THESE DEET-FREE NATURAL BUG REPELLENTS WILL MAKE GOING OUTSIDE WAY MORE FUN

Got 99 problems but a mosquito bite ain't one.

One downside to warmer weather: bug bites. Waking up covered with those itchy red welts is enough to make you wish winter lasted all year (OK, maybe that’s dramatic, but still). Unfortunately, a lot of bug repellents give us that sticky, I-just-doused-myself-in-chemicals feeling.

While many common insect repellents contain DEET, you can avoid this controversial chemical entirely and still get protection from unwanted pests by opting to use natural bug repellents instead.

If you're shopping around for natural bug repellents, you'll want to keep an eye out for ingredients like OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus), lemongrass, citronella, grapefruit, peppermint, and clove oil. And don't limit yourself to sprays, either. There are plenty of other options, like candles, wipes, stickers, bracelets, and incense sticks.

Made without DEET, these 13 chemical-free, natural bug repellents are safe for every member of your family.

Read the full guide from Latifah Miles and Dana Baardsen on Best Product's website here.

LAST UPDATED

October 24, 2024

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Best Products

Media Mentions from Best Products

At BestProducts.com we're focused on helping you find the best of everything in life, because, let's be honest … you deserve it!

At BestProducts.com, we're celebrating the best of everything life has to offer! We cover the products and experiences that'll impact your life in the best way possible. Leave it to our editors to tell you what you need, how it can make your life better (no, seriously!), and how much it costs (including if it's on sale), and we'll connect you with where you can purchase it.

At BestProducts.com, our editors provide personalized recommendations. We know there's no one-size-fits-all option for a product or a service. It depends on what you're looking for, how much you want to spend, and so many more factors. Don't settle for a product that isn't going to work for you. We pick out several top-rated options that pass our test, then we leave it to you to narrow it down to the one that best fits your needs (because not everyone wants to splurge on a new 4K TV or a night's stay at one of the world's most priciest hotels). We provide options for everyone, so no matter what you're looking for, you can find it.

You can trust our team to keep the recommendations current. We're only suggesting to you the newest models that reflect the latest offerings in the market, with an emphasis on products that have proven to impress our editors and consumers alike.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

Sawyer’s donation of water filters represents a significant shift away from the cumbersome logistics of bottled water, offering a faster and more efficient solution.

John Dicuollo
Public Relations Director at Backbone Media

Media Mentions

Summer tick season used to be a problem only in the southern part of Ontario, but tick populations are moving north as the climate grows warmer.

TVO Today
Media Mentions from TVO Today

Media Mentions

Mosquitos are nasty creatures. They bite, they transmit terrible diseases to people and pets, and from what I read, they have absolutely no redeeming value in the ecosystem.

ArcaMax
Media Mentions from ArcaMax