OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent, Bug Spray & Mosquito Repellent, 4 Oz

We live in Florida and tried every possible mosquito repellent. I like this one as it doesn't have a smell, doesn't leave residue on your skin and mosquitoes do not bite me if I use it properly. It's also somewhat natural and does work.

I’ve been using this for several years, though they change the look of the spray bottle recently, but the formula seems to be exactly the same. It doesn’t have a heavy unpleasant odor and more importantly, keeps me from getting bitten. Live across from a small lake, so we do have more mosquitoes in our neighborhood. Before I go out, I spray any bare skin and put a little bit on my face and neck too. I also use the “BiteMeNot” mosquito coil wristbands on my wrist and my ankles. I’ve been doing this for many years and have not been bitten. Without the Off! Botanicals insect repellent I would most definitely have bites all over.

Let's be real with this review: bug sprays without DEET or picaridin aren't as effective or as long lasting as those with DEET or picaridin. This is a fact. On to this bug spray. The active ingredient in this spray is p-Menthane-3, 8-diol (also called PMD). PMD is found in eucalyptus oil in small quantities, hence the botanicals name. However, the bottle (and this page) clearly state that the compound has been derived from other sources (pine oil); this does not change the effectiveness. Pros: - Repels mosquitos decently well for up to 2 hours after being applied to the skin - Will not dissolve your clothes/shoes/plastics like DEET - Safer for aquatic animals/creatures than DEET (and probably picaridin) - No strong smell (it does have a slight rubbing alcohol scent that goes away as soon as it dries) - Dries quickly - No greasy/sticky residue Cons: - Does not work nearly as well as a DEET or picaridin based bug spray - Not suitable for deep woods/back country - Last a very short period of time (it is pretty ineffective at the 2 hour mark) - Pump spray applicator does apply as evenly as an aerosol applicator - Only 10% PMD, which is fairly low. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent is 30% lemon eucalyptus oil, which is about 65% PMD; that means that, in total Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent is 19.5% PMD to OFF's 10%. CONCLUSION: This is a decent "natural" bug spray; it works fairly well to repel mosquitos, without leaving any bad odor or sticky residue. That said, it doesn't last long (it's pretty ineffective after about an hour and totally ineffective by hour 2), and it doesn't work as well as picaridin or DEET based bug spray. Additionally, there are better PMD based bug sprays; look for one that is 30% lemon eucalyptus oil/~19% PMD. Overall, though, this spray works well enough for me when I take the dog out for a walk in the evenings in my suburban/urban neighborhood. If you are doing to be doing anything in the woods or back country, get yourself a picaridin based bug spray. DEET is another alternative, but it leaves a greasy residue on the skin, can dissolve plastics (including elastics/synthetic fabrics on clothes), and is highly toxic to aquatic animals.

I’ve tried a lot of insect repellents before, but OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent really impressed me. I sprayed it lightly even on my kids’ clothes, and it worked wonderfully — not a single mosquito bite all day! It feels safe and gentle, which makes me comfortable using it on the whole family. Compared to previous times when we didn’t use the spray, the difference was incredible — total peace of mind while outside. Highly recommend if you want an effective, family-friendly bug spray that actually works!

Best for sensitive skin with a great scent and feel.

I think it works as a repellent but spray is not a fine mist. It comes out more of a stream. You have to spread it around after spraying and I would rather not get it all over my hands. I do like that it's probably safer around pets than a 'normal' repellent. Not that I let my dog get into it but when spraying and if they lick your skin, they could be exposed so want safest option.

This definitely works without a doubt. My problem is that i have trouble applying it wihout breathing it into my lungs. I have tried covering my face with fabric, towels etc but have not figured out yet how to manage it. But i continue to use it because the benefits last much longer than some of the other repellents i have tried. The fine mist also is easier to apply to the backs of my legs and calves. It does not leave any wet drops on clothing. My only challenge is not breathing it in.

There is an updated container in 2025, and I actually think it helps improve two of the things I really didn't like about Botanicals previously. Namely, they seem to have updated the spray nozzle to work more effectively without clogging, and they changed the form factor to make it easier to orient in your hand during use. Off Botanicals is the only plant-based insect repellent I've used that works about as well as deer. It tends to work at full effectiveness for 45-90 min, depending on how heavily you are sweating. The nice thing about Botanicals is that you can reapply it often and in significant quantity without feeling gross or choking on the fumes/smell. I often go for walks with my cat, and he hasn't had any negative reaction to my smell or to the residue on my skin like he has with deet sprays. Obviously, you should never apply this or another bug spray to an animal, but I tend to expect some level of transfer if I pick him up in my arms while out on the trail.

Seller did not ship my product with the safety cap, this part is very essential for a travel spray! useless without the cap! thanks