Buzzkill: Trendy £20 mosquito repellents fail Which? testing…but £4 supermarket spray lasts for hours

Shoppers heading abroad or outdoors this summer are being warned not to waste their cash on trendy, alternative mosquito repellents after a new investigation by Which? found some high-priced products fail in under three minutes.

The consumer champion's rigorous testing of insect repellents involves brave volunteers sticking their arms inside a cage full of mosquitos to see how long they can be exposed before being bitten.

This year, Which?'s lab tests found that while a 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.

Out of the 12 products tested, two failed to protect volunteers from being bitten for more than a few minutes and were therefore given Which? Don't Buy status. Both products are marketed as environmentally friendly, trendy alternatives to harsh chemicals and claim to be kinder to sensitive skin.

Performing particularly badly in the testing were the Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets and the Meadows Organic Citronella Spray.

Despite bold packaging claims boasting up to 300 hours of protection per band, volunteers wearing the colorful Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets in Which?'s lab tests were bitten in under three minutes. This was also one of the priciest repellents on test, costing £19.99 for 12 bands.

Similarly, Meadows Organic Citronella Spray (£6 for 100ml), which relies on unrefined natural oils like citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint, offered very little defence against blood-sucking insects, leaving subjects exposed and bitten almost instantly.

Which? experts found a cheap and readily available supermarket own-brand spray successfully provided total protection for an impressive 9.5 hours. Asda Extra Strength Insect Repellent, costing just £4 for a 125ml bottle (£3.20 per 100ml), matched the performance of brands double its price.

Which? found several other top-performing products that successfully kept volunteers entirely bite-free for the full 9.5-hour test, although none were as cheap as the Asda product.

Shoppers can 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, it has an oily texture and strong odor which can irritate sensitive skin.

The products containing DEET that Which? Tested - including Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent (£7.20), Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD Aerosol (£9.10), Pyramid Trek 50 (£9.50), and Lifesystems Expedition Max DEET Mosquito Repellent (£9.00) - were all found to be highly effective. However testers found the application was not always smooth and some odours were unpleasant.

However, Which? found not all products need be so harsh to be effective. Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65) utilizes 20 per cent Picaridin to deliver impressive, highly effective protection, keeping mosquitoes completely at bay for nine and a half hours in testing without any reported bites.

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.

For shoppers looking for products that multitask, Which? found Boots Soltan Soothe & Moisturise Aftersun Lotion with Insect Repellent kept insects at bay for 4.5 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.

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."

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Full list of products included in the Which? test:

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 — Failed (Don't Buy)
Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelet: £19.99 — Failed (Don't Buy)

Methodology

Which? tested 12 products designed to repel mosquitos. Ten products passed the test while the two labelled 'Don't Buys' failed to protect volunteers for more than a few minutes.
Brave human volunteers apply a repellent to their arms and place them inside a controlled cage of mosquitoes for three minutes at a time.
This process is repeated every 30 minutes for a grueling 9.5 hours (or until a volunteer is bitten) to map out exactly when the product's barrier breaks down.
A panel of six people rated each product for user experience - scoring them on ease of application, sticky residue, absorption speed, and odour.

Active ingredients

Which? advises consumers to bypass the marketing hype and look for the four active ingredients scientifically proven to repel mosquitoes. High-performing products utilised established synthetic or refined repellents, whereas failed products relied purely on unrefined plant-based essential oils.
DEET: The undisputed gold standard for high-risk malaria zones. Highly effective and cheap, though it has a strong odor and can damage synthetic fabrics and plastics.
Icaridin (Picaridin): Recommended by the WHO for protection against Zika and malaria. A brilliant, skin-friendly alternative that doesn't melt plastics.
PMD: The only scientifically backed "natural" option. Derived from the lemon eucalyptus tree, it is highly effective when properly formulated. Which? warns that standard citronella or plain, unrefined eucalyptus oils are not the same thing and will fail.
IR3535: A reliable synthetic repellent, though it should only be used in non-malaria regions.

Advice for consumers

An insect repellent is only as good as how it is applied. To stay completely safe, follow these rules:
Don't Miss the Hotspots: Mosquitoes will zero in on the tiniest patch of bare skin. Ensure wrists, ankles, necks, and hands are fully covered.
Never Spray the Face: Spray the repellent into your hands first in a well-ventilated area, then rub it onto your face. Remember to wash your palms afterward!
Sunscreen First, Repellent Second: If layering up for the sun, apply sunscreen first, wait 15 minutes, and then apply repellent over the top. (Note: DEET can lower your sunscreen's effectiveness, so consider opting for a higher SPF).
Reapply by the Clock: DEET formulas generally last 6 to 8 hours, while natural PMD and Icaridin formulas should be topped up every 4 to 6 hours—sooner if you've been swimming or sweating heavily.

Right of Reply:

The brands behind the products labelled as Which? Don’t Buys were given multiple opportunities to address the findings of our latest investigation, though both firms declined to comment.

About Which?

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, empowering people to make confident choices and demand better. Through our research, investigations and product testing, we provide trusted insight and expert recommendations on the issues that matter most to consumers.

Fiercely independent, we put people over profit - shining a light on unfair practices, influencing policy and holding businesses to account to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone.

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