A review of Incognito Insect Repellent - what insects and bugs does it protect you from, what are the active ingredients in it and does it work!
Also find out how to prevent mosquito bites and what you can do to stop them itching.
Incognito products were purchased by The Happy Sage. This article contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
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Incognito insect repellent review - tested in Borneo!
It's that time of year again. The one when you open the bedroom window at night to get some air and are instantly invaded by a host of biting winged things.
This year seems to be a bumper year for the blood-sucking tick too. They are literally everywhere. No sooner does the dog put his head in some grass and he'll come up with a few on his head and I am constantly flicking them off both of us. Time to break out my secret weapon - Incognito Insect Repellent!
Deet free mosquito spray
There are many insect repellents on the market but I am not comfortable using anything with DEET or Picaridin in. Although both DEET and Picaridin have been passed as safe to use there are still concerns around severe skin reactions and neurotoxicity. Both chemicals are also unsafe for dogs so I don't want to be spraying it about or have my dog come into contact with it accidentally by licking me. I want a more natural insect repellent and Incognito products do not contain DEET or Picaridin.
What insects does Incognito protect you from?
Incognito insect repellent products give protection from a whole range of biting and stinging insects including:
mosquitos - there are 33 species in the UK!
midges
ticks
sandflies
horseflies
land leeches
blackflies
it is also effective against headlice and bedbugs
How does Incognito insect repellent work?
Main stream insect repellents tend to interfere with the mosquito's antennae and mouth parts which it uses to detect you with, and so repel them. The special blend in Incognito works by camouflaging the wearer from insects.
Incognito products have been developed to 'hide' the wearer from being detected by insects. Insects are attracted to us by our kairomones. These are chemical substances that we give off from our bodies, things like carbon dioxide and lactic acid. We give off a lot more kairomones when we are active and a female mosquito can detect your kairomones from 1 kilometre away!
Incognito uses a very special selection of essential oils which are blended in a secret process. Clinical trials have shown the specially blended repellent lasts longer than the same product made without the unique process.
The spray repellent has also been clinically tested to give good protection for up to 7 hours (100% protection against Aedes aegypti - Zika and Dengue carrying mosquitoes for 4.5 hours) although you would need to re-apply if you sweat a lot, swim or shower.
There is a theory that some people manufacture their own bodily chemicals that mask the odours that attract insects which leads them to being bitten less.
Incognito insect repellent - ingredients
The main component is a PMD rich botanical oil. PMD is a chemical component and the one that Incognito use is extracted from a rare citronella plant that is only found on one tiny island in the whole world. Unlike the more popular version of citronella, mosquitoes have not had much exposure to this type and it seems to be extremely effective against them and other biting insects.
Other essential oils are also used in the blend such as palmarosa, camphor and bergamot and the product smells good (unlike some others I have tried).
How do you use Incognito insect repellent?
Apply after sunscreen.
For the spray version just shake the bottle and spray about 15cm away from the body on skin or clothing. If using on the skin spray in bursts about 3cm apart and massage into the skin. Make sure to cover any prominent veins that are on show too. I have used it on pale clothing and have never had a staining problem, but you may want to try a patch test first.
The roll-on version literally rolls on like a deodorant. and the bottle is small enough to take with you in a pocket or bag and is less likely to leak under rough travel conditions.
Mosquitos suffer from quite poor eyesight but have really good receptors for sensing the difference between light and dark and there is a theory that this is why people with pale skin suffer the worst from mosquito bites
Best mosquito repellent UK
I live in a valley with quite a bit of water around me so there are frequently a lot of mosquitos about. I have not found any other insect repellent that is as effective as Incognito at protecting me against mosquito bites.
Best insect repellent for kids
Without doubt Incognito insect repellents have to be the best option for kids as not only do they work brilliantly, they don't contain DEET or Picaridin.
Insect repellent for babies
Incognito insect repellents are suitable for use on babies over the age of 6 months and it also comes in a lotion format or a sunscreen format with SPF30 too. For babies apply to clothing and or sparingly to exposed skin such as nape of neck or pulse points and pat skin gently.
Incognito insect repellent review
Whilst I test everything I write about, these two products really got tested - in the jungle in Borneo!
The place was alive with biting insects. My husband and I used the Incognito spray and roll-on all the time (we did not use anything else) and it was absolutely amazing. Even more so as my husband is very pale skinned and normally suffers really badly with insect bites, but survived what he thought would be a living nightmare unscathed! I can thoroughly recommend this product for use in tropical destinations.
I use Incognito insect repellent products in the UK too. For avoiding tick bites I use the roll-on version on my ankles and up my shins under my trousers (I live in a rural area and have had ticks get under long trousers and socks) and I use the spray as well when I am going out in the woods to stop me getting bitten.
I've also bought the Incognito Incense Sticks to try outside in the evening when I am having a glass of wine!
Seriously, what's not to love about Incognito insect repellent products! A 100% natural product that really works to protect you from being bitten. It also has other benefits such as:
it's non greasy
no DEET or Picaridin
GMO, paraben and detergent free
contains plant based PMD obtained directly from essential oil
cruelty free and Vegan Society recommended
certified Soil Association COSMOS natural
approved by NHS and the World Health Organisation
recommended by Public Health England for high risk mosquito areas
great for tropical destinations, outdoor sports, camping and festivals
uses environmentally friendly sugarcane plastic packaging
How to stop mosquito bites
As well as using Incognito insect repellent you can boost your protection against insect bites further by avoiding:
Anything scented. This means scented shampoo, shower gels, body sprays, deodorants and perfume. Most products such as this have a scent that attracts insects.
Heavily fragranced washing detergent and fabric conditioner - these can also attract insects.
You can also add to your 'cloak of invisibility' by using some other Incognito insect repellent products to help disguise your kairomones such as:
Incognito 3 in 1 sunscreen, insect repellent and moisturiser. SPF30 and suitable for use from 6 months +.
Incognito hair and body wash which contains the rare organic Java citronella, neem, tea tree and bergamot.
Incognito luxury Java citronella soap with coconut oil.
Incognito natural deodorant. This is an alum based deodorant with citronella oil.
Incognito Incense Sticks with lemongrass. Each stick burns for about an hour and twenty minutes and can be used inside and out.
If you suffer badly with insect bites, avoid heavily perfumed products and clothes and disguise your scent with some Incognito insect repellent products - you should be able to stay bite free!
How to stop mosquito bites from itching
Just rub the bites with a few drops of chamomile essential oil. You can use chamomile roman (anthemis nobilis) or chamomile blue (matricaria recutia). This stops itching almost instantly and you can re-apply every few hours of the itching is really bad. Once the bite has stopped itching switch to lavender oil to help the bite heal. I recommend Neal's Yard essential oils, but any good quality essential oil supplier will do and an organic essential oil is preferable although not essential.
If you have been bitten over a large area you can also mix some chamomile essential oil with some organic aloe vera gel (available at Holland and Barrett and other online stores) and apply the gel to the bites.
mosquito bite gel - use 20ml gel with 5 drops chamomile and 3 drops lavender or 40ml gel with 8 drops chamomile and 7 drops lavender. Patch test on sensitive skin first.
Chamomile and lavender essential oils and aloe vera gel (great for sunburn) are great to have as part of a mini first aid kit if you are travelling.
Incognito insect repellent products are available from many shops and online stores, including Big Green Smile and Holland and Barrett.
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