We proudly disclose all ingredients: Natural Essential Oil Blend (Lemon Eucalyptus and other natural essential oils), Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive & Jojoba, Organic Aloe

Repelling insects, particularly mosquitoes, has become much more important over the years. Those insects we used to repel merely for sanity are now carriers of infections such as West Nile Virus. DEET, the widely used mosquito repellent, was developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and patented by the U.S. Army in 1946.  DEET is a registered pesticide. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per liter have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion. DEET is also absorbed by the gut.

The most serious concerns about DEET are its effects on the central nervous system. Dr. Mohammed Abou-Donia of Duke University studied lab animals' performance of neuro-behavioral tasks requiring muscle co-ordination. He found that lab animals exposed to the equivalent of average human doses of DEET performed far worse than untreated animals. Abou-Donia also found that combined exposure to DEET and permethrin, a mosquito spray ingredient, can lead to motor deficits and learning and memory dysfunction.

An emergency medicine bulletin notes that DEET may have significantly greater toxicity when combined with ethyl and isopropyl alcohols and freon which are components of some DEET repellents.  Products with DEET are required to carry instructions that they should not be used at all for children under 6 months.  Additional required warnings state that for children 6 months to 2 years, only concentrations of less than 10% DEET should be used, and only once a day. For children from 2 -12 years old, only concentrations under 10% should be used, and repellents should not be applied more than 3 times a day.

In addition to the health risks posed by DEET, the chemical has been shown to have a negative impact on wildlife and water sources from both production and use. Although DEET is relatively non-toxic to small mammals, it is considered toxic to birds and aquatic life. Unfortunately, the production and use of DEET has led to the chemical being found in approximately 75% of U.S. water sources.  While these health and environmental risks have always been associated with DEET, it wasn't until recently that there were effective, more natural methods to repel insects. 

Recent studies have found that DEET does not block the insects’ sense of smell but simply stinks to them, U.S. WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2008 (Reuters).  These same studies found that mosquitoes also reacted, even more strongly, to compounds known as terpenoids, which help make up the distinctive aromas of eucalyptus, cloves, menthol and camphor.  In the past few years, Lemon Eucalyptus has gained the approval of the EPA and Center for Disease Control as an effective alternative. While natural options are not quite as long-lasting as DEET, they are proven repellants, and work well if reapplied frequently.

Shake well before use. Avoid mouth and eyes. Reapply after swimming or exercise. This product does not kill insects.