Summer in the Pacific Northwest means a temporary respite from rain, warm days, and water everywhere. The winter's snow is melting resulting in rushing rivers, tarns, ponds, and swamps. All are breeding grounds for mosquitos. We tested Mosquitno Bands and Spotz to see if the all-natural, citronella-based repellants would keep the mozzies away.

The citronella smell is powerful when the bags were opened. The kids held their noses for a moment, but quickly forgot about it as they played in the yard. My oldest daughter and my son are especially susceptible to mosquito bites so they go the Bands. My middle daughter is more like me and doesn't react much so she wore the Spotz.

Both the Bands and Spotz kept the mosquitos away from the kids. Instead, they were attracted to me unless I was in the protective halo of the citronella.

Unfortunately, the Spotz stickers didn't stay on my daughter whether they were on her skin or clothing. We placed the discarded stickers on the table during dinner and on my mother-in-law who wasn't quite as active as the kids.

When we retired for the evening the Bands went back in the bag they came in, which sealed with a zipper. Three days later I opened the bag and they smelled as strong as the day we opened them. Given the inside-then-outside-then-inside nature of kids knowing that the bands could be opened and then stored for later use was great.

None of my kids got any mosquito bites while they were wearing the Bands or were seated near the Spotz. A few days later they had a few bites after playing without the Bands and I certainly swatted a ton of mosquitos myself.

Almost as important as the effectiveness of the citronella is the fact it's all-natural and non-toxic. Compared to DEET-based repellants that's a big win for my kids.

I love the idea of the Spotz, but until they stick better we'll go with the Bands for the kids. I'll have to get some adult-sized Bands, too, so I can use them without cutting off circulation to my hands.