Whether you’re planning a lengthy camping trip or hike, or you just want to sit on your deck as the sun sets without getting eaten alive by bugs, you’ve landed in the right place for all-natural, safe, DEET-free insect repellent.

DEET, which is actually a pesticide, has been shown to cause eye and skin irritation, so we skipped it as an ingredient in the insect repellents we tested. Instead, we’ve found safer alternatives, ones that are made from natural ingredients that insects don’t like. Essential oils and certain types of incense produce scents that deter insects, helping to keep you from getting bitten. Some of our favorites come from Woodlot, and we’d use them even if we weren’t trying to scare away bugs because they smell so good!

Whether you’re planning a lengthy camping trip or hike, or you just want to sit on your deck as the sun sets without getting eaten alive by bugs, you’ve landed in the right place for all-natural, safe, DEET-free insect repellent.