Insect repellent!

[ImFree2doasiwant]

We practice camped out for one night this week (first time). I sat outside reading my kindle after the children were asleep. I had on leggings, thick socks, vest and hoodie. I have 5 large bites from the 5 minutes before I wrapped myself in fleece blankets!

What do you use to prevent this?

Have a campfire and burn coils or candles. Mosquito coils and citronella candles can be very effective if the wind isn't too strong but they're not a replacement for good repellents.
My favourite brands are Smidge (contains Icaridin), Avon Skin So Soft (containsCitronellol) and Alfresco (pregnancy safe). None contain DEET, which although effective, isn't very skin or clothing friendly and would probably be overkill in the UK.
It’s a good idea not to wear any perfume, fragranced deodorants, body lotions or other nice smelling skin products.

You need to get your repellent on well before dusk. All day if you are in a damp shady area or woodland.

We use Mosi Guard which is all natural but effective.

Another Smidge fan. Very good.

I also burn incense sticks which has worked well, even in Scotland!

Take everything. We are heading to Scotland with smoke coils, Avon Skin so soft, something old that probably has a banned chemical in and head veils.

I walk the dogs in the woods every day and used to be covered in bites even with bug spray. I then bought boots after sun with the insect repellent. I religiously put it on as moisturizer after my morning shower and no more bug bites I even put it on in the evening in the summer if we are going out for dinner. It has saved me from the misery of bite marks lasting weeks on end and the itching!

Smidge is very effective and nice to use, not a strong smell. Deet is extremely good but not that pleasant to use, it's quite oily and can melt plastic. Skin so soft smells nice and makes your skin nice and soft but has bugger all effect on midges and mossies (in my experience). Insect bites are miserable so I would prefer to use something tested and proven to work.

Mosiguard is the best. I took it to Kenya with me and was the only one did not get bitten and I am normally eaten alive!

I've just done a week camping in the highlands and used smidge for the first time. It was very good, I didn't get bitten at all which is a marvel.

For bites, use tiger balm, takes the itch straight out of it.

@blackteaplease how good? Can you be outside at dusk with exposed skin? Its so so warm tonight.

I get bitten to ribbons in my garden (East of England) all day. I use Skin So Soft and Trek.

@Imfree2doasiwant it was excellent against midges at any time of the day. I'm usually a total magnet for biting insects and I didn't get bitten at all.