Forum Topic

Best insect repellent?

Has anyone noticed the insects in the evenings? Guess it must be this hot and humid weather - hence my question - which is the best and cheapest insect repellent?

Gerry Tan ● 4213d14 Comments

Hi Gerry  It depends on wereabouts you go,I've only had one bite this year because the weather hasn't really been ideal for midges.They are fussy little blighters,they don't like sunshine or wind,fortunately we've had a great summer with plenty of sun and we live right next to the sea so there is nearly always an on-shore breeze. If I wanted to get bitten I could go to a corner of our garden that we've "left to nature" which is well overgrown and sees little sun or wind.   A friend who lives 20 miles north from us in the Argyll Forest has been plagued and reckons his Midge Eater is killing about 3 million a day (measured by weight),incidentally he sells the corpses to a company that makes fat balls for bird feeders where they are most appreciated.

Tony Wood ● 4207d

Btw Tony, how are the midgees this year in Scotland?

Gerry Tan ● 4207d

"However chemists don't sell it,"Ah yes George you're correct in England,but here in Scotland they do,the law of demand and supply I suppose.

Tony Wood ● 4207d

Avon skin so soft works well.However chemists don't sell it.

George Knox ● 4207d

Me too.

Graham Weeks ● 4208d

Jungle Formula gets the nod from me

Bud Richards ● 4208d

Our children, nephews and nieces all travel worldwide to the far east, Africa, the Americas and the Med countries etc and they recommend Jungle Formula and Boots bog-standard repellent - for what its worth.

Gerry Tan ● 4208d

AFAIK if it is cosmetically acceptable it should be fine externally.

Graham Weeks ● 4208d

Yes, Graham Weeks is our friendly retired pharmacist - so he should know the best insect repellents available.  What say you Graham?

Gerry Tan ● 4208d

As a midge repelant Avon Skin So Soft (a light oil spray)works well,remember to spray under your watch otherwise they'll find it.If you do get bitten then After-Bite is excellent,I don't think you can buy it in the UK (I got my first bottle in the Far East),but it's just 10 parts water and one part household ammonia.It takes about 10 minutes to work but work it does.I'd be interested in Grahams views on the safety aspects of ammonium hydroxide 3.5%.

Tony Wood ● 4208d

Atfter years of living in Australia people still use mosquitoe coils as the best form of defence. I recently used them in Greece with great effect.

Tony Maxey ● 4208d

You can still buy citronella oil online.Do not use it neat!!Mix it down 5:1 with a neutral unscented 'bulking' oil and it is very effective.

Nigel Brooks ● 4213d

Insects breeding in puddle water was featured on the London news last night.  They said they breed in any standing water so perhaps it is time that old bucket went into the bin.

Debbie Edwards ● 4213d

I understand that Deet is supposed to be the best.There is another with lemon eucalyptus in it.We always used to use citronella but it seems to have fallen foul of EU legislation.  We put it on our ankles and tended to put trousers on in the evening.With all this rain and hot weather you might want to check that you aren't breeding your own mosquitoes in puddles in the garden!  This article from 2006 is very interesting and there must be more:http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/eu-bans-citronella-in-fly-sprays/

Philippa Bond ● 4213d