Side by Side Comparison of: Eco Defense vs Thermacell

I cannot live without this. I put this on my toddler everyday. Either while she's splashing in her pond, running through the grass or relaxing at the pool, this is definitely a must have. I regrettably had went a couple of days without it and my toddler had aqcuired a few mosquito bites. I felt terrible! Needless to say, I am in love with how natural this product is and I find its smell to be quite pleasant. I'd say it's a charming lemon scent! Not overwhelming for me nor my toddler. She cannot go outdoors this summer or any other summer for that matter unless she has this on and her spf. A true life saver. Thank you very much, I am very pleased with my product and this purchase.

I have sensitivity problems with all mosquito repellents (with just about anything...soap, shampoo, conditioners, creams; you get it). When I purchase a mosquito repellent for people with sensitivities, I find they don't really work. HOWEVER, THIS ONE DOES!! We were swarmed this morning and the critters were clinging to my husband's and my clothes--but nothing touched either of our faces or hands (we were wearing the repellent). I usually get bitten several times on my face during our dog walks (which causes my eyes to swell for days) but--nothing this morning, and there were so many mosquitoes. I wiped some of the repellent around our dog's nose and eyes...just a tiny bit as I don't know how safe this is for dogs but the mosquitoes were after him too (his thick fur protects the rest of him). The dog wanted to lick the stuff off my hands--he didn't mind the smell (and I didn't let him lick). The smell is a bit funky but sort of flowery--but I know enough about repellents to know that smells have to be strong to confuse the mosquitoes.

Living in Florida you need good insect repellent. I thought I would try this based on the reviews and I wanted something natural.This product seems to work well, I have been using it for several months now and I haven't been bitten once.To use this product you must spray it on your hands first and rub it on your skin, I thought it was a normal spray type that you can use directly but you can't. It has a strong plant smell at first but goes away quickly and dries fast too.

I practice backyard astronomy in local parks in Florida. Needless to say we are normally a buffet for the mosquitoes. After using this bug spray I was one of the only members of our club not to get eaten alive. I was a little scared at first because you're still here all the buzzing of the insects but not a single bite by the time the night was over. The only real negative I can say about this bug spray is you smell like a lemon household cleaner but that is still much better than smelling like DEET. I will definitely be buying this again when I run out.

I was highly skeptical but based on reading the reviews and sitting here in Thailand I can tell you it works. I bought both the DDT slimy crap spray that was like coating myself in nasty oil. Sure it worked but I did not want to walk around Ko Samui for a week looking like a greased up moronic tourist. So I also bought a bottle of the Eco Defense. I put it on and yes it does have a weird scent but it dried quickly and has worked great since I started using it. The DDT bug spray is going in the garbage can. While it also worked I was grossed out by the sheer coat of oil from the spray. This stuff was much better and since the mosquitos are really bothersome at sunrise and sunset I put it on before I went out for breakfast and now before I head to the beach for a BBQ at dark. Enjoy

Absolutely LOVE this spray. It smells like roses. Which is so different than other repellents. I mean it makes me happy too. Hehe. Oh and it works well. I live in good old mosquito infested Florida with a dog that comes in and out with mosquitos. I have used tea tree oil Bc I can handle that scent and put it on before I go to bed...but it wears off after a while. This lasts longer and I'm not in survivor mode in the comforts of my home because I see those nasty little mosquitos flying by on a mission. My doggie loves to give me kisses and this hasn't had a negative reaction with him. I will be purchasing this over and over again

Worked perfect. We have a 16' x 36' deck and I purchased two of these Thermacell's for a party we had last evening. They worked as designed and kept the bugs away. While the lights aren't that bright to be used for say reading they provided enough light to be able to see the other people around the table. I ran the units for 5-1/2 hrs and still had half a bottle of the propane left in each Thermacell to allow me to use them another evening. I'll be storing these in our motorhome bays to pull out and use when camping to keep the bugs away as we sit outside in the evenings.

Purchased these to use with my tailgate party trailer. Already own several of these for patio use. These are perfect for repelling mosquitoes. Have used Thermacell products for years because they work.

I never thought I would be able to find something besides spray to keep mosquitoes away but this works fantastically! I live in Baltimore City and have a terrible time in our tiny backyard with mosquitoes. Every day I would go outside and end up with multiple bites. Now I just turn this on, wait about 10 minutes, and when I go back outside...no mosquitoes! Worth every penny. I can actually enjoy my backyard again! My husband was very skeptical and even he admits it works great. Highly recommend to keep mosquitoes away in a small area.

We gave this a good field test this summer several times including a continuous trip of 16 days camping in 4 states. I have to admit I was skeptical but this thing really works. We turn it on and set it on the picnic table (if the campsite had one) as we begin preparing dinner. After dinner we place it between our camp chairs for the remainder of the evening. We were not bothered by gnats or insects while the Thermacell was on and we were within 10 feet or so of it. Several times we would switch it off and watch the insects come right in. Turn it back on and you could watch them clear away. The relief from insects we experienced was DEFINITELY due to this device. We put it inside our ALiner pop up trailer for just a few minutes before bed to clear out any bugs that might have found their way in. That worked great. We never smelled any odor. You can sometimes see a small repellent mist rising from the unit but this was never a nuisance or a concern. It is also absolutely silent.There are 2 types of cartridges that will need periodic replacement. I was concerned about how long the cartridges would last but was pleasantly surprised. One repellent cartridge easily lasted 3 evenings of 4-6 hour actual usage. This seemed better than advertised. In 16 days we used the Thermacell 12 evenings. We changed the butane cartridge only twice. I thought this was pretty efficient. One set of batteries lasted longer our entire 16 day trip. Again, quite efficient. Great for camping and a small 15' trailer. I am not sure how this would work for a backyard barbecue where you need a larger area of coverage. Both cartridges are easy to replace. Once you get used to looking into the viewing window on the top of the device it is easy to see when the unit has been properly turned on and is functioning. It is very easy to see when either cartridge needs to be replaced. Overall this is a well thought out and very effective insect repellent. Lightweight, easy to use, completely unobtrusive and efficient. I would definitely purchase one of these again.

This item is FANTASTIC for getting rid of any and all bugs while you are outside. Great for parties when your guests want to spend time outside. You will not be disappointed.

I bought ThermaCell last summer and was satisfied with the results but it was the end of summer when I got to use it and I wasn't sure if the weather chased the bugs away or the lantern. This year I bought two more because I live in Staten Island which after dusk becomes mosquito Island. Today I turned one on and literally saw swarms of mosquitoes flying away. It was like a force field! I was so amazed at how the bugs just flew away. Even the moths and the gnats that hover over the lights disappeared. I highly recommend this item. I'm getting ready to have a cinema night in my yard. I am definitely using these ThermaCell items. My cinema night will now be enjoyable outside in my yard.

Works pretty good for not having Deet in it! :)

good

But can sting a little and has a strong smell. The most annoying thing is hearing people around you go "do you smell lemons?". To me, it's worth it to not get bitten by mosquitoes. But I've been told it smells like rotten lemons. It clearly works though.

Great for kids. Didn't mind the smell but it affected my husband's allergies. Worked really well as we were hiking and camping in black hills SD. Normally we get bitten but stayed bite free with this product for whole week+ long trip. Only complaint is that the spray comes out in a steady stream as opposed to a mist so you have to use your hands, more than I was expecting, to rub the spray in. I would recommend and would buy again.

Used it in Costa Rica. This product worked really well.

It's ok. This product works, no doubt about it, but I heard after a few months the mosquitoes will get used to the smell and will become ineffective, we'll see. This product is very expensive, and I received a tiny bottle.This product squirts a stream rather than a spray. It also has a very annoying chemical-like smell. And lastly, the liquid is very oily and feels icky. All these problems are non existent with the EcoSmart brand which I prefer, but don't know where to get.I know that chemical based sprays are superior but it may cause health problems, you have to find a trade off.

Works as far as I can tell. First took this to a picnic in mid-Aug when the mosquito are strong. We were out for 4+ hours and none of us were bitten!

I bought this prior to a camping trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a haven for pesky mosquitoes.. The thermocell seemed to keep them away well combined with the use of Off!. I only wish the pads lasted a little longer. The lantern is nice to have too.

I have used these before so I ordered another - they seem to work pretty well albeit so far, while camping this season, we were not inundated with mosquitoes due to erratic weather which kept them at bay. As the summer progresses, I'm sure we'll need these if an when we encounter mosquitoes.

Not as convenient to light and use as the model one step above..(has a an X look in front of the lantern.But works great... just harder to turn on and see that it is on.

Mosquitoes love me! I don't think I can garden without these lanterns. They do a great job of keeping the mosquitoes away. I leave them out for about 15 minutes before I head outside and my garden is practically mosquito free. I use two in my backyard and I can safely go outdoors again.But forget about using them as actual lanterns. They are not bright at all. They use a lot of batteries and doesn't light up much and I don't even put batteries in them anymore. Another negative is the cost of the refills butane and mats. But it's a small price to pay for itch free comfort.

I own two of these lanterns and the "personal appliance" version. I have used these products under extreme conditions in the wilds of northern Canada. They work better than any other repellant I have ever tried. My only complaints about this particular unit are that the light could be a bit brighter and I wish that the pads lasted longer. Each pad is truely effective for about 2-3 hours max. The Butane cartidges last a good amount of time. Also, the battery compartment lid is a little flimsy and could stand to be improved. But, as a bug repellant, this is an excellent product.

The bug spray works pretty well. However, I can't stand the spray nozzle on it! It only comes out in one big stream, not a misty spray. So basically you have to spray it on your hands and wipe it on your body.

The product was good, but the spray came out in a thin stream rather than a wide spray which made it drip and harder to get covered without rubbing it in.

Being a spray I expected not to have to rub it and get repellent on my hands every time I applied it. Works well though.

This product works well for its intended purpose. However, one thing that bothered me is, it was not factory sealed upon arrival. It simply came in a ziplock bag.

Brought it because of an upcoming trip to Costa Rica. Product did not work as well as anticipated. The best defense are long sleeves and long pants. What I did like was that it was all natural. While offering some protection, it is not stop the mosquitoes from biting.

Had a problem with it coming out of the sprayer in a mist. Even after cleaning the sprayer it came out in a single solid spray. Had to return.

Little bit hard to use

Not that impressed especially for the price. We used it camping and I didn't notice much of an improvement outside. It did seem to do a better job inside the camper.

So far it hasn't kept off a single mosquito.

Not as bright as reviews may lead to believe but effective.

I gave it 3 stars it doesn't last long, after just one usage, well i had it on from 6pm to about 3 am and it was done.

I am a little disappointed in the construction and results of these products. They are very flimsy and I would not recommend just throwing them in your camping equipment bag as they may not be in one piece when you pull them out. have the individual thermaCELL clip-on for hunting and it works just fine. However these were on, and we had mosquitoes biting us within 3-5 feet of the lanterns. I even put one under the bench we were sitting in and still got bit. They advertise 15 feet, but not sure what is going on as I have several thermaCELL products and they work just fine. I do not understand why they are not working, as the concept is the same as the individual clip-on versions. Maybe the mosquitoes are just that bad here in Florida this year after all the rain.

Have to reapply ever 30 minutes and smells horribly and doesnt repell well.

I really wanted to like this product but it did not perform well at all. We all got bitten which did not happen with any other (natural, deet-free, organic) bug spray we have used. It was very disappointing. Also, the smell was not for me either. Sorry!

Used it just once, and my son was indoor, so I dont know if it repells mosquitoes. What I do know is that it has a very strong oddor. Personally too much for me.

This worked against mosquitoes, noseeums, and chiggers, but it did not repel ticks. It also attracted a type of biting fly they have in the salt marshes here. This was fine for our camp site, but I was unable to do any hiking on nature trails.

My friend and I both had a reaction to it

I'm so irritated. I bought this repellent because of all the reviews. I guess it works differently for me. I still get plenty of bug bites even though I reapply every few hours. I am so disappointed. The product is difficult to spread throughout clothing. I thought it was the bottle but the product is so thick that it only shoots a straight line. This review is for the product only. Shipping was very fast.

I am not impressed. First time using the shield. It was running for at least an hour. It was only a few feet away on the patio table and I look down to see three mosquitoes on my leg. I do like the light tho.

very small, not very productive, wouldn't purchase again.

I don't think it work as good as they say it would.

Barely kept the bugs away and the refills do not last anywhere near as long as they say they will. Wish I could return for my hard earned money back.

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE ROUND LANTERN. I've owned the square lanterns and they work great and last a very long time. Decided to buy the less expensive round lantern and wish I hadn't. First, it doesn't heat up as much as the square one and is therefore less effective. Secondly, you can look inside the square one to insure it is lit--not so on the round one. Buy the square one.

doesn't work if there is wind, I took it camping and it was slightly windy, it turned on, but it didn't get hot enough to cook the little blue square. Mine might have been defective, but I could barely tell it was on at all. the light is pretty dim, but that was fine for me.

Do not buy this product. It doesn't work at all. My daughter was full of mosquito bites even after liberally applying this. It has a very strong scent. would give this 0 stars if possible.

My husband used this on his legs and arms and had horrible red splotches everywhere he used it. It looked like he had a chemical burn. Buyer beware because he doesn't even have sensitive skin and this happened.

Does not repel mosquitos at all. I had over 40 bites during a 3 day period of wearing this. I loved that it was biodegradable but if it doesn't work there is no point!

So sticky and it doesn't work. I spray it on 1 hand and the other hand is used Repel with Deet. I got bitten on the hand with this product. I bought a bottle for my friend and she got bitten.

Got allergy because of its odor. Prefer taking mosquito bites instead. Not at all happy.

We bought this product based on all of the positive reviews. It does not work. I would not recommend this product.

I've had the two I purchased for over two months now and STILL am not convinced they really work. I live in South Florida and use them on my screened in pool patio. Guests complain a lot, despite them. They blow through the butane batteries in lightning speeds. The filters need to be changed a lot more than the manufacturer details indicates. The light is a purely decorative "glow." Don't expect it to actually light the area. I don't recommend buying them.

Item does NOT work as advertised! Product states 15ft x 15ft protection zone. I took several videos of my patio at night before and after use. There is little to no affect on the bugs. You would need to sit with this lamp directly next to you to notice any kind of difference. You are better off getting one of those bug candles from Wal-Mart or buying one of those bug zapper rackets. Want my money back.

Didn't work for me. I had it on and had the smoke coming out, but still had flys all over me.Also had it sitting right next to me.Waste of money

Out of warranty, second season, now it will not light. Defect in spring to keep butane lit. Repair suggestion on U-tube. I could not repair it. Frustration is I have refill and butane that are useless. Product works, but consider it disposable. I am now looking for alternative.

Did not keep away any mosquitos

I had high hopes for this since many in my family seem to attract mosquitos, however, it seems it was not made to use at higher altitudes of 7000 feet (it would NOT stay lit). I think my hubby threw it away since he got tired of trying to get it to work. I even ordered the refills. VERY disappointed!!!