Comparisons
Comparisons & guides
The decisions worth getting right, settled with data: which active actually lasts longer, which botanicals are worth your money, and what the label is really telling you.
Head to head
DEET vs picaridin: which should you actually use?
Two synthetics dominate effective repellents. One is the 60-year benchmark; the other quietly beats it on duration and feel. Here's the head-to-head.
Read the comparison →Head to head
Picaridin vs oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
Picaridin tops our rankings; oil of lemon eucalyptus is the one plant-derived active that lasts hours, not minutes. The best synthetic against the best botanical, on duration, tick coverage, and the toddler rule.
Read the comparison →Buyer's guide
The best natural mosquito repellents that actually work
Most botanical sprays give you under an hour of cover, but two go further: oil of lemon eucalyptus for several hours, and geraniol, the best-studied plant compound and the standout botanical for ticks. Here's how they compare with the rest of the field.
Read the comparison →Explainer
EPA-registered vs minimum-risk repellents: what the label really means
Some repellents are vetted by the federal government; others are exempt from review entirely. Here's the difference between EPA-registered and “minimum-risk” products, and how to tell which one you're holding.
Read the comparison →