Midgie B-Gone

If you have ever been to Scotland during the summer, especially the west coast July/August, you will have come across the famous Midge, who, if he appears usually with thousands of his friends, can ruin your holiday. Yep, the Scottish midge is infamous!! We aren’t bad in Fife as they tend not to descend in clouds but go north to the highlands or islands, and you will soon meet the little pest. Only wind or rain keeps them away…

Recently, a customer put me onto the hunt for Bog Myrtle, the age-old plant known as an insect repellent used by the Scots centuries ago to keep all beasties away – they simply slipped it into their kilt!! After much searching, I now have located the essential oil which can be used in a similar way, worn in carrier oil as repellent, used neat rubbed over clothes and hair or put into burners or candle to deter insects. If you like to play, you can try the Bog myrtle on its own, but if you don’t, I have produced a neat blend with lavender spike, bog myrtle and citronella, the blend in a ready-to-use spray with witch hazel, plus the blend in Neem oil, also known for its insect repellent qualities too, as no insect will go near the Neem tree. All together, they should repel everything from midgies to mossies so worth taking anywhere where there may be beasties!! My man and I went to the Union canal near Fort William to give the blend several roadtests against the midge. With no defence, we walked and waited and they didn’t disappoint. A good spray over ourselves and they moved away (the things I do for you lot!!). When the “cloud” descended on the 3^rd night, we rubbed the neat blend in our hands and wiped over hair and clothes and continued to walk with no problem. We also discovered that, if you do get bitten, the only thing that stops the itching of a midgie bite is the B-gone roller along with Vitamin C. Lavender or tea tree alone didn’t work – more painful research on your behalf!! What happened to glamour??

Midgie b-gone; Oil 50ml £4.00 100ml £7.50, Spray 50ml £4.75, Blend pure oils 5ml £3.75, 10ml £7.00 and

Bog Myrtle essential oil 5ml £3.75 10ml £7.00 and B-Gone roller 12ml £7.50