Just my two cents' worth...
The idea of DEET gave me the creeps for a long time. I did a lot of searching for an effective, DEET-free formula. According to a study done in 2002, oil of soybean works pretty well, and the CDC says oil of lemon eucalyptus is almost as effective as DEET. So I looked for products with those active ingredients. I couldn't find lemon eucalyptus anywhere, but found one brand - Herbal Armour - listing oil of soybean and a bunch of other plant oils on the label. It's isn't too greasy and actually works, but not for long. About an hour and a half for me. The problem for me is the smell, which isn't necessarily bad but is stronger than the freshest, strongest citronella candle you ever whiffed. The smell doesn't diminish even after the effectiveness does. It lingers until thoroughly washed off.
So I gave DEET some more thought, because there are a lot of unscented ones on the market.
I reasoned that my skin is subjected to myriad chemicals from myriad sources every single day. Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, skin lotion, body wash, hair color, polish remover, makeup ... dozens of chemicals. If the CDC says DEET is safe unless ingested or applied to the eyes... I have to be okay with that. Just one more chemical that will serve me best in my mosquito battle. It isn't so much the diseases that worry me (even though my father-in-law died from a mosquito-borne encephalitis), it's the gosh-darned itch!
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