1x 150ml SKIN so SOFT ® AVON Dry Oil Body Spray ORIGINAL® +jojoba insect repellent

Product Information

This is the go-to midge repellent to use in Scotland for a number of reasons, the first of which is this stuff simply works. We prefer to use insect repellents which don’t contain DEET or DMP. Although DEET and DMP are more effective than non-DEET or natural midge repellents, they are capable of melting some plastics (such as credit cards, glasses and synthetic clothing) and that’s not really something we want to put our skin. As non-DEET insect repellents seem to work fine for midges, we don’t find DEET repellents necessary. Best midge net for Scotland There are an estimated 181 trillion midges in Scotland and for every square metre of ground in the Highlands there could be 250,000 eggs waiting to hatch and go on the hunt for their next meal of tasty human blood. Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, A great alternative is to light a few of these candles if you’re intending to sit outside as they’re designed to release a scent that midges, mosquitoes, and other buzzy critters hate.

Calm, windless days and dull days are likely to be more midgey– midges stop flying in wind speeds greater than about 6mph. I actually used Jungle Formula in the jungle several times in the past (I used to work in West Africa) so I can say hand on heart it definitely does the job when it comes to keeping flying nasties away.You’ll need at least two for any area bigger than a dining-table-sized space but they work very well and there’s something incredibly relaxing about watching a candle burn down in the evening.

The best method to stop being bitten in the Highlands is to use a repellent and to recognise the conditions when midges are likely to be most active and avoid going out in them. There are, however, ways to avoid midges which include avoiding the regions where they’re most prevalent ie. the Highlands, the north and west coasts, and the west coast islands, but obviously you will then miss out on seeing the most scenic parts of Scotland. I had to laugh recently when a friend of mine said "I can't understand how I've been bitten... I was covered in Skin So Soft!". I wasn't bitten, and I was wearing this, which I swear by: I have to start this review by saying I’ve used Mosi-Guard natural repellent before and while it works, in my opinion it’s not quite as good as Smidge or any product that uses DEET.The active ingredient is Picaridin (also known as Saltidin). The WHO, Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England recommend Picaridin for effective protection against biting insects. It was developed as a safer alternative to DEET and smells and feels much more pleasant than any DEET products I’ve tried. Citronella, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus essential oils can be used as natural midge repellents. Citronella candles can be used to keep midges away when sitting outside or can be used to deter midges from the house. BBQ smoke is another effective deterrent. As for midges the last report said that there were more of the wee devils this year - and that tall men & large women are more likely to be bitten These are really effective and suit outdoor eating scenarios, picnics and BBQs, although BBQ smoke does a good job of keeping the midges away too. Midges dislike the smell of the candles, so burn a couple at a time to double your chances of keeping them away. What time of year do midges come out in Scotland?

Having the right stalking clothing to help keep midges away is a good place to start, but you will still need something to deter them from making a meal out of any exposed flesh left on your body, such as your hands or head. We’ve been using Smidge insect repellent for about 6 years and find it to be very effective against the wee beasties. Whilst we cannot make the midges disappear, we hope this guide has given you some helpful advice on how to deal with the midges in Scotland.

This product couldn’t come more highly recommended – it does the job and it is very affordable to boot. However, the time of effectiveness varies from study to study. One study showed that Avon Skin-So-Soft worked for 40 minutes, ranking below DEET products 3 while another showed a 5-hour working time. 4 Though it’s unclear if the 40-minute study used Avon’s Bug Guard repellent brand, despite mentioning it in the paper . Also, the 5-hour study used Avon products that contained icaridin, an ingredient found in some lower-tier repellents, at least in Canada .