7 Best Bug Sprays to Help You Enjoy the Outdoors Bite-Free

Hate the feeling of sticky bug spray? This portable Thermacell device creates a 15-foot zone of mosquito protection—no sprays, no scents, no DEET on your skin. Just turn it on, wait 15 minutes, and enjoy bite-free hangouts on the patio, by the pool, or wherever you’re kicking back outside.

Made with Picaridin, this family-friendly spray offers powerful mosquito protection without the strong smell or greasy feel. It goes on smooth, dries quickly, and won’t leave your skin sticky‚ so your crew enjoy the outdoors without constant swatting.

Skip the sprays—these DEET-free mosquito bracelets are made with natural oils like citronella and lemongrass and are safe for the whole family (yes, even pets!). They're stretchy, adjustable, and waterproof, so you can wear them hiking, swimming, or just hanging in the backyard. Each one lasts over 250 hours and comes individually wrapped to stay fresh between uses.

These water-based wipes are a non-bulky alternative to personal bug sprays. Since you rub them directly to the skin, they’re super precise—not to mention, easier to apply on the kiddos. You'll still get the same long-lasting protection (up to eight hours) from mosquitoes, ticks, flies, fleas, chiggers, and other insects, but without any unpleasant odors or sticky and greasy residues. It's a good bang for your buck as well, since they come as two packs of 12 individually wrapped wipes that you can easily transport wherever you go.

If you plan to spend a lot of time in your yard these next few months, you'll be so thankful for this spray. It uses cedar oil to repel and kill pests like mosquitoes, fleas, ants, ticks (and more) while also preventing insects in the egg, larvae, and pupae stages from developing further and hatching—and it's not harmful to beneficial insects. The eco-friendly formula is safe around kids and pets so you can spray it on lawns, gardens, playgrounds, patios, dog parks, and other outdoor spaces with no dry time required. Apply it with a hose end sprayer, trigger sprayer or even compression and pressure applicators.

Sometimes keeping all those little pests away is as simple as lighting a candle—especially this candle. It's made with real citronella oil which works by masking the scents that attract insects. So, just set this 23-ounce triple-wick candle in an outdoor area and watch as it repels mosquitoes and other flying insects by creating a repellent barrier for up to 50 hours. You'll get best results within 3 feet, but can burn several candles to maximize the perimeter protection. Just make sure to place the candles at least 18 inches apart and keep them out of reach of children or pets.

Some bug sprays can have an unpleasant smell, but this best selling pick from Sawyer’s sure doesn’t! Instead, it has a light citrus scent that rapidly fades away while the picaridin-based formula works to keep mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, chiggers, fleas, and biting flies at bay for up to 12 hours. It's safe for use on the whole family and won't even feel icky thanks to its quick-drying, non-greasy protection. It won't damage plastic or synthetic coatings either, so after you spray it on yourself, you can also use it on clothing, backpacks, watches, sunglasses, fishing gear and more.