Bugs, insects, and Deet?

[Handbag Lady]

Hello,

We are going to POR in August. Late August.

Can someone please tell me what they bug situation might be at that time? I hate wearing Deet as it grosses me out and I feel so smelly and slickery.

But, of course if one must wear Deet to avoid the buggies, I'll do what I must to avoid becoming some critter's midday snack.

Anyone have any luck with Avon's Skin-So-Soft? I heard that was good for bug repellant without that fun Deet feeling.

Thanks!

 

[lovethattink]

It seems like the places I get bit most often are POR and Ft. Wilderness. The insects love me. Usually they aren't bad until dark. I've found that if I avoid scented deodarant, don't wear perfume and don't wear dark colors, then I get bit less. I've found that if I use the purple moisturizing shaving gel (Walmart's brand) to shave my legs, I don't get bit. Now I wouldn't advocate using that instead of DEET, it's just an observation.

Years ago, the bath and body shop use to have a sunscreen with citronella in it. That was the best stuff. I never got bit while wearing that. Of course, they don't make it anymore.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Ack. We are staying at POR and we are biking at the Ft. Wilderness campground in the middle of our stay for a break.

Dark colors, huh? Bugs are weird.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We just returned from WDW and this was our first trip taking SSS. We visited ST. Pete area beaches and right after sunset, the biggest mosquitos I ever saw came out in droves!

None of us had any on, so we jumped in the car and closed all the windows, but about 10 bugs were in there with us! I grabbed the bottle of SSS and just started spraying in the air and you should have seen the bugs bouncing off the windows trying to get out!! That's when I was positively sure that SSS works.

We used it when we went fishing at Ft. Wilderness and every day after that and we didnt have any biting problems.

It's not my fragrance of choice, but it is way better than smelling like OFF and gives your legs a nice shiny glow so it is on the "must bring" list for us.
Dh was even using it and he was a complete skeptic and didnt want to smell girly. LOL!

PS, Since SSS has a whole line of products, I want to add that we used the bath oil spray right out of the bottle it's much cheaper than their Bug Guard line (which I purchased a 12 pack of towlettes for $12.95 but havent used yet) Im thrilled that the original SSS works and you can buy big bottles of it.

 

[elastigirlfan]

The SSS Bug Guard is awesome!!! It comes with sunscreen or w/o sunscreen. It now comes in an aerosal spray which is great and there's no DEET!

 

[MagicalMom]

Gosh, we'll be at POR next week & I never even thought about bugs. Guess it's a good thing that I saw this. I'll have to go pick something up tomorrow.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thank you, Liferbabe, for the info on the SSS.

I don't have an Avon Lady anywhere near me, so cha-ching here I go internet shopping.

 

[NancyIL]

Cutters and Off make a bug repellent without DEET. The Off Botanicals is supposed to feel less greasy than the Cutter's Lemon Oil and Eucalyptus, and both smell better than products with DEET.

 

[bjakmom]

Off now makes a wrist band without deet for kids - we used them on the Wishes cruise - even got ones that were 'glow in the dark' = the kids loved wearing them ! Got them at CVS for 2.99 each - they had the glow ones and also bright (DIS) green .

EDIT: realized that this product is called "Bug Off" - not made by Off - made by a company called Stinger. Active ingreds are citronella, geraniol, and lemongrass oil.

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

I'm a believer of the Avon stuff...used it on my 2 yr old at the beach recently, she had a sundress on when I sprayed her down, thus her back was not sprayed (covered by the dress). Later, she changed into a suit and went out and woke up with her back covered in bites. She was bite free everywhere else. I like it!

Oh, and I bought the Off Botanicals stuff, and it does have DEET in it, I thought it didn't and used it, but it does say it's in it in the small print.

 

[golfgal]

I have been using the Cutter Advanced this summer, it doesn't contain DEET. It works pretty well, just not as long as other sprays I have used. The mosquitoes have been terrible here this summer and this stuff keeps them away. It also doesn't have that repellent smell, acutally there isn't any smell which I love. It isn't at all greasy either.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Any product with DEET in it makes me nausea and headachie. I've used Skin So Soft with great success, alittle oily, but it works and is nice smelling. DW is an Avon lady, ding dong, and brought me some of their Bug Guard line to try. As for bites incurred, ammonia stops the itch and I poured some regular ammonia in an old bug bite pen for instant relief. Last trip, while on the hay ride at Fort Wilderness, our legs got bit like made, forgot the bug repellant and the next day we visited First Aid and they gave us a gel calamine lotion, relieves the itch. Upon arriving home and taking my smart card in to the CVS for pictures, I asked the Pharmasist whats the best gel and he said: save your money on gels and use straight household ammonia. In my hip pack and my DW we carry SSS, ammonia stick, and that anti-bacterial soap.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thank you for that ^^.

I had no idea that would work on bug bites. I really hope I don't get chewed on. I bought the SSS Bug repellant and the SSS bath oil spray. The husband will be bringing something with DEET as it doesn't annoy him as much as it does me.

I've heard so many good things about SSS and bugs. It's nice to know an internet rumor is true!