or repellent first? 

If you need one you may well need the other, as holiday sunshine and biting bugs often go hand in hand, but sunscreen and insect repellent don't necessarily play nicely together. 

DEET can impact the effectiveness of sunscreen, so it's worth picking a higher SPF sunscreen if you're using DEET.

The order in which you apply insect repellent depends on the situation. If you're in an area with lots of disease-transmitting mosquitoes, put sunscreen on first then repellent. But if you're on the beach sunbathing and there aren't many mosquitoes around, put your repellent on then your sunscreen afterwards. 

Leave 15 minutes before you apply the second product.

How to treat mosquito bites

If you're unlucky enough to have been bitten by a mosquito, antihistamines are your best bet for relieving itching and discomfort.

You can also use a cold compress or cloth to take the swelling down.

Antihistamine tablets are best, especially if you have multiple bites, but you may find an antihistamine cream provides some localised relief as well.

Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help if the sting is painful. 

The NHS has advice on insect bites and stings, including what to do if you're worried about symptoms that develop after a bite or sting in the UK or abroad.

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