Proven
Proven 12 Hour Mosquito + Tick Spray – Odorless
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #93332-2)
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Pros
- Excellent all-day, odorless protection, 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 7 to 8 on ticks from 20% picaridin, with 7 of 8 claims verified.
- Truly low-odor and gear-safe, picaridin at its best.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
Built on 20% picaridin, this odorless pump spray lands in the recommended, maximum protection tier and is strong across the board. Picaridin's evidence is definitive, with 7 of 8 audited claims rated strong, the safety read is clean, and modeled complete protection runs 8 to 10 hours against mosquitoes and a real 7 to 8 against ticks. The label's up-to-12-hours mosquito claim measures reduced biting rather than bite-free time, so our estimate sitting a bit lower is expected, not a contradiction. The only meaningful drag is transparency, because the inert ingredients are not fully accounted for. For a DEET-free, scent-free option with genuine tick coverage, it is one of the stronger picks here.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%100Mosquitoes: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 7–8 h of complete 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: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 7–8 h of complete 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%97Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 7 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 7 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
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)
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 ~18 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 ~14 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.
- PicaridinActive
Active repellent (Saltidin brand) · 20%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels mosquitoes and ticks that can transmit tick-borne encephalitis”
EfficacyStrongPicaridin at 20% gives ~7–8 h complete tick protection, supporting repellency of tick-borne-encephalitis vectors.
“Use with confidence on the whole family”
Kid SafeModeratePicaridin is low-risk per EPA/WHO assessments, but the label still requires adult application for children and limits to two applications per day.
“Odorless, clean feel, non-greasy”
OtherStrongThe EPA-accepted label includes an unscented/odorless alternate formulation; cosmetic feel claims.
“Protects from mosquitoes that may transmit Zika, Dengue, West Nile virus, and Chikungunya, and ticks that can transmit Lyme disease”
EfficacyStrongDisease-vector claims appear in the EPA-accepted label's approved marketing claims.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongActive is picaridin.
“Repels black flies, biting flies, stable flies, gnats, chiggers, sand flies, and no-see-ums for up to 8 hours”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved claim for listed insects.
“Picaridin 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration from the EPA-accepted label (Saltidin brand picaridin).
“Repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time based on efficacy data submitted by the manufacturer.
How to apply it
Hold 4 to 6 inches from skin while spraying, keeping the nozzle pointed away from your face, and slightly moisten skin with a slow sweeping motion. Do not exceed two applications per day. Do not spray directly on the face - spray small amounts into your palms and spread on face and neck, avoiding eyes, and apply sparingly around ears. Avoid contact with lips, cuts, wounds, irritated or sunburned skin, and do not apply under clothing. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then to the child; do not apply to children's hands or allow children to handle the product.