Skin so soft

[tommy the cat]

So lots of peeps harp on about its midge repelling properties..... so was looking at getting some as my mozzie repellent is a bit strong smelling(not so good when deer stalking) and was wondering which product it is and does it smell fairly be nine?
Avon list loads of stuff by the name so not sure which one to get.
Ta Dave

 

[Shambling Shaman]

If no joy by tomorrow will pop down to Dores Inn they sell it there.

 

[edispilff]

Another really versatile backwoods concoction is "dr. bronners" castille soaps. The peppermint variety has repelled horseflys and tsetse's in a pinch... And the multitude of things you can accomplish with this stuff are amazing!

 

[mick miller]

I found this place (no connection etc.):

http://www.gailsreps.co.uk/buy-avon.php

 

[Grooveski]

Has anyone ever done a proper midgie test on any of these things?

Wandering around through dusk with different limbs coated in different repellents and a control limb getting eaten alive?

 

[ems]

Deet, I think is the best, and you can order it as a 100% solution from any chemist. I wouldnt bother with like the boots roll on repellents, they are usually only 20% at the most. I've used it for years, with no problems, I also wash my clothes in it if I'm going off somewhere where there will be mozzies. My father taught me lots of stuff like this, he did most of his time in the army in Singapore. It lasts about 6 washes so plenty really,, adn then you dont have to worry as long bottom your wearing some of the clothing you've washed in it you shouldnt have to caryy anything else with you.. saving weight

 

[Mastino]

Dave, I had the same question a while back, See link:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28981&highlight=skin+soft

By the way, I found some scentifc articles claiming that it didn't work. Just take DEET in case i's nothing more than an urban legend

 

[tommy the cat]

Yea Mastino thanks for that and to all others sorry about the repeat post. I have a natural repellent which seems to work but I have not been in heavily infested areas. I am hoping to get back to Scotland in the summer so hence the concern!
My other hope was finding something fairly unscented?!?!
What are the health concerns with deet?
Seem to remember it being evil stuff????
Also 100% form chemists????? What do you ask for? Deet I guess!?!
ta Dave

 

[stu1979uk]

Woodland fresh moisturiser from avon part of the skin so soft range i think
I have a bottle that I used last year was covered in the little buggers trying to put up my tarp slapped some on my arms and by magic they were gone, unfortunately i know it doesn't work for everyone.

 

[tommy the cat]

ta stu will give it a go whats it smell like? Very scented?
Dave

 

[ems]

I don't take anything..I just wash my clothes in it before I go.. It works in Singapore, and it works in Thailand.. and the buzzers we get in the Uk are much smaller and don't kill us! If you want natural go for tea tree oil and then you have good part of your first aid kit too!

 

[dwardo]

Whilst on our last few trips to scotland in the summer we tried both DEET based solutions and Avon Skin So Soft. We carried out a number of experiments with one arm covered in one solution and the other in another. We found that the Avon Skin So Soft seemed to worked just as well as the DEET based products. In the future i will allways carry both but after reading a few bits and bobs about DEET being a bit nasty i tend to use it as a last resort and then only on clothing.

PS This is UK based so no real issues with malaria etc, in that kind of situation i would probably be drinking the DEET just incase

 

[ol smokey]

Tried this on the Isle of Mull a couple of years back and did not find it very effective.
There was a party of Americans beside us and they had five jars of the stuff and were very
badly bitten. We heard later from someone that the recipe had been changed and it was no longer effective.I think that midgies and flies are attracted to some peoples feromones
more than others, and also if you perspire a lot. I have been on the hills and been completely free of flies then someone would pass with the most awful swarm of flies around them . and sometimes some of them would transfer to the party I was with.
I now try to contain my west coast of Scotland trips to outwith the main midge season.
Going before the end of May or into September, when they are beginning to die off for the winter. If the weather is warm and damp their season can be extended.
Ithink that various anti midge products work differently on different people. I am recently informed that eating a lot of garlic helps but havent tried that yet. May keep friends away too. LOL.

 

[locum76]

Has anyone ever done a proper midgie test on any of these things?

Wandering around through dusk with different limbs coated in different repellents and a control limb getting eaten alive?

is that you volunteering?

the skin so soft i have works. its got cirtonellol in it. which presumably is some sort of citronella derivative.

 

[stu1979uk]

Its not too scenterd at all, a light fresh smell or something, if thats any help