Picaradin is not as effective as DEET otherwise all the manufacturers would stop making DEET now that they almost all make a Picaradin product.

Think of it this way;

For mosquitos;

Natural repellents like citronella work for a few hours.

Picaradin a little longer.

Deet is the most effective under the highest concentration of bugs for the longest period of time.

I have found that natural (citronella) works a bit better than Deet on those nasty NE black flies; go figure.

Bentirran;
Please post supporting data for your statement that Deet equals brain damage. The EPA allows it, Dr.'s still recommend it and it is over 60 years old. If it did cause significantly brain damage it would not be on the shelves. It is probably as bad as hair spray, spray on deodorant etc. I would not swim in it but I do not hesitate to use it when it gets real bad.