Diptyque
Diptyque Lemongrass & Geranium Summer Body Spray
Spray · Cosmetic fragrance body spray; no EPA registration or FIFRA 25(b) claim (marketed as 'helps repel mosquitoes')
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Pros
- Smells lovely, exactly as you'd expect from a Diptyque body spray.
Cons
- This is a fragrance, not a repellent: no disclosed actives and no proven protection.
- Likely not EPA-compliant as a repellent, and the geranium and citral can sensitize skin.
- Priced like perfume, with none of the protection.
The full review
Sold as a perfumed summer mist that helps repel mosquitoes, this is firmly not recommended as protection. No active concentration is disclosed, so coverage cannot be modeled and the effectiveness pillar bottoms out, and the formula sits outside clear EPA compliance because its actives do not all qualify for the minimum-risk exemption. The evidence is thin, with 1 moderate and 2 weak among 3 audited claims, and safety takes real hits from a high sensitization risk in geranium oil, moderate irritation from lemon eucalyptus, plus under-3 and pregnancy cautions. Publishing the full ingredient list earns some transparency credit, but with no concentrations quantified it does little for a buyer. Lovely as a fragrance, unproven as a repellent, and priced like the former.
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%36Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 1 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-7).
Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 1 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-7).
Safety15%58From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Geranium oil (−18); moderate irritation risk from Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) (−6); not recommended for children under 3 (Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil)) (−8); 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 Geranium oil (−18); moderate irritation risk from Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) (−6); not recommended for children under 3 (Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil)) (−8); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%45This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
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); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
Active ingredient concentrations are not published for this product.
- Citronella oilActive
Essential oil positioned as mosquito-repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil)Active
Essential oil positioned as mosquito-repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Geranium oilActive
Essential oil positioned as mosquito-repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Geraniol
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Citronellol
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Limonene
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Water
Carrier · concentration not disclosed
- Fragrance
Fragrance · concentration not disclosed
- Alcohol Denat.
Carrier · concentration not disclosed
- Citral
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Linalool
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Farnesol
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
- Eugenol
Fragrance component / allergen declaration · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Contains lemon eucalyptus oil, source of the only botanical repellent with clinical backing — but present at fragrance/cosmetic levels, not registered-repellent strength”
EfficacyWeakCosmetic fragrance, not EPA-registered or 25(b). No efficacy substantiation or concentrations published.
“Infused with essential oils known to help repel mosquitoes”
EfficacyWeakCitronella-type and geranium oils have documented but short-lived repellency; the product makes no duration claim and has no EPA-evaluated efficacy data. Downgraded from MODERATE.
“Plant-based essential oil blend with lemongrass, geranium and lemon eucalyptus”
NaturalModerateNamed oils are botanical, but the formula is primarily denatured alcohol with an undisclosed 'Parfum' blend.
How to apply it
Spray onto skin as a body mist and reapply throughout the day as desired; the brand provides cosmetic directions only, with no application distance, reapplication interval, or child-use guidance. Avoid contact with eyes and broken skin as with any alcohol-based fragrance. Do not rely on it as the sole protection in areas with disease-carrying mosquitoes, since it carries no EPA-evaluated efficacy or duration claims.