Anyone know a good mosquito repellent?

Get the hard stuff - jungle formula is it?
I read somewhere that spraying mosquitoes was one of the many casualties of the Greek austerity.

Carry an insectipen with you as well and dab some on as soon as you get bitten. Wonder if it would help to take antihistamine the whole time you're away? I bought the Boots equivalent of Jungle Formula once and it was rubbish .

I agree Jungle Formula is best, Autan rubbish!

I've been trying to find my unopened bottle of insect repellent so that I could read the label and give you a proper link KatyK. It is called Colibri and made by Maroma and if you google Colibri insect repellent full details come up.
It is made from essential oils and is the only thing that works for me apart from the hard stuff which I only use in emergencies.
Mosquitoes breed in damp grass and we live in the south of Portugal surrounded by fields that aren't ploughed until the mosquitoes have all left home to look for victims. We also use plug in repellent in the bathrooms and bedrooms. I don't like them but any thing that can bite always homes in on me and ignores DH.
I use the lavender scented spray oil as the mildest smell.

In East Africa, albeit almost 50 years ago (!), we used a spray-on deterrent called 'Off!' manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. I recently found references to it in a modern American detective story. It was very effective indeed.

One obvious thing not mentioned so far is soap. One thing we've been doing for years is to use unscented soap, the kids would come back from camping trips with the school or scouts/guides with hardly a bite, while their friends had been ravaged.

Recap on the Colibri, its the one in the orange packet not the lavender that has the mildest smell. I only use unperfumed soap as well.

@annodomini Was that the one that was advertised with the slogan 'Kills dudus, fast!'?

Hi i go to corfu every year the only repellent that works for me is odomos it's made in India but can obtain it off amazon and ebay I prefer the spray as in corfu you have to cover the skin liberally it does not smell as bad as deet as it is natural but it does work

I'm not sure about that, feetle. The one I'm remembering was a deterrent that you sprayed on your skin not an insecticide. the insecticides we used there were all pyrethrum based because pyrethrum is grown there.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful.

Maxdrans are you sure it is safe if made in India and not checked as safe Uk regulators? What's in it.
Bit of blurring on this thread between:
**insect repellent - deters them from biting
**insecticide - kills them. I think this is the stuff you plug in. (never really fancy breathing that stuff in)
**and stuff to spread on when you do get bitten - antihistamine cream.

I was once so badly bitten here at home that I took one of DH's antihistamines (over the counter Boots non-drowsy hayfever pills) and that was really helpful in calming them down. So that would be my suggestion as first aid if you have a lot of bites and you can't sleep.

I have just returned from Cyprus and again got bitten even after spraying Jungle formula. However I do not think they are mosquitoes but tiny almost invisible flying or jumping insects. I only get bitten in one particular village overlooking a lake and that's where a friend has a house. I am in the mountains and don't suffer bites there and it is always below the knees predominantly on and around the ankles. Mind you I do have a sonic sounder which gives off a high pitched sound at my place and is claimed to resemble the sound of a female mosquito so whether that is why I don't get bitten where I am remaines to be proven.
I find the ammonia pens help relieve the initial itch but I'm afraid I am a scratcher so make a fine mess of my ankles. I am not certain anything works to total effect so all you can do is take what you feel will be best for you.
Good luck and enjoy your trip.

I could do with something right now. I too am in Cyprus, it's 9.30pm, still 28 degrees and I am being eaten alive - not that I am complaining or anything

Have you been taking vit. B before and during the holiday.

Find they help me so much.

Just come back from Sicily where we used plug ins, spray on repellant and wristbands. If we did get the odd bite we used a ZAP-IT gun ( on offer at Asda for only £3) to take away the itch and it seemed pretty effective. The kids called it the mini-taser!

Nonu. No I haven't been taking vitamin B but my DH mentioned yesterday
that he had heard this can help. I intend to get some tomorrow, probably too late for my imminent holiday but will give it a go. Thanks everyone for the tips.

Where u off to Katy , somewhere nice ?

I am told Avon skin so soft oil is good for detering mosquitos. Never tried it myself as i'm fortunate and don't get bitten too much and the times i do i only suffer for a day before they start to reduce.
Anyone else tried this?

Nonu - we're going to Corfu. Lara - Thanks for the link I will investigate.
Thanks all.

Very nice too, have a good time. I just love holidays don"t you ?

Thank you Nonu. Yes I do love holidays, but unfortunately not too keen on flying. Has to be done though.

Update (albeit a bit late). Bought the Jungle Formula and didn't get bitten
once in Corfu (unheard of for me). Thanks all.