Effectiveness of non DEET repellents?

cosmic-unity · Mar 15th, 2007, 07:16

Just wondering what non DEET brand of repellents and ingredients you have found effective at preventing mosquito bites?

Thanks
Darren

PeakXV · Mar 15th, 2007, 07:28

Hi Darren - It's an often discussed topic here on IM. I personally rely on Deet but rarely put it directly on the skin. Cuffs, socks, collars, & bed linen at night seems to do the trick - with minimal chemical risk/exposure. Have tried a few non-deet repellents out with minimal success .... and shelf-life/heat exposure seems to play a major role in their ability to be effective. Have a look at the following thread for some other perspectives on the topic:

Natural Mosquito Repellent Survey...

Dr.Barai · Mar 15th, 2007, 07:54

rather use a mosquito net. 100% effective.heyhey

ranjan154 · Mar 15th, 2007, 08:08

Mosquito nets, yes they are the best for mossies .. but what about bed bugs

PeakXV · Mar 15th, 2007, 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Barai

rather use a mosquito net. 100% effective.heyhey

I've tried wearing one during daily excursions - but keep get tripped up in the darn thing - and always when attempting to cross heavy volume roads/margs.

kmalik · Mar 15th, 2007, 08:29

Recently, US FDA approved Picardin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus for this purpose. The FDA/CDC blessed mosquito repellent now are:

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Picaridin (KBR 3023)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

Also, from CDC site: "Certain products which contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied following the label instructions. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin."

SteamBuff · Mar 15th, 2007, 15:25

I used a UK product called "Mosi Guard" which is a non-DEET based product.

It worked find for me.

Take a look at http://www.mosi-guard.co.uk/

(I have no connections with the company or its products - except a very happy user)

Nick-H · Mar 15th, 2007, 19:50

I've tried that! Yes, I think it was ok and smelt quite good.

kidsan · Mar 15th, 2007, 20:30

i have 2 systems:

a) i sleep with mrs K who seems to be a wonderful mossie-magnet and who draws them away from me

b) when the above is not present, i use a citonella based natural repellant which seems to be as efficient as deet...i.e. if i apply it properly, they never seem to bite me

Noodle · Mar 15th, 2007, 20:42

What's wrong with good ole Odomos? Never fails me.

Nick-H · Mar 15th, 2007, 20:59

Odomos does fail me, sometimes...

It is only 12% DEET which is well below the recommended strength (of.... I forget), but it is cheap and readily available in India.

That percentage is almost certainly not enough to see you through the night. As residents, I'm guessing that Noodle and I both sleep under nets (I do), so it is not so much of an issue if it looses its effectiveness after a mere hour or two.

Noodle · Mar 15th, 2007, 21:42

No, I hate nets, I feel claustrophobic. But seriously, I put Odomos on my hands and face and I don't get bitten in the night.

abfab · Mar 15th, 2007, 21:44

I tried 'Autan Active' for the first time on my recent visit and it seemed to work fine for me. I only got bitten in the places where I'd forgotten to apply it.

It contains 20% Picaridin which is a modern DEET replacement developed by Bayer.

It is supposed to have the same duration and effectiveness as the equivalent 20% Deet, but I have read some people claiming it hasn't worked well for them.

Picaridin is certainly a lot more pleasant to wear than DEET, it isn't sticky or as smelly, and doesn't disolve pastic the way DEET does. No more sticking my ear to telephones, and leaving marks on peoples polished furniture

Sama · Mar 15th, 2007, 21:50

when I was in Chennai in March last year a yoga student made her own repellant using essential oils. I remember she used some lemon and eucalyptus oils, among others, and she let me try it -- not only did I smell great, I did not get bit once in the areas where I applied it. and yes, I actually did a product test on my body with her oil, Odomos, and my DEET based product. Her oil won, hands down!

Since I mix my own oils for my yoga practice anyway, next time I go to India I'm bringing my own mix of oils....

as stated in #6 above: "Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET."

plus I mix my oils in an organic sesame oil base -- much nicer than DEET!

icetea · Mar 15th, 2007, 22:06

umm, Nick, Noodle...you mean you actually go through all the trouble (read net/applying repellent) every night?! outch! hats off to you for still living in India!

What's wrong with using electric devices, by the way? It can't be much worse inhaling the chemicals than rubbing them into one's skin...

Oils didn't work for me, at least citronella didn't.

Mar 15th, 2007, 07:16	#1
cosmic-unity Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 11	Effectiveness of non DEET repellents? Just wondering what non DEET brand of repellents and ingredients you have found effective at preventing mosquito bites? Thanks Darren

Mar 15th, 2007, 07:28	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,195	Hi Darren - It's an often discussed topic here on IM. I personally rely on Deet but rarely put it directly on the skin. Cuffs, socks, collars, & bed linen at night seems to do the trick - with minimal chemical risk/exposure. Have tried a few non-deet repellents out with minimal success .... and shelf-life/heat exposure seems to play a major role in their ability to be effective. Have a look at the following thread for some other perspectives on the topic: Natural Mosquito Repellent Survey... __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Mar 15th, 2007, 08:08	#4
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 848	Mosquito nets, yes they are the best for mossies .. but what about bed bugs __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

Mar 15th, 2007, 15:25	#7
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	I used a UK product called "Mosi Guard" which is a non-DEET based product. It worked find for me. Take a look at http://www.mosi-guard.co.uk/ (I have no connections with the company or its products - except a very happy user) Last edited by SteamBuff : Mar 15th, 2007 at 15:26. Reason: Added Web Link

Mar 15th, 2007, 19:50	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	I've tried that! Yes, I think it was ok and smelt quite good. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 15th, 2007, 07:54	#3
Dr.Barai Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lucknow Posts: 310	rather use a mosquito net. 100% effective.heyhey

Mar 15th, 2007, 08:29	#6
kmalik Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 455	Recently, US FDA approved Picardin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus for this purpose. The FDA/CDC blessed mosquito repellent now are: DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) Picaridin (KBR 3023) Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Also, from CDC site: "Certain products which contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied following the label instructions. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin."

Mar 15th, 2007, 20:30	#9
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: heading for Mauritania... Posts: 689	i have 2 systems: a) i sleep with mrs K who seems to be a wonderful mossie-magnet and who draws them away from me b) when the above is not present, i use a citonella based natural repellant which seems to be as efficient as deet...i.e. if i apply it properly, they never seem to bite me

Mar 15th, 2007, 20:42	#10
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	What's wrong with good ole Odomos? Never fails me. __________________ If in hole stop digging. Indian saying

Mar 15th, 2007, 20:59	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Odomos does fail me, sometimes... It is only 12% DEET which is well below the recommended strength (of.... I forget), but it is cheap and readily available in India. That percentage is almost certainly not enough to see you through the night. As residents, I'm guessing that Noodle and I both sleep under nets (I do), so it is not so much of an issue if it looses its effectiveness after a mere hour or two.

Mar 15th, 2007, 21:42	#12
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	No, I hate nets, I feel claustrophobic. But seriously, I put Odomos on my hands and face and I don't get bitten in the night.

Mar 15th, 2007, 21:44	#13
abfab Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Posts: 98	I tried 'Autan Active' for the first time on my recent visit and it seemed to work fine for me. I only got bitten in the places where I'd forgotten to apply it. It contains 20% Picaridin which is a modern DEET replacement developed by Bayer. It is supposed to have the same duration and effectiveness as the equivalent 20% Deet, but I have read some people claiming it hasn't worked well for them. Picaridin is certainly a lot more pleasant to wear than DEET, it isn't sticky or as smelly, and doesn't disolve pastic the way DEET does. No more sticking my ear to telephones, and leaving marks on peoples polished furniture

Mar 15th, 2007, 21:50	#14
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,354	when I was in Chennai in March last year a yoga student made her own repellant using essential oils. I remember she used some lemon and eucalyptus oils, among others, and she let me try it -- not only did I smell great, I did not get bit once in the areas where I applied it. and yes, I actually did a product test on my body with her oil, Odomos, and my DEET based product. Her oil won, hands down! Since I mix my own oils for my yoga practice anyway, next time I go to India I'm bringing my own mix of oils.... as stated in #6 above: "Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET." plus I mix my oils in an organic sesame oil base -- much nicer than DEET! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Mar 15th, 2007, 22:06	#15
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	umm, Nick, Noodle...you mean you actually go through all the trouble (read net/applying repellent) every night?! outch! hats off to you for still living in India! What's wrong with using electric devices, by the way? It can't be much worse inhaling the chemicals than rubbing them into one's skin... Oils didn't work for me, at least citronella didn't.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
insect repellent (deet)	les127	Health and Well Being in India	31	Jul 11th, 2008 01:31
Deet	freenote	Health and Well Being in India	37	Jan 15th, 2006 05:11
100% Deet?	Bumpy Jonas	Health and Well Being in India	20	Apr 3rd, 2004 07:27
Deet	RTodor	Health and Well Being in India	6	Jun 25th, 2003 19:12
New potential mosquito repellent better than DEET	IVAN	Health and Well Being in India	0	Aug 29th, 2001 16:14