I've been a firm believer that DEET was the only thing that worked for me against the biters, but I discovered (not really discovered) but have trialed and found success with Vanilla Extract. There is one thing to look out for and I wrote about it here http://www.farawayvisions.com/vanilla-e ... repellent/

I'll give that a go, probably next year now though.

Smidge.

No need to bother with anything else.

It has made bivvying in the Scottish Highlands in summer possible.

I have had great success with emergency scrubbing exposed skin with bog myrtle leaves and that even makes you smell nice :)

+1 for smidge - even seems to repel wasps and smells pretty good for this kind of stuff

Smidge works, it's great. It tends to wear off after a while is all.

but vanilla smell would be nice, reminds me of my mum's cakes!

Smidge sounds great but a tad pricey and still has poison so I'm sticking with vanilla.

Farawayvisions wrote:Smidge sounds great but a tad pricey and still has poison

I doubt it will get through your tin foil hat

Farawayvisions wrote:Smidge sounds great but a tad pricey and still has poison so I'm sticking with vanilla.

http://saltidin.com/en/consumer/saltidin/advantages/

WHO seem to think it's ok......

And once upon a time so was DDT. And Thalidomide and many abandoned poisons. Not to mention the massive effect that diclofenic had on the vulture population in India. 98% wiped out in just a few years! I'll veer towards any natural product I can. Doing my little bit as much as I can.

Farawayvisions wrote:And once upon a time so was DDT. And Thalidomide and many abandoned poisons. Not to mention the massive effect that diclofenic had on the vulture population in India. 98% wiped out in just a few years! I'll veer towards any natural product I can. Doing my little bit as much as I can.

I'm familiar with DDT & Thalidomide but I wasn't aware of the diclofenac story. It seems DDT & Thalidomide are still in regular use. With DDT the risk from exposure to it is far outweighed by the risk malaria poses.

The diclofenac story is an interesting one but not relevant here. Yes, it poisoned vultures but it didn't poison the animals it was prescribed to. Would you avoid chocolate bars because they are poisonous to dogs?

johnnystorm wrote: Would you avoid chocolate bars because they are poisonous to dogs?

I think you know the answer already. Would you?

ScotRoutes wrote: I doubt it will get through your tin foil hat

?

Farawayvisions wrote:

johnnystorm wrote: Would you avoid chocolate bars because they are poisonous to dogs?

I think you know the answer already. Would you?

Of course!

/stuffs Reeses Nut Bar wrapper down the back of the sofa

So...

Smidge keeps off vultures too? Excellent!

Yorlin wrote:So...

Smidge keeps off vultures too? Excellent!

Only after you've died. ....