ECOrepel Insect Repellant and After-Bite Relief

How does ECOrepel work as a DEET-FREE insect repellent to stop bites?

Insects who bite are attracted by a combination of smell, certain colour, carbon dioxide and heat. You may wonder if a natural insect repellent like ECOrepel really works. The facts are entomologists and regulators around the world have been recommending PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol) as an alternative active ingredient amid increasing concerns about the neurotoxicity and high dermal absorption seen in DEET. Many conscious consumers have been seeking DEET free alternatives.

DEET is a strong plasticiser that can melt rain jackets, sandals and backpacks if not stored correctly. DEET mosquito repellent has oily feel and its strong chemical smell is unpleasant. Many people choose higher DEET concentrations thinking it works better, but all it does is make the effect last longer – which could have negative reactions on our skin.

PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol) is an accepted active ingredient with the following agencies :
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Australia Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency
United Kingdom Fit for Travel NHS

PMD can be made synthetically or extracted from the best mosquito repellent plant. In nature, it is only found in small amounts in “young” oil, so it must be harvested from older leaves/twigs where the citronellal is turned into PMD under mildly acidic conditions. As you don’t know the exact amount of PMD is in the aromatherapy oil you buy, some essential oil mosquito repellent may not be as effective as others. If a high concentration of such oil is used, application may lead to skin allergy/dermatitis in the presence of sunlight. Frequent reapplication is also needed.

We have been testing natural insect repellent’s active ingredients, and found PMDRBO sold under the brand name Citrepel75 the most effective in stopping bites. Extracted from the Java citronella plant, Citrepel75 contains at least 75% of the naturally occurring constituent PMD. Citrepel75 is registered under the EU Biocidal Products Directive (BPR) and is certified as a product of natural origin by ECOCERT. Plant-based PMD is a whole lot better for you and the environment.

So, if you are looking for an insect repellent for home that actually works, smells nice and is eco-friendly inside out, ECOrepel is the best choice for you. It jams mosquitoes’ short range radar. When you apply all over your exposed skin, the vapour from PMDRBO makes you “disappear” from mosquitoes when they get within a few centimetres of your skin. You can have several mosquitoes hovering around you, but none of them can find a good place to land for a bite. They eventually abort landing on your skin and fly away. No bites, no itch!