DEET
What It Is
DEET is the common name for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (CAS 134-62-3), a synthetic compound developed in the mid-twentieth century as an insect repellent. It is an oily, largely colorless liquid used as the active ingredient in many repellent sprays, lotions, and wipes. On U.S. product labels it is regulated as a pesticide active ingredient rather than a cosmetic.
Common Uses
DEET's primary use is as a personal insect repellent applied to skin and clothing to deter mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects. It is sold in a range of concentrations, from single digits up to around 100 percent, with higher concentrations generally providing longer protection rather than stronger repellency. It is not used as a cleaning ingredient.
How It Works
DEET works mainly by interfering with the way insects detect the cues that lead them to people, such as certain odors and carbon dioxide, making a treated surface less attractive to land on and bite. Protection time scales roughly with concentration up to a point, after which added strength gives diminishing returns. Because it is a solvent for some plastics and synthetic fabrics, DEET can damage certain materials on contact. It is applied topically and is not designed to be ingested or used on household surfaces.
Safety and Regulation
In the United States, DEET is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, which completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision in 1998 concluding that normal use does not present a health concern to the general population. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists DEET among the EPA-registered repellents it recommends for preventing mosquito- and tick-borne disease, including for pregnant people and for children older than two months, when used according to label directions. Products carry EPA registration numbers and use instructions. As with any registered pesticide, following the label is central to its regulated use.
Why Natural Flower Power Does Not Use It
We make cleaning products, and we do not use DEET in anything we formulate. We include this entry because it is one of the ingredients people ask about most in adjacent categories, and a neutral reference is more useful than silence. Our own products rely on plant-derived surfactants rather than pesticide active ingredients.
Related Ingredients
DEET sits outside the cleaning category; for how preservation and surfactants work in cleaning products, see benzisothiazolinone and the plant-derived surfactants guide.
Sources
- U.S. EPA. "Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED): DEET." 1998.
- U.S. EPA. "DEET." pesticide registration information.
- U.S. CDC. "Preventing Mosquito Bites" and insect-repellent guidance.
- PubChem, National Library of Medicine (NIH). "DEET," CAS 134-62-3.
