Picaridin vs Other plant oils

The same eleven questions, side by side, each answer in the agency's words. No verdict from us: we sell a product built on one of these actives, so the agencies do the talking.

Picaridinicaridin, KBR 3023

Other plant oils25(b) exempt: lemongrass, peppermint, cedar, soybean, others

Per EPA's tool

Picaridin

Registered; 55 products in EPA's tool; 3 to 14 h mosquitoes, 5 to 14 h ticks.

Other plant oils

Exempt, not registered; Not in EPA’s tool.

What is it, and where does it come from?

Picaridin

A human-made compound, NPIC says, widely used in Europe and Australia, available in the U.S. only since 2005.

Source and detail: NPIC

Picaridin is a human-made compound first made in the 1980s; NPIC's picaridin fact sheet says it was made to resemble the natural compound piperine, found in the group of plants used to produce black pepper. NPIC says it was widely used as an insect repellent in Europe and Australia but has only been available in the United States since 2005.

Picaridin repels insects, ticks and chiggers. It is a human-made (synthetic) compound first made in the 1980s. It was made to resemble the natural compound piperine, which is found in the group of plants that are used to produce black pepper.
NPIC, Picaridin General Fact Sheet

Picaridin has been widely used as an insect repellent in Europe and Australia, but has only been available in the United States since 2005.
NPIC, Picaridin General Fact Sheet

Other plant oils

EPA names citronella, cedar, geranium, peppermint and soybean oils as examples of ingredients in unregistered repellents.

Source and detail: NPIC, US EPA

These are the plant oils EPA allows in repellents sold without registration: EPA's page on regulating skin-applied repellents names citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, peppermint oil and soybean oil as examples of ingredients used in unregistered repellents. EPA's 1997 citronella fact sheet dates the exempting rule to February 28, 1996, under FIFRA Section 25(b). NPIC adds that no EPA-registered repellent contains garlic oil, rosemary, lemongrass, thyme or geraniol oils as active ingredients.

Examples of ingredients used in unregistered repellents are: Citronella oil. Cedar oil. Geranium oil. Peppermint and peppermint oil. Soybean oil.
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026

Because EPA has determined that certain "minimum risk pesticides" pose little to no risk to human health or the environment, EPA has exempted them from the requirement that they be registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
US EPA, Minimum Risk Pesticides Exempted from FIFRA Registration, last updated August 31, 2026

On February 28, 1996, the Agency issued a rule exempting certain pesticides, including oil of citronella, from regulation under FIFRA. In order to be eligible for this exemption (under FIFRA Section 25(b)), the oil of citronella products must meet all of the criteria listed below:
US EPA, R.E.D. FACTS, Oil of Citronella, EPA-738-F-97-002, February 1997

Some of these other repellents may be minimum risk pesticides and may not have to be registered with the EPA. There are no EPA-registered repellents that contain garlic oil, rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, or geraniol oils as active ingredients.
NPIC, Insect Repellents Fact Sheet, Oregon State University Extension Services, date reviewed February 2018

How does EPA treat it?

Picaridin

Registered since 2001; EPA's 2005 fact sheet says normal use does not present a health concern.

Source and detail: EPA

Registered: EPA's 2005 picaridin fact sheet gives 2001 as the year of initial registration. The same fact sheet says picaridin generally is of low acute toxicity and that, based on the available toxicological data, the Agency believes normal use of picaridin does not present a health concern to the general U.S. population.

Year of Initial Registration: 2001
EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin, May 2005

Picaridin generally is of low acute toxicity, and based on the available toxicological data, the Agency believes that the normal use of Picaridin does not present a health concern to the general U.S. population
EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin, May 2005

Other plant oils

Exempt from registration under FIFRA Section 25(b); EPA says it is considering removing personal repellents from the exemption.

Source and detail: US EPA

Exempt under FIFRA Section 25(b): EPA says it has determined that certain minimum risk pesticides pose little to no risk to human health or the environment and has exempted them from FIFRA registration. As of EPA's personal-repellents page, read September 2026, EPA says it is considering a future rulemaking to remove personal mosquito and tick repellents from the exemption, after which they would need registration before sale.

Because EPA has determined that certain "minimum risk pesticides" pose little to no risk to human health or the environment, EPA has exempted them from the requirement that they be registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
US EPA, Minimum Risk Pesticides Exempted from FIFRA Registration, last updated August 31, 2026

On February 28, 1996, the Agency issued a rule exempting certain pesticides, including oil of citronella, from regulation under FIFRA. In order to be eligible for this exemption (under FIFRA Section 25(b)), the oil of citronella products must meet all of the criteria listed below:
US EPA, R.E.D. FACTS, Oil of Citronella, EPA-738-F-97-002, February 1997

To that end, we have explored rulemaking regarding personal insect repellents and in a future rulemaking are considering a proposal to remove personal mosquito and tick repellents from the minimum risk pesticides exemption currently in 40 CFR 152.25(f). This means that once removed from the exemption, personal mosquito and tick repellents would need to be registered as a pesticide product with EPA before sale or distribution in the United States.
US EPA, Personal Insect Repellents and Minimum Risk Pesticides

What strengths are registered, and does strength change protection?

Picaridin

EPA lists products at 5, 5.75, 7, 10 and 20%; CDC says higher concentrations generally protect longer.

Source and detail: CDC Yellow Book, EPA

No EPA page we read states a picaridin percentage range in prose; EPA's 2005 picaridin fact sheet lists registered formulations at 5 and 7 percent (pump sprays), 10 percent (aerosol) and 5.75 percent (towelette wipes), and EPA's repellent search tool lists 20 percent picaridin lotion, spray and wipe products. CDC's Yellow Book says higher concentrations of active ingredients generally provide longer protection, regardless of the active ingredient.

Registered: 96.8% a.i. Technical; 5% & 7% pump sprays; 10% aerosol spray and 5.75% towelette wipes
EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin, May 2005

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion | 14 | 14 | Picaridin | 20 | Sawyer Products | 39967-50-58188
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray | 12 | 12 | Picaridin | 20 | The PIC20 Group, LLC | 93221-1
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

Natrapel 8 Hour Insect Repellent Wipes | 8 | 8 | Picaridin | 20 | Tender Corp. | 56575-14
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

In general, higher concentrations of active ingredients provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient. Products with <10% active ingredient might offer only limited protection, often 1-2 hours. Products that offer sustained-release or controlled-release (microencapsulated) formulations, even with lower active ingredient concentrations, might provide longer protection times. Studies suggest that DEET efficacy tends to peak at a concentration of approximately 50% and that concentrations above that do not offer a marked increase in protection time against mosquitoes.
CDC Yellow Book, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-19)

Other plant oils

No registered strength exists; EPA requires exempt labels to list every active by name and percentage by weight.

Source and detail: NPIC, US EPA

There is no registered strength to give: a product that meets EPA's six minimum-risk conditions does not need to be registered with EPA. EPA's conditions page says all active ingredients in an exempted product must be listed on the label by display name and percentage by weight. NPIC says higher concentration repellents may protect longer but are not better at keeping insects away, and under 10 percent may only protect for 1 to 2 hours.

A minimum risk product must meet the six conditions listed below. A product that meets all of these six conditions is then exempted from regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), i.e., the pesticide product does not need to be registered with EPA. However, states may require registration under state laws .
US EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides, last updated August 31, 2026

All of the ingredients in an exempted product (both active and inert) must be listed on the label: All active ingredients must be listed by label display name* and percentage (by weight).
US EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides, Condition 3, last updated August 31, 2026

Higher concentration repellents may protect people for longer. However, they are not better at keeping insects away. 5,6,7 Repellents with less than 10% of an active ingredient may only offer protection for short periods of time (1-2 hours).
NPIC, Insect Repellents Fact Sheet, Oregon State University Extension Services, date reviewed February 2018

How long does EPA say it protects?

Picaridin

EPA's tool lists one 20% lotion at 14 hours, a spray at 12, wipes at 8.

Source and detail: EPA, U.S. EPA

EPA's repellent search tool lists 20 percent picaridin products by form. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion, EPA Reg. No. 39967-50-58188, lists 14 hours for mosquitoes and ticks; Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, lists 12 hours, and Natrapel 8 Hour Insect Repellent Wipes, EPA Reg. No. 56575-14, lists 8. EPA says protection times vary because testing conditions differ, and that the tool's database was last updated in June 2019.

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion | 14 | 14 | Picaridin | 20 | Sawyer Products | 39967-50-58188
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray | 12 | 12 | Picaridin | 20 | The PIC20 Group, LLC | 93221-1
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

Natrapel 8 Hour Insect Repellent Wipes | 8 | 8 | Picaridin | 20 | Tender Corp. | 56575-14
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s

While this technical information is based on scientific testing guidelines and approved study methods, there are variations in the resulting protection times because of differences in the testing conditions.
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You

Any products listed are for informational purposes only. Inclusion of a product listed/referenced is not an endorsement. * EPA and the U.S. Government do not endorse any product or service. * The information in this database was last updated in June 2019.
U.S. EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You

Other plant oils

EPA publishes no protection time; it says these products have not been evaluated for effectiveness.

Source and detail: US EPA

EPA publishes no protection time for these oils: its page on regulation of skin-applied repellents says products made from these ingredients have not been evaluated for effectiveness, and that repellents without an EPA registration number have not been evaluated by EPA, which cannot advise consumers about their effectiveness. EPA's search tool includes only skin-applied repellents registered by EPA; no unregistered products are listed.

In the 1990s, EPA evaluated the active ingredients in these unregistered products for safety . We determined that the active ingredients posed minimal risk to human health in the percentages found in products on the market. Based on this minimal risk determination, we decided that products made from these ingredients should be exempt from registration. Note that products made from these ingredients have not been evaluated for effectiveness .
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026

Repellents that do not bear an EPA registration number have not been evaluated by EPA, and EPA cannot advise consumers about the effectiveness of these products.
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026

The results from the search tool include only skin-applied repellent products registered by EPA. No unregistered products are listed.
US EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, last updated September 8, 2026

Which pests do accepted labels name, and what does CDC say those pests carry?

Picaridin

A 20% label names mosquitoes, ticks, biting, stable, black and sand flies, gnats, chiggers and Scottish biting midges.

Source and detail: EPA stamped master label

The master label for a 20 percent picaridin spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, claims 12 hour protection from ticks and mosquitoes and up to 8 hours against biting flies, stable flies, black flies, gnats, chiggers, sand flies and Scottish biting midges. The label's bracketed wording on disease is "mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, Dengue [Fever], and Zika [Virus] and ticks carrying Lyme disease and tick borne encephalitis."

[Long-lasting, 12 hour effective protection from ticks and mosquitoes including mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, Dengue [Fever], and Zika [Virus] and ticks carrying Lyme disease and tick borne encephalitis.] [Repels biting flies, stable flies, black flies, gnats, chiggers, sand flies, and Scottish biting midges for up to 8 hours.]
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

Picaridin ……………………………………………………………………….……20.00%
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

Other plant oils

EPA says an exempt label may name the pest but not link it to any specific disease.

Source and detail: US EPA

An exempt label may name the pest but not a disease: EPA's conditions page says minimum risk labels may not claim to control insects in a way linking them with any specific disease, and EPA's 1997 citronella fact sheet gives ticks that carry Lyme disease as a claim an exempt product must not bear. EPA also lists Repels all insects as a claim implying a misleading range of effectiveness.

Minimum risk pesticide labels may not bear claims to control rodent, insect or microbial pests in a way that links the pests with any specific disease. The label claim may only be for the pest, as a pest, and not as a disease vector.
US EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides, Condition 4, last updated August 31, 2026

The product must not bear claims either to control or mitigate microorganisms that pose a threat to human health, including but not limited to, disease transmitting bacteria or viruses, or claims to control insects, rodents carrying specific diseases, including, but not limited to, ticks that carry Lyme disease.
US EPA, R.E.D. FACTS, Oil of Citronella, EPA-738-F-97-002, February 1997

Statements about the effectiveness of the product as a pesticide or device. Examples: "Kills all insects" "Kills many insects" "Repels all insects" These label claims may imply a misleading range of effectiveness.
US EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides, Condition 6, last updated August 31, 2026

What do the agencies say about children?

Picaridin

No age limit, CDC says; one label's own wording says children 1 year and older.

Source and detail: CDC Yellow Book, EPA stamped master label

CDC's Yellow Book says insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and 2-undecanone can be used on children without age restriction. The accepted master label for a 20 percent picaridin spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, carries the optional bracketed line "Suitable for every day use on adults and children 1 year and older," one product's wording rather than an agency statement.

Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and 2-undecanone can be used on children without age restriction
CDC Yellow Book, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-19)

[Suitable for every day use on adults and children 1 year and older]
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

Picaridin ……………………………………………………………………….……20.00%
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

Other plant oils

No agency statement found; CDC's list of actives without age restriction includes no exempt plant oil.

Source and detail: CDC Yellow Book

No agency we read gives an age floor for the exempt oils as a class. CDC's statement that certain actives can be used on children without age restriction names DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and 2-undecanone; no exempt plant oil is on that list.

Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and 2-undecanone can be used on children without age restriction
CDC Yellow Book, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-19)

What do CDC and WHO say about pregnancy?

Picaridin

CDC lists it for pregnant and breastfeeding women; NPIC found no human data on reproductive effects.

Source and detail: CDC, NPIC

CDC's Preventing Mosquito Bites page lists picaridin among the active ingredients it names, and says that when used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are "proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women." NPIC's picaridin technical fact sheet states that no human data were found on the teratogenic or reproductive effects of picaridin.

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. DEET Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the United States)
CDC, Preventing Mosquito Bites (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-16)

Use EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
CDC, Preventing Mosquito Bites (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-16)

No human data were found on the teratogenic or reproductive effects of picaridin.
NPIC, Picaridin Technical Fact Sheet (archived)

Other plant oils

No CDC, WHO or EPA statement found; CDC's pregnancy list of actives includes no exempt plant oil.

Source and detail: CDC Travelers' Health

No CDC, WHO or EPA statement on the exempt oils and pregnancy was among the sources read. CDC's statement that EPA-registered repellents are proven safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women when used as directed is attached to a named list of actives, and no exempt plant oil is on that list.

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. If also using sunscreen, always apply insect repellent after sunscreen. DEET Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US) IR3535 Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) Para-menthane-diol (PMD) 2-undecanone
CDC Travelers' Health, Avoid Bug Bites

What do NPIC and EPA report about absorption and toxicity?

Picaridin

NPIC says under 6% absorbs through human skin; EPA calls it low in acute toxicity.

Source and detail: EPA, NPIC

NPIC says 60 percent of picaridin applied to rat skin went through it, while in humans less than 6 percent was absorbed; both excrete almost all in urine within a day. EPA's 2005 fact sheet says technical grade picaridin has low acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity, Toxicity Category IV for acute inhalation toxicity and primary dermal irritation, and Category III for acute oral and acute dermal toxicity and primary eye irritation.

When researchers applied picaridin to the skin of rats, 60% of it went through the skin. In humans, less than 6% of the picaridin applied to skin was absorbed. Picaridin may be broken down once it is in the body. Rats and humans excrete almost all of it in their urine within a day of exposure.
NPIC, Picaridin General Fact Sheet

Technical grade Picaridin has low acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity. It is classified as Toxicity Category IV for acute inhalation toxicity and primary dermal irritation and Toxicity Category III for acute oral, acute dermal and primary eye irritation.
EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin, May 2005

Other plant oils

EPA found minimal risk at market percentages in the 1990s; NPIC says essential oils are less widely studied.

Source and detail: NPIC, US EPA

EPA says that in the 1990s it evaluated the active ingredients in these unregistered products for safety and determined they posed minimal risk to human health in the percentages found in products on the market, the basis on which it exempted them. NPIC says the health risks and efficacy of essential oils have not been as widely studied as common insect repellents.

In the 1990s, EPA evaluated the active ingredients in these unregistered products for safety . We determined that the active ingredients posed minimal risk to human health in the percentages found in products on the market. Based on this minimal risk determination, we decided that products made from these ingredients should be exempt from registration. Note that products made from these ingredients have not been evaluated for effectiveness .
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026

The health risks and efficacy of essential oils have not been as widely studied as common insect repellents.
NPIC, Insect Repellents Fact Sheet, Oregon State University Extension Services, date reviewed February 2018

Does it damage plastics, fabrics or gear?

Picaridin

Two labels claim no harm to plastics, fishing line, fabric and gear; no agency statement found.

Source and detail: EPA stamped label, EPA stamped master label

Two accepted 20 percent picaridin labels carry no-damage claims: EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, bracketed, "Won't Damage Fishing Lines, Plastics, or other Synthetic Materials"; EPA Reg. No. 54287-22, "Will [Does] not harm gear and equipment" and "Will [Does] not harm plastics and fabric."

[Won't Damage Fishing Lines, Plastics, or other Synthetic Materials]
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

18. Will [Does] not harm gear and equipment
EPA stamped label, Associated Registrations Inc. 20% picaridin repellent, EPA Reg. No. 54287-22, July 17, 2019

19. Will [Does] not harm plastics and fabric
EPA stamped label, Associated Registrations Inc. 20% picaridin repellent, EPA Reg. No. 54287-22, July 17, 2019

Picaridin ……………………………………………………………………….……20.00%
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018

Other plant oils

No agency statement found.

Source and detail: US EPA

No agency statement about the exempt oils and plastics, fabrics or gear was among the sources read. EPA says repellents that do not bear an EPA registration number have not been evaluated by EPA, and that it cannot advise consumers about the effectiveness of those products.

Repellents that do not bear an EPA registration number have not been evaluated by EPA, and EPA cannot advise consumers about the effectiveness of these products.
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026

What do the agencies say about pets?

Picaridin

Only EPA's general rule applies: nothing on pets unless the label says so.

Source and detail: EPA

No agency or label we read covers picaridin use on pets. EPA tells consumers not to use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals.

Do not use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals.
EPA, Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively

Other plant oils

Only EPA's general rule applies: nothing on pets unless the label says so.

Source and detail: EPA, US EPA

EPA's page on using insect repellents says not to use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals, and that most insect repellents do not work against lice or fleas. No agency statement specific to the exempt oils and pets was among the sources read.

Do not use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals. Most insect repellents do not work against lice or fleas.
US EPA, Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively

Do not use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals.
EPA, Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively

Which studies are on the record?

Picaridin

One trial found 20% picaridin and 20% DEET performed equally, with 97.4% protection over five hours.

Source and detail: Carroll JF, Van Roey K

Van Roey 2014 (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases) reported an overall five-hour protection rate of 97.4 percent, with picaridin 20 percent performing equally well as DEET 20 percent. Carroll 2010 (Journal of Medical Entomology) found no difference in effectiveness between the 20 percent spray and lotion formulations of picaridin, and concluded that deet, picaridin and IR3535 provided lasting protection against lone star ticks as tested.

Based on a total of 4996 mosquitoes collected on negative control persons, the overall five hour protection rate was 97.4% [95%CI: 97.1-97.8%], not decreasing over time. Picaridin 20% performed equally well as DEET 20% and better than picaridin 10%.
Van Roey K, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Dec 18;8(12):e3326. PMID 25522134

There was no difference in effectiveness between the 20% spray and 20% lotion formulations of picaridin. The 10% IR3535 lotion was significantly less effective than the formulations with higher concentrations of repellent. In the formulations tested, deet, picaridin, and IR3535 provided lasting protection against A. americanum.
Carroll JF, et al. J Med Entomol. 2010 Jul;47(4):699-704. PMID 20695288

Other plant oils

One 2002 trial found a soybean-oil repellent averaged 94.6 minutes; other botanicals tested averaged under 20 minutes.

Source and detail: Fradin MS, Maia MF

Fradin and Day, New England Journal of Medicine, 2002: a soybean-oil-based repellent protected against mosquito bites for an average of 94.6 minutes, the other botanicals tested for a mean under 20 minutes, and the authors concluded that the non-DEET repellents available at the time could not be relied on for prolonged protection where mosquito-borne diseases are a substantial threat. Maia and Moore, Malaria Journal, 2011, found insufficient studies had followed WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme guidelines.

A soybean-oil-based repellent protected against mosquito bites for an average of 94.6 minutes. The IR3535-based repellent protected for an average of 22.9 minutes. All other botanical repellents we tested provided protection for a mean duration of less than 20 minutes. Repellent-impregnated wristbands offered no protection.
Fradin MS, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. N Engl J Med. 2002;347(1):13-8. PMID 12097535

CONCLUSIONS: Currently available non-DEET repellents do not provide protection for durations similar to those of DEET-based repellents and cannot be relied on to provide prolonged protection in environments where mosquito-borne diseases are a substantial threat.
Fradin MS, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. N Engl J Med. 2002;347(1):13-8. PMID 12097535

To date insufficient studies have followed standard WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme guidelines for repellent testing. There is a need for further standardized studies in order to better evaluate repellent compounds and develop new products that offer high repellency as well as good consumer safety.
Maia MF, Moore SJ. Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malar J. 2011;10 Suppl 1:S11. PMID 21411012

Sources on this page.

21 sources. Every quote was fetched on or before 2026-09-22 and is stored with the page. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. All ten actives.

NPIC, Picaridin General Fact Sheet. https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PicaridinGen.html
EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin, May 2005. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-070705_01-May-05.pdf
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You, search results for picaridin, cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s. https://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect_s/search_results.cfm
CDC Yellow Book, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-19). https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/mosquitoes-ticks-and-other-arthropods.html
EPA, Find the Repellent that is Right for You. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
EPA stamped master label, Ranger Ready Repellents Tick + Insect Spray, EPA Reg. No. 93221-1, issued January 9, 2018. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/093221-00001-20180109.pdf
CDC, Preventing Mosquito Bites (Wayback Machine capture 2026-09-16). https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html
NPIC, Picaridin Technical Fact Sheet (archived). https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/Picaridintech.html
EPA stamped label, Associated Registrations Inc. 20% picaridin repellent, EPA Reg. No. 54287-22, July 17, 2019. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/054287-00022-20190717.pdf
EPA, Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively
Van Roey K, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Dec 18;8(12):e3326. PMID 25522134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25522134/
Carroll JF, et al. J Med Entomol. 2010 Jul;47(4):699-704. PMID 20695288. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20695288/
US EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents, last updated June 25, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/regulation-skin-applied-repellents
NPIC, Insect Repellents Fact Sheet, Oregon State University Extension Services, date reviewed February 2018. https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/repellents.html
US EPA, Minimum Risk Pesticides Exempted from FIFRA Registration, last updated August 31, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides
US EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides, Condition 6, last updated August 31, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides/conditions-minimum-risk-pesticides
Maia MF, Moore SJ. Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malar J. 2011;10 Suppl 1:S11. PMID 21411012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21411012/
US EPA, R.E.D. FACTS, Oil of Citronella, EPA-738-F-97-002, February 1997. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-021901_1-Feb-97.pdf
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