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,} <br />TRY THESE <br />AVOID <br />,, <br />THESE <br />REPELLENTS <br />FNATURAL <br />ON'T DO THE JOBS <br />I <br />oducts with natural plant s, such as citronella, lemon -, <br /><., <br />, <br />grass, and rosemary, often <br />have labels that talk a good <br />p1 Sawyer A2 Repel A3 Repel A4 Natrapel <br />y <br />A5 Off! A14 Off! A15 EcoSmart <br />game, with claims such as <br />"proven effective" or `repels <br />Ratings: Insect Repellents <br />mosquitoes for hours." But <br />Scores in context: Of the 15 insect repellents we tested, the highest scored 96; the lowest, 7. <br />don't believe it. Unlike <br />performance. <br />All products are listed in order of p <br />repellents with chemically <br />synthesized ingredients <br />p CR Best Buy E Recommended <br />Fair • <br />Excellent b Very Good O Good O Poor <br />(including picaridin and oil of <br />lemon eucalyptus), plant -oil <br />INSECT REPELLENTS <br />products are exempt from <br />y y y y y ti <br />scrutiny by the Environmental <br />9 <br />T v dE <br />i- d5� d•5� my E}; <br />1, Protection Agency. That's <br />E <br />a '- '- o n <br />'� •� PF <br />because the EPA considers <br />W <br />them "minimum risk." But none <br />D; a <br />of those products we tested <br />lasted more than 1 hour against <br />sawyer Fisherman's $8,25 2.06 <br />1 ` <br />96 Picaridin 20% Pump 8.0 80 8.5 O <br />aedes mosquitoes, and Some <br />Formula Picaridin <br />Oil of lemon Pump 7.0 8.0 73 <br />failed almost immediately. In <br />Q✓ 2 Repel Lemon Eucalyptus $7 1.75 <br />87 eucalyptus 30/ <br />addition, the names of two <br />BabyganiCS Natural <br />�✓ ted Family $7.50 1.15 <br />3 Repel Scen <br />82 Deet 15% Aerosol 5.0 8.0 8.5 Q <br />products- <br />and EcoSmart Organic -imply <br />Fv� 4 Natrapel Hour $8 1.33 <br />81 Picaridin 20% Aerosol 7.8 8.0 6.0 Q <br />that they're organic. But <br />neither contains certified <br />R✓ 5 'Off! Deep Woods VIII $7 1.75 <br />74 Deet 25/ Aerosol 8.0 8.0 4.9 ; O; <br />organic ingredients or bears <br />6 Coleman SkinSmart $s 1.33 <br />69 IR353520/ Aerosol 3.1 6.0 8.2 O <br />the Department of Agriculture <br />organic seal. <br />7 'CutterSkinsations $4.50 0.75': <br />33 Deet 7% Pump 1.3 2.9 6.0 , O <br />WRISTBANDS <br />8 Cutter Natural $5.50 0.92 <br />29 Plant oils Pump 0.9 0.6 79 <br />ARE A BUST <br />9 Burt's Bees Herbal - $8 2.00 <br />28 Plant oils Pump 1.0 , 1.3 ' 6.2 ' <br />They're marketed as being <br />10 Babyganics Natural $9 1.50 <br />25 Plant oils Pump 0.5 1.0 68 <br />safer, because you don't have <br />to rub anything into your skin. <br />11 BullFrog Mosquito Coast $8 1.33 <br />25 IR3535 20/ 'Aerosol -0.8 3.5 4.7 O, <br />But when our testers stuck <br />p Terrain Kids Herbal <br />All $9 2.25 <br />23 Plant oils Pump 0.6 1.1 6.6 O <br />their arms into a cagefuf of <br />12 <br />mosquitoes while wearing one <br />California Baby Natural $15.50 2.38 <br />22 Plant oils i P 0.5 0.5 6.7 ; <br />of two wristbands -the Cole- <br />13 Bug Blend <br />man Naturals Insect Repellent <br />Off! FamilyCare II Clean $6 1.00 <br />18 Picaridin 5% Pump 0.5 0.9 5.2 <br />Snap Band (containing citro <br />nella oil) or the Super Band <br />14 Feel <br />15 EcoSmart Organic* $7 1.17 <br />7 Plant otls ! Pump 0.5 0.5 1.3 , <br />Wristband (containing geraniol <br />oil) -the bugs started biting <br />*Does not contain certified organic ingredients. <br />immediately. Given those <br />results, we've rated them as <br />Find the Best Insect Repellent for You <br />poor performers and recom- <br />mend that you skip them. <br />BEST ALL - AROUND <br />EucaI tus um was least likely to damage <br />yp pump <br />In February the Federal Trade <br />• 1 Sawyer Fisherman's Formula <br />or discolor materials. But it did take off <br />Commission charged another <br />Picaridin $8.25 <br />nail polish. <br />p <br />maker of repellent wristbands, <br />Viatek, with deceptive market- <br />This pump spray stood out in several ways. <br />PLEASANT SCENT AND FEEL <br />ing of its Mosquito Shield Bands, <br />It protected for 8 hours against mosquitoes, <br />® 2 Repel Lemon Eucalyptus $7 <br />which the FTC says contain <br />including the aggressive ones that spread <br />. 4 Natrapel 8 Hour $8 <br />mint oil. The FTC says the <br />chikungunya. And it protected for more than , 5 Off! Deep Woods VIII $7 <br />company's claim that the bands <br />8 hours against ticks. It also has less serious <br />When it comes to scent and feel, these stood <br />protect against mosquitoes <br />side effects, especially for kids. The only <br />It's a little pricey, and it discolored out. The Repel had a mostly eucalyptus scent <br />wasn't backed up with scientific <br />negatives: <br />leather vinyl and removed nail polish. <br />with a hint of lemon, and it was slightly oily. <br />evidence. The case will be <br />and <br />The Natrapel had a floral perfumey aroma, <br />decided by a U.S. District Court; <br />b <br />LESS LIKELY TO STAIN <br />and it was oily. The Off had a mild aroma that <br />the FTC seeking penalties <br />• 2 Repel Lemon Eucalyptus $7 <br />was mostly floral and a little fruity. It left a <br />and consumer refunds. <br />Of the top repellents, the Repel Lemon <br />thin, dry coating. <br />36 JULY 2015 <br />