Making human flesh unappetizing to mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas is an age-old preoccupation.  The earliest insect repellents included smoke, mud, and various plant substances.  Our contemporary contribution is DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), a powerful insecticide found in over 400 commercial repellents.  DEET can peel paint, damage rayon and spandex, and melt plastic.  A large percentage of DEET applied to the skin or inhaled enters the bloodstream, and reactions to it include skin rashes, lethargy, muscle spasms, nausea, and irritability.  Children are especially sensitive due to their larger skin area in relation to their body weight.

In order to ward off mosquito bites as the number of denge fever cases is on the increase in Singapore, many families have turned to a daily usage of DEET based  repellents.  A constant exposure to such product is not advisable. Natural alternatives to DEET, made primarily from plant essential oils, can protect you in less threatening circumstances.  Although these natural products might not be as effective or lasting as DEET, they do provide good protection, in a natural way.