EcoSMART
EcoSMART Organic Insect Repellent
Spray · FIFRA 25(b) minimum risk repellent product (exempt from EPA registration)
Retailer links may earn us a commission. Scores are never affected.
Pros
- Fully discloses its low-dose botanical blend of geraniol, rosemary, cinnamon, and lemongrass.
Cons
- Too dilute to work: no proven mosquito protection at these concentrations.
- Cinnamon and lemongrass still bring a sensitization risk despite the low doses.
The full review
A fully disclosed botanical blend that, as bite protection, is not recommended. The plant oils here are simply too dilute to work: our model returns minimal or unproven coverage for both mosquitoes and ticks, so the effectiveness pillar all but bottoms out. Evidence is weak as well, since rosemary oil carries only limited published support and 3 of 5 audited claims came in weak. The bigger liability is safety, where cinnamon oil at 0.5% brings both high sensitization and high irritation risk, compounded by a pregnancy caution. To its credit, all four FIFRA 25(b) active concentrations (geraniol, rosemary, cinnamon, lemongrass) are disclosed, and the cinnamon-citrus scent is pleasant, but neither changes the core problem of no reliable protection.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%8Mosquitoes: minimal or unproven protection. Ticks: minimal or unproven protection. 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 reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: minimal or unproven protection. Ticks: minimal or unproven protection. 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 reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%46Rosemary oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 3 weak, 0 unsupported (-10).
Rosemary oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 3 weak, 0 unsupported (-10).
Safety15%60From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Cinnamon oil at 0.5% (−18); high irritation risk from Cinnamon oil at 0.5% (−12); 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 Cinnamon oil at 0.5% (−18); high irritation risk from Cinnamon oil at 0.5% (−12); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); 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 (low confidence)
Botanical actives show little to no reliable mosquito protection; reapply very frequently if used at all. Luker 2023 (10% lotion, CPT > 60 min); López 2025 dose-response. At 1%, between the ~4% cliff and ~5% plateau — protection interpolated between measured tiers.
Tick estimate basis (low confidence)
Botanical actives show little to no reliable tick protection; reapply very frequently if used at all. Luker 2023 (10% lotion, CPT > 60 min); López 2025 dose-response. At 1%, between the ~4% cliff and ~5% plateau — protection interpolated between measured tiers.
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.
- Rosemary oilActive
Active repellent · 0.5%
- Lemongrass oilActive
Active repellent · 0.5%
- GeraniolActive
Active repellent · 1.0%
- Cinnamon oilActive
Active repellent · 0.5%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Made from plant-based essential oils; FDA-recognized GRAS food-grade ingredients”
NaturalStrongAll actives are plant-derived essential oils and the GRAS food-grade sourcing claim is factual, with the wording staying accurate.
“Repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and other listed flying pests”
EfficacyWeakThe 25(b) actives (geraniol 1%, rosemary 0.5%, cinnamon 0.5%, lemongrass 0.5%) are at or below trace levels and our estimate is minimal/unproven, especially for ticks.
“DEET-free, no synthetic chemicals”
Deet FreeStrongPlant-oil based; confirmed on official site and retail listings.
“Reapply every 2-3 hours”
DurationWeakLabel says 'for hours' with no hour count; directions advise reapplying every 2-3 hours.
“Safe to use around children and pets when used as directed”
SafetyWeakCinnamon oil at 0.5% — above its ~0.1% leave-on sensitization limit is a high skin-sensitization/irritation risk at this level, so a "gentle / safe-for-kids" claim overstates the safety profile.
How to apply it
Hold container 6-8 inches from skin and spray with a slow sweeping motion onto exposed skin and/or clothing. For the face, spray the palm and rub on. Reapply every 2-3 hours or as needed; do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.