One detailed study using wrist bands infused with botanical extracts found there was a reduction in biting mosquitoes, but only for a few centimetres either side of the band. Wearing a wrist band won’t provide “whole body” protection. Effectiveness:It’s a bit more difficult to evaluate this product because the exact combination of essential oils is not made clear by the company (this is likely “proprietary information”). However, essential oils are not usually effectiveinsect repellents. Laboratory studies have shown that wrist bands impregnated with DEET provide some protection against mosquitoes. But a key selling point of wrist bands and patches containing botanical extracts is that they’re an alternative to DEET. They’re primarily marketed to those looking for a “natural” alternative. The Jungle Formula brand makes all kinds of mosquito repellent lotions and sprays, but this diffuser is particularly effective and easy to use. Its odour-free prallethrin insecticide vapour kills and wards off mosquitoes, midges and other small flying insects for up to 450 hours. So if you switch it on for 10 hours every night, it’ll be a month and a half before you need to buy another 35ml refill. You get one bottle in this box, along with the diffuser. That’s more than enough to see you through a holiday in a bug-friendly climate, or through a balmy period of summer.

However, these natural alternatives are not always as effective. In fact, the only natural alternative to DEET that is endorsed by the CDCfor use in disease-endemic areas is OLE. Effectiveness: Ultrasonic frequencies are a recent trend in pest-control technology, but the technology has been attempted for decades. These types of frequencies are meant to produce sounds that are too high for us to hear, but very irritating to insects. These frequencies have beendemonstratednot to be very effective or worthwhile. Given that mosquitoes are attracted to smell, not sound,it seems especially unlikely this product would do much to protect against mosquitoes. Parakito Wristbands The most effective and long-standing chemical used in mosquito repellents is N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, better known as DEET. The US Army has been issuing it to its troops since the 1940s. In recent decades, there have been a few medical reports suggesting there are links between DEET and health problems, but ultimately none of them has been substantiated. The length of time you can wear a bracelet depends on the specific brand and type of bracelet you are using. Most bracelets are designed to offer protection for several hours, typically between 24 to 72 hours. However, some brands claim their bracelets can provide protection for up to 10 or 15 days. Is ultrasonic mosquito bracelets more effective? When there’s insect repellent on your skin, the mosquitoes are either repelled by the unpleasantness of the odours or they’re confused and lose their appetite for blood.Many wearable mosquito-repellant products do not contain DEET, because it is generally not safe to wear highly concentrated DEET directly on your skin for a long period of time. After washing, any protection offered by these clothes is likely to fade. The dream of ditching topical repellents hasn’t arrived An ever-increasing range of “mosquito repellent” clothing is available in camping, adventure and fishing stores. These items are typically made from material pre-treated with insecticides such as permethrin. The best mosquito repellent bracelet is a natural band that uses a combination of plant-based essential oils.

Hate having to worry about pesky insects biting you at night? Jungle Formula’s plug-in is one of the best ways to repel mosquitoes indoors. It has a two-pin plug head that’s perfect for use in the majority of European countries, including Spain, Italy and Greece, and can be used in the UK and other countries with a travel adapter. Our verdict Selecting the right bug repellent involves considering its active ingredients, concentration, and format. Effective repellents often contain DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, but be aware of any potential skin irritations, especially for children under three. The concentration of these ingredients doesn't enhance effectiveness, just duration, so choose based on your needs. Exactly how well these products work depends on what your expectations are for them and how you use them. To explain, why, let’s go into some detail about what repels mosquitoes What Attracts and Repels Mosquitos?Effectiveness: While this product at least indicates the specific oils used, it may struggle the same way as the Parakito product. Citronella can actually be very effective at repelling insects, but works best in closed areas, so this type of formulation (a patch that gradually diffuses oil) is unlikely to reap the full benefits of citronella. Instead, these products contain natural alternatives to DEETlike oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or citronella. Some may even attempt to use technological approaches like ultrasonic frequencies to repel mosquitoes. You can get bitten by a range of bugs and insects, and it can be hard to identify what's bitten you unless you saw the bug in action. These are the most common insect bites: Insecticides are commonly applied to bed nets and they’ve proven effective in reducing malaria prevalence in some regions.