Repel
Repel 100 Insect Repellent
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. No. 305-30)
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Pros
- Maximum-strength 98% DEET, 6 to 8 hours that holds up to heat and sweat, all five claims verified.
- The deep DEET evidence base behind it.
Cons
- Pure DEET feels oily and melts plastics, lenses, and synthetics.
- Overkill for casual use, and not for infants.
The full review
At 98.11% DEET this is about as much active as you can buy, and it sits at the top of our recommended maximum protection tier. The evidence is as definitive as repellent science gets, skin safety reads clean, and all 5 audited claims rate strong, so almost nothing drags it down. Our model puts complete protection at 6 to 8 hours for mosquitoes and a genuine 3 to 6 for ticks; the label's "up to 10 hours" counts reduced biting rather than bite-free time, and the real payoff of going this high is durability against sweat and rain. Transparency is unusually strong here because nearly all of the formula is quantified. Note this strength can damage plastics, leather, and synthetics, and it is overkill for casual use.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%96Mosquitoes: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–6 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: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–6 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%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 ~14 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 ~11 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.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 98.11%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered label claim; repellency does not guarantee disease prevention.
“Protects for up to 10 hours against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time.
“Up to 5 hours of protection against ticks and chiggers”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time (older master label lists ticks & chiggers at 5 hours).
“For severe conditions — repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, biting flies, no-see-ums, chiggers and fleas”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered pest spectrum.
“DEET 98.11%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by EPA registration and label.
How to apply it
Apply over all exposed skin, using just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing; do not use under clothing or spray in enclosed areas. Do not spray directly on the face — spray on hands first, then apply sparingly to face and ears, avoiding eyes and mouth. Do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin, do not allow children to handle the product, and when using on children apply to your own hands first and never to children's hands. On clothing, spray shirts, pants, and hats; for ticks, chiggers, and fleas, treat sock tops and clothing openings. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water and wash treated clothing before wearing again; do not apply to synthetic fabrics such as acetate, rayon, or spandex, and keep away from plastics, watch crystals, leather, and finished surfaces.
The label
Ingredients, warnings, and directions from the package label. Read it before you buy.
