Forever I’ve heard that Avon Skin So Soft deters mosquitoes from biting. I have never tested it . . til yesterday. We’ve never had mosquitoes here and with the recent rains and the garden canopy – huge squash leaves and thick pea vines – the mosquitoes are unbelievable! Before going out yesterday, I greased myself up with Skin So Soft Bath Oil. We do have a bit of a gnat problem here . . not often but when we have it, they are the most aggravating things. I had bought the Skin So Soft to use when the gnats were bothering me and never have used it.
Skin So Soft
I am happy to report that though mosquitoes were buzzing around my head and the sound had me slapping myself in the face because I didn’t put the oil on my face, I didn’t get one single mosquito bite.
Not sure if it works for all mosquitoes but it sure made my time in the garden yesterday more bearable. Maybe it’s because I’m old but I love the smell of it too.
Michelle says
The stuff works wonders. I used it by the gallons when I was in boot camp for the Marine Corps. It kept the sand fleas from us. It took over 20 years before I could handle the smell of it.
I have been using a new “flavor” of skin so soft in a think baby oil on my awful feet and it is been helping a lot..
Michelle says
OOPs meant to say in a thick creamy type baby oil.
Michelle says
Judy,
It’s skin so soft signature silk gelled body oil. It’s thicker than baby oil. My hubby rubs it on my feet every night and it lasts til next night even through a shower. I love it.
Amy @ Heritage Homemaker says
Michelle I am going to have to try that! My feet are awful, year round 🙁
Helen says
I just ordered Skin So Soft Mosquito Repellant from Avon and they make it with a sunscreen now, too! I’m going to test it out in a few minutes as we are going to a county fair. I’ll take it along as two of the grand kids are going with us. They are tasty children and I’m sure the mosquitoes would love to nibble them.
Betty Edwards says
Yes it does work! For years at the Baseball Field where we spent our summers for years most of the family would take the Off Spray and Off Woods Spray…got eaten up. Oldest daughter used Skin So Soft and it was quite a while before we discovered she never had the first bite. She didn’t understand what we were gripping about! lol We learned to join her…perfumed and all.
Hugs,
Betty
Linda H says
Vanilla is the best for keeping gnats away. Every year I buy a big bottle of the imitation vanilla, for about 79 cents, put it in a spray bottle and spritz my hair whenever I head out to the garden.
Kathy says
Hi, couldn’t help but add my two bits, I have been using Skin so soft for the last several years when I am machine quilting. It gives a slight grip but not sticky. Better than wearing gloves.
Howdy says
I’ve used it for years now… first to keep the cats fleas at bay and then against the May Flies that bite… and of course those mosquitoes.
I find its easier to use it every day after my shower before I dry off… a bit of protection all the time and then if I am going into a situation I know will be bad – I add a few drops to my hands and rub it in.
When I was in Ft. Worth recently my brother had some special wood smoldering in a couple places around the yard to keep them away… seemed to work well that evening.
Deborah Harmon says
A few years ago I attended boot camp graduation at Parris Island in July. I was given Skin-So-Soft to deter mosquitos and no-see-ums. After coating my legs I sat in the grandstand with a young lady with very long hair in front of me. The hot wind blew her hair over my oily legs. I’ll bet she hated what it did to her hair! Debbie in WV
Sharon in Texas says
Judy,
I have tried to wear Skin-So-Soft, but the oil makes me break out with heat rash. I am just one of those who can get mosquito bitten as soon as I step outside, so I wish I could wear it. Therefore, my normal summer perfume is Deep Woods Off. LOL
Amy @ Heritage Homemaker says
I use it, but I take a damp washcloth then put the SSS on it, then wipe myself down with it. The damp washcloth/water on it seems to help dilute the smell and oiliness, but not the effectiveness.
Rebecca in SoCal says
I recently read that dill is a gnat repellant. That sounded great to me until I read the vanilla recommendation above. Guess you have your choice of savory or sweet.
SHIRLEY ALBERTSON OWENS says
and….IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN…
AND 1/3 CUP WHOLE CLOVES TO 8 OZ RUBBING ALCOHOL…..PUT INTO QUART JAR AND SHAKE TWICE A DAY FOR 4 DAYS…THEN ADD 1 OZ BABY OIL….
VOILA – ANOTHER WONDERFUL MOSQUITO REPELLENT 🙂
Mel Meister says
I’ve never been able to stand the smell of Skin So Soft.
Amy @ Heritage Homemaker says
I think they have introduced an additional (or two) scents….
Joanna says
Saw an interesting suggestion for keeping the mosquitos away if you are sitting outdoors/eating outdoors. Turn on a slow fan in the vicinity of your chairs. The wind stream is too much for the mosquitos to fly into and they stay out of the area where the “breeze” is blowing. Not much help for garden work…
Julie in Tucson, Arizona says
I’m one of those “lucky ones” that the mosquitoes swarm on and bite the dickens out of me. I’ve used Skin So Soft for years for mosquito repellant. I read that Skin So Soft works on dogs as a repellant to bugs, fleas, etc. After we bathe Wrigley he gets a light spritz of Skin So Soft from head to tail, massaged into his fur and rinsed. We haven’t had a flea problem with Wrigley or Bear ahead of him. Wrigley is a long haired dog Australian Shepherd/Heeler and Bear was a chow.
sheila sanderson says
You have reminded me that I have some, must find it as it is good to keep the midges from making a meal of me
Sharon Spingler says
The best way I have found to get rid of mosquitoes is to buy the cheapest dish washing liquid money can buy. Put it in one of the sprayers you put on the end of your garden hose and spray EVERYTHING. When we lived in the San Jacquin Valley, we never once had a mosquito.
Susan says
It always works for me, too. Another thing I did at Girls’ Camp was take an unused dryer sheet and tuck it into the neck of my shirt – or you could pin it, and it kept the bugs away. Some people tied it around a belt loop.