Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Review

3.2/5 - (5 votes)

Dengue and other mosquito borne diseases have been taking a toll lately. Although rains didn’t really happen this year, mosquito season never failed to make an appearance.

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream NN Diethyl Benzamide DEET Review

Mosquitos are the vectors for some grave diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Kala Azar etc. To stay safe from these diseases, my first advice would be to keep your surroundings clean. If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you already know some of the steps which I shared to keep mosquitos away. Remember, mosquitoes breed in still water. It does not matter clean or dirty water. It is imperative that you avoid letting any water stand near your surroundings. Avoid flower vases with water in your room and make sure water isn’t left discarded anywhere. Besides environmental control against mosquitoes, it becomes extremely important to take some personal protective measures for mosquito control. Personal protective measures include mosquito nets, mosquito repellants etc. One such commonly known mosquito repellant is DEET or known by its IUPAC name of N-N-Diethyl 3 Methyl Benzamide and another one commonly available in the market is Odomos which is N,N-Diethyl Benzamide.  These two are only approved for external use. Before we proceed, let me make something clear: topical DEET (a yellowish coloured oil) is a standard mosquito repellant. It keeps the mosquitos away, it does not kill the mosquitoes. Odomos was formulated by Dabur as a mosquito repellant too. I am reviewing Odomos here but things I mention here are applicable to DEET as well when DEET in proper concentrations is applied topically on the skin.

Claims for Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream

Every morning, when your kids go out to school or to play, the deadly Dengue mosquito follows them around. Unfortunately, the Dengue mosquitoes thrive during day light, just when your child is away from your watchful eyes!

What can be done? It is clinically proven that Odomos offers the most effective outdoor defence against mosquitoes for as long as 12 hours.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t let your child be a victim.

Use Odomos and give him the ultimate protection against mosquitos.

Composition / Ingredients of Odomos

12% N, N-diethyl-benzamide

There is also Citronella and Aloe Vera mentioned in front of the tube.

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET chemical

Price

Rs 47/- for 50 g
Rs 84/- for 100 g

How to Use

Anytime, Anywhere Protection & For best results, apply the cream uniformly over the exposed skin. Do not apply to eyes, lips & mouth. Do not apply over cuts and wounds.

In Detail Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Review and My Experience

Although the ingredient list mentions only the N,N-Diethyl Benzamide, the front of the tube mentions citronella and aloe vera. So we can assume that the aloe vera and citronella are in the most minimum or negligible quantities. Although DEET has a slight sweet fragrance of its own, addition of citronella to Odomos may provide a more acceptable fragrance. In addition, citronella is known for its mosquito repellant quality.

It comes in a white opaque tube which has all details written over it. A very basic packaging with a screw cap like any other medicinal ointment. It can be carried around easily in a compact space.

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide DEET Side Effects Review

As I open the tube, I notice this faint sweet smell. Because I am familiar to the smell of actual DEET, I can say there is a definite similar smell of that however, one may not notice it. It has a smooth consistency with a moderately thin formula. It is very easy to apply and spreads easily on the skin. Takes a moment to get absorbed.

How I Use it

I apply this cream on the exposed parts of my skin. A pea sized amount for both upper libs and another pea sized amount for both lower limbs (Adjust the amount based on your body surface area). Although it is not contraindicated to apply it on the facial skin, I do not prefer to apply it on the face usually. If you are going to sleep with this cream as your only protection against the mosquitoes, then apply this on the face as well but be extremely careful and do a patch test for skin sensitivity before. Also be extremely cautious and do not take it near the eyes.

For the efficacy of this cream, please refer to this wonderful article published in The Indian Journal of Medical Research Efficacy of Advanced Odomos repellent cream (N, N-diethyl-benzamide) against mosquito vectors (Indian J Med Res. 2011 Apr; 133(4): 426–430 P.K. Mittal et al). This article compares efficacy of Odomos with DEET. They have taken DEET as the gold standard mosquito repellant.

On my skin, odomos never caused any irritation or itching. If you are going to use it for the first time, I strongly recommend you to apply it on a specific area of the skin and test for any skin allergies or reaction.

There is a misconception that if a substance is applied on the skin, it does not cause any systemic effects. But I want to tell all my readers today, that anything applied on the skin has very good chances of getting absorbed through the skin (depending upon the property of that substance). In fact transdermal patches are available for many of the commonly used drugs. This cream does get absorbed from the skin and its levels in the blood can be traced. I will not get into the details about its body fluids concentration, however if you are interested you can email me on [email protected] to satisfy your query. In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is, do not over-apply this cream. Do not put layers and layers of it on the skin. A proper single layer is as effective as multiple layers.

Also, I advice my readers to always take an additional measure against mosquitoes besides odomos. Either sleep in beds covered with mosquito nets or keep a mosquito repellant coil/fluid active.

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N NDiethyl Benzamide or DEET Review

PS. National Integrated Medical Association or NIMA is a non governmental body. It consists of general practitioners trained under ayurveda/unani/sidha. They claim to have a scientific approach towards medicine. However I am mentioning here that I am not related to this body. This body is completely different from the MCI or Medical Council of India which governs the MBBS trained doctors and Specialist doctors.

Side Effects of Odomos N,N-Diethyl Benzamide or  DEET on Skin Application

1. Although there are not many side effects known after application in proper concentrations on the skin. There are cases reported of skin allergies and epidermal reactions. So always do a patch test when you are using it for the first time.
2. If you want to use it for kids, please consult your paediatrician and take his advice beforehand because the skin of children is more sensitive.

More Photos and Swatches

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream NN Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Review

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET composition ingredients

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Dengue Malaria

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Use Review

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET swatch Review

Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide DEET Review

PROs of Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide

1. Effective mosquito repellant.
2. Very handy packaging, travel friendly.
3. Easy to apply.
4. Never caused any irritation/allergy on my skin.
5. Economical and easily available.

CONs of Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide

1. They should have mentioned the detailed ingredient list.
2. Not 100% effective against mosquitoes.
3. I feel they must put an information leaflet in the product mentioning its good as well as dangerous aspects under all circumstances.
4. I do not understand why have they put the name as Odomos “Naturals”. Does not make sense. It is a chemical compound, they can spread awareness in the right way instead of labelling a chemical product as “Natural”. It is an amazing mosquito repellant without a doubt, but adding a hint of aloe and citronella does not make it natural.

MBF Advices

1. NEVER EVER ingest these.
2. If you are applying it on the face, keep a safe distance away from the eye area, mouth and nostrils.
3. For Infants (babies less than 1 year) consult your doctor/paediatrician as I personally do not recommend their use in infants. For babies, always use bed nets irrespective of any mosquito repellant that you might be using.
4. From skin care perspective, let me make it clear that odomos is not a moisturiser. So use your moisturiser first and then apply odomos on top.
5. Everything said and done, always remember, Odomos and DEET are chemical compounds strictly meant for external use. Under no circumstances to be ingested or applied over sensitive organs.
6. In places where mosquito borne diseases are endemic, make a habit of applying mosquito repellants like this cream whenever you are going out over the exposed parts of body like upper and lower limbs. Remember, mosquitoes like Aedes which spread dangerous diseases like Dengue bite during the day as well as night.
7. No method of vector control is 100% effective. So adopt the methods most suitable according to your lifestyle.

MBF Rating

4/5

If you have any additional information, suggestions, doubts, questions and comments, please leave them in the comment box below. 🙂

4 thoughts on “Dabur Odomos Naturals Mosquito Repellent Cream N N Diethyl Benzamide or DEET Review”

  1. Dr Astha you write such detailed reviews. I love how you simplify the most complicated of terms for the understanding of our non medical friends. These days there is a trend of putting a mark saying “certified or recommended by xyz medical body”. No one actually sees what kind of a medical body it is. Although I think NIMA must have done their research, I still feel 12% DEET should come under National Drug Policy concern.

    Reply
  2. I am seriously impressed by the way you write. It has a scientific yet so simplified approach. Thank you Astha for such a wonderful blog. I can actually rely on your reviews. I have seen numerous blogs bragging and writing non sense stuff about products but your content talks sense. When I read your blog, I actually feel like you are talking to me. Wonderful work 🙂

    Reply

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