» What is it: La Fresh All Natural Biodegradable Insect Repellent Towelettes are travel wipes that contain peppermint, sesame, olive, castor and wheat germ oils and vitamin E. The best part: no DEET.

» How it works: The wipes come in small individual envelopes containing the oil formula. I found that there actually was enough oil to cover two people’s exposed areas.

» The good: It’s a natural bug repellent that works! This is the first time I have found such a thing. Thinking my experience was an aberration, I had two other people try it. Both had great results. In my case, I applied it and went out to mow the lawn just before dusk; that’s rush hour to mosquitoes. The only bites I got were through my shirt, where I had not applied the oil, for obvious reasons. I liked the smell, although my wife thought it was too powerful at first. The intensity subsided after a time, although the oil continued to repel. Another user said that the peppermint smell made her sneeze but that she far preferred that to using DEET. Beyond the bug repellent, La Fresh makes an array of travel wipes with such staples as deodorant, sunscreen, shaving gel and antibacterial.

» The bad: Any oil can leave a mark on fabric, so I would be careful to avoid getting it on clothing.

» Cost: $19.99 for 30 towelettes

» Available at: www.lafreshgroup.com

–Ross Werland, Chicago Tribune