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

Quick Summary

• Only one of them is an insect repellent. Smidge(affiliate link) is a repellent built on 20% picaridin (the maker also calls it Saltidin). Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil is sold by Avon as a moisturising dry oil for the skin
• Smidge's maker gives a protection time — up to 8 hours per application, reapplied sooner after swimming, hard exercise or very wet or humid conditions. Avon makes no repellent claim for Skin So Soft, so there is no figure to compare it with
• For a hill day or a wild camp, carry a real repellent. Skin So Soft is a lot of people's habit, and it is pleasant to wear, but don't rely on it on its own
• In peak midge conditions neither is enough without a head net

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. They are not the same kind of product, though, and that is the most useful thing to know before you choose.

Quick Answer: Smidge is a dedicated insect repellent: its active ingredient is 20% picaridin, its maker says one application protects for up to 8 hours, and the maker says it is safe for adults (including pregnant women) and children over 24 months. Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil is a moisturiser — Avon sells it for normal to dry skin and makes no claim that it repels midges. For a hill day or a night in a tent, use a real repellent. For serious midge exposure (early morning wild camping, midges at their peak in July), combine it with a midge head net.

What is in each product?

Smidge

Smidge's active ingredient is picaridin, at 20%. Its maker, APS Biocontrol, also uses the trade name Saltidin® for it. The maker says picaridin works by blocking the antennal receptors that biting insects use to find you, and that Smidge protects against midges, mosquitoes, ticks, horse flies and fleas for up to 8 hours.

The maker cites the World Health Organization's conclusion that picaridin has repellent properties comparable to DEET and often better, and its recommendation for travellers against mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects.

The formula is DEET-free. The maker describes it as water and sweat resistant, and says to reapply every 8 hours, or more often after swimming, intense exercise or very wet or humid conditions.

Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil

Avon sells Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray as a moisturising dry oil for normal to dry skin, infused with jojoba oil. Its own listing makes no claim that it repels insects.

Its reputation as a midge deterrent comes from Scottish outdoor word of mouth, not from Avon. We have not found published evidence for it that we could check, so we do not quote an effectiveness figure for it here — and we would be wary of any page that does without citing the study.

Head-to-head comparison

Which should you use?

For any day you will spend hours in midge country — a hill day, a wild camp, a long evening by a loch — carry a dedicated repellent. Smidge is the obvious one in Scotland; a DEET repellent is the other real option.

Skin So Soft is not banned from the rucksack. Plenty of people like the feel and the smell of it, and some use it alongside a repellent. Just don't treat it as one, because its maker doesn't.

Children

Smidge's maker says it is safe for children over 24 months. For younger children, rely on physical barriers — long sleeves, long trousers and a head net or a net over the buggy — and check with a pharmacist before using any repellent.

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(affiliate link) 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?

Avon sells Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil as a moisturiser and makes no claim that it repels insects. Many people swear by it for a short spell outside, but we have not found published evidence we could check, so we don't put a figure on it. For a hill day or a night in a tent, carry a dedicated repellent such as Smidge.

Is Smidge better than DEET for midges?

Smidge's maker cites the World Health Organization's conclusion that picaridin — Smidge's active ingredient — repels comparably to DEET, and often better. Both are real repellents. Smidge is DEET-free, which some people prefer.

How long does Smidge last?

Up to 8 hours per application, by the maker's figure. The maker says to reapply every 8 hours, or more often after swimming, intense exercise or exposure to very wet or humid conditions.

Can children use Smidge?

The maker says Smidge is safe for adults (including pregnant women) and children over 24 months. For younger children, use physical barriers — clothing and a head net — and ask a pharmacist before using any repellent.

When is midge season in Scotland?

Scottish midges are active from approximately late May to mid-September, peaking in July and early 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
• 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

• The science of Smidge — active ingredient, protection time, age guidance and the WHO citation — Smidge (APS Biocontrol), read 2026-10-28
• Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray — Avon UK, read 2026-10-28
• Midge life cycle and behaviour — The Midge Forecast