DEET is used in most standard insect repellents sold today. This chemical is known to have negative impacts on our water supply and wildlife. There is also evidence of DEET having adverse neurological impacts on humans. Although we can’t vouch for their effectiveness, here are some safe, environmentally friendly insect repellent alternatives that you might like to try. They’re all DEET-free, which makes them body-friendly, too:
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1. Liquid Net Towelettes ($6), 25 Towelettes
- Outperforms DEET repellents
- Natural, pleasant scent
2. TerraShield ($12.50), 15ml
- Includes 15 certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils
- Base of 100% pure coconut oil
- Lasts up to 6 hours
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3. All Terrain Herbal Armor Insect Repellent ($8.50), 4oz
- Includes 5 natural essential oils acknowledged by the EPA as repellents
- Proven to be 100% effective for more than two hours
- Water-resistant
4. EcoSmart Organic Insect Repellent ($7), 6oz
- All natural formula, created from organic plant oils
- Repels mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks
5. Bug-a-Bug ($19), 200ml (R)
- Contains organically certified Andiroba Oil
- Hypoallergenic
- No synthetics
- No parabens
- No silicon
- No artificial preservatives
- No eye or skin irritation
Related: previously on altCon,
Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent
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If you know anything about Manitoba at this time of year, you know that the mosquitos up here grow about as big as a Cessna Caravan floatplane, which is what I fly for the Hudson Bay Search and Rescue Squad. Up here in Manitoba we spend a lot of time in the bush and in the woods so I’m always searching for new products or gadgets that will keep the darn mosquitos from biting me so much! Now I wouldn’t go and call myself a tree hugger or anything, but since part of my job is to protect the environment I like to give the “eco friendly” products a fair shake. That being said, my biggest concern is that all these “organic plant oils” and “natural pleasant scent” products may do the trick on mosquitos but may actually make me more attractive to the bear population up here! I’ll give a couple of them a try but I’ll be darn certain to carry a few extra canisters of bear spray in my first aid kit!!
great idea. i use some chemical products to get insect out. i think i can try these this summer.