# Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) > Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), whose active component is PMD, is the only plant-derived repellent the CDC and EPA register as effective. The CDC, EPA, AAP, and EWG all agree it should not be used on children younger than 3 years. **Type:** ingredients **Categories:** bug-spray **Risk Level:** caution **Evidence Strength:** moderate **Last Reviewed:** 2026-06-15 **Source:** https://www.r3recs.com/learn/ingredients/oil-of-lemon-eucalyptus ## Also Known As - OLE - PMD - para-menthane-3,8-diol - para-menthane-diol - p-Menthane-3,8-diol ## Where Found - Plant-based and naturally-marketed mosquito repellent sprays and lotions (registered OLE/PMD formulas) - Concentrations from about 8% to 40% (higher percentages give longer protection) - Products positioned as DEET-free or essential-oil alternatives - Unformulated pure lemon eucalyptus essential oils (which are NOT EPA-registered repellents and are not recommended by the CDC) ## Health Concerns **Hard age restriction under 3 years:** The defining safety rule for OLE is the age floor. The CDC states that in general, parents should not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years to avoid potential allergic skin reactions. The AAP, EPA, and EWG all echo this, and REI notes OLE has not been studied on younger children. **Eye and skin irritation:** NPIC notes oil of lemon eucalyptus can cause significant eye damage and that washing the eyes after exposure can reduce the risk of long-term harm. BabyGearLab notes the oil is a known irritant for those with sensitive skin and recommends a spot test before use to avoid a rash. **Shorter protection:** OLE generally protects for less time and less reliably than DEET or picaridin. The AAP notes 8 to 10% OLE protects for up to 2 hours and 30 to 40% for 6 hours, and Consumer Reports notes that in its testing many OLE products fall short of DEET. **Pure oil is not a registered repellent:** EWG warns that natural lemon eucalyptus oil is not the same as the registered Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and the CDC does not recommend using pure, unformulated oil of lemon eucalyptus because it has not undergone validated testing and is not EPA-registered. ## Regulatory Status **US EPA:** Registered OLE products are EPA-registered repellents. The EPA notes that according to product labels, some OLE products should not be used on children under 3, while certain OLE-only products at 30% or less carry no under-3 restriction on the label, though health authorities still advise against under-3 use. **CDC:** Recommends parents not use OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years; does not recommend pure, unformulated oil of lemon eucalyptus because it is not EPA-registered or validated. **American Academy of Pediatrics:** Advises not using products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years. **EWG:** Lists OLE/PMD among do-not-use ingredients for children younger than 3 years. ## Label Guide **Look for:** - An EPA registration number (EPA Reg. No.) confirming it is registered OLE or PMD, not raw essential oil - “Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus” or “PMD” / “para-menthane-3,8-diol” as the active ingredient - 30 to 40% concentration for longer (about 6-hour) protection per the AAP - A clear under-3 age warning, and use only on children 3 years and older **Avoid / misleading:** - Any OLE or PMD product on children younger than 3 years (CDC, EPA, AAP, EWG) - Pure or unformulated lemon eucalyptus essential oil, which the CDC does not recommend and is not EPA-registered - Application near the eyes, since NPIC notes OLE can cause significant eye damage - OLE as a primary defense in tick or disease areas, where the AAP recommends DEET or picaridin ## Who Is At Risk - Children younger than 3 years, for whom the CDC, EPA, AAP, and EWG all advise against OLE and PMD - Anyone with sensitive skin, since BabyGearLab notes the oil is a known irritant and recommends a spot test - Anyone applying near the eyes, since NPIC notes OLE can cause significant eye damage - People in tick or disease areas, since OLE protects for less time and the AAP recommends DEET or picaridin where there is real disease risk ## What Helps If you want a plant-derived repellent, choose a registered Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus product (active component PMD) rather than a raw essential oil, since EWG and the CDC both warn the two are not the same. Reserve it for children 3 years and older, as the CDC, EPA, AAP, and EWG all advise against use under 3. Because NPIC notes OLE can cause significant eye damage, keep it well away from the eyes, and spot-test first since BabyGearLab notes the oil can irritate sensitive skin. For longer outings, a higher concentration lasts longer (the AAP notes 30 to 40% OLE gives about 6 hours versus up to 2 hours at 8 to 10%). In tick-heavy or disease areas, the AAP recommends DEET or picaridin instead. ## R3 Bottom Line - Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), whose active component is PMD, is the only plant-derived ingredient the EPA registers and the CDC recognizes as an effective repellent. - Every major authority sets a hard age floor: the CDC, EPA, AAP, and EWG all agree OLE and PMD should not be used on children younger than 3 years, to avoid potential allergic skin reactions. - It is an irritant: NPIC notes oil of lemon eucalyptus can cause significant eye damage, and BabyGearLab notes the oil is a known skin irritant for sensitive skin, so spot-test before use. - Protection is shorter and the product matters: the AAP notes 8 to 10% OLE protects up to 2 hours and 30 to 40% provides 6 hours, while Consumer Reports puts 30% OLE among the better non-DEET bets. - Registered OLE is not the same as the raw essential oil: EWG warns natural lemon eucalyptus oil is not the same as Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and the CDC does not recommend unformulated pure oil of lemon eucalyptus as a repellent. ## FAQ ### Is Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus safe for kids and babies? Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is not safe for young children. The CDC, EPA, American Academy of Pediatrics, and EWG all agree that OLE and PMD should not be used on children younger than 3 years, to avoid potential allergic skin reactions. REI notes it has not been studied on younger children. For children 3 years and older it can be used, but NPIC notes OLE can cause significant eye damage, so keep it away from the eyes, and BabyGearLab recommends a spot test since the oil can irritate sensitive skin. ### Does Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus work as well as DEET? OLE is effective but generally protects for less time and less reliably than DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes 8 to 10% OLE protects for up to 2 hours and 30 to 40% for 6 hours, while DEET can protect for 2 to 12 hours. Consumer Reports notes that in its testing many OLE products fall short of DEET, though it puts 30% OLE among the better non-DEET options. The AAP advises that where there is real disease risk, such as Lyme in tick areas, DEET or picaridin should be used rather than OLE. ### At what age can children use Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus? Children should be at least 3 years old. The CDC, EPA, American Academy of Pediatrics, and EWG all advise against using OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years, because it has not been adequately studied in younger children and to avoid potential allergic skin reactions. This is a stricter age floor than DEET, picaridin, and IR3535, which the CDC allows on children without age restriction. For children under 3, choose a different EPA-registered repellent or use physical barriers like netting. ### What concentration of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is safe and effective? Concentration sets the duration. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that 8 to 10% OLE protects for up to 2 hours, while 30 to 40% provides about 6 hours, and Consumer Reports puts 30% OLE among the better non-DEET options. The CDC notes products with less than 10% active ingredient may offer only 1 to 2 hours of protection. Choose a higher concentration for longer outings, and only use registered OLE products on children 3 years and older. ### Is Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil? No, and this distinction matters for both safety and effectiveness. EWG warns that natural lemon eucalyptus oil is not the same as the registered Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, whose active repellent component is PMD. The CDC does not recommend using pure, unformulated oil of lemon eucalyptus as a repellent because it has not undergone validated testing for safety and efficacy and is not EPA-registered. Look for an EPA registration number and the active ingredient listed as OLE or PMD, not a raw essential oil. ## Sources - [Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively) — *US Environmental Protection Agency* (2024) - [CDC Yellow Book: Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods](https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/mosquitoes-ticks-and-other-arthropods.html) — *US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention* (2024) - [Insect Repellents Fact Sheet](https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/repellents.html) — *National Pesticide Information Center (OSU/EPA)* (2024) - [EWG's Guide to Bug Repellents](https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/bug-repellents) — *Environmental Working Group* (2024) - [How to Choose an Insect Repellent for Your Child](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx) — *American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)* (2024) - [Best Insect Repellents for You and Your Family](https://www.consumerreports.org/health/insect-repellent/best-insect-repellents-for-you-and-your-family-a4042114470/) — *Consumer Reports* (2024) - [The Best Bug Spray for Kids](https://www.babygearlab.com/topics/health-safety/best-bug-spray) — *BabyGearLab* (2024) - [How to Choose Insect Repellent](https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/insect-repellents.html) — *REI Expert Advice* (2024) --- Source: https://www.r3recs.com/learn/ingredients/oil-of-lemon-eucalyptus Methodology: https://www.r3recs.com/methodology/how-we-score-products