Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Let's be real with this review: bug sprays without DEET or picaridin aren't as effective or as long lasting as those with DEET or picaridin. This is a fact. On to this bug spray. The active ingredient in this spray is p-Menthane-3, 8-diol (also called PMD). PMD is found in eucalyptus oil in small quantities, hence the botanicals name. However, the bottle (and this page) clearly state that the compound has been derived from other sources (pine oil); this does not change the effectiveness. Pros: - Repels mosquitos decently well for up to 2 hours after being applied to the skin - Will not dissolve your clothes/shoes/plastics like DEET - Safer for aquatic animals/creatures than DEET (and probably picaridin) - No strong smell (it does have a slight rubbing alcohol scent that goes away as soon as it dries) - Dries quickly - No greasy/sticky residue Cons: - Does not work nearly as well as a DEET or picaridin based bug spray - Not suitable for deep woods/back country - Last a very short period of time (it is pretty ineffective at the 2 hour mark) - Pump spray applicator does apply as evening as an aerosol applicator - Only 10% PMD, which is fairly low. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent is 30% lemon eucalyptus oil, which is about 65% PMD; that means that, in total Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent is 19.5% PMD to OFF's 10%. CONCLUSION: This is a decent "natural" bug spray; it works fairly well to repel mosquitos, without leaving any bad odor or sticky residue. That said, it doesn't last long (it's pretty ineffective after about an hour and totally ineffective by hour 2), and it doesn't work as well as picaridin or DEET based bug spray. Additionally, there are better PMD based bug sprays; look for one that is 30% lemon eucalyptus oil/~19% PMD. Overall, though, this spray works well enough for me when I take the dog out for a walk in the evenings in my suburban/urban neighborhood. If you are doing to be doing anything in the woods or back country, get yourself a picaridin based bug spray. DEET is another alternative, but it leaves a greasy residue on the skin, can dissolve plastics (including elastics/synthetic fabrics on clothes), and is highly toxic to aquatic animals.