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. 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. Still, if you want to give midges the elbow this is one of the best products to buy and the fact it doesn’t use DEET or indeed any nasty chemicals is a massive bonus. Midges target their victims by sensing carbon dioxide in exhaled breath and other odours associated with their targets. Avon midge repellent: Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Body Spray with Jojoba Does Avon Skin So Soft still repel midges?Midges have been around for thousands of years but with climate change, they are increasing their range and extending their season. Calm, windless days and dull days are likely to be more midgey– midges stop flying in wind speeds greater than about 6mph. It is only the female midge that bites. When female midges emerge they have built up enough fat reserves as a larva to lay their first batch of eggs. To mature more batches of eggs than this initial batch, the female midge needs a blood meal. If you’re ahead of the game and already have some Avon products, then great! All you need to do is keep applying it like you are already, keeping your skin safe while free from itches. If you don’t have any Avon, their products are relatively cheap and easy to find, so what are you waiting for? Get going and keep those pesky mosquitoes away!

You can buy Avon products at any grocery store like Target or Walmart , but if you can’t find it in your area, you can easily shop for some online. The good news is that those local news stories about how great Avon products are at repelling insects don’t have to be totally wrong anymore! We’ve been using Smidge insect repellent for about 6 years and find it to be very effective against the wee beasties. Buzz Off Spray Although it says this repellent is for mosquitoes I have found it to be useful against Scottish midge. It has a very pungent repellent smell on your skin but it's good at midge protection. This is DEET based and you should be aware it can ruin some plastics, such as watchstraps, but it does see off a wide range of insects including midges. It works by deterring insects from landing on the skin. Buy from outdoor stores including Tiso. Don’t use products with strong perfumes as these can attract midges (eg. deodorant, shampoo, soap, perfume, shower gel, etc.)You’ll need at least two for any area bigger than a dining-table-sized space but they work very well and there’s something incredibly relaxing about watching a candle burn down in the evening.

Smidge comes in a pump spray and is like a moisturising milk or lotion which you apply to your skin. 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. Cover exposed skin– midges have short mouth parts so can’t bite through material although they will crawl under clothes.

What time of year do midges come out in Scotland?

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. If you’re being bitten by midges, then your friends and family probably are too. Why not help them out by sharing this post with them using the simple share buttons?

Bought this for a holiday , partly as I know Avon products are good quality and then as it was recommended by friends. It was. A very good dry oil moisturiser as well as a useful insect repellent. I normally get bitten by everything, but using this I had no insect bites at all. I agree with the reviewer who disliked the initial smell, but I found the scent vanished within a couple of minutes. 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 Icaridin works similar to DEET, but its adoption is not as widespread. For example, Canada only allowed the use of icaridin in 2012, a long time after the United States and the United Kingdom did.

We haven’t tried Lifesystems Natural 30+ Insect Repellent Spray but I like that it’s another natural midge repellent. 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.