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

Product Information

During their peak population time of July-September, it can be very difficult to avoid swarms of midges ruining your stalking. Moreover, if you find yourself out in the field on a cloudy, warm day, wading through long damp undergrowth, it can be virtually impossible. Not only this, but midges are able to detect carbon dioxide from up to 200 metres away, so if you find yourself walking through the Highlands, moving from drive to drive on the first grouse shoot of the season or stalking stags, they will be able to sense your location and zoom in. Best protection against midges

The herbal component of this spray is Citriodol which is a 100% plant-based product that is biodegradable, and to date there is no known accumulation of Citriodol in any public waterways. 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. Calm, windless days and dull days are likely to be more midgey– midges stop flying in wind speeds greater than about 6mph.

Other Oils & Creams

Nature’s way There are said to be some natural midge such as essential oils like Eucalyptus, lavender and lemon. The results vary between people although these oils can make you smell rather nice! A brand called Incognito make hair and body wash infused with citronella and tee tree for "natural anti-insect camouflage". Eating Marmite before and during your time near midges is also meant to repel them. We’re not sure about this one. Make friends with bats! A single bat can eat 3,000 midges and other insects in one night. As with everything, there are a few negatives to this product which include not being waterproof, and I’m rather suspicious of the claimed 8 hours of protection from one covering. Make sure you carry repellent with you and if you avoid wearing perfume and aftershave this can help too - it can also make you feel as wild as the countryside! Your midge-free months in Scotland range from October through to May, so if you really don't want to deal with them then these are the times to visit Scotland. In saying that, the closer you are to the sea, the less you are likely to experience them. Read about the best beaches in Scotland. Which areas of Scotland are affected by midges? Female midges are only active in low light so the most active period tends to be the two hours before sunset

If you want to know when is the best time to visit Scotland to avoid midges, you need to find out when is the midge season in Scotland. Don’t worry too much about the midges in Scotland and don’t let them put you off visiting this beautiful country. Midge bites don’t irritate me as much as mosquito or cleg (horse fly) bites and as midges don’t transmit disease to humans, I’m more relaxed about midges. We generally find it’s too windy for midgies most of the time anyway! When you go out and it isn’t that windy, carry a couple of different natural insect repellents and a midge hood and hopefully, you should be fine.

We’ve been using Smidge insect repellent for about 6 years and find it to be very effective against the wee beasties. Midges can be a serious nuisance. The worst places for midges in Scotland are the areas where you’ll find their preferred habitats such as wet, boggy, sheltered areas. These places include the north and west coast of Scotland and in the Highlands like Fort William, Glen Coe and the Great Glen. Generally, the east coast tends to be more midge-free. Avon midge repellent: Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Body Spray with Jojoba Does Avon Skin So Soft still repel midges?

While Avon Skin-So-Soft is not as effective as DEET-based repellents, it still does a decent job of repelling mosquitoes. This is possibly due to one of its ingredients, icaridin. 1 2 All you need to do is spray your exposed areas. The spray should last long enough to ward off any potential mosquitoes. If you’re using a non-spray Avon product, you can rub the product over the exposed areas. Midges have been around for thousands of years but with climate change, they are increasing their range and extending their season. The recommended product to achieve that goal is Smidge which uses a proven formulation that deters midges while also being safe to use, non-greasy, well-priced, and comes in a tough, easy-to-use container. What are your best products for repelling midges in Scotland? What’s your advice for avoiding midge bites? Please post in the comments below.

Best midge net for Scotland

Avon’s Skin So Soft This moisturiser was not created as a midge fighter but for some reason, someone realised it works against the beasties. Many people swear by this pleasant smelling body cream as an anti-midge defender. You can buy it online from Avon and many outdoor stores. After a long day hiking through the Highlands you’ll no doubt be desperate for a shower, after which the last thing you’ll want to do is slather your body with yet more insect repellent.

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. Midges (also called gnats) are tiny flying insects and the Highland midge (Culicoides Impunctatus) is the one that causes issues, particularly in Western Scotland and the Highlands.Cover exposed skin– midges have short mouth parts so can’t bite through material although they will crawl under clothes. 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. 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 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. Lifesystems also have a product formulated especially for midges which contains myrtle extract and DEET.