Ingredients by brand
What's in BUGGINS repellents?
The 3 BUGGINS products we've scored use 6 different active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Peppermint oil, and Geraniol, plus 2 more.
By the Notch Wellness team · Updated June 28, 2026 · Reviewed against our scoring methodology
We make Notch, so we're not a neutral third party. Ingredients and concentrations come from each product's label; scores come from our published methodology.
Active ingredients in BUGGINS products
DEET 25%
In 1 of 3 products
The most widely used synthetic active ingredient in insect repellents. Effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and many biting flies.
Picaridin 20%
In 1 of 3 products
Synthetic repellent modeled after piperidine compounds in black pepper. Odorless and non-greasy compared to DEET.
Peppermint oil 0.5%
In 1 of 3 products
Peppermint oil (Mentha piperita) is a menthol-and-menthone oil found in many botanical sprays. It repels mosquitoes at high strength in the lab but only briefly, and it is one of the essential oils most likely to harm…
Geraniol 1.5%
In 1 of 3 products
A rose-scented alcohol found in geranium, citronella, and rose oils. Among botanicals it is unusual for having a clear dose threshold: useful above 5% in a lotion base, close to useless below 4%.
Lemongrass oil 0.06%
In 1 of 3 products
Distilled from Cymbopogon citratus and dominated by citral, the aldehyde behind both its lemon scent and most of its bite. Among essential oils it is one of the stronger mosquito performers, giving roughly an hour to…
Clove oil 0.05%
In 1 of 3 products
Clove oil is mostly eugenol, a phenol that repels insects at high strength in the lab but ships in real products at a fraction of a percent, more for scent than for protection. Its more consequential trait is how toxic…
Every BUGGINSproduct we've scored
Open a product for its full ingredient list, protection time and review.
| Product | Active ingredient | Mosquito protection | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUGGINS Insect Repellent IV PerformanceSpray | DEET 25% | 5–6 h | 92 |
| BUGGINS Insect Repellent X 20% PicaridinSpray | Picaridin 20% | 8–10 h | 95 |
| BUGGINS Original Insect RepellentSpray | Peppermint oil 0.5%, Geraniol 1.5%, Lemongrass oil 0.06%, Clove oil 0.05% | minimal / unproven | 42 |