Cliganic
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Stick
Balm · FIFRA 25(b) minimum risk repellent product (labeled EPA 25(b) exempt)
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Pros
- An easy-to-carry balm stick with a recognizable citronella-and-lemongrass scent.
Cons
- No concentrations disclosed, so there's no way to gauge its strength.
- A waxy stick traps the oils against skin instead of releasing them, and we found no proven protection.
- Lemongrass oil carries a sensitization risk.
The full review
This citronella-and-lemongrass balm stick is easy to carry and at least names its botanical oils, but it lands a clear not recommended. The core problem is disclosure: none of the active concentrations are quantified, so no complete protection window can be modeled, and a waxy stick holds its oils against the skin rather than letting them volatilize. Without a dose, citronella's published support counts for little, and the evidence pillar stays soft. Safety is the other drag, led by lemongrass oil's high sensitization risk plus a pregnancy caution and irritation from citronella. The maker cites up to 5 hours, but that is a repellency claim we cannot verify against an undisclosed formula, so it does not earn confidence as protection.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%10Mosquitoes: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Ticks: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with lower confidence.
Mosquitoes: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Ticks: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with lower confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%42Citronella oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 1 moderate, 1 weak, 0 unsupported (-1).
Citronella oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 1 moderate, 1 weak, 0 unsupported (-1).
Safety15%66From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Lemongrass oil (−18); moderate irritation risk from Citronella oil (−6); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Lemongrass oil (−18); moderate irritation risk from Citronella oil (−6); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%20This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); 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 (low confidence)
No protection time estimated — this product's label doesn't disclose the active ingredient's concentration, and protection depends on both the ingredient and its strength.
Tick estimate basis (low confidence)
No protection time estimated — this product's label doesn't disclose the active ingredient's concentration, and protection depends on both the ingredient and its strength.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); 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.
Active ingredient concentrations are not published for this product.
- Castor oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Cedarwood oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Citronella oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Rosemary oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Geranium oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Lemongrass oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“QAI Certified Organic essential oils, Non-GMO Project Verified, Cruelty Free”
NaturalStrongCertifications on brand page.
“Keeps mosquitoes away for up to 5 hours”
DurationWeakManufacturer claim; no published efficacy testing cited.
“DEET-free, certified organic essential oils”
Deet FreeStrongNon-GMO Project Verified; certified-organic actives.
“Suitable for kids and adults when used as directed”
SafetyModerateManufacturer claim.
How to apply it
Apply to all exposed areas of skin and reapply every 5 hours. Keep away from the eyes and lips.