It’s summertime which, for many of us, means it’s time to break out the bug spray.
Depending on where you live and how much time you spend outdoors, you may go through a lot of repellent over the course of the summer. For people with sensitive skin, pets, young children, or a general aversion to chemicals, finding an effective yet natural way to keep bugs away is important!
That’s why we’ve tried and tested the Greenerways Organic Bug Repellent, to bring you the most comprehensive and unbiased review of this product out there.
It’s 100% natural and organic, it contains ingredients known to repel insects. But does it work as well as the chemical-based sprays?
Greenerways Organic Bug Repellent: the basics
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray is a 100% natural and organic repellent spray for personal protection against biting bugs. This travel-friendly spray is produced in the USA and is free from parabens, phthalates, and GMOs.
This insect repellent can keep mosquitoes, ticks, and more off your skin, without the use of DEET or any other harsh chemicals.
Possible precautions
The all-natural composition of Greenerways Bug Repellent makes this product completely safe to use around kids, pregnant people, and animals. In fact, some users even claim to have successfully used the spray to keep ticks and flies off their dog!
This product is hypoallergenic. However, some reviewers with sensitive skin have reported a burning sensation after applying the spray.
Value for money
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray is priced similarly to other bug sprays. As with all-natural repellents, it must be applied more frequently than the DEET-containing varieties, so the bottle will run out more quickly. However, this is the price you pay for not exposing yourself to harsh chemicals and, as most people only need bug spray for evening protection, this isn’t necessarily a problem.
How long the bottle lasts you will depend on how often you need to reapply the spray, and if you need all-day coverage or just evening protection. It also depends on what you intend to use the product for.
Greenerways spray is safe to use on fabrics and can be applied to hiking, fishing, and hunting gear, as well as skin – but you will, of course, need to use more if you plan on spraying your outdoor apparel.
Packaging and materials
The product is packaged in a white plastic bottle with a green cap and nozzle and a blue label. The label clearly carries the name and purpose of the product on the front of the packaging, and the ingredients and directions for use are listed on the back.
The product comes in 12oz, 4oz or travel-sized 2oz bottles. The spray is dispensed using a pump nozzle, but how well this works seems to vary quite a bit. We had no issue with the sprayer, but other customers have reported clogging and leakages, which can make the product more difficult to use.
The spray
The Greenerways Organic Bug Spray contains organic citronella oil, organic lemongrass oil, organic cedar oil, and GWO soap water. The spray is clear and colorless, and won’t stain fabric or furnishings.
The spray has a citrusy fragrance that, although strong, is fresh and pleasant – which is just as well, because it lingers on the skin for a long time after application. There is no need to rinse off the spray after applying, and it doesn’t feel oily or greasy on the skin.
Safety
This product contains no harsh chemicals, and shouldn’t cause any skin irritation. However, it does contain natural oils that can cause itching and burning sensations in people with sensitive skin. If in doubt, perform a patch test on the inside of your wrist before applying the spray to large areas of your skin!
You should avoid contact with your eyes and mouth when applying the spray and, for this reason, young children may need to be supervised when using the product. It can be applied to the face, but it’s best to spray a small amount of the product into your hands before gently applying it with your fingers.
While it’s true that some citrus fruit oils are phototoxic (meaning they can cause sunburn-like irritation when exposed to sunlight) Greenerways Organic Bug Spray won’t have this effect. Its citrusy smell comes from lemongrass and citronella, both of which are extracted from grasses rather than fruits. Both oils are safe to apply to the skin in any weather conditions and, for most people, won’t cause any kind of irritation.
First aid
- What should you do if the spray causes an itching or burning sensation? If the product causes an itching or burning sensation on your skin, wash the product off with clean water and soap. This should be enough to stop the sensation but, if the irritation persists, consult a doctor.
- What should you do if you get the product in your eyes? Greenerways bug spray can cause irritation if it gets in your eyes. If this happens, flush the affected eye(s) thoroughly with water. If you wear contact lenses, remove them and flush some more. If the irritation persists after rinsing, consult a doctor.
- What should you do if the product gets in your mouth? If you get the spray in your mouth, rinse out your mouth with clean water. You are unlikely to suffer any ill effects but, if you start to feel unwell, consult a doctor.
- What should you do if you accidentally inhale the product? If you inhale the bug spray, move to a well-ventilated area. You shouldn’t suffer any ill-effects as a result but, if you experience respiratory problems, contact a doctor for advice.
Storage and disposal
To maintain the efficacy of the product, store the bottle in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight, and use it within the expiration date. The bottle cannot be refilled, so dispose of or recycle it when empty in accordance with your local guidelines.
How does Greenerways Organic Bug Spray work?
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray contains a cocktail of natural yet potent insect-repelling oils – citronella, lemongrass, and cedarwood – that are scientifically proven to keep bugs away.
Cedar oil is widely used as an insect repellent around the world. While lemongrass has been found to effectively repel both mosquitoes and house flies.
Citronella also repels insects and is thought to work by masking your natural scent, which is very attractive to biting bugs.
Together, these three active ingredients repel all mosquitoes (including the Yellow Fever mosquito, Aedes Aegyptii), ticks, flies, chiggers, sand flies, gnats, and house flies.
It can also kill over 55 different types of insects, including mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, and mites. However, it only kills these bugs on contact – when applied to your skin and clothes, it will simply repel the bugs.
How to use Greenerways Organic Insect Repellent for the best results
How to apply the spray
- To use Greenerways Organic DEET-Free Bug Repellent, first shake the bottle well.
- Next, remove the cap and direct the nozzle towards your skin at a distance of at least 6 inches.
- Apply the spray liberally and evenly to exposed skin.
- You don’t have to rub it in, but smoothing over the product with your hands can help to ensure more even coverage.
If you want to use the product on your face, first spray a little into your hands and use your fingers to apply, taking care to avoid your mouth and eyes.
For added protection, you can also apply the spray to your clothes, as it won’t stain fabric or furnishings.
You can use the spray throughout the day (every 3-4 hours) or as needed. The spray nozzle does the job well enough but can make it tricky to apply the product to hard-to-reach areas.
Where to apply the spray
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray can bee applied to your skin, your clothes, and patio furniture. It won’t stain fabrics or furnishings, so it can be applied to any surface including hiking, hunting, and fishing gear.
How long does the product last?
You should apply the product to any exposed skin before going outdoors or into areas where there are likely to be bugs. Greenerways Organic Bug Spray needs to be reapplied every 3-4 hours, or after swimming for full protection. The product is sweat-resistant to some extent but will need to be reapplied after very heavy sweating.
How effective is the product?
The most important question regarding any type of bug spray is always: how effective is it?
As with other all-natural repellent sprays, the results seem to vary from person to person. Personally, we saw a big reduction in mosquito bites when using the spray. However, other buyers haven’t reported such great results, and some even seem to think the product attracts mosquitoes. Though the spray may not work as well for some people as it does for others, it’s very unlikely to tempt more mosquitoes to bite you – it isn’t seasoning!
For the spray to work, you have to use it liberally and often. Apply a generous amount, make sure your coverage is even, and top it up every 3-4 hours to keep biting bugs away.
When compared to chemical products, natural sprays just don’t measure up in terms of effectiveness. Though they may work well for some people, they don’t provide the same impenetrable bug-barrier that DEET does, and they need to be re-applied far more frequently.
However, this may be a small price to pay for people who want to avoid the odor (and potential health implications) of using chemical products.
Other tips for use
As we mentioned earlier, the Greenerways Organic Insect Repellent has a potent scent. The citrusy-smell isn’t unpleasant, but it is strong, and not everyone’s a fan.
The scent also hangs around on the skin for quite some time after application, and we found it didn’t disappear completely until after a shower. Fortunately, it washes off the body easily with soap and water but if the smell of citronella generally bothers you, you might need to shop around for an alternative.
If the smell bothers you, it may be a good idea to use the spray outdoors, as it can linger on furnishings and fabrics if used inside. The scent of the spray also clings to clothes after application, but can also be washed out.
Some people who have used the repellent have also mentioned problems with using the pump. If the spray doesn’t dispense immediately, try pressing the pump a few times to get the product moving through the internal tubes.
GREENERWAYS ORGANIC BUG REPELLENT
If you're on the lookout for a good yet natural bug spray that will keep you protected from mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and other annoying insects then Greenerways Organic Insect Repellent is definitely one to try. It's DEET-free and non-toxic yet will keep the bugs away for up to 4 hours. Just spray it on your skin, clothing, or gear and enjoy your time outdoors!
Conclusion
The demand for natural bug repellent products is growing, but finding an effective DEET-free spray can still be a challenge. Greenerways Organic Natural Bug Spray is formulated with a trifactor of insect-repelling essential oils and can keep mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and other insects off you for up to 4 hours.
The strong, citrusy smell of the product may divide opinion, but its safety around children and pets is a definite bonus. We found it effectively kept insects away throughout a long, balmy evening outdoors, but other users dispute its effectiveness. Our verdict?
Greenerways is well worth a try if you need an evening mosquito repellent but, if you’re traveling to a tropical area, you may need something stronger to keep those bugs off you.
Frequently asked questions
The Greenerways Organic Bug Spray contains organic citronella oil, organic lemongrass oil, organic cedar oil and GWO soap water.
Yes, the Greenerways Organic Bug Spray is 100% natural and safe to use around children and pets.
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray contains citronella oil, lemongrass oil and cedar oil, all of which have been scientifically proven to repel insects. For many people, the product works really well, but you may need something more potent (and, dare we say it, chemical-y) if you’re traveling to a tropical region.
Greenerways Organic Bug Spray should be reapplied every 3-4 hours.
2 Comments
Bill Paulsworth
Does it keep green headed flies away. Like the ones in Atlantic City New Jersey?
InsectCop
The label doesn’t mention them specifically, but the product likely does help in this case as well.