20% DEET (50g / 150g / 350g)
80% DEET (75g)
40% DEET (60g / 130g / 255g)
80% DEET (75g)
20% DEET (50g / 150g / 350g)
80% DEET (75g)
40% DEET (60g / 130g / 255g)
80% DEET (75g)
All Bushman repellent products contain DEET (Except for Bushman Naturals)
We use DEET, not because we have to, but because it has been proven over 70 years to be the most effective and safest active available.
ABOVE: A poster from WWII urging soldiers to use repellent
RIGHT:BELOW:
A bottle of insect repellent from 1959 containing DEET.
A demonstration of how long DEET based repellents have been available to the consumer.
DEET occasionally suffers from an unfounded reputation regarding safety.
In reality there are very few other products that can claim the same efficacy and historical safety as DEET.
ABOVE: The molecular structure of N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide
DEET was historically believed to work by blocking insect olfcatory receptors for 1-octen-3-ol, a volatile substance that is contained in human sweat and breath.
The prevailing theory was that DEET effectively "blinds" the insect's senses so that the biting/feeding instinct is not triggered by humans or other animals which produce these chemicals.
However, more recent evidence shows that DEET serves as a true repellent in that mosquitoes intensely dislike the smell of the chemical.
A type of olfactory receptor neuron in special antennal sensilla of mosquitoes that is activated by DEET, has been identified.
DEET is also used in the production of certain paints, plastics and synthetic fibres. As DEET is an oil, when the item containing DEET comes into contact with the DEET on the wearers skin it can 'react' and damage / discolour the certain finishes.
That's why we have a warning on all our packaging advising to avoid contact with cell phones, spectacle frames, painted surfaces, synthetic fabrics and vinyl plastics.
The higher the active concentration (DEET%), the longer the protection time.
Theoretically all concentration levels should be equally effective at repelling, just for different lengths of time.
Bushman products contain either 20%, 40% or 80% DEET.
In our experience we found that products with less than 20% DEET don't offer adequate or long enough protection to be reliable.
7 HOURS PROTECTION
Products containing 20% DEET
> Bushman Roll-On
> Bushman 'Plus' Pump Spray
> Bushman 'Plus' Aerosol Range
12-15 HOURS PROTECTION
Products containing 80% DEET
Prior to a 2014 review the US EPA stated that DEET was safe for use for anyone over 6 months of age. In 2014, during a review, the EPA stated that . . .
"There also are no data showing incidents that would lead EPA to believe there is a need to restrict the use of DEET"
We advise that Bushman is applied to children over 3 years of age. This is just in case the child gets product in their eyes, for example, and is unable to convey the issue to their parents or guardian.
> Link to EPA report HERE
 |
 |
 |
|
Delivery |
Roll On |
Lotion |
Naturals |
|---|---|---|---|
Size |
65g |
175ml |
145ml |
Active % |
20% DEET |
20% DEET |
20% Citriodiol |
Protection time |
7 Hours |
7 Hours |
7 Hours |
Sunscreen |
|||
Annoying fly repellent |
|||
Biting fly repellent |
 |
 |
 |
|
Delivery |
Pump Spray |
Aerosol |
DryGel |
|---|---|---|---|
Size |
100ml |
50g / 150g / 350g |
75g |
Active % |
20% DEET |
20% DEET |
80% DEET |
Protection time |
7 Hours |
7 Hours |
12 Hours |
Sunscreen |
|||
Annoying fly repellent |
|||
Biting fly repellent |
 |
 |
|
Delivery |
Aerosol |
DryGel |
|---|---|---|
Size |
60g / 130g / 225g |
75g |
Active % |
40% DEET |
80% DEET |
Protection time |
8 Hours |
15 Hours |
Sunscreen |
||
Annoying fly repellent |
||
Biting fly repellent |
The higher the DEET%, the longer the
protection time.
Theoretically the effectiveness of a 20%
DEET product is the same as an 80% DEET
product, just not for as long.
Be wary of sub-20% DEET products.
Depending on the other ingredients in the
formulation, the protection time could be
short.
DEET has been proven, over 60 years of
use, to be a highly safe and effective
repellent against mosquitoes and other
biting insects.
Recommendations and advice to get the best
performance from your Bushman
Understand its history and see recommendations
from governments and health organisations
Members of the Ceratopogonidae family are
better known as sandflies, noseeums,
no-see-ums, nicnics, midge, black flies and
black gnats, amongst others.
Unlike the mosquito, that uses a proboscis,
the above have biting, piercing and sucking
mouthparts to 'gnaw' their way to blood.
Of all the insects that bite humans these are
probably the most widespread and definitely
one of the most irritating.
ABOVE: The entire Bushman range is effective at
repelling biting insects, such as Sandflies
As all Bushman products use the active
DEET (Except for Bushman Naturals) all are equally effective at repelling the
Ceratopogonidae family, just for different
durations of time - with the possibility of the
DryGel products being ever so slightly better,
due to their thicker composition.
It's more important to ensure that you have
applied Bushman to all exposed areas of
skin - focus on areas such as your ankles,
back of legs and neck (easy places to miss
and very appealing to them) - and apply in
advanced; don't wait until you suspect you
being bitten, as often, you can't tell.
Certain flies, most commonly bush flies and
blow flies, land on your face and generally
pester you because the female of
the species wants your saliva, mucus and tears;
it's how she gets her protein.
She needs it to breed and this is why she is
so persistent and so 'in your face'. It's this
persistency that makes them so annoying,
and even uncomfortable to be around.
Our PLUS pump spray and aerosol range
(green cans and bottle) have additional
ingredients to repel these type of
annoying flies.
ABOVE:The PLUS pump spray & aerosol range contain
additional repellents for annoying flies such as, Bush
Because of the way these flies behave, the
additional fly repellents successfully prevent
them landing on your face, but you can't always
stop them from flying close to your face.
However, in independent tests we found
using these products made being around
flies much more comfortable than when not
wearing it.
Bushman was founded in 1990 by an industrial chemist with over 35 years' experience
developing personal insect repellents.
His goal was to produce the very best repellent available.
It was developed in the tropics for the tropics and tested in 'the swamps' to ensure it was the best performing repellent in the harshest of conditions.
Since then Bushman has grown to be Australia's 'Number ONE' premium repellent, mostly through word of mouth recommendations.
Through the 1990's and 2000's Bushman products have been the subject of many independent tests where they proved their performance everytime.
All Bushman products use the active DEET (Except for Bushman Naturals) to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects.
Not because we have to, but because DEET has been proven over SIXTY YEARS to be effective, reliable and safe.
