I have to admit that at least in bush Alaska I have watched it fail miserably as a Mosquito repellent. Maybe the suckers are different in Africa since so many on here think it's the cat's meow.

For your reading pleasure.

DAMN!! The thread headline?? I thought......red h....

In the hope that I am not doing some sort of thread hijacking, just which Skin so soft is everybody taking to Africa? I went to the Avon web site and found dozens of products named skin so soft. Which is which? Which one threatens to eliminate tsetse in our lifetime?

I would rather be eaten alive than take anything called "Skin so Soft" into a hunting camp.
Call me what you will but it just doesnt go with Single malt or gun powder.

quote:

Originally posted by African Hunters Quest:
I would rather be eaten alive than take anything called "Skin so Soft" into a hunting camp.
Call me what you will but it just doesnt go with Single malt or gun powder.

If you use that stuff you would get your wish. I remember camping for a week as a boy scout on an island off the coast of Georgia. All these years later the things that stand out in my mind are finding a whale carcass on the beach, hundreds of mosquito bites and the stench of Avon Skin So Soft. It might have some anti-mosquito properties, but in serious mosquito country they will still get you.

Avon is for girly-men!

I use the green bottle Expedition strength Avon Skin So Soft. Not so much for mozzies but tsetse flies... while it isn't 100% effective, I don't know anything that is including DOOM, it does keep them at bay for an hour or so before having to be reapplied. Personally I find Alaskan bugs are as bad or worse than African bugs! Especially in the summer months when fishing!!!

And I guess I am mature enough not to be scared off by a label or brand.

My youngest son and I used the SKIN SO SOFT Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Towelettes last year in RSA and Zimbabwe.

Seems to repel the tiny seed ticks too. PH and trackers were ate up with ticks, while son and I would only have a couple on our pants.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Avon is for girly-men!

There she said it! Also it doesn't seem to work for me in the North Country, though some of us (me) seem to be natural bug attractors, so take me hunting and no one else will get bit lol ...

Buzz specifically recomends Avon SSS in one of his first two videos.

As Russell said, it's the green bottle, SSS Expedition. Avon also claims some SPF protection. 15 or 30 IIRC.

quote:

Buzz specifically recomends Avon SSS in one of his first two videos.

He also hunts in flip-flops :-)

It is about the only thing that is even half effective on teste flies. As between avoiding a challenge to my manhood by abstaining from Avon or using something that helps hold the teste flies in check, I am fine with the latter.

Treating fabric with insecticide is changing. In the past the fabric was dipped in insecticide but that didn't last too long. Now there is a high tech way where the insecticide actually bonds to the fiber !! Lasts a whole lot longer.They'll be using this in Africa in Malaria rich countries.
I've had experience with those types here in diners recently.I'm not sure which fibers they bond to but certainly cotton is one of them and polyester is not. If you're wearing clothing with cotton it will bond to the cotton and never wash out !!! [no change after 10 washings !] Those who are sensitive to insecticides -beware !

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

Buzz specifically recomends Avon SSS in one of his first two videos.

He also hunts in flip-flops :-)

and a man-kini

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Avon is for girly-men!

There she said it! Also it doesn't seem to work for me in the North Country, though some of us (me) seem to be natural bug attractors, so take me hunting and no one else will get bit lol ...

You may have also noticed that people who are magnets for bugs are also magnets for the opposite sex. At least that's been my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
It is about the only thing that is even half effective on teste flies. As between avoiding a challenge to my manhood by abstaining from Avon or using something that helps hold the teste flies in check, I am fine with the latter.

Darn RIGHT BROTHER Mike, After seeing this photo of you on your last African hunt I agree. Slop on that Avon, your manhood is in tact! A REAL man wears whatever he wants on safari!!

Skin so soft works for me. I have used it on trips to Zambia, CAR and Cameroon. No serious problems. Tsetse's get you no matter what but less got me than others.

A tin full of smouldering elephant dung is the best I have come across for the tsetse.

One huntress using Channel No.5 was also avoided by the fly.

Now Ann lets not get carried away. I used Skin So Soft regular and also with Picaridin. They both worked for me in Zambia. The regular smells better than the Picaridin.

My PH showed me a place on the passenger door of his Landcruiser where one of his hunters rested his arm. The DEET he had slathered all over his arms ate the paint off the door frame.

Here in the desert Skin So Soft after a shower helps keep your skin from flaking off. Besides my women like the way it smells on me. Cheaper than colone.

What do you like on your men Ann?

quote:

Originally posted by impala#03:


What do you like on your men Ann?

Now this should definitely be it's own thread but my guess is whipped cream.

Just ordered two 4oz. pump sprays of Avon SSS Expedition with SPF 30. I didn't notice feeling anymore feminine ordering it but I guess I'll have to see after applying it.

Mark

+1! It works for this girly boy as well!

So much for my hunting mentor telling me all these years ago, to watch out for fragrance washing soaps : on both body, and stalking clothes. Anyway fyi, skin so soft works on the notorius Scottish midge but not the dreaded clegg (not to be mixed up with (Nick) Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems nothing seems to work on him) jc

Any particular reason one couldn't apply SSS and DEET?

SSR

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Just ordered two 4oz. pump sprays of Avon SSS Expedition with SPF 30. I didn't notice feeling anymore feminine ordering it but I guess I'll have to see after applying it.

Mark

Look at your hair!!

Jim,

If my ponytail makes me feminine I guess I won't see any difference when I put SSS on. DAMN! And BTW how did you feel wearing that mullet thing you had for awhile? Any unfamiliar twitches?

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

If my ponytail makes me feminine I guess I won't see any difference when I put SSS on. DAMN! And BTW how did you feel wearing that mullet thing you had for awhile? Any unfamiliar twitches?

Mark

Hey!! That was a rat tail. It's hanging in the closet keeping the Voodoo at bay.

Jim,

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Mark

In western Tanzania skin so soft on the body and a can of DOOM in each hand for the truck and for the body when they really get bad....
I would rather deal with the warning label, "MAY CAUSE CANCER", later than the Tetses

21days of NON tsetse fly bites. When U positively absolutely want to be bite free. This is it.


Mike

John Chalmers - bee keepers are always warned about using scented soaps etc. It annoyes the bees so they sting !!

Does anyone have anything besides a head net that works to keep the moponie bees out of your face, eyes nose and ears.

We've tried SSS, Off, 100% DEET etc and they still drive us crazy and have to resort to the head nets.

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
21days of NON tsetse fly bites. When U positively absolutely want to be bite free. This is it.


Mike

My limited experience supports Mike's & Mike's endorsements.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

If my ponytail makes me feminine I guess I won't see any difference when I put SSS on. DAMN! And BTW how did you feel wearing that mullet thing you had for awhile? Any unfamiliar twitches?

Mark

With faces like you two have, I would not be worried to be mistaken for being feminine!

In fact, we have an old saying here, if you were girls, you will die virgins

OMG Saeed that one is terrible

I think individual body chemistry has a lot to do with the effectiveness of all of these "solutions".

quote:

Originally posted by Esskay:
OMG Saeed that one is terrible

Walter tells me this everyday!

I thought it is the best compliment a real man can get

Most of the above mentioned repellents work well enough and some may be more efficient than others; those that will have a longer effect are those with an oil base which does not dry out or evaporate as quickly as others.
'AUTAN' in sachet form available in the local (TZ) chemists works pretty well with 2/3 applications per day.
The negative side of oil based products in dusty conditions will see dust sticking to your skin like shit on a blanket but better than being bitten and enduring those insufferable itches and welts.
Another bit of advice is to avoid dark items of clothing - if you must wear socks, go for white; yeah, the grime shows up quicker but you're not going to the Annual Ball and laundry service is daily

I got on the friggin' Google and looked up pictures of drag queens with guns. Posted it and after all that "work" I don't get one single solitary smart ass comment? This place is going to the dogs!

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
I got on the friggin' Google and looked up pictures of drag queens with guns. Posted it and after all that "work" I don't get one single solitary smart ass comment? This place is going to the dogs!

I thought that was a picture of you. I didn't want to tell you but that dress makes your ass look big.