Arriving with the first warm weather, the mosquitoes are already starting to make life difficult for us again. To survive these insects all summer, the French invest in different repellents: sticks, diffusers, home remedies, sprays… But it’s not always easy to know which one to choose. To help us, 60 million consumers carried out an effectiveness test of the different mosquito repellent sprays available on the market. According to the magazine of the National Consumer Institute (INC), the ideal repellent must be easy to apply, non-toxic for animals and the environment and repel mosquitoes for as long as possible. At the end of their test, a ranking was carried out and one spray in particular stood out for its results. It would protect for 11 hours.
The team compared 15 skin-based mosquito repellents representative of the diversity of biocides marketed in France. The products included both synthetic and natural active ingredients. Their ranking was published in the July-August 2024 issue. A WHO-validated test was used, consisting of measuring the time before a mosquito lands on the arm inserted in a cage after application of the different products. The duration of effectiveness was compared to that indicated on the product. The toxicity of the active ingredient was also assessed. The test tells us in particular that, under laboratory conditions, certain mosquito repellents for temperate zones are more lastingly effective than mosquito repellents for tropical zones – whereas one might think the opposite. The test confirms the effectiveness of products based on IR3535 and DEET, synthetic molecules. Products containing these molecules have the best duration of protection. But this active ingredient is not everything: “In our test between two products based on IR3535 concentrated at 20%, one protects a little more than 11 hours while the other only protects 8.5 hours. The difference is probably hidden in the rest of the formula, but it is protected by industrial secrecy.”
Ultimately, the best mosquito repellent spray in the ranking is the Five out of Five-Spray Family© with a score of 16.8/20 according to the criteria of 60 million consumers. Composed of an active substance of synthetic origin, it protects against both the common mosquito and the tiger mosquito for a duration of 11h05 and costs €6.95 for 100ml. In second position, we find the Moustifluid-Spray high protection high risk areas© with a score of 16.4/20 for protection of 10h20. In third place on the podium, the spray Mousti KO-Anti-mosquito lotion for high-risk areas© wins a score of 15.5/20 and protection of 9h40. 60 million consumers recalls that to improve protection against mosquitoes, it is also necessary to wear loose and covering clothing, put up mosquito nets, use fans or even air conditioners.