CVS
CVS Insect Repellent Woodland Trail
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #56575-11-22946)
Pros
- A budget 30% DEET spray that's fully disclosed and EPA-registered.
Cons
- Surprisingly short for the strength, only about 2 hours on the label, so reapply more than the number suggests.
- Just 2 of 4 claims held up, plus the usual DEET care around plastics.
The full review
Carried almost entirely by its active, this store-brand 30% DEET spray still earns a recommended verdict. The DEET sits on some of the most definitive evidence in repellent science and the skin safety reads nearly spotless, with reapplication honestly labeled at about every 2 hours, in line with what the EPA label (Reg. #56575-11-22946) actually delivers. That ceiling is the catch: our model reads complete protection as roughly 2 hours for both mosquitoes and ticks, surprisingly short for the strength. The evidence pillar also softens because 2 of 4 audited claims came in weak, and a transparency gap remains where the active is disclosed but inerts are not. A sound, proven option when you want DEET without a long-wear commitment.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%73Mosquitoes: 2 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2 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: 2 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2 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%77DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 2 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 4 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 2 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 ~4 h as repellency decays.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
From the product's EPA-registered label (manufacturer maximum against ticks, treated as an upper bound). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~4 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 · 30%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels chiggers, gnats and fleas for up to 8 hours”
EfficacyStrongPer EPA master label PPLS 056575-00011
“Repels ticks for up to 8 hours”
DurationWeakOverstates duration: complete (bite-free) protection is ~2 h and reduced/partial protection only to ~4 h; the claimed 8 h is not supported as complete protection.
“Repels mosquitoes for up to 8 hours”
DurationWeakOverstates duration: complete (bite-free) protection is ~2 h and reduced/partial protection only to ~4 h; the claimed 8 h is not supported as complete protection.
“DEET 30%”
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 2 hours for mosquitoes.