Insect repellent

So what do you fine people recommend? A search on the subject is not finding very much. My wife is a mosquito magnet and we do t wish for any distractions for the week we are there. We were thinking 100% Deet, but that stuff is NASTY!
Any suggestions to what works?
Thank you
Mac

The 23 percent Off is the tried and true. The spray goes on evenly without much fuss. I am a mosquito magnet also and I treat clothes with pymetherin and it works but is another chemical application.

I've tried all the other remedies but always go back to Off.

Hint: Avoid dawn (easy to do) and dusk (not so easy). Apply the OFF just before you go out and a quick shower when you get home.

If you are staying in Z or I the risk is minimal even for chikungunya but the outlying areas are the trouble spots.

I recently stayed five weeks in La Barra and spent from late morning until late evening at the enramadas. Used OFF spareingly and only got six bites and nil no seeums.

Locally available: Autan, in both spray and lotion. Enjoy your stay!

Locally available: Autan, in both spray and lotion. Enjoy your stay!

That's all I ever use when I need to mosquito-proof myself. Also works for jejenes (no-see-ums), which tear me up worse than mosquitos at dawn and dusk on the beaches. I am also a mosquito magnet.

There are three R.E.I.'s in SanDiego...they carry a product called Jungle Juice.......best bug repellant in the world. Basically DEET but not offensive.

Thanks you guys. Looks like Auten is the winner. Sounds like an addition the the Commercial Mexicana shopping list!

Hint: Avoid dawn (easy to do) and dusk (not so easy). Apply the OFF just before you go out and a quick shower when you get home.

Well, that would be tough to avoid the mornings! Hopefully we can pull ourselves out of bed to do some morning shots.
(Photos, not the other stuff )

Any ideas as to where I can buy Autun lotion? They used to have it at the Comer but haven't in a few years, only OFF.
Gracias

Any ideas as to where I can buy Autun lotion? They used to have it at the Comer but haven't in a few years, only OFF.
Gracias

Not sure where I got mine. It lasts me for years. Try Farmapronto or really any of the small locally owned convenience stores.

There are three R.E.I.'s in SanDiego...they carry a product called Jungle Juice.......best bug repellant in the world. Basically DEET but not offensive.

REI? Omg, we own so much stock in that company it ain't funny, haha.
Good to know though, thanks. Sounds like you are from SD?

Our <problem> is flying the Mexican air system and totally carry on. Adhering to you know, the 3oz liquid rule and etc etc etc...
That's why I will make a trip to Cmmcl MXN to pick stuff like Razors, shave gel, repellent, or anything we can't take on the carry on bag and kill someone with, on Z plane....

Thank God my wife has her OWN shopping list

Locally available: Autan, in both spray and lotion. Enjoy your stay!

That's all I ever use when I need to mosquito-proof myself. Also works for jejenes (no-see-ums), which tear me up worse than mosquitos at dawn and dusk on the beaches. I am also a mosquito magnet.

Rob perhaps you could share where you are buying the Autan because we have not found any in Zihuatanejo for the last 2+ years. It is not at FarmaPronto, Koyuca, Similares, Comercial Mex etc.

Any ideas as to where I can buy Autun lotion? They used to have it at the Comer but haven't in a few years, only OFF.
Gracias

Iit you do Amazon, they sell it in liquid or stick form (like deodorant) , expensive however.

Rob perhaps you could share where you are buying the Autan because we have not found any in Zihuatanejo for the last 2+ years. It is not at FarmaPronto, Koyuca, Similares, Comercial Mex etc.

It's at almost every small locally owned convenience store, and I suspect it's at some of the stores you mentioned, too, but I rarely ever go to the big box stores. I prefer doing business with my friends and neighbors. Locals carry it because they know it works.

Autan doesn't work at all for me.

I suggest you buy Autan and OFF.

Great point Old Man!

Just for your info Jungle Juice comes in a 2.5 oz. bottle. The stuff is absolutely the best there is. Is used by National Geographic filed teams all over the world, also, hikers, trekkers, hunters,fisherman and anyone not wanting to be bitten or stung.

After applying wash the palms of your hands off with a "wet nap", just so you don't get it in your eyes.

The higher the percentage of DEET does not give you better protection. It just protects you for a longer period of time. Off, with 7% DEET covers you for around 3 hours, while a product with 25% DEET will give you protection for around 8 hours. Of course, it must be re-applied after swimming, getting caught in the rain etc..

I believe that OFF bought out Autun. This spring all I could find was OFF which contained Autun. Worked effectrively!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we really like Off Deep Woods Towlettes. They come in individual foil packets. They are easy to pack. No questions at security. You have them immediately when you arrive. No need to shop. One Towlettes works for two (or more) people. Easy to carry a few wherever you go. Much neater and more pleasant to use than sprays or liquid. Cost is pretty modest. And they work.

Beto calls them
Salzanadores para zancudos y jejenes

My kid laughs when somone smears it on and 8 hours later looks like a pincushion.

Rio Chuta I slathered on Autan. A human oil slick. A tabano came in for a landing on my knee slid sideways an inch or two then CHOMP right through the shiny oil coating.

¡Basta Ya!

Next trip to gringolandia went to Wal-Mart and bought 100% DEET. One single solitary DROP in the palms and rub rub rub all over exposed skin. No drop #2 just one drop.

For crisis conditions when jejenes hatch after high waves leave puddles on the beach PENNYROYAL OIL atop the DEET stops them, pulgas y garropatas cold. One single droplet of Pennyroyal Oil used exactly the same way as 100% DEET.

Friends and neighbors (Mexicanos) beg to buy this stuff from me when I return. Some of them are also mosquito antojitos. Never heard of Jungle Juice sounds interesting. But DEET and pennyroyal oil means zero picas. Amparo told me last spring ot was the first Mayo in her life she had no bites. Not even at the enramadas at dusk after a major jejene hatch. It seems some people can apply ditch water and not get bit - I wish I was that lucky.

But tell Brenda or Andrea they're nut - they only need Autan and you stand a good chance of getting bonked over the head with a 2kg sarten. Both own enramadas.

If you don't need 100% DEET or pennyroyal oil don't use either.

Hi,
I am too a magnet for mosquitoes. This past summer in ZIH/IX was the first one I had barely any in our whole month staying there. the only thing I changed from previous visits is that I started taking a multi-vitamin (Flintstones Complete, of all things, just to not buy a different one than the kids were recommended to take) about a month before going and while in Ixtapa continued with the Flinstones plus Benerva (B1 supplement, made by Bayer OTC at every pharmacy in Mexico and readily available). Of course, I used OFF when going out at dusk and used Citronella candles when sitting outside at night. I had done only the Benerva a month before and was still bit A LOT, so needless to say I am sticking with my Flintsones for the foreseeable future.

Here's the label, in case you want to check it out: http://labeling.bayercare.com/omr/online/flintstones-sour-gummies.pdf

Worth a try if you are still a mont away...

Good luck!
BL

Bodega

So the neighbors sneer. It's the bugs I'm concerned about.

I also have had problems finding Autan the last couple of years, both at Bodega Aurrera and Comercial Mexicana. (Autan always worked for me, even at Playa Larga, which has the most voracious jejenes around, in a 10 meter-wide strip of beach between the palapas and the surf.)

Comercial Mexicana also has spray cans of H24, with 20% DEET. It works fine too. I find OFF a rip-off, pricewise, and no better than H24.

I'm bringing down a half dozen Walmart pump sprays, (30% DEET) and their spray repellent, (25% DEET). Someone mentioned Perethrin and I've done a bit of I'net research. It looks promising, but the variety sold here in Canada is only 0.2% (I think - apparently Health Canada has some concerns), while a 0.5% is available in the US, so.....we'll stop at Walmart USA on the way down.

I get a sense mexwanderer is playing in some kind of contest, that his repellent is better than my repellent. Whatever works for him or his neighbors is of course fine. Locally we've always used Autan with 100% satisfaction for decades. Whether it's no longer available I don't know. It's been several years since I've bought any since I use it very sparingly. I don't believe in blathering on repellent. If I need that much repellent I simply dress for the occasion. Why poison myself or the environment? I also prefer to use what's available locally, though foreigners are of course welcome to bring whatever works for them. But to say one laughs at what someone else finds useful doesn't seem like a very helpful answer to the original question. Just my opinion.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we really like Off Deep Woods Towlettes. They come in individual foil packets. They are easy to pack. No questions at security. You have them immediately when you arrive. No need to shop. One Towlettes works for two (or more) people. Easy to carry a few wherever you go. Much neater and more pleasant to use than sprays or liquid. Cost is pretty modest. And they work.

Maybe worth a try. I will do some research into that.

The active ingredient in Autan is icaridin. Here is a bit about it. Supposedly as effective as DEET under some circumstances, without the drawbacks. I have noticed though, that a few Autan products do actually contain DEET.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaridin

I believe that OFF bought out Autun. This spring all I could find was OFF which contained Autun. Worked effectively!

Both Autan and Off brands are owned by the SC Johnson Company (Johnson's Wax). I suppose they could combine formulas in any way they chose.

We start taking concentrated garlic soft gels a few days before we arrive in mosquito areas, our first being Mazatlan on the trip down. They really help. Sunset we do spray if it gets bad, but otherwise, nothing, thanks to the garlic.
There are "deodorized" versions out there, and they seem to work just as well as the stinky ones.

Two years ago I started taking an assortment of vitamins, that is much more than I had done in the past. I have noticed that mosquitos are not as fond of me any more. I am not sure that is the reason, but it is fact.

Sorry. No contest. It's my OPINION that the weakest least offensive chemical that will do the job is the best choice. People are different. But unlike some, when locals speak, I listen. I tried white cream OFF and an hour later renamed it, "ON." Once when I had forgotten to bring bug repellent in Patzcuaro I purchased a bottle of Autan in a farmacia. Cost was = to seven dollars USA. At midnight I was glistening wet with Autan and covered with bites.

So when someone says confidently "Don't bother! Excellent repellents can be had here" I have to give pause.

If those "excellent repellents" tun out to be woefully inadequate, you are SCREWED PAL. Because you can go to Mexico, Zapopan, or Monterrey and not find one single thing stronger. Zancudo y jejene bites have RUINED many a vacation and misplaced advice was the cause.

Bringing down more-potent repellents is one of the nicest gifts you can give nice Mexicanos. Even though DEET lasts longer I personally prefer pennyroyal oil because it is natural.

Ever have DENGUE mister webmaster? It is not fun. It hurts and it makes a person feel like they have a bad case of the flu combined with a thermonuclear hangover. Sitting beside a 5-year old granddaughter with Dengue is worse. City folk do not experience uncontrolled Dengue outbreaks. You live in a different world.

So yeah, sorry but I'm a little touchy about casually offered information that has consequences.

"If you believe you are particularly susceptible to mosquito and bug bites or are elderly or in frail health it may be wise to check with your personal physician to determine if a DEET product exceeding 30% concentration may be appropriate for you - in which case bringing enough DEET with you for your stay would be wise"

Sorry. No contest. It's my OPINION that the weakest least offensive chemical that will do the job is the best choice. People are different. But unlike some, when locals speak, I listen. I tried white cream OFF and an hour later renamed it, "ON." Once when I had forgotten to bring bug repellent in Patzcuaro I purchased a bottle of Autan in a farmacia. Cost was = to seven dollars USA. At midnight I was glistening wet with Autan and covered with bites.

So when someone says confidently "Don't bother! Excellent repellents can be had here" I have to give pause.

If those "excellent repellents" tun out to be woefully inadequate, you are SCREWED PAL. Because you can go to Mexico, Zapopan, or Monterrey and not find one single thing stronger. Zancudo y jejene bites have RUINED many a vacation and misplaced advice was the cause.

Bringing down more-potent repellents is one of the nicest gifts you can give nice Mexicanos. Even though DEET lasts longer I personally prefer pennyroyal oil because it is natural.

Ever have DENGUE mister webmaster? It is not fun. It hurts and it makes a person feel like they have a bad case of the flu combined with a thermonuclear hangover. Sitting beside a 5-year old granddaughter with Dengue is worse. City folk do not experience uncontrolled Dengue outbreaks. You live in a different world.

So yeah, sorry but I'm a little touchy about casually offered information that has consequences.

Well, since I just got here like everyone I hang out with you must be right. Like many of my family and friends, I've only had dengue once or twice, maybe three times. And of course my only experience with Autan besides using it myself is only a few hundred locals and a few hundred tourists and several dozen restaurants and lodgings from Papanoa to Las Saladitas. But you're on a roll and I certainly wouldn't want my casual information to interfere with your authentic rural expertise. Yee haw, bubbaroo! ¡Ajúaaaa!

Yes Fran, I've heard that as well. Another that works, as we were told by a Mexican American friend is Bounce dryer sheets! We tie them in the windows & if it's bad when we sit out @ night, rub them on our clothes! Works wonders, & also folders have done it for years!! Only Bounce works though!

Damn auto correct!! Should be golfers!! Not folders!

My comments were meant to help. Not grind on the ego of the webmaster. You can Not entertain the same strain of Dengue twice. As a grizzled EMT 2 I know enough about Dengue to say your chances of advancing to hemorrhagic Dengue go squared if a successive strain infects. Please check with the IMSS about this. Your ego is getting in the way of common sense I'm afraid.

Mark Twain Quipped it Best...

Yeah, that's it. Just me and my ego. But of course not yours. Oh no.

I always love it when folks who don't know me tell me about myself. It's like I wasn't even there.

https://youtu.be/z5hFxhr-1QA

Well, I appreciate all the input. I decided to go the natural way and am settling with this:
I hope this works!

If it doesn't work, I guess I'm off th the market. Probably no better off now that the virus -carrying flyboys are here in CA now