Smidge vs Avon Skin So Soft: Which Midge Repellent Actually Works?

Quick Summary

• Both work — but differently. Smidge(affiliate link) uses a specific repellent compound (IR3535) designed to deter midges; Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil uses an ingredient (dihydromyrcenol) not specifically developed as an insect repellent but which has a documented deterrent effect on Culicoides impunctatus — the Scottish midge
• Smidge lasts longer — up to 8 hours per application; Avon Skin So Soft needs reapplying every 1–2 hours
• Avon Skin So Soft is cheaper — a 150ml bottle costs around £8 vs £10 for 75ml of Smidge
• For a full hill day, Smidge is the practical choice; for a short evening outside or occasional midge exposure, Avon Skin So Soft is sufficient

The Scottish midge (Culicoides impunctatus) is the most-discussed wildlife in the Highlands for reasons that anyone who has stood in a cloud of them in July fully understands. There are two products you will hear recommended by virtually everyone: Smidge and Avon Skin So Soft. Both have genuine fans and genuine sceptics. Here is what the evidence and field experience actually show.

Quick Answer: Smidge (IR3535 formula) is the more effective repellent for a full day outdoors — it lasts 8 hours and was specifically developed for Scottish midges. Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil works and is cheaper, but needs reapplying every 1-2 hours and was never actually designed as a midge repellent. For a hill day, use Smidge. For an evening in the beer garden, Avon Skin So Soft is fine. For serious midge exposure (early morning wild camping, midges at their peak in July), combine Smidge with a midge head net.

What is in each product?

Smidge

Smidge uses IR3535 (Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate) as its active repellent compound. IR3535 is a WHO-approved insect repellent with a good safety profile — it is used in products for children and pregnant women at appropriate concentrations. Smidge was specifically formulated after research into what worked on Culicoides impunctatus specifically, not just general insects.

The formula is DEET-free. This matters for some people — DEET (the traditional repellent in products like Jungle Formula) is effective on midges but dissolves some plastics, has a strong chemical smell, and some users prefer to avoid it. IR3535 does none of these things.

Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil

Avon Skin So Soft Original is a skin moisturiser — not a midge repellent by design. Its active ingredient, dihydromyrcenol, is a synthetic fragrance compound. Research conducted by the Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory (University of Glasgow, 2002) found that it reduced midge landings by around 40% compared to untreated skin. For context, DEET reduced landings by around 80-90%, and the results from later IR3535 formulations (Smidge) were similar to DEET.

The mechanism is believed to be the smell — midges detect hosts primarily through CO₂ and skin chemistry, and dihydromyrcenol appears to disrupt this detection. It is not a repellent in the conventional sense but a masking agent.

Importantly, Avon does not market Skin So Soft as a midge repellent in the UK. The midge use case is entirely user-driven, based on word-of-mouth from Scottish outdoors communities going back to the 1980s.

Head-to-head comparison

Which actually works better?

The field evidence consistently favours Smidge for sustained protection:

• Users in heavily midge-infested conditions (August camping in Knoydart, early morning Cairngorm plateau) reliably report that Smidge provides effective protection for 5-8 hours; Avon Skin So Soft provides partial protection that diminishes within an hour.
• The Glasgow research data shows a roughly 2:1 effectiveness advantage for IR3535-type products over dihydromyrcenol at standard field concentrations.
• The oiliness of Avon Skin So Soft, while effective as a moisturiser, can feel uncomfortable on a hot hill day and may block sunscreen application.

However: Avon Skin So Soft is not useless. For light midge exposure — sitting outside at a Highland pub in the evening, walking through a midge cloud briefly — it provides meaningful and immediate relief. Its availability in supermarkets and chemists everywhere in Scotland means you can buy it when you forgot your Smidge.

The head net: when neither is enough

In peak midge conditions (dawn and dusk in July and August, particularly in the west and northwest Highlands), neither Smidge nor Avon Skin So Soft is sufficient without a midge head net. The density of midges at peak times exceeds what any repellent can fully control — you will still inhale midges and get them in your eyes without physical protection.

Carry a midge head net on any wild camping trip from May to September. The Lifesystems Midge Head Net costs £8 and weighs 30g. It is the most cost-effective outdoor purchase in Scotland.

Check our Midge Forecast tool before any trip to understand what conditions to expect at your location and date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Avon Skin So Soft actually work on Scottish midges?

Yes, partially. Research at the University of Glasgow found Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil reduced midge landings by approximately 40% compared to untreated skin. This is meaningfully better than nothing, but significantly less effective than dedicated repellents like Smidge (IR3535) which achieve 80-90% reduction. For serious midge exposure, Smidge is the better choice.

Is Smidge better than DEET for midges?

Approximately equal effectiveness at standard concentrations. Smidge (IR3535) achieves similar reduction in midge landings to 20-30% DEET products without the plastic-dissolving, strong-smelling drawbacks. DEET is more widely available globally, but for Scotland specifically, Smidge is the preferred product because it was designed for Culicoides impunctatus.

How long does Smidge last?

Up to 8 hours per application in normal conditions. Effectiveness decreases if you sweat heavily or swim. In heavy rain, reapply after sustained exposure. One application is typically sufficient for a full summer hill day.

Can children use Smidge?

Smidge is suitable for children over 30 months (2.5 years). It uses IR3535 at a concentration approved for children by the WHO. For younger children, physical barriers (clothing, head nets) are the recommended first line of protection.

When is midge season in Scotland?

Scottish midges are active from approximately late May to early September, peaking from late June to mid-August. They are worst at dawn and dusk, in calm humid conditions, and in the west and northwest Highlands. See our midge season guide for the full seasonal breakdown.

Related articles

• When Is Midge Season in Scotland? — the full seasonal guide with timing and regional hotspots
• Scottish Midge Guide — comprehensive midge survival guide
• Wild Camping in Scotland: Access Code Explained — where midge conditions are worst on overnight trips
• Midge Forecast Tool — check conditions before you go

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Prices correct at May 2026. OutdoorSCOT participates in the Amazon Associates programme — qualifying purchases earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Sources

• Insect repellent research — University of Glasgow — University of Glasgow Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory
• Smidge product information — Smidge
• Midge life cycle and behaviour — The Midge Forecast
• IR3535 safety profile — WHO