Holidaymakers have been warned against using "trendy" mosquito repellents in favour of proven products on the market.
Consumer watchdog Which? tested 12 mosquito repellents and found that some of the most fashionable options offered less than three minutes of protection, despite bold claims.
Among the worst performers was the Pestects Mosquito Repellent Bracelet, which costs £19.99 for 12 bands and promises up to 300 hours of protection.
The product failed to work in under three minutes in testing.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: "Some pricy, fashionable repellents can be a complete waste of money, offering less than three minutes of protection.
"Crucially, you don’t need to pay a premium to stay safe – a £4 supermarket spray beats the flashy brands to deliver hours of reliable protection."
Another poor performer was the Meadows Organic Citronella Spray, costing £6 for 100ml.
The spray uses natural oils like citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint, but was found to leave users "exposed and bitten almost instantly."
A standard test involved volunteers placing their arms into a cage of mosquitoes to measure how long each product protected them from bites.
Which mosquito repellents performed the best?
In contrast, Asda’s Extra Strength Insect Repellent spray, priced at just £4 for 125ml, provided nine-and-a-half hours of complete protection.
Several other products containing DEET also offered strong performance, including Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent (£7.20), Boots Repel Maximum DEET & PMD Aerosol (£9.10), Pyramid Trek 50 (£9.50), and Lifesystems Expedition Max DEET Mosquito Repellent (£9).
While effective, DEET can melt plastics and synthetic materials, carries a strong odour, and may irritate sensitive skin.
The tests also found that non-DEET products could be just as reliable.
Autan Insect Repellent (£5.65), which contains 20% Picaridin, delivered the same nine-and-a-half hours of protection.
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Incognito Insect Repellent Pump-Spray (£13.99), which relies on plant-derived PMD, protected users for nine hours.
It is also safe for babies as young as six months old.
Hitchins added: "Whether you’re heading abroad or just enjoying your own garden this summer, avoiding nature’s most blood-thirsty critters shouldn’t break the bank."
Have you bought any of these mosquito repellents, and what did you find the most effective? Let us know in the comments.
