Mimikai gets EPA-approved repellent active after 25-year gap

By AI, Created 5:09 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Mimikai says its plant-derived insect repellent active, Undecanone, is the first new EPA-approved active ingredient for the category in more than 25 years. The Portland startup is expanding retail distribution as mosquito and tick risks rise and consumers look for cleaner bug protection.

Why it matters: - Mimikai is targeting a category that has long forced consumers to choose between efficacy and perceived safety. - The company says Undecanone, its active ingredient, is the first new insect repellent active approved by the EPA in more than 25 years. - The launch comes as warmer weather and climate shifts are increasing mosquito and tick exposure and raising demand for alternative repellents. - The brand is pitching a cleaner option that performs like legacy actives such as DEET and picaridin.

What happened: - Mimikai introduced its plant-derived insect repellent active, Undecanone, in 2025 after launching the brand in June 2025. - The Portland, Oregon-based startup says Undecanone is derived from wild tomato plants and developed through biomimicry. - Mimikai says its product protects against mosquitoes and ticks without relying on legacy chemical actives. - Co-founder Stephanie Watson said the company is offering a new approach that is “powered by nature, proven by science.”

The details: - Mimikai says Undecanone has been tested for more than five years through over 35 controlled IRB-approved arm-in-cage studies and multiple EPA-approved field trials. - The company says the ingredient delivered up to 8 hours of mosquito protection and 4 hours of tick protection. - Mimikai says its technology is supported by an academic partnership with North Carolina State University. - The brand says it holds U.S. Patent No. 11,627,730. - Mimikai says its data was published and reviewed through the Human Studies Review Board. - The company says its retail push started with direct-to-consumer sales before moving into stores. - Mimikai debuted with Credo Beauty, Grove Collective and REI. - The company says it sold out at Credo nationwide within its first week and ranked at the top of Credo’s insect protection category. - Mimikai says REI made it one of the fastest product launches in the retailer’s history, leading to a nationwide expansion there this year. - The brand says it is expanding this spring to all Nordstrom, Erewhon and Goop stores and online, plus Amazon. - Mimikai is available at the company’s website, Amazon and retail partners including Nordstrom, REI, Credo Beauty and Erewhon. - Mimikai’s social channels include LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Between the lines: - Mimikai is trying to separate itself from natural repellents that often struggle on performance while also avoiding the baggage of older chemical ingredients. - The company is leaning on regulatory milestones, published testing and premium retail partners to build credibility fast. - Fast Company named Mimikai to its 2026 Most Innovative Companies list, which suggests the brand is using innovation status as part of its market positioning. - The broader pitch is that insect protection is becoming a mainstream personal-care category, similar to suncare, rather than a niche outdoor product.

What’s next: - Mimikai says it will keep expanding its innovation pipeline with new product formats. - The company is aiming for broader availability across beauty, wellness, outdoor and online retail channels. - Continued consumer adoption will determine whether the startup can turn early retail momentum into a durable national brand.

The bottom line: - Mimikai is betting that EPA-backed science, premium branding and wider distribution can create a new standard in insect protection.