I started using Coconut Matter deodorant over a year ago now and I love their products, so I was super excited when Diane, the founder of Coconut Matter introduced an insect repellent, called ECORepel. Coconut Matter have really great ethical credentials, aiming to produce the best performing products from natural, vegan ingredients, without testing on animals, and they are zero-waste too.
Why do we need Insect Repellent?
Bites from insects like mosquitoes, biting flies, deer flies, black flies and sand flies can cause a lot of discomfort and itching, and when we keep scratching, we can break our skin, which may cause open infection and potential long-term scarring.
When I lived in Zimbabwe, back in my early twenties, I was the favourite meal of the female mosquito – they loved me and still do! Even today I need to cover myself from head to toe before venturing outside on a summer’s day or if I am travelling around the globe – I swear they bite me on the bits I miss!
Zimbabwe is a land-locked country that shares borders with 4 other malaria-endemic countries, and malaria is prevalent throughout Zimbabwe, so it was always crucially important to ensure I was fully covered with repellent. Even so, I still managed to get malaria. According to a study in the Malaria Journal, in 2019 there were 186,556 deaths in Zimbabwe alone caused by malaria, and worldwide more than 400 000 people die of malaria each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), although other reports say they are responsible for 725,00 fatalities every year; the mosquito is associated with more deaths than any other animal on the planet.
Mosquito bites are caused by female mosquitoes feeding on our blood. Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying, as a biting mosquito fills itself with blood, it injects saliva into our skin, and our skin’s immune system responds by triggering inflammation in the bite area which quickly starts to itch.
Mosquito bites alone are responsible for spreading not just malaria, but also Zika virus, Yellow-fever, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, Filariasis, Chikungunya virus and others. If you include insects such as sandflies, tsetse flies, ticks, lice and fleas you can add; Lyme disease, Leishmaniasis, Sleeping-sickness, Chagas disease, Typhus and Plague!
Without insect repellent, there’s no limit to how many bites and stings you can get while you’re in different areas of the world. And whether you’re travelling for a year, going on holiday for a couple of weeks, or sitting in your back garden, repellents are essential.
Where are Mosquitoes Found?
Mosquitos live on every continent unfortunately, with Antarctica as the only exception. They tend to live closer to the equator in tropical climates like jungles and swamps in central and South America, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and are attracted to stagnant or standing water like ditches and puddles caused by rainfall. Mosquitos also breed in floodwater, woodland pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, brackish stagnant creeks, marshes and swamps, especially in the heat and are most active just before dawn and in the evenings as darkness sets in.
Viruses such as West Nile and Zika are transmitted almost exclusively through mosquitoes. What’s concerning is that due to climate change, studies indicate that the problem with malaria is predicted to continue and possibly even grow, as warmer global temperatures expand the habitats of mosquitos. A warming planet means more vector-borne diseases, and as the range and breeding season of mosquitoes expands, we are likely to see more cases globally; warmer temperatures also mean faster incubation times for the viruses and increases the frequency of “blood meals.”
beware of DEET – the so called “king” of mosquito repellents
You can imagine that whilst living in Zimbabwe my daily routine included a generous dose of insect repellent. Before venturing outside I’d spray myself all over, emerging coughing and spluttering from a cloud of DEET, or diethyl-meta-toluamide, before stepping outside ready for another biting onslaught. The insect repellent I used contained highly concentrated DEET – I knew little about it then, other than the more concentrated with DEET, the more effective, and to make matters worse it has a strong, really noxious, unpleasant smell and it feels greasy on the skin – yuk! What I know now is that according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, most cases of serious side effects caused by DEET involve long-term, heavy, frequent or whole-body application of the repellent. Bingo! That’s me!!
DEET is commonly known as the king of mosquito repellents, though not everyone is keen to slather it on their skin. It was originally developed by the US army for use during World War II and has been available to the public as an insect repellent since 1957. DEET has been proven to enter the bloodstream through topical application, and common side-effects range from redness, swelling, rashes and hives to uncontrollable twitching and muscle spasms. Other reports have shown that DEET can cause anaphylaxis, and in some cases even death. A study to determine the effects of DEET conducted in the late 1980s on Everglades National Park employees found that a quarter of the subjects in the study experienced negative health effects including rashes, skin irritation, numb or burning lips, nausea, headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating, which were attributed to exposure to DEET.
Why I love EcoRepel
Many conscious consumers, like myself, have been seeking DEET free insect repellent alternatives that don’t come packaged in plastic.
One of my personal aims in my sustainable journey was to avoid unnecessary contact with chemicals in my daily life by reducing my contact with plastic, so ECOrepel is a perfect choice, as it’s sustainably handmade with biodegradable ingredients and is packaged in plastic-free paper tubes which are rolled by hand using cardboard lined with food-grade wax paper on the inside.
“We want to make it easy for everyone to say “no plastic, please”. By closing the loop on how our products are made, packaged and delivered, we make for a better planet, and a better you”.
ECOrepel is eco-friendly inside and out
What I love about ECOrepel is that it is eco-friendly inside and out, and it smells fresh and citrusy with a subtle herbal tone. ECOrepel is vegan, cruelty-free and the core ingredient is fair trade, organic, virgin coconut oil that is cold pressed by hand, providing a livelihood, as well as improved well- being for rural Solomon Island communities.
Use of natural, sustainable ingredients that meet COSMOS-standards are Coconut Matter’s guiding principles, ensuring that the ingredients have no known harming effects on humans, so you won’t find and nasties in their products – no Aluminum, Baking Soda, Paraben, Silicone, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrance, or Alcohol.
As a non-profit international association, COSMOS has harmonised different certification guidelines in Europe to create a single, international standard for organic and natural cosmetics. It covers all aspects of the sourcing, manufacturing, marketing and control of cosmetic products.
The guiding principles of the COSMOS® referential are:
- to promote the use of products from organic farming and to respect biodiversity;
- to promote using natural resources responsibly while respecting the environment;
- to promote the use of clean manufacturing processes that respect human health and the environment;
- to promote the integration and development of the concept of “Green Chemistry”;
- to ensure transparency for all consumers.
Not only that, it actually works! I tested ECOrepel insect repellent whilst I was on holiday, and I spent a lot of time outdoors. It was easy to apply – just swipe it on. Although its core ingredient is coconut oil, it didn’t feel greasy on my skin and glided on easily; also, it’s a perfect travel-size and great for taking on holiday. I did follow the application guidelines and I also covered up at dusk, and for the first time I didn’t get attacked by mosquito’s as I have in the past.
Many insect repellents promise hours of protection, but the active ingredients’ ability to repel insects is affected by heat and humidity, and your activities after application, therefore Coconut Matter recommend that in warmer and high humidity climates, it should be reapplied throughout the day as often as every 4 hours – especially if outdoors
ECOrepel is a double-action insect repellent
ECOrepel is a double-action insect repellent too, as the PMD has an odour and chemical structure similar to menthol and provides a cooling feeling and the indigenous herb Dragon’s Blood also soothes inflammation and swelling from insect bites.
The active ingredient in ECOrepel is plant-based P-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which is found in small quantities in the essential oil from the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree, also known as citronella or Citriodiol®. PMD’s repellent effect was discovered in the 1960s by the industry, and today is recommended by entomologists and regulators around the world as a natural alternative to DEET, amid increasing concerns about the neurotoxicity and high dermal absorption seen in DEET. PMD is only found in small amounts in “young” oil, so the natural oil is extracted from the older leaves/twigs of the eucalyptus tree where the citronella oil is turned into PMD under mildly acidic conditions.
Coconut Matter uses high grade PMD rich botanic oil which is extracted from the Java citronella plant; it contains at least 75% of the naturally occurring constituent PMD and is registered under the EU Biocidal Products Directive (BPR) and is certified as a product of natural origin by ECOCERT. PMD has a lower vapour pressure and provides very high protection from a broad range of insect vectors over several hours.
“every swipe of our ECOrepel is a vote for the type of world we want to live in. You know you have not contributed to plastic waste in the landfills or in our oceans. It is the best insect repellent for camping and all outdoor activities”.
This July, to coincide with Plastic Free July Coconut Matter are offering 10% off the Summer Collection in their Plastic-Free July Sale. Free Shipping for orders over $65
How to prevent mosquito bites
- Use an insect repellent.
- Wear long sleeves, trousers, socks and shoes, if possible, as this can limit the area available for mosquitoes to bite. Mosquitos are drawn to foot odour like moths to a flame, so keep your socks and shoes on! Also baggy clothes are better, as mosquitos can actually bite through tight, skin-clinging clothing.
- Choose light-coloured clothing, as mosquitoes are attracted to black and darker colours. Dark clothing also traps heat, which also attracts mosquitos.
- Avoid peak mosquito times. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. If possible, avoid going outside at these times.
- Avoid outside exercise at peak mosquito times, as mosquitos are attracted to heat, carbon dioxide, and body odour. This means exercising outdoors in the summer is basically turning your body into a giant mosquito magnet, thanks to your increased body temperature, rate of breathing, and sweat. Go to the gym or workout indoors if you can instead, or at least avoid exercising outside at peak mosquito hours.
- Eliminate mosquito habitats.All it takes is a little standing water for mosquitos to lay their eggs, so make sure that you store buckets upside down and keep bins covered. Get rid of any standing water in things such as gutters, buckets and in the saucers underneath potted plants. Change water in wading pools or birdbaths frequently.
- Stave off mosquitos. There are several plants you can grow in your garden that will help stave off mosquitos. Lemon balm, lavender, and mint are all great mosquito repellents, but basil has extra mosquito-fighting power, as it is actually toxic to mosquito larvae. Inside the house use a fan as mosquitos are not particularly good at flying, and because they tend to fly at low levels, it should be a floor or table fan for maximum effectiveness. Turn it on, and mosquitos would rather give up and fly someplace else than try to battle the wind your fan is making.
- Keep mosquitoes out of your house.Don’t leave doors and windows open without screens in place. According to research published in Malaria Journal, burning sage in a room, is also a useful mosquito repellent, and burning thyme was found to be 85 to 90 percent effective at repelling mosquitos.