My July
My July Woods Nature Spray Tick & Mosquito Repellent
Spray · Unregistered botanical repellent; no EPA registration or explicit 25(b) claim stated
Retailer links may earn us a commission. Scores are never affected.
Pros
- An unusual, woodsy blend of buddha wood, hinoki, palo santo, and vetiver that smells genuinely special.
Cons
- Nothing about strength is disclosed, and there's no proven repellency.
- Likely not EPA-compliant as a repellent, and citronella adds a sensitization risk.
- Among the lowest scores here, it's really a fragrance.
The full review
Marketed as a luxury botanical body spray, this sits in our lowest tier of not recommended, for three compounding reasons: an undisclosed formula, actives that do not all qualify for the minimum-risk exemption despite no EPA registration, and no proven mosquito protection. With the essential-oil concentrations withheld, our model cannot estimate any window and the effectiveness pillar bottoms out. The brand cites clinical-sounding figures, but the audit turned up weak and unsupported entries that hold the evidence down. Safety is comparatively better but still dinged for citronella oil's moderate sensitization and irritation risk plus a pregnancy caution. The buddha wood, hinoki, palo santo, and vetiver blend smells genuinely special, but this is really a fragrance, not protection.
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%36Citronella oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 9 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 moderate, 2 weak, 2 unsupported (-7).
Citronella oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 9 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 moderate, 2 weak, 2 unsupported (-7).
Safety15%74From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: moderate skin-sensitization risk from Citronella oil (−10); moderate irritation risk from Citronella oil (−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: moderate skin-sensitization risk from Citronella oil (−10); moderate irritation risk from Citronella oil (−6); 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.
- Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) Wood OilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) Root OilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Cedarwood oilActive
Active repellent (not formally declared) · concentration not disclosed
- Citronella oilActive
Active repellent (not formally declared) · concentration not disclosed
- Rosemary oilActive
Active repellent (not formally declared) · concentration not disclosed
- Ambrette (Hibiscus abelmoschus) Seed OilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Buddha Wood (Eremophila mitchellii) OilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) Wood OilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Lavender oil
Other ingredient (not an approved repellent active) · concentration not disclosed
- Ethanol
Carrier / solvent · concentration not disclosed
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.
“Certified-organic, fair trade, soy-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free”
NaturalStrongIngredient panel marks all oils as Certified Organic; supports existing certified-organic claim.
“Vegan, cruelty-free, and Leaping Bunny Certified”
NaturalStrongLeaping Bunny is a recognized third-party cruelty-free certification stated on the official page.
“Formulated for sensitive skin”
SafetyModerateBrand page states formulated for sensitive skin; consistent with botanical formula but not clinically substantiated on page.
“Safe for all skin types and all ages”
Kid SafeWeakBroad safety claim with no substantiation; alcohol-based essential oil sprays can irritate sensitive skin, and most repellent brands impose child age limits.
“100% natural, certified-organic essential oil blend”
NaturalStrongAll listed ingredients are marked certified organic.
“Clinically proven to offer 85% protection against mosquitoes when reapplied every 3-4 hours”
EfficacyWeakBrand cites clinical testing but no study details, concentrations, or test methodology are published; essential-oil repellents typically provide shorter protection.
“Complete protection against ticks when reapplied every 3-4 hours”
EfficacyUnsupportedTick protection is not estimated and the disclosed actives (citronella, cedarwood, lavender, etc.) have minimal/unproven tick repellency data, so an absolute 'complete protection against ticks' claim is contradicted.
“DEET-free and picaridin-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongAll disclosed ingredients are botanical.
How to apply it
Shake well and spray onto skin, hair, and clothing. Reapply every 3-4 hours to maintain protection. For external use only; avoid contact with eyes. Store away from direct sunlight.