Walgreens
Walgreens Outdoorsman Insect Repellent
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #121-34-9688)
Pros
- A budget 23% DEET that delivers, a labeled 8 hours of mosquito cover.
- Fully disclosed and EPA-registered.
Cons
- Standard DEET care: keep it off plastics and synthetics.
The full review
At 23% DEET, this Walgreens store-brand spray is a clear recommendation in our maximum protection tier. The evidence pillar is the standout, since DEET is about as well-studied as repellents get and the single audited claim holds up, while skin safety reads near-perfect with no notable sensitization risk. The EPA label (Reg. #121-34-9688) cites up to 8 hours against mosquitoes, which counts reduced biting rather than bite-free time, and the brand labels reapplication honestly in line with that; our own estimate puts complete tick protection around 3 to 4 hours. The main drag is transparency, where active concentrations are disclosed but the inert list is left unaccounted, with a small aquatic-toxicity deduction the only other knock. Standard DEET care applies: keep it off plastics and synthetics.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%95Mosquitoes: 8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–4 h of complete protection. Protection times come from the product's EPA-registered label (a manufacturer maximum, capped to a defensible ceiling). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: 8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–4 h of complete protection. Protection times come from the product's EPA-registered label (a manufacturer maximum, capped to a defensible ceiling). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%93DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 1 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+4). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 8 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 1 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+4). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 8 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
Safety15%96From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%75This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
How long it protects
Complete protection ends when the first bite gets through; partial protection keeps reducing bites as repellency decays. EPA label times are verified; the rest are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format.
Mosquito estimate basis (moderate confidence)
From the product's EPA-registered label (manufacturer maximum against mosquitos, treated as an upper bound). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~14 h as repellency decays.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~7 h as repellency decays.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 23%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“DEET 23%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration from EPA registration database.
How to apply it
Apply to exposed skin per product label directions. Reapply when protection time expires or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off. EPA-approved reapplication interval: approximately every 8 hours for mosquitoes.