Reviewed: Alfresco Beauty without Bites
It's a little early to worry about bugs yet, but this perfume is so fresh and springlike that you'll want to wear it any time.
The original Acqua d'Alfresco a moisturizer designed to repel insects without using DEET or other allergenic synthetics. According to them: Alfresco has been tested and proven an effective deterrent of mosquitoes by the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, part of the University of London. Researcher, Nigel Hill, tests the product by placing his bare forearm in a cage full of mosquitoes and records their biting.
My own experience?
Your mileage may vary, of course, and I wouldn't necessarily trust Acqua d'Alfresco, whether in moisturizer or their newer perfume, to ward off mosquitoes in the malaria belts of Africa. However, I have used it, find it very non-toxic (despite a history of severe chemical sensitivity), love the scent (a combination of geranium, patchouli, orange and cinnamon) and it does ward off most insects (where I also have a history involving being called Queen of the Blackflies). They advise that the shelf life is only six months after it's been opened, but my bottle is three years old and still quite potent.
They also have nice little bundles: £20.00 for a 200ml bottle or four 50ml bottles (so you can have one in your purse, one in your coat, etc) of the moisturizer, and £25.00 for a 50ml bottle of the perfume or same price for four little bottles. Plus shipping, but if you buy two of anything bigger than the sample bottles, shipping's free.
