Eucalyptus not DEET..... Does it Repel?
Written: Nov 05 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Repel is definately less toxic than other products.
Cons: Repel doesn't work any better than anything else I've used.
Can cause irritation.
The Bottom Line: I am going to recommend this for the few bites it might Repel!
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| jo.com's Full Review: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Lotion 4oz |
During our summer vacation I bought Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent figuring I would try something that looked less toxic and perhaps might even work in spite of not having DEET.
What is Repel
Repel claims to be a plant based repellent for mosquitoes and ticks. It comes in a non-aerosol plastic 3.5- ounce pump bottle. The pump has a cap over it that doesn’t fit tightly.
Repel, made by WCP Brands, Inc. claims to be made from a renewable resource, which comes from oil, obtained from the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree. The leaves of this tree have a lemon-scented oil rich in citronella. Citronella is a tall fragrant perennial grass, which has been used among other things to ward off insects.
We are told that Repel gives us up to 6 hours of protection. The bottle says not to apply more than twice a day so depending how long “up” to is if you are outside all day into the night, 2 times might not be enough just based on the usage of this product.
To use Repel shake it well before spraying it on. We are told to apply Repel to exposed skin. The bottle suggests that it is not recommended that you apply it to clothing. (Keep reading for more information on this.)We did and it didn’t stain. This differs from other products that say not to apply it to exposed skin. For best results we should spread it evenly with our hands to moisten all exposed skin. We shouldn’t spray it directly on our faces. It is suggested that we spray it into the palm of our hands and spread on the face and neck. I didn’t want it on the palms of my hands unless I was near water. What I learned to do was spray it, for example, on my exposed arm. It comes out as a white spray so it can be seen. I would rub it in with the top part of my hand and then use the leftovers for my face. If there were no leftovers I would spray it on the top of my hand and then put it on my face.
We are also told to wash our hands after applying Repel (For something I thought was more natural I was really disappointed after I brought it home and started reading the directions but keep reading for more information on this.) thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking, chewing gum or tobacco. Of course keep it out of the reach of children, don’t swallow it and if you develop a rash stop using it. We are told that it may cause skin reactions in some people. I never had adverse affects from it and I did use it all summer. This should not be used on children under 3.
It can cause eye irritation. Take a shower to wash it off when you get home, don’t apply it over cuts, or open wounds. It is flammable. Keep it away from heat and open flame. I did wonder if I would combust while sitting near the campfire. There are directions for first aid on the bottle, which I won’t get into. They are the usual- rinsing eyes, calling Poison Control.
Repel should be stored in a cool, dry place. I agree for storage. We did take it with us on very hot days and nothing bad happened! We are told not to reuse this container. Recycle it if possible. If not wrap it in newspaper and throw it away. It has a #1 on the bottom. If partly filled we are told to call our local solid waste agency (or 1-800-CLEANUP) for disposal instructions.
If all this weren’t enough, in big bold capital letters on the bottle of this repellent without DEET that I thought would be safer are these words: PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT: HAZARD TO HUMANS. (Keep reading for information on this.)
Active ingredients: Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus 30%, about 70% p-menthane-3,8-diol: Since the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) classified p-menthane-3,8-diol as a biochemical pesticide, only limited toxicity testing was required for federal registration. http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect-mite/mevinphos-propargite/p-menthane/p-menthane_let_901.html
This ingredient is new and it is interesting to read about. p-Menthane-3,8-diol was registered (licensed for sale) in March 2000. At http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_011550.htm we are told that in studies there appeared to be no toxicity just perhaps skin irritation and eye irritation.
Inactive ingredients are water, alcohol, emulsifiers and preservatives. (60%)
My experience with Repel and thoughts:
I wish I could say the bottle is overtly misleading but it isn’t. It tells of a warning right on the front of it. Perhaps it is the fact that I got taken by a marketing device that led me to believe because there was no DEET it would be natural. I thought the Lemon Eucalyptus sounded very nice. Repel does smell nicer than other products. I like the lemon smell so that is a plus. (Keep reading..I wasn't going to change the text of my review because I think it is important but so is the information I got.)
I haven’t found a repellent that works as much as I would like and neither does Repel. Perhaps the mosquitoes I am fighting off are mightier than those others are fighting. Perhaps I am going to places where there are more mosquitoes. I know the latter is true. We have found ourselves camping by a beautiful marsh (Wild Duck Campground in Maine- I highly recommend it but it is adult only.) for example and the mosquitoes were brutal.
Walking from our trailer to our car without spray would leave us with ½ dozen bites in 10 seconds. With spray maybe just a few. I don’t call this working. I don’t want to be bitten and if I buy a product I expect these critters to leave me alone. The only luck we had was with citronella candles surrounding us, Repel on and a campfire roaring. It seemed the combination of the three worked but the Repel alone did not. We couldn’t sit outside in several campgrounds comfortably.
Walking through an area that was heavily populated by mosquitoes using Repel, my husband at any given time would have a hundred mosquitoes on him. Even spraying directly on them didn’t kill them or make them go home.
Since I read in different places that it could be used on clothes but the bottle says not to and I was curious why all the warnings since it appears that nothing about this product is toxic, I decided to call the company. I was told that it can be used on clothes even though the bottle states not to. I asked why it says that and was told by a very nice customer representative that it can stain clothes.
I then asked why all the warning, when in fact, Repel doesn’t appear toxic. This woman told me it was because of the eucalyptus oil. Though not toxic it can cause burning if you get in your eyes. So it appears that this product is much safer than DEET but because of Federal Regulations since it can have some adverse effects, these warnings have to be put on the bottle.
My final thoughts:
For me Repel doesn’t work any better or worse than the products listed below. However, since there might be a chance that I got a few less bites than if I didn’t use any repellent, I would use Repel before I used Off! I am recommending this product.
Feel free to leave me a comment or question.
Deep Woods Off! Insect Repellent
Off! Skintastic Insect Repellent Spray
Recommended:
Yes
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