We Asked 4 Pest Experts to Name the Top Mosquito Repellents

I’m determined to enjoy my backyard this summer, so I’m already plotting my defense against mosquitoes. There’s no lack of repellent sprays, candles, oils, and devices on the market, and I’m tempted to buy all of them. But I won’t give those annoying little bloodsuckers the satisfaction of also taking a bite out of my budget. So I asked four different pest experts for their help in narrowing down the most effective options. Here’s what they had to say.

Top 3 Mosquito Repellents
“The best repellents contain DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus,” says Natasha Oldham, general manager of MissQuito, a woman-led and -run mosquito control company. “All three of these ingredients have ample evidence of effectiveness in protecting people from mosquito bites.”

Continue reading to learn about the top three mosquito repellents, written by Barbara Bellesi Zito.

Freelance Journalist

Barbara Bellesi Zito

Barbara is a freelance writer covering home and lifestyle topics for a variety of print and online publications, including Apartment Therapy, TODAY, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Forbes Home, and more. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College and her BA in English and Theatre from Wagner College.

When she’s not on deadline or working on her next novel, Barbara enjoys reading, traveling, and live music. She lives with her husband and their dog in Staten Island, NY.

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Sawyer’s picaridin lotion lasts a long time, stores well in survival kits and cars, and doesn’t have the laundry-list poison control label like DEET sprays.