Consumer Reports tested the following repellents for effectiveness against mosquitoes and ticks:
* DEET – Most effective as a repellent at 30% concentration. At the highest concentration, it will repel bugs for 7.5 to 8.5 hours.
(OFF, Cutter, Sawyer, Ultrathon)
* PICARIDIN – Developed in Europe in 1998 and tested by the Australian Army, this chemical is considered very effective in 20% concentrations, offering 8 to 8.5 hours of protection.
Most effective Sawyer at 30% concentration and Natrapel 8, at 20% concentration for up to 8 hours protection from mosquitoes and ticks. At 5% solution, Off Family Care offered an hour or less for mosquitoes and 5 hours for ticks. A 10% solution in Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard, offers 3 hours protection against Zika mosquitoes and 7-8 hours of protection against ticks and other mosquitoes.
* Lemon Eucalyptus – Active ingredient occurs naturally in the lemon eucalyptus plant. A synthetic version named PMD. The EPA warns consumers away from products marketing a pure oil of lemon eucalyptus because it has not been tested for safety.
Found in the Repel, at a concentration of 30%, it protects against ticks and mosquitoes for 7 to 8 hours.
* IR3535, Based on an amino acid, this repellent is not as effective on the Zika-carrying mosquito, according to Consumer Reports. However, a 20% concentration will offer 3 hours repellent for the Aedes mosquito and up to 6 hours for ticks.
* Herbal and oil compounds. Burt's Bees, All Terrain, California Baby, EcoSmart all offered similar rates of protection from a half hour on mosquitoes to an hour and a half on ticks.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.