Not wanting to use nasty repellents on our little son later in the year when camping, the arrival of an Avon catalogue through the letterbox reminded me that there is something they do that reportedly works quite well.

Anyone know exactly what it is?

skin so soft.

Apparently it's this stuff , no idea if it works

they still flock round you, then drown in the oil when they land. think seagulls & oil slicks on a miniature scale.

http://avonshop.co.uk/shop/product.asp?pf_id=33708&from=search&find_spec=skin%20so%20soft&pagenum=1

It's NOT a repellent – i.e. it doesn't stop them landing on you. You just have to apply enough to create a protective layer, in which they effectively drown.

From what I remember, it's anything with a large dollop of citronella in it. I also remember reading that the Avon skin so soft was issued to the Royal Marines (I hope that was because of the midges)

Thanks chaps, worth a go as the Mrs acts as a sacrificial anode where biting insects are concerned. T

hey go for her first rather than me so the little 'un may suffer the same fate.

The other good thing about it is that it doesn't seem to result in any nasty/allergic reactions.

just stay out of the sun while wearing it 🙂

Or melt plastic like DEET does

its the greeny coloured skin so soft and has always worked great for us when we have been camping in very midgey places!

The other good thing about it is that it doesn't seem to result in any nasty/allergic reactions.

It makes my eyes go pink and makes the world look blurry, although some would suggest you shouldn't squirt in your eyes

at least you'll have nice soft smooth skin if it doesn't work

last summer, friend of mine turned up with some on a camping get together. She's a midge magnet, much like myself, it worked a treat for both of us.