Ben's
Ben's 30 Tick & Insect Repellent Eco-Spray
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- A smart everyday DEET level, 30% for 6 to 7 hours, with all five audited claims holding up.
- Pump eco-spray with no aerosol propellant, so you control the application.
Cons
- Still DEET, so it can feel slightly tacky and is best kept off plastics and sunglasses.
The full review
This water-based, alcohol-free 30% DEET spray sits solidly in our recommended, maximum protection tier. It rides on DEET's settled published evidence and a clean safety read, with all 5 audited marketing claims holding up strong and only a minor aquatic-toxicity ding. Our model puts complete protection at 6 to 7 hours against mosquitoes and 5 to 7 against ticks, so the label's 'up to 7 hours' counts reduced biting rather than bite-free time. What keeps it from the very top is transparency, since it discloses every active concentration but quantifies only part of the inert formula. The slow-evaporating, propellant-free Eco-Spray is the practical draw, a smart everyday DEET level that stays gentle on skin while you control the application.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%97Mosquitoes: 6–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–7 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: 6–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–7 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%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 0 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%89This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); 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 spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~12 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 ~12 h as repellency decays. Ticks only: estimated against Ixodes scapularis (the US Lyme vector). DEET is notably weaker against the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and some dog-tick (Dermacentor) populations, and weaker on ticks than on mosquitoes. Anchors: Burtis 2024 (CDC), 25% DEET held >=97% skin repellency through 6.5 h; Buchel 2015, 20% median tick CPT ~4-4.5 h.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 30%
- Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Propylene glycol
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Water
Inert / Carrier · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Fragrance-free formula”
SafetyStrongofficial/Amazon/Walmart
“Water-based formula, contains no alcohol”
OtherStrongStated on the EPA-accepted label and brand page.
“Up to 7 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~7 h).
“Repels ticks that may transmit Lyme disease”
EfficacyStrongTick repellency and Lyme-vector claims appear on the EPA-accepted label; no specific hour figure for ticks was verified on the current label.
“DEET 30%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed on the EPA-accepted label (Reg. No. 56575-11).
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Mainly from DEET.
Mainly from DEET.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →