New Bug Repellent

[+Luvmy4boyz]

Hi Everyone, I have a question regarding an ad I saw in a magazine. Here's what it said:

Buzz Away Extreme

repels mosquitoes, black flies, gnats and TICKS.

DEET-FREE, all natural and works up to 4 hours.

Family friendly, in spray and towelettes for easy application

America's favorite antural Repellent

(made by Quantum Health)

 

So, has anyone heard of this? Tried it? Does it really work? Thanks!

[M.TEX]

nope...BUT I know that the bugs don't like DEET. and I use with the

Most % I can find.

M.TEX

[+Chrysalides]

DEET attacks plastics. Just be careful with your equipment if you use DEET.

 

I find picaridin to be a much gentler alternative. It's effective against mosquitoes. I haven't tried them against ticks.

 

I don't know how effective is Buzz Away Extreme - but I don't have very good experience with "natural products" for repelling insects.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Chrysalides

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

You saw this in a paid advertisement? Jeepers, I cannot believe it, and in a magazine too boot!

 

EDIT: Sorry, I had to say that. In truth if it is so great, why is it stuck inside of a magazine? I think the only natural thing that mosquitoes don't like are temps less than 20°F.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Gitchee-Gummee

[+briansnat]

If it has DEET or Picidarin in it then it's probably fine.

 

I noticed one of their claims was that ""Buzz away is the most effective natural repellent tested" Tested against Avon's Skin So Soft, Bite Block and others."

 

A great claim but tests of Skin So Soft show that id doesn't work, so being more effective than Skin So Soft means little. Can't find references to Bite Block on the web.

[+TreeSqueezers]

Adding to the OP's line of inquiry.

 

Has anyone tried any of those wearable repellers?

[+Chrysalides]

You saw this in a paid advertisement? Jeepers, I cannot believe it, and in a magazine too boot!

 

EDIT: Sorry, I had to say that. In truth if it is so great, why is it stuck inside of a magazine? I think the only natural thing that mosquitoes don't like are temps less than 20°F.

So, your point being that anything being advertised in a magazine is automatically worthless junk?

 

Someone I know swears by a natural remedy to his mosquito problem. He kept a few toads in his back porch. Swore he's never been bitten by mosquitoes when he's sitting outside. I'm rather skeptical, to put it mildly.

[+Chrysalides]

Has anyone tried any of those wearable repellers?

If it's one of those high pitched electronic thingies, just say no. They seem to be pretty effective at keeping teenagers away though.

[+Intemperance Society]

I'll back up Briansnat that 'Skin So Soft' is marginally worse than spraying yourself with water.

 

We had it in our pack on our last trek and concluded that we were spraying ourselves with whatever blackflies might consider butter.

 

Never heard of the product mentioned... but as it's tick season, I'll stick with DEET.

 

However, I encourage you to try it and post the results... it'll save us the research!

[+Prime Suspect]

nope...BUT I know that the bugs don't like DEET. and I use with the

Most % I can find.

M.TEX

Studies have shown that DEET's effectiveness maxes out at around 50%. If you're paying extra for anything higher, you're throwing money away.

[+DragonsWest]

Whenever I've remembered I use the standard Cutter repellent. Seems a small amount does a good job.

[knowschad]

I don't know who paid for this study, or what other bias it may have, but this site has some interesting "facts" for those that are interested:

http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/buzz_awa...DA_testing.html

 

 

 

edit: HTML tables don't play well here

Edited May 24, 2010 by knowschad

[+t4e]

supposedly University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada conducted a research on it, Quantum Health makes the claim and everyone else is using the same article, however i can't find any official research papers on the University's site

 

http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/buzz_awa...evaluation.html

 

at this point i am a little skeptical about this product and the claims of its effectiveness

 

the research suggests anyway that its as effective as a low DEET concentration product, which in my books is not too effective

[+The Ravens]

Permethrin my friends.. permethrin impregnated clothing. I swear by it. I buy the Army issue stuff (50%) not the Sawyers (0.4%). The US Army stuff is supposed to last the lifetime of the article of clothing not 6 washings like the Sawyers. I haven't seen a tick, chigger, or mosquito on or near me this year so far.

[+The Ravens]

My bad.. the stuff I buy is 40% permethrin and the Sawyers is 0.5%

[+wimseyguy]

I don't know who paid for this study, or what other bias it may have, but this site has some interesting "facts" for those that are interested:

http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/buzz_awa...DA_testing.html

 

edit: HTML tables don't play well here

 

With a whopping sample group of 5, or maybe 3 I have to wonder just how solid any data coming out of that group can be.

 

Each repellent was tested once on two of the subjects (three women and two men) using a completely randomized design. Two of the female subjects withdrew before tests were completed

[+Vater_Araignee]

1oz 98% deet + 2oz citronella oil.

Apply to bandanna for hair.

Around any spot a tick can crawl into clothing.

And sensitive spots, forehead, neck, inner arms and back of hands.

 

The electronic repellents only bug me, the kids and my cat.

 

The bracelet and necklace repellents are worth as much a a dollar store flea coller on a turkish angora. The bugs would live under them if they could.