Reaction to some midge repellents.

I was wondering if anyone else gets a major skin reaction to so called natural products. My worst reaction is to paramo's repellent. In fact my only reaction is with their,product but it says it's natural. Anyone else react to a natural repellent but not synthetic ones? How natural are they really?

Btw not having a go at paramo as I know it is probably more down to me. Only skin reaction I've had is this product but thought I'd see if I am alone in this and to make the point that with any skin product to test a but first before liberal application.

I tried those vitamin B patches once but they made me smell like biscuits brown so I got rid of them.

> Anyone else react to a natural repellent but not synthetic ones? How natural are they really?

Just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean you won't react to it...

Stinging nettles, bee stings, poison ivy, deadly nightshade, death cap (Amanita phalloides), destroying angel (Amanita bisporigera), etc.  To say nothing of the natural biological hazards...

Just as 'chemicals' aren't necessarily bad; glucose is a chemical, as are proteins, etc...  As Moby would say, "We are all made out of stars", we might also say "We are all made out of chemicals"...

Likewise, there's nothing implicitly wrong with synthesized chemicals, either.

On the other hand...

I react very badly to a number of synthetic fragances, so I avoid anything strongly fragranced, not to mention that I can't stand smelling of various cheap fragrances from various washing products (body and clothes).  Living in a hard water area, the loo tends to build up scale very quickly, so, having finally cleared it with one product, I decided to use a preventative chemical; toilet duck gel discs.  And, dear god, do they stink; a horrible, chemical smell.  Lime zest? You're joking.  I may not be able to continue using the stuff.

> and to make the point that with any skin product to test a bit first before liberal application.

Wise words indeed.