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10 Best Eco-Friendly Bug Sprays in 2022 (Repel, Babyganics, and More)
Did you know that most bug sprays in the US are made with chemicals that have been shown to cause neurological damage? And that the high concentrations we see in our bug sprays are actually banned in other countries? Clearly, the stuff we’ve been using isn’t very good for us or the environment, but that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to becoming a bug buffet.
Eco-friendly bug sprays are becoming increasingly common. In fact, you can even find all-natural, organic sprays that actually work. In this guide, we’ll show you what to look for when choosing a more eco-friendly bug spray. We’ve also got a list of our 10 favorites to help you get started - our number one pick was Sawyer's highly effective premium repellent.
Eco-friendly bug sprays are becoming increasingly common. In fact, you can even find all-natural, organic sprays that actually work. In this guide, we’ll show you what to look for when choosing a more eco-friendly bug spray. We’ve also got a list of our 10 favorites to help you get started - our number one pick was Sawyer's highly effective premium repellent.
- Last updated: 08-18-2022
Table of Contents
How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Bug Spray – Buying Guide
When it comes to picking a good bug spray, it’s less about your individual requirements and more about what actually works. There is some variation between preferences, though, so keep your needs in mind as you consider the following factors.
Look For Lemon Eucalyptus and Picaridin
There are a few different ingredients that make for an effective bug spray. Some ingredients are more effective against certain bugs than others, so be sure to read the label to see what bugs each spray is formulated to protect you against.
For an “All-Natural” Spray, Look for Lemon Eucalyptus
Most natural bug sprays will include either citronella oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as their main ingredient. As similar as they sound, none of these are the same thing, though all of them contain PMD, a naturally occurring, highly effective mosquito and bug repellent.
Citronella oil and lemon eucalyptus oil are essential oils that contain low concentrations of PMD. Oil of lemon eucalyptus, on the other hand, is a concentrated version of lemon eucalyptus oil that contains a much higher amount of PMD. While all will be effective at deterring bugs to some degree, oil of lemon eucalyptus is the most effective of the three.
Do note, however, that lemon eucalyptus is actually one of the scents bees are most attracted to, so if you’re in an area with bees, maybe skip the lemon eucalyptus spray.
Picaridin Help With Broad-Range Protection
Picaridin is a synthetic version of a chemical found in black pepper plants. It’s one of the most effective bug repellents in terms of the number of different bugs it can protect you from–including mosquitoes, ticks, and flies.
It has almost no odor, doesn’t leave behind any residue, and is generally considered non-toxic and safe for both people and the environment. Picaridin is also considered a better option for children under 3 years old as essential oils can be too highly concentrated for their skin at that age.
Avoid DEET at All Costs
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly bug spray, you probably already know that DEET is one ingredient you want to avoid. But why is DEET so terrible?
Well, aside from being an extremely effective bug repellent, it’s also been known to melt plastics, cause short-term health effects like dizziness, headaches, and nausea, as well as long-term health effects like impaired neurological functions, muscle weakness, and tremors.
Luckily, most eco-friendly bug sprays are proud to be DEET-free and will have it written clearly on their labels so you know right away that you’re not getting any of that nasty stuff.
Make Sure that the Product Can Protect You for as Long as You Need
Unfortunately, DEET bug sprays tend to be the most long-lasting. Most sprays will have their duration of protection written on them, so make sure you pick one that will last you the whole day, or at least that you won’t mind reapplying between those intervals.
Also, keep in mind that bug spray tends to wear off faster if you’re sweating during summer hikes than if you’re just bird-watching on a cool day. Most natural bug sprays are not sweat-resistant, so be prepared to reapply often.
Pick Pump Sprays – Aerosols Release Harmful Chemicals and Compounds
While aerosol sprays no longer release the ozone layer-depleting chemicals they did back in the 50s and 60s, they still release hydrocarbons and other gasses that contribute to global warming (albeit in small amounts).
Aerosols also tend to release volatile organic compounds that can irritate your respiratory system and create ground-level ozone which is a large component of smog. So to avoid these unnecessary atmospheric pollutants, it’s best to go with plain old pump sprays.
10 Best Eco-Friendly Bug Sprays
Here are our top picks for eco-friendly bug sprays. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
| Image | 1  Sawyer Products | 2  Natrapel | 3  Avon | 4  Murphy’s Naturals | 5  Repel | 6  Babyganics | 7  Quantum | 8  Turtle Moon Health | 9  Coleman | 10  Badger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Premium Insect Repellent | 12-Hour Mosquito, Tick, and Insect Repellent | Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard + Picaridin | Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent | Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent | Travel Size Bug Spray | Health Buzz Away Extreme | Nature's Cloak Insect Repellent | DEET Free Lemon Eucalyptus Spray | Anti-Bug Repellent Spray |
| Features | Highly Effective, Long Lasting Bug Spray | Super Long-Lasting Against a Huge Range of Bugs | Moisturizes as It Protects | A Little Goes a Long Way | Long-Lasting Mosquito Repellant | Formulated to Be Safe for Your Little Ones | Great for Forested Areas With Tons of Bugs | Travel-Sized Spray With a Long Shelf Life | Effective, Highly Concentrated Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus Spray | Certified Organic Mosquito Repellent |
| Price | $8.99 | $6.95 | $12.99 | $9.99 | $4.97 | $4.19 | $9.99 | $36.00 | $9.99 | $10.19 |
| Active Ingredients | Picaridin | Picaridin | Picaridin | Oil of lemon eucalyptus | Oil of lemon eucalyptus | Soybean, rosemary, citronella, geranium, cedarwood, peppermint, and lemon grass oil | Citronella, geranium, lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint essential oils | Lemon eucalyptus, lavender, rose geranium, lemon tea tree, and cedarwood essential oils | Oil of lemon eucalyptus | Citronella, cedar, lemongrass essential oils |
| DEET-Free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duration | 12 hours | 12 hours | 8 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours | 1.5 hours | 4 hours | – | 6 hours | – |
| Spray Type | Pump | Pump | Pump | Pump | Pump | Pump | Pump | Pump | Aerosol | Pump |
| Link |
1
Sawyer ProductsPremium Insect Repellent
4 oz.
$8.99
| Active Ingredients | Picaridin |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 12 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
2
Natrapel12-Hour Mosquito, Tick, and Insect Repellent
3.4 oz.
$6.95
| Active Ingredients | Picaridin |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 12 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
3
AvonSkin-So-Soft Bug Guard + Picaridin
4 oz.
$12.99
| Active Ingredients | Picaridin |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 8 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
4
Murphy’s NaturalsLemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent
4 oz.
$9.99
| Active Ingredients | Oil of lemon eucalyptus |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
5
RepelPlant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
4 oz.
$4.97
| Active Ingredients | Oil of lemon eucalyptus |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
6
BabyganicsTravel Size Bug Spray
2 oz.
$4.19
| Active ingredients | Soybean, rosemary, citronella, geranium, cedarwood, peppermint, and lemon grass oil |
|---|---|
| DEET-free? | Yes |
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Spray type | Pump |
7
QuantumHealth Buzz Away Extreme
4 oz.
$9.99
| Active Ingredients | Citronella, geranium, lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint essential oils |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Spray Type | Pump |
8
Turtle Moon HealthNature's Cloak Insect Repellent
4 pack, 2.5 oz.
$36.00
| Active Ingredients | Lemon eucalyptus, lavender, rose geranium, lemon tea tree, and cedarwood essential oils |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | – |
| Spray Type | Pump |
9
ColemanDEET Free Lemon Eucalyptus Spray
4 oz.
$9.99
| Active Ingredients | Oil of lemon eucalyptus |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Spray Type | Aerosol |
10
BadgerAnti-Bug Repellent Spray
4 oz.
$10.19
| Active Ingredients | Citronella, cedar, lemongrass essential oils |
|---|---|
| DEET-Free? | Yes |
| Duration | – |
| Spray Type | Pump |
How to Properly Apply Bug Spray
It can be easy to think that bug spray should be worn the same way as perfume–after all, it’s the scent that the bugs don’t like, right? Actually, there’s a little more to it than that, and here are a few tips to doing it right.
Spray from about 6-8 inches away from your skin and spread it over your skin with your hands. Try not to go too heavy–more isn’t necessarily better with bug spray.
For your face and other sensitive areas, spray onto your hands first and rub it on with your fingers. There’s no need to get under your clothes, but don’t forget areas like your ankles, hands, and feet.
More Goods for the Outdoors
Thinking of going camping in the great outdoors? You'll be needing bug spray, of course, but there are a lot of other things you'll have to prepare, too. If you need help picking out the best products, then take a look at some of our other guides!
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