Which? has warned consumers against wasting money on trendy mosquito repellents after tests showed some failed within minutes. The consumer watchdog evaluated 12 products, finding that two marketed as natural alternatives offered virtually no protection.
Natural Repellents Fail Quickly
Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, costing £19.99 for 12 bands and claiming up to 300 hours of protection, left volunteers bitten in under three minutes. Meadows Organic Citronella Spray (£6 for 100ml) also proved ineffective, with subjects exposed almost instantly.
Asda Own-Brand Takes Top Spot
Asda's Extra Strength Insect Repellent spray, priced at £4 for 125ml, provided complete protection for nine and a half hours, the longest duration in the test. No other product matched its value, though several matched its duration.
DEET and Picaridin Effective
Products containing DEET, such as Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol (£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 highly effective. However, testers noted unpleasant odours and the chemical's solvent properties can damage plastics and irritate skin.
Gentler Alternatives Also Work
Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65) with 20% Picaridin kept mosquitoes away for 9.5 hours. Incognito Insect Repellent Pump-Spray (£13.99), using plant-derived PMD, offered nine hours of protection and is safe for babies from six months.
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.”
