SOFFELL is a Thai mosquito repellent whose active ingredient is DEET, at 13%. DEET is one of the actives Singapore's health guidance names as effective against mosquitoes. At 13% it sits below the 20% or more that HealthHub recommends for the longest protection, which makes SOFFELL a light, everyday repellent that needs reapplying rather than an all-day jungle spray.
SOFFELL is a familiar name in Thailand and increasingly in Singapore, where "soffell mosquito repellent" is searched around 260 times a month. It is also the line we carry with the deepest stock, and the one some of our institutional buyers reorder in lots of 1,200. This guide sets out what is in it, how it compares with the official advice, and how to use it properly.
SOFFELL at a glance
| SOFFELL spray | HealthHub guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | DEET | DEET, picaridin or IR3535 are the effective actives |
| Strength | 13% DEET | "20% or more is recommended" for longer protection |
| How long it lasts | Maker claims up to 8 hours | Shorter with sweating or washing; follow the label |
| Format | 30 ml pump spray, floral scent | Spray about 15 cm from skin, slow sweeping motion |
| Babies | Follow the label | Under 2 months: net over the carrier instead |
What is DEET, and is 13% enough?
DEET is the most studied mosquito repellent in the world. HealthHub, whose repellent guidance is written by the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, calls it "one of the most effective and best studied repellents". Singapore's dengue guidance from Clean & Green Singapore names the same three actives as the effective ones: DEET, picaridin and IR3535.
Strength controls how long it works, not how well. HealthHub puts it plainly: "The higher the concentration of DEET (20% or more is recommended), the longer the duration of protection." A 13% spray repels mosquitoes, but the protection runs out sooner than a stronger one, especially if you are sweating.
In practice that means:
- Everyday use around the estate, on the way to the bus stop, at a void-deck event, or for children's legs at the playground: SOFFELL is a sensible, pleasant-smelling choice. Reapply after a couple of hours outdoors or after sweating.
- Long hours outdoors, hiking, or living in an active dengue cluster: consider a repellent at 20% DEET or more, as HealthHub recommends, and reapply by the label.
We would rather say that plainly than oversell a product we stock.
How to apply it properly
- Sunscreen first, repellent second, if you use both.
- Spray about 15 cm from the skin in slow, sweeping passes over exposed skin and clothing.
- For the face, spray onto your hands first, then apply sparingly, keeping away from the eyes and mouth.
- Reapply after heavy sweating or swimming, and as the label directs.
- Wash it off with soap and water once you are back indoors.
Never put repellent on cuts, wounds or irritated skin. If you or your child have not used a repellent before, HealthHub and Clean & Green Singapore both suggest testing it on a small patch of skin first.
Children and babies
HealthHub's guidance is that most repellents are only for children older than two months. For babies younger than that, use mosquito netting fitted tightly over the carrier or cot instead. For older children, apply it for them rather than letting them spray it, keep it off their hands (which go into mouths and eyes), and follow the age guidance printed on the bottle.
For a young child's blocked nose rather than mosquitoes, see our guide to Happy Noz onion stickers. Happy Noz's separate Bug Guard sticker is a mosquito product, but it is a sticker, not a DEET spray.
Why repellent matters for dengue
Dengue in Singapore is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which bites in the day as well as at dusk. Singapore's guidance asks people to use repellent regularly, and in particular asks anyone who has dengue to keep using it, so that a mosquito biting them does not carry the virus on to the next person. A repellent in the bag is one of the easiest things a household can do.
Buying SOFFELL
SOFFELL is sold in Singapore pharmacies and online. If you run a minimart, provision shop or pharmacy, it sells all year round here rather than seasonally, and our SOFFELL wholesale page has the trade minimum. It is also a practical item for community and event goodie bags, and it ships alongside any of our Thai oils and balms or Thai inhalers in one order.
Questions people ask
What is the active ingredient in SOFFELL?
DEET (diethyltoluamide), at 13%.
How long does SOFFELL last?
The maker claims up to 8 hours. Sweating and washing shorten it, and HealthHub notes that higher DEET concentrations protect for longer, so reapply after time outdoors.
Is SOFFELL effective against dengue mosquitoes?
DEET is one of the three actives Singapore's guidance names as effective against mosquitoes. At 13% SOFFELL is a lighter-strength option; HealthHub recommends 20% or more for longer protection.
Can I use SOFFELL on babies?
HealthHub advises that most repellents are only for children over two months; for younger babies, use mosquito netting. Follow the age guidance on the SOFFELL label.
Should I put on sunscreen or repellent first?
Sunscreen first, then repellent.