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.
We make Notch, so we're not a neutral third party. Rankings come from our published methodology, applied by code to every product the same way.
The bottom line
Two natural options stand out. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) at 30% gives 4–6 hours, the only plant-derived active that rivals DEET on duration. Geraniol is the best-studied true botanical and our strongest pick for ticks, at about an hour per application. It's also the active we chose for Notch, and for the same reason: the published evidence pointed us to geraniol first, and the product came after. The rest of the field generally runs an hour or two at lab strength, which is plenty for a cookout or a short walk; just plan to reapply, and don't count on any botanical promising all-day cover.
The two we recommend
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD) 30%
The only plant-derived active with synthetic-class duration: 4–6 hours against mosquitoes at 30%, the one botanical that competes with DEET on time. Its one real caveat is the under-3 age restriction.
- Mosquitoes
- 4–6 h
- Ticks
- 0.5–2 h
EPA status: EPA-registered active
Geraniol 5–10% (lotion emulsion)
The best-studied of the true plant oils and our strongest botanical for ticks (and the active in our own Notch, which the evidence led us to). It's a single refined compound (the active in citronella and geranium oils), so it behaves more predictably than a whole essential oil, at about an hour of protection per application.
- Mosquitoes
- 1–1.5 h
- Ticks
- 1–2 h
EPA status: EPA minimum-risk (25(b) exempt)
One's registered, one isn't, and both are fine. OLE/PMD is a fully EPA-registered active, reviewed for safety and efficacy; geraniol is on EPA's “minimum-risk” list, recognized as low-risk enough to skip registration. Two well-studied choices.
How long each one actually lasts
The Luker 2023 lab measured complete-protection time for 20 EPA minimum-risk oils at 10% against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Plotted against OLE at its typical 30%, the range is wide: most essential oils give well under an hour, a few reach one to two hours, and OLE runs 4–6. Our two picks are flagged; the rest are the field, longest-lasting first.
Botanicals measured at 10% against Aedes aegypti (citronella from Fradin & Day 2002); OLE shown at its typical 30%. Castor is the study's negative control, with no measurable repellency. For scale, the synthetics picaridin and DEET run 8–12 hours, beyond this chart. Most consumer sprays use less than these doses, so they protect for a shorter window. Luker et al. 2023, Scientific Reports.
A quick note on skin
Most of these are well tolerated. The likeliest to bother sensitive skin are clove and cinnamon, with lemongrass and citronella close behind; OLE and geraniol sit on the gentler end. If your skin reacts easily to fragrances, a quick forearm patch test the day before settles it.
Frequently asked questions
Do natural insect repellents actually work?
Yes. Several measurably repel mosquitoes and even ticks. The difference is duration: most give under an hour of complete protection at typical strengths, versus 4–6 hours for oil of lemon eucalyptus and 4–12 hours for synthetics like picaridin and DEET. For a short outing that can be plenty; for a long day out, the synthetics or OLE pull ahead.
What's the longest-lasting natural repellent?
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) at 30%, with 4–6 hours, the only plant-derived active with synthetic-class duration. Among the true essential oils, clove and cinnamon led the lab at roughly 1–2 hours, with geraniol close behind; most others come in under an hour.
Why don't you recommend clove or cinnamon?
They actually lasted longest in the lab, but they're harsher on skin than OLE or geraniol, and they're rarely sold as well-formulated repellents. OLE and geraniol give you reliable protection with far fewer skin complaints, so they're the practical picks.
How often do I reapply a natural repellent?
Roughly every 30–60 minutes for essential oils, and every 4–6 hours for oil of lemon eucalyptus. Botanical repellency decays steeply once it begins to fail, so treat the complete-protection window as your reapplication interval.
Go deeper: read the full oil of lemon eucalyptus and trans geraniol ingredient pages, or see how we score.