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The answer is just to use Picaridin instead of DEET, or perhaps a combination of both. Picaridin is sold as "Off - Clean Feel" or in Sawyer products in the USA.

The answer is just to use Picaridin instead of DEET, or perhaps a combination of both. Picaridin is sold as "Off - Clean Feel" or in Sawyer products in the USA. The exact mechanism is not completely understood, but it's thought that DEET works because it interfere's with mosquitos ability to locate their prey. It is not thought to discourage bites as "they don't like the taste", just by interfering with sensing. A newer repellent, Picaridin, not only interferes with locating prey, but actively deters mosquitos like pepper spray mace. It's an engineered molecule, derived from a compound called piperine, a substance found in black pepper plants. Studies show that "Picaridin is as effective as DEET", but my personal experience is it is about twice as effective as DEET. I spend an enormous amount of my free time outdoors and I can attest that Picaridin is far more effective than DEET for both mosquitos and ticks (we have two main species in the Kansas/Missouri/Arkansas region, others are present but less common). As a personal data point, I had a friend trip on a hike this spring and fall into a grassy/bushy area. He did not put any repellent on. When we stood up, he was _covered_ in ticks. We got back to the truck and started peeling them off him, probably 15+ plus we flicked off or crushed. Unfortunately, we kept finding more, so we tried spraying Picaridin after the damn things hated that stuff so bad they jumped or fell off instantly. You do not want to get Picaridin in your eyes or mouth, holy shit, that stuff is like bear mace. Also make sure you're downwind when you're spraying, your friends with appreciate that. The other advantage of Picaridin is that it does not melt certain plastics. If you have life saving gear made of certain plastics, DEET can melt many times of plastics! (Notably some PVCs, polycarbonates, acrylics, acetates, and elastics).

random3 5mo ago
That’s interesting! As I’m researching this (for my family) I have questions :) - have you tried entomol? How does it compare? - is it advisable with for young kids, if it’s irritant? - how long does it stay on? - what do you do when you get so many ticks on yourself? Watch if you get spots after 30 days? Entomol is hydrogenated catmint oil
- exabrial 5mo ago
  Never tried Entomol. But I've found any of the essential oils simply don't work more than 10-20mins after application. I'd be very skeptical, but I'll try it if I can find an EPA/FDA approved spray. Picaridin is safe for everyone, but follow all label instructions. Also use the 20% concentration. I find that 10%-15% is about as effective as DEET, 20% is about twice as effective (in my completely uncontrolled, unscientific, testing).
- gucci-on-fleek 5mo ago
  > is it advisable with for young kids I can't comment on the safety factor, but to me it smells like cotton candy, so your kids will probably be more willing to put it on than DEET. (I don't know if this is how the chemical inherently smells or just the brand that I have though) > if it’s irritant? You definitely don't want to get it in your eyes or mouth, but I have pretty sensitive skin and I've never felt anything when putting it on before, so it's not that irritating in my experience. > how long does it stay on? I seem to remember that the bottle says 12 hours, which is a bit optimistic, but not too far off. I think that I've only ever needed to reapply it once, whereas I've sometimes had to reapply DEET multiple times in a day.
DannyBee 5mo ago
Picardin is based on the chemical that makes black pepper spicy, which is why it does that if you get it your eyes or mouth. DEET is a toluene derivative which is why it is super effective at melting plastics and doesn’t evaporate quickly It was actually discovered by massive brute force chemical search for repellants
- deleted 5mo ago
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pseudohadamard 5mo ago
I've used picaridin and it seems to be minimally effective - the mosquitos won't land and bite, but they will whine endlessly in close proximity until their batteries run down.

random3 5mo ago

That’s interesting! As I’m researching this (for my family) I have questions :) - have you tried entomol? How does it compare? - is it advisable with for young kids, if it’s irritant? - how long does it stay on? - what do you do when you get so many ticks on yourself? Watch if you get spots after 30 days? Entomol is hydrogenated catmint oil

exabrial 5mo ago
Never tried Entomol. But I've found any of the essential oils simply don't work more than 10-20mins after application. I'd be very skeptical, but I'll try it if I can find an EPA/FDA approved spray. Picaridin is safe for everyone, but follow all label instructions. Also use the 20% concentration. I find that 10%-15% is about as effective as DEET, 20% is about twice as effective (in my completely uncontrolled, unscientific, testing).
gucci-on-fleek 5mo ago
> is it advisable with for young kids I can't comment on the safety factor, but to me it smells like cotton candy, so your kids will probably be more willing to put it on than DEET. (I don't know if this is how the chemical inherently smells or just the brand that I have though) > if it’s irritant? You definitely don't want to get it in your eyes or mouth, but I have pretty sensitive skin and I've never felt anything when putting it on before, so it's not that irritating in my experience. > how long does it stay on? I seem to remember that the bottle says 12 hours, which is a bit optimistic, but not too far off. I think that I've only ever needed to reapply it once, whereas I've sometimes had to reapply DEET multiple times in a day.

DannyBee 5mo ago

Picardin is based on the chemical that makes black pepper spicy, which is why it does that if you get it your eyes or mouth. DEET is a toluene derivative which is why it is super effective at melting plastics and doesn’t evaporate quickly It was actually discovered by massive brute force chemical search for repellants

deleted 5mo ago
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pseudohadamard 5mo ago

I've used picaridin and it seems to be minimally effective - the mosquitos won't land and bite, but they will whine endlessly in close proximity until their batteries run down.