Insect Repellent Deet Free

Best Overall: Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent

You’ll find a number of insect repellents on the market with lemon eucalyptus in the name. Derived from the leaves of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, the active ingredient, p-menthane-3,8-diol or PMD is the powerhouse behind our Best Overall pick, Murphy’s Natural Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent Spray. The convenient pump spray goes on easily without being sticky and the fresh lemon scent is pleasant without being overpowering. Safe for children three years old and up, a single application is good for six hours of protection.

A 30% solution of the natural eucalyptus oil is the heart of this potent spray. The remaining 70% by weight is 45% ethanol—the same alcohol found in beer and wine—and 25% deionized water. The ethanol is flammable and can cause eye irritation so you’ll notice warnings on the label to keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Lemon eucalyptus spray has served my family well on many adventures along the rivers of the Southwest and throughout the back woods of the Pacific Northwest. You’ll find comparable products on the market with an almost identical ingredient list under other popular brand names like Cutter, Repel, and Natrapel.

But Murphy’s Naturals held the top spot because of the company’s sustainable approach. As a certified B Corporation, Murphy’s Naturals has met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability across all of their products. It’s also a member of 1% for the Planet, a collection of businesses that make annually-verified donations to environmental nonprofits.

Best for Home: Eco Defense Home Pest Control Spray

When insects have invaded your home, you need something that works, but is also safe to use in your kitchen or bedroom and won’t be unhealthy for children or pets. Eco Defense Home Pest Control Spray is that just-right combination of safe, natural ingredients, a pleasant scent and consistent effectiveness.

This is one of the few home sprays that is USDA Certified Biobased. That means the U.S. Department of Agriculture has certified that the product is derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. The certification means it is safe to spray anywhere in your home including in your closet, in kitchen cracks and crevices and on couches and rugs.

Active ingredients include geranium and peppermint oils and coconut-derived sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a soap-like compound found in hundreds of personal and cleaning products that scores the best EWG Skin Deep Score of 1-2. Inactive ingredients include yeast, citric acid, distilled water and ethyl lactate. Ethyl lactate is a nontoxic, biodegradable solvent benign enough to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive.

This spray kills insects on contact, so it works best when sprayed on problem areas, such as around garbage cans, in the RV and along perimeters.

It is approved for all types of pests including fleas, mites, fruit flies, ants, roaches, beetles, centipedes, spiders, and silverfish too–so you only need one spray to protect your home and family.

Best for Kids and Babies: Auntie Fannie’s Mosquito Spray

Get up to four hours of protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects with Aunt Fannie’s Mosquito Repellent Spray. Made from just eight natural ingredients this spray, like all Aunt Fannie products, is sulfate-, triclosan-, and paraben-free. Plus, it’s vegan, not tested on animals, and made in the United States with responsible packaging. Considered suitable for children six months and older, it’s great for the diaper bag and outdoor adventures.

Active ingredients include soybean, citronella, cedarwood, peppermint, lemongrass, and geranium oils. The remaining 73% is made up of vitamin E and isopropyl myristate. Isopropyl myristate is a common cosmetic compound that does double duty as an emollient that also kills lice, fleas and ticks by dissolving the wax that covers their exoskeletons. Its presence increases the effectiveness of the repellent essential oils against these insects.

Like all insect repellents, it should be kept away from eyes and mouths. But parents report that this spray was effective without irritating their children’s sensitive skin.

Best Picaridin Repellent: Sawyer Products Picaridin Continuous Spray Insect Repellent

When the stakes are high, such as travel in exotic locations where the risk of insect-borne illness is higher, you might consider a picaridin-based spray. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends picaridin-based sprays to repel disease-carrying insects.3 Picaridin has been in use in the United States since 2005 as an alternative to DEET. A synthetic compound designed in the 1980s, picaridin resembles the naturally-occurring compound, piperine, which is found in plants and used to produce black pepper. The EWG found that picaridin is as effective as DEET and also repels chiggers, without the disadvantages associated with DEET.4

Along the picaridin-based sprays on the market, Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, with 20% picaridin (also known as Fisherman’s Formula), is our top pick. It is available in both a pump spray and a lotion in a range of sizes. Avoid the “continuous spray” which is an aerosol spray. Depending on which product variation you choose, the inactive ingredients of the proprietary blend are not easy to pin down, but include 27-33% ethanol. The remaining ingredients are not considered hazardous to human health.

Made in the United States, the spray and lotion provide up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and fleas. We appreciate its easy-to-use pump design and secure, double-cap system that will prevent leaks during travel and inside packs.