Picaridin is usually the better choice

Picaridin is as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes and lasts just as long when you use the right concentration, but it doesn’t smell like a chemical factory or melt your sunglasses.

Both work. The CDC lists both as recommended. The difference is in the experience. DEET has been the gold standard for decades—it’s cheap, proven, and you can get 100% formulas that last all day. But it’s greasy, stinks, and eats synthetic fabrics. Picaridin (20