Off Active Insect Repellent

Author's Rating:

Pros: Works well enough

Cons: Greasy feeling

The Bottom Line: 
Off Active, made by Johnson and Johnson works well enough for me but more important, on my grand daughter who is usually the main course of mosquito's dinners.

Author's Review
I happened to notice that the Home Depot in my hometown has this product, Off Active Insect repellent made by Johnson and Johnson on clearance. I purchased a number of them at .40 each. I see that the product can still be purchased on-line at Amazon for about $5. I felt I got a bargain but wouldn't know for sure until I tried it.

Off Active Insect Repellent

The front label states that the product is Sweat Resistant; Pump Spray. It also states that it Repels Mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile Virus. That's important to me because the East coast, especially in the NY Long Island area, many people have been infected with the virus of which there is no cure. Lyme disease is another problem we have due to "skeeters".

The product has a 25% active ingredient of DEET. The way I understand it the more DEET, the more the protection. There are other products that have lots more like OFF! Deep Woods® Sportsmen Insect Repellent (pump-spray) that contains 98.11% DEET

The product does not name the kinds of insects it repels. The only one noted on this packaging are the mosquitoes. Other Off products like Offs aerosol with 15% DEET mentioned gnats, deer flies, sand flies, stable flies, black flies, chiggers, and fleas.

Our Experience

I placed a couple of these lightweight plastic bottles in the glove compartments of my cars and brought a couple into the house. I happen to like the large top on it. It protects the pump nozzle very well and snaps on and off with a deliberate snapping action. When it's on, it's on solidly.

We had a party at our home the other night. One of my grand children seem to be the main course of every mosquito in our back yard. After applying some of the Off Active insect relent, they no longer bothered her. I don't get bothered often. I'm also the type that is interested in watching a mosquito drill into my skin before I slap the critter. With the Off on i would notice a mosquito fly around me and start to land only to take right off again. Either the Off works well or the word is out that I'm not an easy free dinner.

The scent is OK. It actually has an alcoholic aroma to me. It does leave a greasy slime feel when on the hands. I have to wash it off because I don't like the feeling. The directions state hands should be washed after applying the repellent. It's also noted not to get the product in eyes.

I have never tested the "sweat resistance" of the product but that does seem to be a good feature.

Last Thoughts

The product was a bargain for me at .40 a 3oz plastic bottle. After using it I see I would pay full price for the product too.