Are non-DEET mosquito repellents effective (e.g. Skin-So-Soft, plant-based repellents)?
Generally alternatives to DEET are effective for relatively short periods of time, often ½ hour or less, which means they must be reapplied frequently. Also, alternative products are made from ingredients that have not been tested so thoroughly for safety and effectiveness as DEET. I’m confused. None of the mosquito repellent products in the store says “DEET”. Until recently, repellent labels were required to use the approved chemical names of active ingredients, which for DEET is either N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3-methylbenamide. EPA now allows labels to use DEET as well.