From skin to air: The evolution of HCO as a plant-derived repellent

Entomol’s Hydrogenated Catmint Oil active ingredient is not only an effective insect repellent on skin – it also works in the air to keep insects away from you. Research sponsored by Entomol at a highly-respected testing company (https://www.carroll-loye.com/) has shown that when mosquitoes are confronted by a fine mist of our repellent, they choose to go another way.

We tested our repellent at very low concentration using a simple essential oil diffuser to generate a mist inside one of two rooms. Both rooms contained a BG Sentinel mosquito attracting trap. The mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus, a species that can carry ) were released into an antechamber which offered them a choice between the two rooms. Vaporizing our ingredient from a solution of 0.1% in water resulted in the bugs overwhelmingly choosing not to enter the protected room, with over 80% repellency!

Given the favorable inhalation safety profile of Entomol’s Hydrogenated Catmint Oil, we are actively pursuing the development of a spatial repellent product using this highly effective active ingredient.