Experts issue warning to UK holidaymakers over mosquito repellents – with one only working for three minutes

British holidaymakers are being warned not to buy certain “trendy, alternative” mosquito repellents this summer after a consumer watchdog revealed some fail to provide protection in under three minutes.

Which? It tested 12 products and found that two products marketed as environmentally friendly and gentle on sensitive skin provided minimal protection against bites.

One such product, Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, claimed up to 300 hours of protection on its “bold” packaging, but volunteers wearing them were bitten within three minutes during trials.

The product was one of the most expensive repellents tested by Which? It costs £19.99 for 12 bands.

Similarly, Meadows Organic Citronella Spray, £6 for 100ml, which contains unrefined natural oils such as citronella, lemongrass and peppermint, “provides little defense against blood-sucking insects, causing subjects to be exposed and bitten almost immediately”. Which one? reported.

The tests involved volunteers sticking their arms into a cage full of mosquitoes to see how long they could be exposed before being bitten.

Asda’s own brand Extra Strength Insect Repellent spray, priced at £4 for a 125ml bottle, provided full protection for an “impressive” nine-and-a-half hours. Which one? To create.

The watchdog said it found several other top-performing products, successfully keeping volunteers completely bite-free throughout the entire 9.5-hour test, although none were as cheap as the Asda product.

Products containing DEET were all “extremely effective”, including Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent (£7.20), Boots Repel Maximum DEET and PMD Aerosol (£9.10), Pyramid Trek 50 (£9.50) and Lifesystems Expedition Max DEET Mosquito Repellent (£9.00).

But testers found application wasn’t always smooth and some odors were offensive.

Although DEET is extremely effective, the chemical also has disadvantages such as acting as a strong solvent that can dissolve plastics and synthetic fabrics, carrying a strong odor, and irritating some sensitive skin.

But Which? The products found did not need to be this harsh to be effective. Its volunteers found that Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65), which contains 20% Picaridin, kept mosquitoes away for nine and a half hours in tests.

Stealth Insect Repellent Pump Spray (£13.99), which uses plant-derived PMD rather than synthetic chemicals, protected volunteers for nine hours and is safe for babies from six months old.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services said: “Whether you’re heading abroad or simply enjoying your own garden this summer, avoiding nature’s bloodthirsty creatures shouldn’t break the bank.

“Our tests reveal that some expensive, trendy repellents can be a complete waste of money, providing protection for less than three minutes. More importantly, you don’t have to pay a premium to stay safe; a £4 supermarket spray beats flashy brands when it comes to providing hours of reliable protection.”