Traditional insect repellents often contain DEET, a chemical known for its effectiveness but also for its strong odor and potential to damage materials like nail polish. This summer, a growing trend sees luxury fragrance houses and beauty brands offering scented body sprays and fragrances that leverage natural ingredients to deter insects.
These products often feature essential oils such as citronella, lemongrass, lemon eucalyptus, lavender, and verbena. According to GP and aesthetics doctor Ahmed El Muntasar, these plant-based extracts contain naturally occurring compounds that can disrupt the scent cues insects use to locate humans. While DEET-based formulas work similarly, natural repellents may evaporate more quickly and require more frequent reapplication, typically every couple of hours.
"Many natural repellents evaporate more quickly than chemical formulas, so they need to be reapplied more frequently – every couple of hours," El Muntasar explained. He also noted that for destinations where mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, or Zika are a concern, repellents with proven longer-lasting protection are recommended. However, for general use in areas like the UK, natural alternatives can be a reasonable choice.
One product gaining traction is Diptyque's Citronnelle & Geranium Summer Body Spray. This £52 spray has gone viral on social media for its pleasant scent, derived from lemongrass and lemon eucalyptus, which studies suggest is effective against insects. The fragrance combines notes of lemongrass, geranium, neroli, lemon eucalyptus, and orange blossom, making it a sophisticated alternative to medicinal-smelling repellents. A beauty editor noted that it lasted a couple of hours and required regular reapplication but prevented bites during a weekend trip, also serving as a perfume.
Neal's Yard Remedies Citronella Formula Body Spray, priced at £15, offers a more medicinal citronella scent tempered by lavender, eucalyptus, and witch hazel. It was tested at a family barbecue and was found to be effective against midge bites.
Avon's Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray, a cult classic at £6, is praised online for its insect-repelling properties due to added citronellol and limonene. It has a soft, powdery fragrance and leaves a subtle glow on the skin. While it reduced bites for a family member who is particularly attractive to mosquitoes, it did not entirely prevent them.
For those who wish to avoid explicit insect repellent formulas altogether, Le Labo's Eucalyptus 20 Eau de Parfum is an option. This £172 fragrance is described as a chic, woody scent with a strong eucalyptus note that devotees claim also helps deter insects. It is an intense, aromatic eau de parfum that lasts a long time on the skin and was found to be effective during an evening walk by a river, offering a dual function as a fine fragrance and a deterrent.