Insect Repellent - Common Insect Repellents

Common Insect Repellents

• Birch tree bark is traditionally made into tar. Combined with another oil (i.e. fish oil) at 1/2 dilution, it is then applied to the skin for repelling mosquitos
• DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
• Essential oil of the lemon eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora) and its active compound p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)
• Icaridin, also known as picaridin, Bayrepel, and KBR 3023
• Nepetalactone, also known as "catnip oil"
• Citronella oil
• Permethrin
• Neem oil
• Bog Myrtle
• Dimethyl carbate
• Tricyclodecenyl allyl ether, a compound often found in synthetic perfumes.
• IR3535 (3--aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester)
• Ethylhexanediol or "6-12 repellent," discontinued in the US in 1991 due to evidence of causing developmental defects in animals
• Permethrin is different in that it is actually a contact insecticide.
• A more recent repellent being currently researched is SS220, which has been shown to provide significantly better protection than DEET.