Lemon Eucalyptus Repel insect repellent review: good for your skin and good for the environment

An effective, sweet-smelling repellent, Lemon Eucalyptus Repel is also child and eco friendly

By Berne Broudy
last updated
Best insect repellents: Lemon Eucalyptus Repel
(Image: © Repel)

Advnture Verdict

Sensitive on both the environment and your skin, Lemon Eucalyptus Repel is an effective repellent that deters all sorts of biting beasts, and isn’t unpleasant to use.

Pros

  • +

    Natural and environmentally friendly

  • +

    Effective

  • +

    Pleasant lemon scent

Cons

  • -

    Lemon scent too strong for some users

  • -

    Doesn’t last as long as DEET

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Lemon Eucalyptus Repel: first impressions

Lemon Eucalyptus Repel is a great choice for those who don’t like spraying chemicals on themselves and their family, or releasing them into the environment. It is made with oil extracted from the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora, a lemon-scented gum tree native to Australia. 

Considered safe for children three years and older, it’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (opens in new tab) (EPA) and recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (opens in new tab) (CDC) as effective against disease-carrying mosquitoes. 

Specifications

• RRP: $7 (US)
• Bottle size: 118ml / 4 oz
• Lasting power: 6 hours
• Active ingredient: 30% lemon eucalyptus oil

Lemon Eucalyptus Repel: on the trail

So, it’s good for nature and better for you than many other insect repellents on the market – but does it really work? Well, yes. 

In a 2014 scientific study (opens in new tab) a mixture of 32% lemon eucalyptus oil provided more than 95% protection against mosquitoes for three hours. In another independent laboratory test, Lemon Eucalyptus Repel was the second most effective mosquito repellent after a 30% DEET concentration (if you don’t know what DEET is, there’s an explanation in our best insect repellents buying guide).

And it worked on me too. I used this repellent in the jungles of Indonesia, in the buggy Northeastern United States, Central America and South America with extreme success. Definitely one of the best ways to avoid bites and stings on the trail.

Importantly, it wasn’t horrific to use either. In fact, this is possibly the only insect repellent I’ve ever used that I thought smelled good. And, although this is an oil-based pump spray, it never left me feeling greasy, sticky or like I needed to get it off my skin as soon as possible. Stick it on  your camping checklist.

Berne Broudy
Berne Broudy

Vermont-based writer, photographer and adventurer, Berne reports on hiking, biking, skiing, overlanding, travel, climbing and kayaking for category-leading publications in the U.S., Europe and beyond. In the field, she’s been asked to deliver a herd of llamas to a Bolivian mountaintop corral, had first fat-biking descents in Alaska, helped establish East Greenland’s first sport climbing and biked the length of Jordan. She’s worked to help brands clean up their materials and manufacturing, and has had guns pulled on her in at least three continents.