Are any of the natural insect repellents actually any good?

[ShiverMeLogs]

I keep being bitten by something (not bedbugs) at night. I can sometimes hear a little buzzing insect so I'm thinking mosquito?

It's too hot to close the window. I don't really want to cover myself with one of those chemical sprays every night but is it the only solution?

I've read stuff about more natural insect repellent, maybe an Avon one? But AIBU to think that none of these will actually be effective and it's only the chemical ones that will be any good?

I'm in southern England if that makes a difference.

The Avon stuff is worse than useless as a repellent. You might get soft skin but that’ll be it. What about one of those plug in things with the little pads? They are very good.

Incognito is excellent, works for me in Italy and I am a bug magnet who reacts really badly to everything.

I use it in the garden for ticks and midges, South East, and it seems to work, in that when I forget I get bitten.

I haven't seen the plug ins, what would they do, stop them coming in through the window? Or capture them once they're inside?

Will look at Incognito too

Odomos is amazing.

I've not read all the replys yet, but, get garlic capsules or eat more garlic. It makes you taste nasty and keeps the little sods away. In my experience, a garlic capsule a day during spring/summer and for a month or so before going abroad has stopped me from being bitten by anything since I was about 12.

Try a Mosi Guard natural stick. Works well and smells nice.

Do any of these recommendations work on sand fleas, do you know? I’m going to Mexico next year and people at the resort have been getting really nasty bites.
Thanks in advance.

The plug ins with liquid are better judging on this year’s experience. Not sure if they kill the mosquitos or it’s a smell they dislike? Anyway makes a difference at night. We got one from Boots.

I have also been very impressed with the Pestect bracelets - I normally get eaten alive but have only had 4 bites in 2 weeks, normally 4-5 every night so I would say a 90% reduction. Smells quite strongly for about 12 hours but then it’s fine. Look like a gap year student mind you 😂

Sorry but we found these completely pointless in Italy last year!! Bitten to death!!

Avon also crap despite apparently being used by the SAS?!

Thanks all, will work through the recommendations

Avon put out a statement a couple of weeks ago. There are no bug repellent ingredients in SSS, and it does nothing.

I use stick on patches on my clothes at night. It worked in Greece last summer. Can smell the citronella (I think) when you open the packet as well

Have used Incognito in Ecuador, Kenya and Tanzania as well as here in Uk and found it excellent.

Mosi-guard.

Has worked for us in the tropics with Dc and also camping.

Have been using Incognito and no bites since, even though I heard one of the little bastards buzzing about a couple of nights ago.