Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we'd use ourselves.
← All videos
From today's video

The three bug sprays.

Picaridin or DEET on the active ingredients line — that's the whole shortcut. All three are on the CDC's list of registered actives.

The daily pick
Sawyer Picaridin 20% Pump Spray
School drop-off, errands, the park.

Picaridin sprays don't melt plastics or sunscreen, and they don't smell like a hardware store. Good for everyday outdoor use.

~$10
Buy on Amazon → Buy at REI →
The woods pick
Off! Deep Woods, 25% DEET
When mosquitoes mean it.

25% DEET is the workhorse concentration — high enough to last several hours, low enough to stay comfortable on skin.

~$7
Buy on Amazon → Buy at Target →
The backyard pick
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus 30%
Backyard, smells better than the other two.

Plant-based active, still on the CDC's list. Smells better than the other two. Not recommended for kids under 3 — that's a label note worth honoring.

~$8
Buy on Amazon →

Why picaridin or DEET?

The CDC lists a small number of repellent active ingredients with enough evidence behind them to recommend against mosquitoes and ticks: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and 2-undecanone. Of those, picaridin and DEET are the most widely available and the most studied. Picaridin tends to feel lighter and doesn't damage plastics; DEET is the longer-lasting workhorse at higher concentrations. Either one on the label is the simple answer.

How to apply

Apply sunscreen first, repellent second. Spray onto hands and rub onto the face — don't spray directly at the face. Wash it off when you come inside. None of this is fussy, it's just how the labels read.

The honest tradeoff: Picaridin and DEET both work; they just feel different. DEET has been used since the 1950s and has the longest track record. Picaridin has been in the U.S. since 2005 and is the standard in most of Europe. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is the only plant-based active the CDC lists, but it can't be used on kids under 3. Pick by use case, not by which one is "best."

Want a second opinion on what's already in your home?

Canary scans your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry products and tells you what's worth swapping. Free to try — no email, no signup required for the first scan.

Try the free scan →

Looking for more swaps? See everything we've recommended.

Browse all videos →