Top 5 Best Gnat Repellents To Buy (**2020 Review**)

Short on time?  Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide just below:

We're all familiar with the constant swatting we have to do during the summer to get gnats away from our faces...

Gnats are small, non-biting insects that become a common nuisance during the summer months.

Although they aren't interested in people, they like to live in homes, especially if there are fruit or plants inside.

While gnats play an important role in aquatic ecosystems, they are a pain in the home and to you. 

Most gnats don't bite, although they might try to reproduce using your potted plants or fruit left on the counter to ripen.

They also have a tendency to land on people or swarm to reproduce, which means you might be overwhelmed by gnats when you walk into your yard.

Thankfully, scientists have developed some repellent sprays to keep them away from you and your family.

Want to find the best gnat repellent? Read on...

What To Look For In A Repellent?

Many gnat repellents are similar, but they have some major differences when it comes to ingredients, cost, and staying power.

• Watch out for folks who claim to have "natural" repellents
  Several makers of “natural” insect repellents usually contain essential plant oils like cedar or citronella. They claim that their products fend off insects, but it's only really true for products that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Don't buy products based on chemical or concentration
  Many repellents contain similar active ingredients, but not all work the same. Some inactive ingredients in repellents and the concentration of multiple ingredients in these products can create great differences in their effectiveness and possible adverse reactions to them.
• Don't use combination sunscreen-insect repellent products
  These aren't a good choice, mainly because sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and bug repellents don't need to be over applied. Over-exposure to the active ingredients in repellents can be harmful to your health. 

Remember to choose an option that suits your needs and budgets, and don't be afraid to experiment to find the right one. 

What's In A Gnat Repellent?

Most gnat repellents use permethrins.

Permethrins are a pesticide made from the extracts of chrysanthemum flowers.

Permethrins target gnats and eliminate them by affecting the nervous system. Recently, more and more companies have started to produce repellents that use all natural products.

These ingredients are safer for people, usually non-toxic, and often have a more pleasant scent. However, they do tend to be more expensive. The ultimate goal is to choose a composition you are comfortable with.

Traditional Pesticides

Permethrins are the traditional ingredient in gnat repellents. Permethrins can be used around humans and pets, but users like yourself need to be careful.

Cats are sensitive to permethrins, and so are small dogs. If ingested, they can make humans sick or cause irritation, but they pass through the body quickly.

Despite these side effects, permethrins are one of the most studied and effective ingredients to repel gnats. These are considered the most common ingredient in a repellent, and they tend to last longer than natural ingredients.

Another common product is diethyltoluamide, which has over 60 years of research to support its ability to repel gnats and mosquitoes.

Natural Ingredients

Most natural ingredients in gnat repellents are ingredients you've already heard of, like eucalyptus extract in the form of essential oils.

These natural ingredients tend to be made without chemicals, preservatives, and parabens. Repellents that use these ingredients are more expensive, but also smell more natural and some can even be used on pets.

But fewer studies have been conducted about these repellents, so they might not be as effective as regular pesticides. 

How Long Does Gnat Repellent Last?

Not all gnat repellents are the same.

Depending on the composition, a gnat repellent could last for four hours or ten hours. These differences are usually a result of the mix and chemical composition of ingredients used.

Those "inactive" ingredients manufacturers put into the repellent have a significant effect on the staying power.

Ingredients

If you choose a spray which uses more traditional ingredients like permethrins, then the spray tends to last longer.

Some of these sprays can also be used on equipment like backpacks and provide all-day protection if you're the hiking type. More natural ingredients like essential oils last a shorter length of time and can also be used on equipment for gnat protection, but need to be reapplied frequently throughout the day. On the plus side, they tend to smell of ingredients like lemon or eucalyptus.

Woo hoo!

How Much Does Gnat Repellent Cost?

Traditional chemical based gnat repellents are usually more affordable where natural "green" repellents  tend to be more expensive. Regardless of what you pick, grabbing a couple repellent bottles typically won't break the bank.

Check out what we've found to be great options below!

Gnat Products We Reviewed

In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.​