I am going to Scotland in August and need a effective midge repellant. I have found that when you kill one, a million others come to the funeral. Have you any suggestions?

Lifesystems expedition plus.
50% DEET (so doesn't dissolve the tent TOO much) with a substance which they hate if they land on it.

Worked in a tropical rainforest on mossies, sand flies, angel ants and sea ants, so should 'do' in Scottieland.

Friends have given it the 'sniff test' and rated it as pleasant.

Avon skin so soft moisturiser is also reported to deter them. No personal experience, but its been mentioned on previous threads as well.

Si(C)

I'd go along with Jeannie and Si but would add that nothing's going to stop the little buggers crawling all over you. Best bet is to cover up (long sleeves, trousers) and, if you're sitting about, burn a mossie coil. Citronella (sp?) candles also work. A head net might look a bit stupid but they're a god-send if you're stationary for more than a couple of minutes.

Whereabouts you going btw?

Si, the Avon SSS is an OIL in 'Original Woodland' fragrance. They also do a SSS moisturiser but it's not the same thing. Like citronella, though, it has a strong aroma.

The most recent tests showed that DEET is the only way to go in troublesome areas. Herbal-type remedies / 'friendly formulations' etc are OK in England but in Scotland or if you are at risk of getting malaria, forget it.

Mossi Guard has worked for us in Scotland, but I agree that in malaria at risk areas, DEET.

Head nets are better than a mouth full of midges. Believe me, they ain't nice.

They also dislike smoke from a spliff.
(so I am told LOL)

Ways to beat the mighty midge?

Cover ALL skin, soak yourself in DEET, smoke cigars or use a flamethrower.

Read an artical last week that Avon Skin So Soft did not actually work. It lasted for only a very short time compared to 50% DEET, (mins against hours IIRC). When the testers asked Avon about this they pointed out that it is not sold as a midge repellant.

Aha that's the report I read. It also stated that any concentration of DEET above 50% gave no dicernable (sp) benefit.

just tastes different

Agree with Kev on this one, from experience nothing works when they are at their worst -damp and still conditions.

Early morning and late at night covering up is the best advice. Certainly head nets provide relief until you come to want to eat or drink.

I recommend the DEET myself, but make sure you don't get it on any kit or on your watch strap.

or glassses

Why do I just not like the thought of putting something on my skin that melts through plastic faster than an aliens blood.

Because I have sensitive skin and my daughter and son have eczema and it does not harm or irritate in any way?

You'd just better watch your paintwork. It'll make short work of that!

LOL

I'm trying the Vitamin B1 and B complex tablets, but only 2 weeks in, so didn't make much difference on Friday evening. Neither did the arnywear (though it was useful at hitting the blighters). SkinSoSoft helped, but I felt that areas not coated were being bitten. I might go back to the Jungle Formula.

Just followed a similar post on a fly fishing forum. It was thought that the reason one product worked on one person and not the other was to do with way it reacted to the individuals natural odour/persperation. Skin so soft was favoured by some and useless on others. Almost all however reckoned that any DEET based products were the business though care had to be taken using them as it can melt some waders!