Does it work? Yes.

But it won’t be as effective as a highly-concentrated chemical bug repellent in some cases. While the oils we use are powerful pharmaceuticals in their own rights, there are cases where they don’t measure up to the best that science has to offer. Keep in mind, though, that compounds that are nasty enough to kill bugs on contact might not be the best yardstick against which to measure our product. That’s kind of like saying that hydrochloric acid is a better cleaning solvent than vinegar. Sure, it’s a true statement, but it’s just not useful if your cleaning goals involve preserving the surface being cleaned.

While everyone’s results will vary according to differences in body chemistry, we have found the Mad Mike’s repellents to be highly effective in some of the worst bug country we can find.

Here are two tests that convinced us we had something good:

• Sunbathing with mosquitoes in a Maine coast salt marsh at low tide.  That's about as bad as it gets.  Mosquitoes love the marsh grasses and standing water, and low tide brings out the best of them.  Hungry, aggressive, and plentiful to the extreme.  We used Anti-Bug Brew and emerged without a single bite.
    
  
• Hanging out with sand flies on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The flies were so persistent that they would bit right through the DEET-based repellents our friends were using. One guy thought he could foil the bugs by layering his ankles with chemical bug repellent and sand, applying multiple layers until his skin was covered with a thick cake. But even that wasn’t enough to stop the flies. Much to our surprise, Mad Mike’s worked like a charm, and without the multi-layer caking process used by our friend.  Plus it smelled a lot better, getting compliments from people nearby.
  

We can’t make any guarantees, of course, but with a track record like this, we’re more than satisfied with the quality of our product.

Please note that while Mad Mike's Anti-Bug Brew doesn't keep bugs away, it keeps them from landing and biting.  If you don't want exposed skin to be bitten, spray the skin or nearby clothing.  And don't forget your ankles!