A few days ago over on the 'Midges are back..' thread Angus Og mentioned the product Smidge. A fairly new insect repellant to the market made by the folks who give us the Scottish Midge Forecast.
Now I, like many of you, have tried just about every idea / solution out there bar selling my Grans soul to the devil, so I was fairly sure I'd be disappointed with this too. I've tried Avon, and fairly good results but not 100%, plus if you are out and about in gthe sun chances are you could burn. I've tried both 'Don't bite me' and 'Highland Midge' patches (transdermal type) and had no luck with either. Since everyone has a different body chemistry I was basically sure I was one of the unlucky ones who would have to wearsome sort of body armour out here by Loch Eck.
How bad are the midges out this way? So far even in the hot sun there have been a few of the wee blighters, never mind once the temps fall,or it gets a bit humid. Leave the light on, and outside is an angry army of flying blood sucking, flesh ripping evil thugs.
So after reading up on Smidge and it's active ingredient Saltidin, I bought a bottle from a shop in Dunoon. Must say I nearly thought being eat was preferable to paying the asking price, but then - well no not even close. £7.99 per 75ml bottle. Cheap? No. Long lasting? Thats still to be seen.
Once up the road, I decide to mimic the Smidge sites example - cover one arm with it and leave the other bare. Went out in to the woods beside the house, where even during the day the midges feast. Sat down and waited. Sure enough, within a few minutes a cloud of them were flying around, and started to have a drink on me. Only on the non-treated arm though. Not long after that, I decided to cover the rest of me. Back in the house, other arm, face and neck done, I went out to the woods again. Sat down and waited... and waited.. and waited.. sure lots of them flying about, but no bites. Many were landing on my clothes but none on my treated skin. Well actually one or two did, but they didn't bite. I went back out a couple of hours later and did the same test and same results. With the exception that after washing my hands twice, I had a couple midges on them. Literally a couple though.
So far I have to say it works. For me anyway. 8 quid is a lot to fork out to test something, so please keep this in mind if you decide to try it, everyones body is different. Having said that, the active ingredient, Saltidin is apparently recommended by the World Health Organisation.
PS, tonights final test will be leaving the kitchen light on and going out into the killer swarm.... wish me luck, but I don't think I'll need it?
Now I, like many of you, have tried just about every idea / solution out there bar selling my Grans soul to the devil, so I was fairly sure I'd be disappointed with this too. I've tried Avon, and fairly good results but not 100%, plus if you are out and about in gthe sun chances are you could burn. I've tried both 'Don't bite me' and 'Highland Midge' patches (transdermal type) and had no luck with either. Since everyone has a different body chemistry I was basically sure I was one of the unlucky ones who would have to wearsome sort of body armour out here by Loch Eck.
How bad are the midges out this way? So far even in the hot sun there have been a few of the wee blighters, never mind once the temps fall,or it gets a bit humid. Leave the light on, and outside is an angry army of flying blood sucking, flesh ripping evil thugs.
So after reading up on Smidge and it's active ingredient Saltidin, I bought a bottle from a shop in Dunoon. Must say I nearly thought being eat was preferable to paying the asking price, but then - well no not even close. £7.99 per 75ml bottle. Cheap? No. Long lasting? Thats still to be seen.
Once up the road, I decide to mimic the Smidge sites example - cover one arm with it and leave the other bare. Went out in to the woods beside the house, where even during the day the midges feast. Sat down and waited. Sure enough, within a few minutes a cloud of them were flying around, and started to have a drink on me. Only on the non-treated arm though. Not long after that, I decided to cover the rest of me. Back in the house, other arm, face and neck done, I went out to the woods again. Sat down and waited... and waited.. and waited.. sure lots of them flying about, but no bites. Many were landing on my clothes but none on my treated skin. Well actually one or two did, but they didn't bite. I went back out a couple of hours later and did the same test and same results. With the exception that after washing my hands twice, I had a couple midges on them. Literally a couple though.
So far I have to say it works. For me anyway. 8 quid is a lot to fork out to test something, so please keep this in mind if you decide to try it, everyones body is different. Having said that, the active ingredient, Saltidin is apparently recommended by the World Health Organisation.
PS, tonights final test will be leaving the kitchen light on and going out into the killer swarm.... wish me luck, but I don't think I'll need it?
and have 200mls instead of 75. Although to be fair to Smidge, it claims to be waterproof, and Autan isn't. So anything involviing water, canoeing, sweaty hiking etc may benefit from Smidge... or just reapply Autan.
