DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus, permethrin — the right one depends on where you are, the season, the time of day, and what you're doing. Scored by the science, matched to your scenario.
Most repellents work by jamming an insect's ability to smell you. They differ in how long they last, how they feel, whether they melt your gear, and how safe they are for kids. Permethrin is the outlier — it goes on clothing, not skin, and kills on contact.
25–30% · 5–8 hours
In use since 1946 with the deepest research base. Broad-spectrum against mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies. Efficacy plateaus at ~50%.
Best for: Disease-endemic travel, tick country, max protection.
20% · 8–12 hours
Modeled on a compound in black pepper. Matches DEET for mosquitoes and ticks at equal concentration — with far better skin feel.
Best for: Everyday use, families, gear-heavy hikers, runners.
20% · 4–8 hours
An amino-acid derivative used in Europe since the 1970s. Especially strong against sandflies, no-see-ums, and blackflies.
Best for: Coastal, marshy & creek environments; no-see-um country.
30% · 4–7 hours
The only plant-derived active CDC recommends and EPA registers. Comparable to low-moderate DEET. Note: refined OLE, not raw essential oil.
Best for: Adults wanting natural protection; beach & backyard.
0.5% · weeks (6–70 washes)
A contact insecticide for fabric and gear — never skin. Kills ticks and mosquitoes that land on treated clothing. The tick-protection MVP.
Best for: Tick country, hiking, hunting, treating shoes/socks/pants.
15–20 ft zone · while running
Vaporizes metofluthrin or allethrin into the air to create a mosquito-free bubble. No skin contact — great for sitting still outdoors.
Best for: Patio dining, backyard, stationary basecamp.
Synthesized from CDC/EPA data, Consumer Reports testing, and peer-reviewed field studies. Tap a priority to spotlight it.
| Dimension | DEET 25–30% | Picaridin 20% | IR3535 20% | OLE 30% | Natural oils | Permethrin | Thermacell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito protection | 10 | 9.5 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Tick protection | 9.5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
| Protection duration | 9 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| Skin feel / odor | 5 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 7 | — | 9 |
| Safety: kids / pregnancy | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Material / gear safety | 4 | 9.5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Cost efficiency | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
Permethrin scores apply to clothing-covered skin only; exposed skin still needs a topical. Thermacell scores apply in calm, stationary outdoor conditions. Sources: CDC Yellow Book, Consumer Reports, PMC tick study 2024.
The best choice changes with your region, the season, and your activity. Pick a lens.
→ DEET 25–30% or picaridin 20% + permethrin clothing
SE Asia, Africa, South America. Aedes (dengue/Zika) bites all day; Anopheles (malaria) at dusk–dawn. Apply all day; use treated bed nets. Up to 50% DEET in active malaria zones.
→ Picaridin 10–20% or OLE 30%; Thermacell for the patio
Mostly nuisance mosquitoes plus possible West Nile Culex (dusk–dawn). Comfort and gear-safety matter more than max strength here.
→ Permethrin-treated socks/shoes/pants + DEET or picaridin on skin
Northeast & upper Midwest. Ticks crawl up from ground level, so treat footwear first. 25% DEET held 97–100% tick repellency for 6.5 hrs; natural oils dropped to ~2% by 2.5 hrs.
→ IR3535 20%
No-see-ums, sandflies and blackflies near water shrug off DEET — IR3535 outperforms it specifically for these biting midges.
→ DEET 20–30% or picaridin 20% + Thermacell
Highest mosquito density and active West Nile. Reapply as directed; set up a Thermacell zone for the patio.
→ Permethrin clothing + DEET/picaridin on skin
Ticks are most dangerous March–May and Sep–Oct. Treat clothing and do thorough tick checks after every outing.
→ DEET 30% or picaridin 20%, sweat-resistant
Extreme activity and peak dengue/malaria risk. Reapply every 2–4 hours; sweat and rain degrade all topicals fast.
→ Permethrin clothing for woodland walks
Mosquitoes mostly gone, but ticks survive mild spells. Minimal topical needed — treat clothing if walking in brush.
→ Permethrin clothing + DEET 25% or picaridin 20%
The gold-standard combo: treated footwear stops ticks, topical handles bare skin. ~2 bites over 9 hrs vs 99 for DEET alone.
→ Picaridin 10–20% + Thermacell
Low-intensity; comfort wins. The Thermacell creates a still-air zone around the seating area.
→ Picaridin 20% or OLE 30%
No plastic damage near gear, mild odor, reapply after swimming. Picaridin pairs cleanly with sunscreen (no SPF hit).
→ Picaridin 20% (dries clean)
Least affected by sweat and won't sting eyes like DEET can. Carry a travel spray and reapply sooner than the label says.
→ Netting only under 2 mo; picaridin 10–20% over 2 mo
No repellent under 2 months — use mosquito netting. Over 2 months, picaridin or ≤30% DEET; avoid OLE under 3 years. Apply to your hands first, then the child.
→ DEET 30–50% + permethrin clothing + bed net
The highest-risk scenario. Follow CDC Yellow Book guidance and pair with prophylactic medication.
A common mistake: assuming daylight is safe. The dengue mosquito bites in broad daylight — so timing your protection to the threat matters.
West Nile and malaria mosquitoes peak here. Apply 20 minutes before heading out — this is the highest-exposure window.
Dengue, Zika and chikungunya carriers bite in daylight. In tropical zones, don't assume midday is safe — protect all day.
Ticks are active in brush; blackflies and midges swarm near water. Permethrin clothing + IR3535 or picaridin covers both.
Anopheles in malaria regions plus general mosquitoes. Use a permethrin-treated tent and bed net; apply repellent before sleep if unprotected.
Widely available, well-reviewed, and endorsed by the CDC, Consumer Reports, or Wirecutter. Prices approximate.
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More isn't better — a thin, even film is enough. But the order you layer it and how you treat clothing makes a real difference.
Let sunscreen bond to skin, then apply repellent on top. DEET cuts SPF ~33%, so bump sunscreen to SPF 30–50 when combining. Picaridin and IR3535 don't reduce SPF.
Sunscreen needs reapplying every 2 hours; repellent does not. Reapply repellent only when bugs start biting again — over-applying just increases exposure without improving protection.
Never spray directly at the face — spray your palms first, then apply, avoiding eyes and mouth (critical with OLE). For children, apply to your own hands, then to the child.
Treat shoes, socks and pants 24–48 hrs before use; let dry fully. Lasts ~6 washes (DIY) or up to 70 (factory). Never apply to skin, and never spray around cats — it's highly toxic to them.