THE SCIENCE

When it comes to science, we don’t horse around

We love our planet as much as we love our equine companions. We’re also huge chemistry nerds…

BUCK OFF develops highly tailored products designed to treat specific equine conditions.

Contact us for a product created specifically for your one-of-a-kind companion.

How BUCK OFF works

Science version

Cheat sheet

IR3535® is a trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, branding the active substance with the INCI: Ethyl Butylacetylaminopropionate.

BUCK OFF’s active ingredient is called IR3535®.

It was discovered by some clever people in Germany.

The molecule is a derivative of the naturally occurring amino acid ß-alanine. 

It’s a synthetic version of an amino acid found in nature. 

It was classified by the WHO as Class “U” (= “Unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use”) and demonstrates the best toxicological and ecotoxicological safety profile of all approved repellent biocidal active substances.

It is completely non-toxic and is approved by the World Health Organisation.

IR3535® is not persistent nor bioaccumulating in the environment, neither in the ground nor in water.

IR3535® does not stay in the environment.

Rapidly biodegradable in sewage treatment plants, soils and sediments.

IR3535® is completely biodegradable.

Rapidly converted to free acid: 0.80–3.63 hours in four different soil types.
The free acid is degraded within a few days: 2–8 days in four different soil types.

All traces of the active ingredient disappear from the ecosystem within a few days.

IR3535® impacts olfactory receptors, reducing the odorants that reach insects.

IR3535® scrambles insect’s brains by messing with their sense of smell and “landing gear”.  i.e., if the insect does manage to smell something, they can’t land on it.

IR3535® is not an insecticide, it is a biocide as it does not kill insects.

IR3535® doesn’t actually kill the insect – it just makes them stupid for a bit.

Formulations with IR3535® have been tried and trusted worldwide for over 30 years. No adverse side effects such as irritation or skin sensitization have been observed with IR3535®.

BUCK OFF has been dermatologically tested and is clinically proven to be safe for all skin types – including sensitive skin.

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