The invention is directed to a topical insect repellent with extended duration of protection and that was obtained by combining natural and organic plant essential oil compounds. The new natural repellent exhibits the longevity and repellency that is comparable to or better than N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), a synthetic compound employed in almost all commercial formulations, while at the same time is more acceptable than DEET, which has an unpleasant odor, imparts a greasy feel to the skin, and carries certain health concerns when used on children. The inventive insect repellent, formulated in a suitable carrier repels and incapacitates flying insects and other pests, such as mosquitoes and other biting flies or insects, thus demonstrating the utility of the novel insect repellent for protecting pets and livestock as well as humans. The invention provides an effective means to repel insects, without having deleterious effects on people, pets or the environment compared with prior insect repellant formulations. The repellant formulation disclosed herein may employ natural or organic active ingredient, e.g., plant essential oil compounds.