Tests find two mosquito repellents fail within minutes

A consumer watchdog tested 12 mosquito repellent products and found that two failed to protect volunteers from bites for more than a few minutes. The products were marketed as eco-friendly and gentle on sensitive skin. One bracelet product claimed up to 300 hours of protection on its packaging but volunteers wearing the bands were bitten within three minutes.

Test method and results Volunteers placed their arms inside cages containing mosquitoes to measure how long each product prevented bites. The second failing product was a citronella-based spray that left subjects exposed and bitten almost immediately.

Several other products kept volunteers bite-free for the full nine-and-a-half-hour test period. These included sprays containing DEET and one containing 20 percent picaridin.

Product performance details One supermarket own-brand spray costing four pounds for 125 millilitres provided complete protection for nine and a half hours. A plant-derived repellent safe for babies from six months old also performed well, protecting users for nine hours.

The watchdog noted that some higher-priced products offered little protection while lower-cost options delivered reliable results. Products containing DEET were highly effective but can damage plastics and cause skin irritation for some users.