Consumer watchdog Which? has warned holidaymakers not to waste money on trendy mosquito repellents after tests revealed two products failed to protect volunteers from bites for more than three minutes. The findings come from a test of 12 products, where two marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to harsh chemicals performed poorly.
Poor Performance of Trendy Repellents
Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, which boast up to 300 hours of protection per band on their packaging, left volunteers bitten in under three minutes. The product is one of the most expensive tested, costing £19.99 for 12 bands. Similarly, Meadows Organic Citronella Spray (£6 for 100ml), containing natural oils like citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint, offered "very little defence against blood-sucking insects, leaving subjects exposed and bitten almost instantly," according to Which?.
Top Performers Include Affordable Asda Spray
In contrast, Asda's own-brand Extra Strength Insect Repellent spray, costing just £4 for a 125ml bottle, provided total protection for an "impressive" nine-and-a-half hours. Which? found several other top-performing products kept volunteers bite-free for the full test duration, but none were as cheap as the Asda spray.
Products containing DEET—including Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent (£7.20), Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD Aerosol (£9.10), Pyramid Trek 50 (£9.50), and Lifesystems Expedition Max DEET Mosquito Repellent (£9.00)—were all "highly effective." However, testers noted that application was not always smooth and some odours were unpleasant. DEET can also act as a strong solvent, melting plastics and synthetic fabrics, and may irritate sensitive skin.
Effective Alternatives Without Harsh Chemicals
Which? found that products do not need to be harsh to be effective. Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65), containing 20% Picaridin, kept mosquitoes at bay for nine-and-a-half hours. Incognito Insect Repellent Pump-Spray (£13.99), using plant-derived PMD, protected volunteers for nine hours and is safe for babies from six months old.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: "Whether you’re heading abroad or just enjoying your own garden this summer, avoiding nature’s most blood-thirsty critters shouldn’t break the bank. Our tests reveal that some pricy, fashionable repellents can be a complete waste of money, offering less than three minutes of protection. Crucially, you don’t need to pay a premium to stay safe – a £4 supermarket spray beats the flashy brands to deliver hours of reliable protection."
