SHOPPERS heading abroad or outdoors this summer are being warned not to waste their cash on trendy, alternative mosquito repellents.
The probe, by consumer champion Which?, assessed the effectiveness of 12 popular products sold in the UK.
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Results showed that budget supermarket sprays kept mosquitos at bay for nearly 10 hours Credit: Getty
Tests involved brave volunteers sticking their arms inside a cage full of mosquitos to see how long they could be exposed before being bitten.
Results showed that while budget supermarket spray kept mosquitos at bay for nearly 10 hours, some expensive alternatives completely failed to deter insects for longer than a few minutes.
Of the products tested, two failed to protect volunteers from being bitten for more than a few minutes.
Both products are marketed as environmentally friendly and “trendy alternatives” to harsh chemicals, Which? said.
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Discussing the results, Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: “Whether you’re heading abroad or just enjoying your own garden this summer, avoiding nature’s most bloodthirsty critters shouldn’t break the bank.
“Our tests reveal that some pricey, fashionable repellents can be a complete waste of money, offering less than three minutes of protection.
“Crucially, you don’t need to pay a premium to stay safe – a £4 supermarket spray beats the flashy brands to deliver hours of reliable protection.”
Which? found that supermarket own-brand spray Asda Extra Strength Insect Repellent, costing just £4 for a 125ml bottle (£3.20 per 100ml), matched the performance of brands double its price.
According to its tests, the spray provided total protection for 9.5 hours.
Several others, including Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent (£7.20) and Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD Aerosol (£9.10), also successfully kept volunteers bite-free for hours.
But, none were as cheap as the Asda product.
The consumer champion urged shoppers to look at ingredient lists to check for active ingredients when looking for an effective insect repellent.
DEET, for example, is considered the gold standard for repelling mosquitoes and ticks, but it also has notable drawbacks.
The chemical acts as a strong solvent that can melt plastics and synthetic fabrics and it has an oily texture and strong odour which can irritate sensitive skin.
The products containing DEET that Which? tested were all found to be highly effective.
However testers found the application was not always smooth and some odours were unpleasant.
Full list of products tested by Which?
Which? Test Passes
Superdrug Buzz Off Extra Strength Insect Repellent: £9
Autan Insect Repellent: £5.65
Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent: £7.20
Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD Aerosol: £9.10
Asda Extra Strength Insect Repellent: £4
Incognito Repellent Pump-Spray: £13.99
Moskito Guard Mosquito & Tick Repellent: £9.50
Pyramid Trek 50: £9.50
Lifesystems Expedition Max DEET Mosquito Repellent: £9.00
Boots Soltan Soothe & Moisturise Aftersun Lotion with Insect Repellent: £10.50
Which? Don’t Buys
Meadows Organic Citronella Spray: £6
Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelet: £19.99
Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent was deemed successful Credit: Alamy
Which? found not all products need be so harsh to be effective.
It said that Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65) which uses 20 per cent Picaridin, kept mosquitoes completely at bay for nine and a half hours in testing without any reported bites.
Instead of killing insects, picaridin works by blocking their olfactory receptors, in essence making you “invisible” to their sense of smell.
The Incognito Insect Repellent Pump-Spray (£13.99) also used plant-derived PMD rather than synthetic chemicals and protected volunteers for nine hours, Which? said.
More expensive but still effective at repelling insects without the harsh chemicals, Incognito Insect Repellent Pump-Spray (£13.99) uses plant-derived PMD rather than synthetic chemicals and successfully protected volunteers for nine solid hours. It is even safe for babies from six months old.
Plant-derived PMD is a naturally occurring compound derived from the extract of the Java Citronella plant.
Which? also found that Boots Soltan Soothe & Moisturise Aftersun Lotion with Insect Repellent kept insects at bay for four and a half hours.
“Though it may which may not replace standard repellent, it could provide just the right amount of protection for alfresco dining after a day in the sun,” it added.
By contrast, Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets – priced at £19.99 for 12 bands – and the Meadows Organic Citronella Spray failed the test.
Despite bold packaging claims offering up to 300 hours of protection per band, volunteers wearing the Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets in Which?’s lab tests were bitten in under three minutes, it claimed.
Similarly, Meadows Organic Citronella Spray (£6 for 100ml), which relies on unrefined natural oils like citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint, left volunteers “exposed and bitten almost instantly”, Which? said.
Experts have long suggested that people should patch test products containing essential oils or chemicals such as DEET on a small area of skin, before committing to using a product all over your body.
This is because everyone’s tolerance is different and can avoid potential irritation.
