Coconut oil better than DEET, chemical insect repellents: USDA

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, coconut oil has been identified to repel and protect against insects like mosquitoes, ticks and bed bugs. In the past, DEET has been used as an effective chemical repellent against insects. However, several health concerns have been raised regarding the use of synthetic repellents. New research shows that fatty acids from coconut oil provided protection for as long as 4 days in comparison to DEET.