Lo & Behold Naturals
Lo & Behold Naturals Lemon & Eucalyptus Bug Spray
Spray · FIFRA 25(b) minimum risk repellent product (essential-oil actives); registered with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, not federally EPA-registered
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Pros
- A bright lemon-and-eucalyptus-scented natural spray that discloses its full formula.
Cons
- Effectively no protection, under 6 minutes before the bites start.
- Likely not EPA-compliant, and lemongrass carries a sensitization risk.
The full review
This handmade North Carolina spray is not recommended, undone chiefly by how little protection its dilute oils provide. Our model puts complete mosquito coverage at essentially 0 to 0.1 hours with tick protection minimal or unproven, so the effectiveness pillar bottoms out. The evidence is weak too, with 2 unsupported claims among the 7 audited. Safety carries a high sensitization risk and moderate irritation from lemongrass oil plus a pregnancy caution, and although it is registered with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture it is flagged as potentially not EPA compliant federally. The clear strength is transparency, a perfect mark with all six actives and the full formula quantified, but disclosure cannot make up for protection this brief.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%6Mosquitoes: 0–0.1 h of complete 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: 0–0.1 h of complete 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%44Geranium oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 7 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 2 unsupported (-12).
Geranium oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 7 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 2 unsupported (-12).
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 at 0.89% (−18); moderate irritation risk from Lemongrass oil at 0.89% (−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 at 0.89% (−18); moderate irritation risk from Lemongrass oil at 0.89% (−6); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%100This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); 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 (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a lotion-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~0.1 h as repellency decays. No published tick complete-protection-time data for citronella — Fradin 2002 measured mosquitoes only.
Tick estimate basis (low confidence)
Botanical actives show little to no reliable tick protection; reapply very frequently if used at all. No measured CPT below 10% for this active — estimated via sigmoid dose-response (×0.00 of Luker 2023 (10% lotion, CPT > 30 min)).
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- Lemon peel oilActive
Active repellent · 0.87%
- Peppermint oilActive
Active repellent · 0.35%
- Rosemary oilActive
Active repellent · 0.36%
- Geranium oilActive
Active repellent · 0.52%
- Citronella oilActive
Active repellent · 0.53%
- Lemongrass oilActive
Active repellent · 0.89%
- Eucalyptus oil
Other ingredient (not an approved repellent active) · 0.54%
- Lavender oil
Other ingredient (not an approved repellent active) · 0.34%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Lavender oil is marketed in this product but is not an EPA-registered repellent active or on the EPA 25(b) minimum-risk approved active list”
EfficacyUnsupportedReclassified as an inert/fragrance ingredient during data audit; not a recognized repellent active.
“Eucalyptus oil is marketed in this product but is not an EPA-registered repellent active or on the EPA 25(b) minimum-risk approved active list”
EfficacyUnsupportedReclassified as an inert/fragrance ingredient during data audit; not a recognized repellent active.
“Free of preservatives (in addition to DEET, parabens, sulfates, petroleum, artificial fragrances)”
Deet FreeStrongVerifiably DEET-free: DEET appears nowhere in the disclosed ingredient list.
“Vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free”
NaturalStrongVegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free are low-stakes ethical/sourcing claims stated on the official brand page and consistent with the botanical formula.
“No DEET, parabens, sulfates, petroleum, or artificial fragrances”
Deet FreeStrongEssential-oil based; consistent with full ingredient disclosure on brand site.
“100% natural insect repellent”
EfficacyWeakActives are EPA 25(b) essential oils, but the repellent-relevant oils (lemongrass 0.09, citronella 0.11) are trace-dosed and the complete-protection estimate is only 0–0.1 h, so efficacy is minimal.
“Gentle for sensitive skin and safe for all ages”
SafetyWeakLemongrass oil at 0.89% — above its ~0.7% 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
Shake well before use. Rub on the skin thoroughly and reapply as often as needed. Apply with caution as the oil base may discolor clothing.