Insect repellant
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caorach
Well-Known Member
Avon Skin So Soft was fine for watching an especially tricky episode of Countryfile. You need something designed for the job if you are actually going outdoors.
Get yourself a bottle of Smidge and you will never have another midge bite, the active chemical was designed to work and it simply does. One of the big advantages is that it is relatively safe when compared to DEET and it doesn't melt stuff, so bits don't drop off your car when you use it.
Get yourself a bottle of Smidge and you will never have another midge bite, the active chemical was designed to work and it simply does. One of the big advantages is that it is relatively safe when compared to DEET and it doesn't melt stuff, so bits don't drop off your car when you use it.
caorach
Well-Known Member
Be careful if it is the version containing DEET as over time this will melt plastic stuff so it is worth taking some precautions with the plastic bits on your rifle, or knife, or car, or fly line...
Some claim that if it is less than 20% encapsulated DEET then it will not melt things but I've also seen people say that this isn't true, it is just that it takes longer before you see the effects. I've no idea of the truth of either of these statements.
caorach
Well-Known Member
Having watched a lot of people I've concluded that some are very bothered just by the presence of midges - be that buzzing about their heads or landing on them. Some who report being bitten to death actually seem not to have been bitten at all and I suspect the annoyance factor is what gets to them. The areas to which i apply the Smidge simply don't get bitten but that doesn't stop them buzzing about my head and this can get a little trying. If you go with Smidge and find they are still causing you great annoyance then you probably need to go with a head net. different people seem to have different tolerances to the flying around your head thing.
Uncle Norm
Well-Known Member
Having seen the advice in this thread I bought a tin of Smidge. I am one of those folks that gets bitten quite badly. I have just returned from an evening sitting in a high seat, protected by Smidge.
What an excellent product ! No mess, no strong smell, no problem with plastics and best of all no bites.
To me, Smidge is in a different league than everything else I have tried. Will be ordering more in the morning.
What an excellent product ! No mess, no strong smell, no problem with plastics and best of all no bites.
To me, Smidge is in a different league than everything else I have tried. Will be ordering more in the morning.
As I have another week locum work on Mull shortly, I'd better get some!
Mach IV
Well-Known Member
After an 'interesting' day riding a horse at a dressage competition a couple of years ago where there were a LOT of horse flies which didn't bat an eyelid at the stuff we were using we did a lot of fly repellent research. We ended up finding some stuff called icaridin/picaridin (chemical name) and that worked really well.
I have since sourced the active and make my own and it is the best stuff I have used with horses. Doesn't smell and just works.
Smidge contains Saltadin which is the brand name. Basically look for repellents containing Saltadin, icaridin or picaridin - it is all the same stuff.
I have since sourced the active and make my own and it is the best stuff I have used with horses. Doesn't smell and just works.
Smidge contains Saltadin which is the brand name. Basically look for repellents containing Saltadin, icaridin or picaridin - it is all the same stuff.
Uncle Norm
Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting this. My dog gets hounded by mosquitos all around her head and muzzle, when we are in our fenland woods.
Are you able to post more details of where to obtain the items you refer to ? I am sure that other members would be equally interested.
Mach IV
Well-Known Member
Uncle Norm
The repellent I make for horses you can check on this link
http://hedgewitchessentials.co.uk/shop/index.php/shop/icaridin-horse-fly-spray-insect-repellent.html
Hadn't thought of it for dogs. It is just icaridin, water with some aloe vera gel and a small amount of emulsifier. Should be fine but you might not want 500ml.
Most of the human ones are in a creamy emulsion because the icaridin doesn't mix with water.
I gave some to the farriers the other day because they were fed up with being eaten by horse flies at some of the yards. They said they just sprayed themselves and I think the exact comment was 'I was really surprised it actually works' cheeky fe##er.
This link has some good information and a range of products with icaridin in:
http://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/acatalog/Insect_Repellent_with_Icaridin_and_Saltidin.html
The repellent I make for horses you can check on this link
http://hedgewitchessentials.co.uk/shop/index.php/shop/icaridin-horse-fly-spray-insect-repellent.html
Hadn't thought of it for dogs. It is just icaridin, water with some aloe vera gel and a small amount of emulsifier. Should be fine but you might not want 500ml.
Most of the human ones are in a creamy emulsion because the icaridin doesn't mix with water.
I gave some to the farriers the other day because they were fed up with being eaten by horse flies at some of the yards. They said they just sprayed themselves and I think the exact comment was 'I was really surprised it actually works' cheeky fe##er.
This link has some good information and a range of products with icaridin in:
http://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/acatalog/Insect_Repellent_with_Icaridin_and_Saltidin.html
Uncle Norm
Well-Known Member
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