5 Insect Repellents That Say Bye-Bye To Bugs
The smart options for insect repellents go beyond the basics you grew up with—and won’t make you smell like a visitor’s lodge.
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Intelligent Nutrients Perfume Spray
This little bottle keeps bugs at bay with active ingredients of rosemary and citronella, but you’ll be surprised how nicely these notes pair with scents of cedar, clove, lemongrass and geranium. Bonus for our earth: The organic formula is manufactured with 100 percent renewable energy.
$31 for 3.5 oz., intelligentnutrients.com
Aromaflage Purser
With the tagline “fragrance with function,” this perfume containing orange peel, cedar and vanilla also repels mosquitoes. It’s been tested everywhere from the Hamptons to the Caribbean to the rice paddies of Southeast Asia, and has been found to be comparable to DEET products but with natural ingredients. The bottle is slim enough to bring on any outdoor adventure.
$30 for 8 ml., aromaflage.com
Ben’s 30 Tick and Insect Repellent Wipes
Mosquitoes are unfortunate companions for woodsy jaunts. For the sweet-blooded magnets, turn to something super strong. Spray has a way of getting into your eyes or up your nose, but these wipes put repellent only where you want it. They’re super easy to travel with, and with 30 percent DEET, the bugs stay away for hours. A fragrance-free formula means you smell like you!
$6 for 12, tendercorp.com
Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent
For those of us with pets or kids who can’t be trusted to keep their cute little mouths clean, having a safe insect repellant is important. Made with essential oils versus harmful chemicals, this formula gets the job done in a safe way. Even better? Those essential oils smell simply lovely.
$8, burtsbees.com
Mountain Rose Herbs Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Wait, eucalyptus oil for combatting mosquitos? Yes, it’s one of many natural remedies that can shield you from those bites. The company recommends mixing up a few other essential oils into a mister bottle of witch hazel or alcohol to spritz on. You can also dap it right onto hotspots like your neck, ankles and backs of your knees.
$4, mountainroseherbs.com