Reference Guide

Protecting yourself from mosquitoes without DEET: the complete guide

Look for a mosquito repellent without DEET is legitimate: smell, feel on the skin, desire for a plant-based product, or simply a simpler choice to make with a child. The right question is not just «with or without DEET?» but rather: which active ingredient has a sufficient level of evidence, for what age, in what country, and against what level of risk?

This guide compares DEET-free alternatives (icaridin, IR3535, PMD/Citriodiol, citronella), details what will change in France in 2026, and uses the ARDESUN repellent stick as a concrete example throughout the guide.

Parents of babies and young children who want to distinguish useful precautions from false alarms.
Travelers, campers, and hikers who want to adapt their protection to the situation.
Anyone looking for a DEET-free repellent, without confusing «natural» with «automatically effective.».

PMD is gaining groundIn his 2026 survey on 15 repellents, 60 Millions de Consommateurs ranks a PMD-based product at the top of plant-based options, far ahead of essential oils alone. Notably, the product that topped the overall ranking is not the most concentrated, but the one with the best-controlled formula.

The ARDESUN repellent stick fits into this logic: a standardized PMD, at a high concentration, in a formula designed to last (the details of the figures are a bit further down).

One nuance to knowFor everyday use, gardening, and hiking in France, a properly registered PPE product — such as the ARDESUN repellent stick — has nothing to envy from synthetic assets.

The only drawback: the European PMD evaluation calendar is not yet finalized, which temporarily excludes it from traveler recommendations for very high-risk destinations (malaria, dengue) — a matter of administrative procedure, not effectiveness.

Compare options

What DEET-free alternatives have truly established efficacy?

Not all alternatives are equal. A distinction must be made between active substances evaluated in regulated products, essential oils used as simple perfuming ingredients, and devices whose effectiveness is not demonstrated.

Option	Origin	Reliability 2026	Point to know
PMD / OLE (eucalyptus citriodora)	Vegetable, standardized	Raised with such a good dosage—recognized for 20 years	Choose a registered and well-formulated product, not a crude essential oil
DEET	Synthetic	Raised so well-dosed	Efficacy depends heavily on concentration; minimally irritating at high doses
Icaridin / Picaridin	Synthetic	Raised	Not a «natural» alternative»
IR3535	Synthetic	Established	Variable duration and age depending on the formulation
Lemongrass essential oil alone	Vegetable	Insufficient	Volatile, short-acting, and variable effect — not to be confused with a standardized PMD
Bracelets, ultrasounds, homemade recipes	Variable	Undemonstrated	False sense of security

Understand before you choose

What is DEET, and why do some people try to avoid it?

DEET is a synthetic active ingredient used in many topical insect repellents. It reduces mosquito approach and bites when applied according to the instructions—it doesn't create an invisible bubble around you, nor does it replace other protective measures. In the European Union, a topical insect repellent is a biocide, not a cosmetic. Before buying, it's better to look at the active ingredient, the minimum age, and the precautions rather than just the word «natural.».

The «dangers of DEET»: what we can really say. Presenting it as inherently dangerous is too simplistic. The HCSP, the WHO, and the CDC continue to recommend it where the risk of mosquito-borne disease justifies robust protection. Severe reactions are described as rare; a skin reaction simply requires washing the area and stopping the product. This does not mean it should be used indiscriminately: it can be unpleasant, irritate sensitive skin, or be ill-suited for a given individual.

Why want to do without it?

Preference for a different texture, a different scent, or a more targeted format.
Reactive skin or poor personal tolerance to a given formula.
Desire to avoid a synthetic substance when the risk level allows it.
Search for a product whose label is better suited to the child's age or a pregnancy.
Looking for a plant-based formula, like the PMD used in the ARDESUN repellent stick.

Key takeaways: Preferring to avoid DEET is completely legitimate. Automatically assuming it is more dangerous than any natural alternative does not align with the current consensus of health authorities. In an area where a mosquito-borne disease is circulating, the benefit of an authorized and properly used repellent far outweighs the inconvenience of using it.

Landmarks

The essentials in six points

Without DEET does not mean without active ingredient

An effective repellent always contains a recognized active ingredient. Icaridin, IR3535, and PMD are also fully-fledged active ingredients, not mere fragrances.

The percentage alone is not everything

The 2026 ranking by 60 Millions de Consommateurs shows it: the top-rated product is not necessarily the one with the highest concentration, but the one whose formula is the most masterfully balanced. A well-formulated PMD follows this exact logic.

PMD is not an essential oil

A standardized and registered PMD active ingredient, like the one in the ARDESUN stick, has nothing to do with a standalone citronella essential oil. The level of evidence is not comparable.

DEET and icaridin remain synthetic benchmarks

Used according to the label, they are effective and documented — but they are synthetic active ingredients, not an obligation. PMD currently offers a plant-based alternative with a comparable level of evidence.

The authorized age depends on the product you are purchasing.

Each country sets its own labeling rules. Rely on the label of the specific product you have in hand, not on guidelines seen elsewhere.

Repellent is only a layer of protection

Clothing, mosquito nets, screens, and the removal of stagnant water remain essential, regardless of the active ingredient chosen.

Focus on the asset

Citriodiol/PMD: origin and mechanism of action

Citriodiol® is a trademark used for a botanical active ingredient rich in PMD. In European regulatory nomenclature, the expression «Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized» is used. It is neither citronella nor a simple lemon eucalyptus essential oil applied as is.

PMD repellent does not «kill» the mosquito: like DEET or icaridin, it disrupts the olfactory receptors that allow the mosquito to locate you—a masking effect, not a poison. The difference with a standalone essential oil has less to do with the word «natural» than with standardization: a regulated active ingredient is used at a defined concentration, in a formulation that must support its label claims. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association (Carroll & Loye) already concluded that a well-formulated PMD had an efficacy comparable to DEET.

Concrete example

The ARDESUN repellent stick

It is precisely the name «Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized» that appears on its label—information made public on its product sheet, which makes it possible to concretely verify what we are talking about rather than remaining abstract.

17,85 %PMD (m/m)

TP19biocide product

6 monthsminimum age indicated

View the full product sheet for the ARDESUN repellent stick

The essential nuanceThe real comparison to remember on a daily basis is not «PMD versus DEET,» but «standardized PMD versus raw essential oil» — that is where the gap is clear. Only caveat: for very high-risk destinations (malaria, dengue), the European evaluation schedule for PMD is not yet finalized, a matter of procedure rather than efficacy.

Simply put

The minimum vocabulary

BiocideRegulatory category of products that repel or eliminate an unwanted organism — here, the mosquito. Different from a cosmetic.

Marketing Authorization / MAThe official green light allowing the sale of a repellent with such a claim, for such an age, in such a country.

PMD (or OLE)The active molecule derived from lemon eucalyptus, once extracted and standardized. Different from a «raw» essential oil.

HCSP, OMS, CDCThe French, global, and American health authorities cited throughout this guide.

Priority precautions

Safety: pregnant woman, infant and young child

Rule No. 1: Read the label of the exact product. Age limits and conditions of use can never be deduced from the name of the active ingredient alone. Two PMD-based products may have different indications.

Pregnant or breastfeeding woman. The US CDC considers EPA-registered repellents to be safe and effective when used according to the label, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In France, choose a product whose authorization and label explicitly cover this use — this is the case for DESUN stick. For travel to a risk area, personalized medical or pharmaceutical advice remains preferable.

Infant under 6 months of age. The priority is physical protection: lightweight covering clothing, a suitable mosquito net, and housing protected by screens. Do not improvise the use of an essential oil or an unauthorized biocide for this age.

Baby or child from 6 months: a guideline not to be generalized. Certain products marketed in France, such as the ARDESUN stick, carry an indication starting from 6 months—a guideline specific to this product, its formula, and its dosage. Each country evaluates and labels its products according to its own criteria: do not transpose the indication of one product to another, even if based on the same active ingredient. The reliable reference remains the label of the purchased product, to be applied by an adult.

Application precautions in children

The application is made by an adult.

Never the child itself, especially for a young child.

Avoid the child's hands

They can affect the eyes or the mouth.

Avoid eyes, mouth, mucous membranes

As well as cuts, scratches, and irritated skin.

Just the right amount

Cover only the exposed areas, without excess.

User manual

How to properly apply a DEET-free repellent?

The application frequency does not follow a universal rule: it depends on the product, the active ingredient, the targeted mosquito, and the conditions of use. The right reflex is to reapply according to the label, without exceeding the maximum authorized frequency.

For a solid stick format, the precise gesture (amount, areas to target, mistakes to avoid) is detailed step by step in the ARDESUN guide: how to apply and properly use an anti-mosquito repellent stick.

The 6 reflexes

Prep the skin healthy and dry, with no cuts or sunburns.
Target exposed areas ankles, wrists, back of the neck, forearms.
Apply just enough product a thin, even layer is enough.
Protect the face with caution: never spray directly.
Renew if necessary : without exceeding the maximum authorized amount on the packaging
Clean up after application : hands and skin when it is no longer necessary.

Sunscreen and repellent: in what order?Apply sunscreen first in a generous layer, let the film stabilize, and then apply repellent to the necessary areas, using two separate products because they require different amounts and frequencies of reapplication.

The full details — actual wait time, swimming, face, children, frequent mistakes — are available in the dedicated guide: sunscreen and mosquito repellent, in which order to apply them?

Short answers

FAQ — DEET-free mosquito repellent

What is the best alternative to DEET?

For everyday life, the garden, or hiking, a well-formulated PMD is a serious alternative, pleasant to use, and of plant origin. For travel to very high-risk areas (malaria, dengue), your pharmacist will instead guide you towards DEET, IR3535, or picaridin.

What difference does the PMD concentration make?

A lot: An underdosed repellent provides poor protection, regardless of the active ingredient. The ARDESUN stick contains 17.85 % of PMD—a high concentration—in a formula designed to last for the duration of exposure.

Why choose a PMD repellent over DEET?

Because it is a plant-based active ingredient, well tolerated, with a mode of action close to DEET. In the 2026 test by 60 Millions de Consommateurs, the PMD-based product tested scored 15.2/20 — the highest score among plant-based options, far ahead of essential oils alone.

Is Citriodiol/PMD effective against mosquitoes?

Yes: it is an active ingredient validated by independent studies and used for over twenty years, with a mode of action similar to DEET. It has nothing to do with a standalone essential oil, whose effect is much shorter.

Is lemongrass essential oil enough?

No: its effect is volatile and variable. That is precisely the difference compared to a standardized and well-dosed PMD like the one in the ARDESUN stick.

Can a repellent be used on a baby from 6 months of age?

Yes, if the product label specifically allows it — this is the case for DESUN stick from 6 months of age. Do not generalize this indication to another product, even one containing the same active ingredient.

Which repellent should be used during pregnancy?

A product whose label explicitly covers this use — this is the case for the DESUN stick. For travel to a risk area, also seek medical or pharmaceutical advice.

Should you apply insect repellent before or after sunscreen?

Afterwards. Apply the sunscreen first, then the repellent once the layer is well spread — the details are explained in the guide sunscreen and insect repellent: in which order to apply them?

DEET-free, but just as effective

Well-formulated, a PMD like the one in the ARDESUN repellent stick holds its own in a serious comparison with synthetic active ingredients. For daily life, gardening, and hiking, it is the simplest choice to make.

Discover the ARDESUN repellent stick View the Complete Outdoor Kit

Sources & Precautions

Use biocidal products with caution. Before use, read the label and product information. This guide is for informational purposes and does not replace medical or pharmaceutical advice or official recommendations related to a destination.

External sources:
[1] HCSP — Health recommendations for travelers, 2025 edition
[2] Cespharm — Travel and Health: Recommendations
[3] 60 Millions de Consommateurs — Mosquito Repellent Tests, 2026 Investigation
[4] Carroll S. P. & Loye J. — « PMD, a registered botanical mosquito repellent with deet-like efficacy », J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. (published study, PubMed)
[5] WHO — Malaria, prevention
[6] Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products
[7] Citrefine — FAQ Citriodiol® (manufacturer source, to be distinguished from public sources)
[8] CDC — international recognition of PMD/OLE (historical reference, secondary)