Zevo
Zevo On-Body Mosquito and Tick Repellent Aerosol Spray
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #70759-4-3573)
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Pros
- A gentle IR3535 alternative that scores like a heavy hitter, 4 to 8 hours with a clean safety read.
- No DEET, so it's plastic-safe and mild on skin.
Cons
- Aerosol feels cool and wet, with some overspray to breathe in.
The full review
Powered by 20% IR3535, this aerosol earns a recommendation, with two pillars running nearly flawless. The evidence pillar is excellent because IR3535 is backed by definitive published research and all three audited claims hold up strong, while safety reads essentially perfect with no sensitization or irritation concerns, making it a gentle, DEET-free option that is plastic-safe. The label's up to 8 hours measures reduced biting; our model puts complete protection at 4 to 8 hours for mosquitoes and 3 to 5 for ticks, solid if a touch below the strongest DEET and picaridin sprays. The one thing keeping it from a higher mark is transparency, where the active concentration is disclosed but the inert ingredients are not fully accounted for. The aerosol can feel cool and wet, with some overspray to breathe in.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%94Mosquitoes: 4–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–5 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: 4–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–5 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%97IR3535 is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
IR3535 is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Safety15%100From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation.
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation.
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. IR3535's protection is species-variable: ~9–10 h against Aedes/Culex in the lab but only ~4 h against Anopheles (Thavara 2001), and it needed ~2× the DEET dose for equal protection (Costantini 2004). The Ghana 2025 ~9 h figure is percentage efficacy, not a measured complete-protection time. Hence the wide 4–8 h band.
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 ~9 h as repellency decays. IR3535's protection is species-variable: ~9–10 h against Aedes/Culex in the lab but only ~4 h against Anopheles (Thavara 2001), and it needed ~2× the DEET dose for equal protection (Costantini 2004). The Ghana 2025 ~9 h figure is percentage efficacy, not a measured complete-protection time. Hence the wide 4–8 h band.
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.
- IR3535Active
Active repellent · 20%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“IR3535 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration per manufacturer labeling.
“Up to 8 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time per manufacturer labeling.
“DEET-free and picaridin-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongWell supported by published evidence
How to apply it
Smooth Zevo onto dry, exposed skin for even coverage. For faces, apply it to your palm first, then gently pat it on. When applying to children, always apply it to your hands before smoothing it onto their skin. Keep out of reach of children. See the product label for complete precautions and usage instructions.