What's a good non-DEET mosquito repellent

[Christine MH-UK]

Hi folks,

I am heading off to the US next week. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good non-DEET mosquito repellent I could pick up there for my trip. Normally I don't have to bother with this because they don't like windy Yorkshire. I don't want to get lymphedema from something as dumb as a mosquito bite, but I would like to avoid potentially dangerous chemicals. I won't be out in the woods, just urban Massachusetts.

Take care,

Christine

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Christine: I googled it and came up with the following under natural remedies..."The most effective repelent found in the market in USA is the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent which provided 120.1 minutes of mosquito protection ...."

Hope this helps. You may find it at any natural food stores;here in california we have Whole Foods, Trader's Joe and Henry's Market.
Before leaving your country you might want to look it up on the web
and see if there is a store in MA.

Have a great time!!!!

[Karen Weixel]

Hi Christine,

I was in Mass last summer. I was in Boston and then a town called, Boxbourgh (which is a fairly wooded area). Anyway, I never really found the mosquitos to be a real problem. However, I think I would follow Adriana's advice and pick something up at a local health food store.

I love Massachusetts! Hope you have a great time.

Karen

[AlaskaAngel]

Working and living constantly in the woods here and in the Lower 48, I had to use something, but didn't like DEET. The commonly used protection by word of mouth is Skin So Soft and although it is less protective than DEET I like it. It didn't damage my clothes. Have fun Christine!

http://www.msstate.edu/entomology/Homepest/mosquitorepell.html

AlaskaAngel

[doh2pa]

Skin So Soft does work great. It's an Avon product so you may be able to find it on their web site. Enjoy your trip!

Donna

[CLTann]

I happen to be the chemist who supplies Avon with the chemicals that make up the composition of Skin so soft. It is a 50% isopropyl myristate and 50% isopropyl palmitate. The rest in the Skin so soft are perfume and non-function materials. You need to search to find where you can get these isopropyl esters. Welcome to the good ole USA.

[hutchibk]

Hi CL - I can't tell if you are saying that Skin So Soft is a good product or a bad product... but it seems to me to have no repellent properties. Isopropyl myristate is actually a known skin irritant, and isopropyl palmitate is only a synthetic emollient/moisturizer. Both are petroleum products, so definitely not "natural."

And Adriana - I have been looking at Repel, but online they don't necessarily say that it doesn't have any DEET, it just sells it on the lemon eucalyptus properties... does your bottle confirm that it is 100% DEET free? If so, I am going to order some!

With all of our rain so far this year, and the area flooding, mosquitos are THICK! I need something and fast!

[Lani]

http://www.autan.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_name=AutanGatewayPage

[Lolly]

Here in Oregon we've used products containing citronells oil; they work great for repelling bugs including mosquitos. The oil itself is a natural plant extract and is non-toxic. You can find it in the U.S. in most drug stores, along with citronella candles cast in small buckets, to burn around your deck in the evenings to keep the buggers away!
Here's an EPA web site with further info:

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_021901.htm

[Caroline UK]

Hi Christine
I have the same concerns regarding mozzie bites, and every night I spray my arm with Boots' own natural mosquito repellent. It comes in a small blue aerosol, and so far I haven't been bitten once. I don't THINK it contains DEET, but it's upstairs and I haven't got the energy to climb the stairs to check. It seems to be based on citronella, as mentioned here already.
Best wishes and have a fantastic time - let us know how you got on, won't you? By the way, have you had any thoughts on being fitted for a lymphoedema sleeve to wear as a precaution on the flight? I know this is an individual decision, but my lymphoedema specialist nurse thinks it's a good idea on these longer flights. Also the NHS has just agreed to supply them on prescription via GP's, as of April.

[Believe51]

Avon's Skin-So-Soft fragrance product line is not designed to deter bugs, but their bug spray line is and that too is a Skin-So-Soft item. I am not sure if it is the product you are going for maybe the health store will provide better, safer products. I am a Beauty Advisor for Avon and the Skin-So-Soft was misrepresented in the media many years ago, it was not promoted that way from Avon. We do however use the original SSS body oil for the horses, we dilute it 1/2 & 1/2 water and it works alright in between the insect sprays made especially for horses. Hope this helps..>>Waiting For A Miracle>>Believe51

[CLTann]

Responding to one of the mails above, I didn't say Skin So Soft is a good mosquito repellent. It is quite effective to repel gnats found along the southeastern U.S. seacoast. I personally found it has very little effect on mosquitoes but truly know gnats don't like the isopropyl esters. Avon never claims it is a mosquito repellent. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

[Believe51]

The media, not Avon, poorly misrepresented these products and very reknown media at that, sorry if I sounded like I replied in reponse to your post I actually learned from it. And also, there is no better insect spray than Avon for us, we NEVER get bit and my blood is sweet!!!! Lots of Love..>>Waiting For A Miracle>>Believe51

[Ginagce]

a few years ago I was planning a trip to Borneo. My main concern was mosquitos as in that area of the world they carry dengue fever as well as malaria.

I went to an outfitter and bought a product called bug juice which it turned out was nearly 100% DEET.

I also purchased several of those little tubes that run on batteries and emit a frequency that is supposed to repel mosquitos. Everyone laughed at me. I hung one from my backpack which was always with me, one from my belt loop and kept one in my pocket.

During the 3 weeks I was there, in the jungle much of the time, I got a total of 1 mosquito bite and never, repeat never, used any of the sprays, creams etc. I brought with me. I also ignored the rules of wearing long sleeves and long pants tucked into your boots due to the excessive heat and the hot flashes I was having.

Call me crazy but I believe they work. I convinced my brother who was doing a rafting trip on the Colorado to take them and he said he had no problem with bites either.

I know this is a late posting but perhaps it will help others or on your next trip.

Ginagce