Working in the garden, I’m often trying to fend off flies and mosquitoes intent on biting me. Flapping my arms around is my usual method of defence. It doesn’t always work. And as I found out recently, a bite or sting can turn into a nasty infection – or even blood poisoning.
I wrote about a recent accident in the garden here :
https://bramblegarden.com/2019/07/05/infection-a-warning-to-gardeners/
Readers replied with their own stories – as well as those who suffered serious infections from insect bites.
https://bramblegarden.com/2019/07/19/infection-update-19th-july-2019-gardening/
My write-up has been viewed 122,000 and liked, retweeted and commented on 31,000 times. It’s obviously a subject that resonates with many gardeners.
Since then, I’ve been careful to always wear gloves. I’ve got different gloves for the various jobs in the garden. And I make sure I cover my arms and legs – and use insect repellent.
Through Twitter, I learned about UK company Incognito and sent off for some samples to try out.
I love the anti- mosquito spray which is quick and easy to apply first thing in the morning, under and over clothing. Mosquitoes and other blood sucking insects home in on ears, wrists and ankles where blood vessels are nearer the surface. So I pay particular attention to those areas.
I’m liberally spraying the insect repellent over my clothing as well to repel ticks.
Here’s a summary of what I liked about Incognito insect repellent:
* Deet Free
* 100 percent natural ingredients
* Protects against malaria, dengue and zika-carrying mosquitos
* Recommended by NHS Public Heath England for use anywhere in the world
* Easy to apply and doesn’t leave skin feeling sticky or greasy
* Pleasant citrussy scent (oil of lemon eucalyptus )
*Protection lasts up to 4 hours against daytime biting. Easy to reapply for extended evening coverage.
I found the products to be easy and pleasant to use, and I can report that a horsefly and a whole cloud of mosquitoes were sharing my gardening space, and didn’t come anywhere near me. Also, I spent a day working alongside a lake, a situation I usually dread in the summer. And again, no bites while using the spray and creams.
I tried out the combined sun cream and insect repellent. Very useful for SPF 30 requirements. And there’s a natural moisturiser too, containing avocado, chamomile and geranium. I haven’t had a chance to try the incense sticks yet, but we are planning a family party in the garden soon where they will be very useful. They are non-toxic and have a lemony aroma.
Incognito is offering a prize of a 100ml anti-mosquito spray, and a 150ml insect repellent suncream. Please leave a comment below to be included in the draw. No purchase is necessary. Incognito will draw the winning name “out of a hat” and post the prize direct. Please also say if you don’t want to be included in the draw. All comments are very welcome.
Please feel free to share this blog post on any platform.
I am https://mobile.twitter.com/kgimson?lang=en on twitter
Also https://www.instagram.com/karengimson1/?hl=en
Links : Incognito https://lessmosquito.com/
NHS advice re insect bites : https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
NHS advice re sepsis : https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
UK Sepsis Trust https://sepsistrust.org/
You might also like my recent posts : https://bramblegarden.com/
About: https://bramblegarden.com/about/
* Currently (25 July) the repellent spray and roll-on are buy one,get one half price at Boots.
Bramble Garden 
Count me in. I need some good insect repellent because horse flies love my blood.
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I must look out for this Karen – really like the sound of it
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I’d like to be included in the draw too please. Especially if it discourages horse flies
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It does. I’ve had them circling me all day. They never came any where near. Good luck in the draw.
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I’d love to be invluded in the draw. If I can use it straighton my skin that would be wonderfu.
Many thanks for offering this prize draw Karenn,
Cheers,
Suella
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Thank you Suella. Thanks for reading. Good luck with the draw. See you soon, I hope. Xx
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Congratulations Suella, you have won the Incognito spray and sun cream. Please send me your address and they will send them direct. k.gimson@btinternet.com
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Wow! That is great news. I’m at 10 West Leake Road, East leake.
LE12 6LJ.
Thanks for organizing this Karen.
Much appreciated!
Suella
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Congrats again. I need your surname please. All the best. Karen
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These sound like great products Karen. Please include me in the draw.
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Will do 🙂💕
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Thank you.
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Yes, I would love to be included in the draw, and of course test these products. Several years ago, I was bit one evening at the allotment, next day I felt sure that one of the Directors had been in my office, and moved my chair down! No it was my arm that had swollen, my PA suggested I go to the local A&E which was in Cirencester. I was on a drip for 4 hrs…I was told that I did exactly the right thing….that the last person to lie on that couch was an HRH with more or less the same thing. With the weather getting hotter, as it is at the moment, there are more flying biting insects around. One does not have to be abroad! Prevention is better than cure, and I am pleased to hear about these products.
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Thank you Noelle. There are a lot more insects than usual due to the high temperatures and rain. We were hotter than Havana yesterday! Good luck in the draw
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Yes, I’ve love to win these products. I react badly to mozzie bites and currently have one at the top of my arm that’s driving me mad. Please enter me in the raffle.
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I will do Christine. Keep an eye on that bite and seek help if it gets infected. Speed is of the essence. If you need antibiotics, it’s sooner rather than later. Good luck in the draw.
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It certainly was a popular post. Perhaps this one will be, too
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Thank you Derrick. Hope you are keeping cool. It’s 34C in the shade here today! Can’t remember it ever being so hot. Best wishes . Karen
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Thanks very much, Karen. Something like that here, too
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It sounds like a good product – especially the one with sun protection added. Thankfully we haven’t had too many biting insects so far, probably due to the dry weather. Sun protection is our major priority here at the moment. Gardening can be hazardous, can’t it! 😉
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Thank you Cathy. It really can! I’m being careful from now on. It’s nice to find a product that’s natural and deet-free, and easy to use. I’m sitting in the orchard with a glass of lemon verbena tea, accompanied by the cat and dog- all trying to keep cool. 30C again today. Phew. x
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And I am sitting indoors with the curtains closed, 33°C outside, also drinking a cup of lemon verbena tea! I grow it in pots and harvest and dry it throughout summer and it usually lasts me through the winter then too. 🙂
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That reminds me, I must dry some for winter. Highest temperatures ever recorded for here. It’s been cooler today. Thankfully.
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Please include me in the draw as last week I could hardly walk after a very small insect left me with a very swollen ankle. This year seems to be worse than ever for bites.
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Thank you Liz. Please keep checking back to see if your name has come out of the hat. I really think this year is worse than usual. The weather may be responsible. We seem to have tropical storms with torrential rain, followed by heatwaves. It’s bound to encourage biting flies and mosquitos 🦟. Thanks for reading. Hope your ankle is better now. x
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Karen I would like to enter the raffle, if possible. Because I have been looking at the Incognito link and although it says that it has stores in Spain, they don’t really sell their products. I have very sensitive skin and any cream or even a shirt makes me sick and I get a rash. And as I have seen that they are natural products, I have loved them. I also get between clouds of mosquitoes to work in the garden and do the same as you: move your arms to get rid of them, but they don’t care, they keep getting in their ears and nose. And I just got full of bites because they get under my clothes and many get infected. Karen I am very happy for you that you have found this product and no mosquito bites you anymore. It’s great!! Now you can enjoy quiet gardening even next to the pond, I love it. I’m very happy for you. The daisies by the table are divine, I love them. Congratulations on a Summer without bug bites! Karen love and health for your whole family and for you. Take care of yourself and rest in the garden in the shade with a glass of iced tea and I have to give you a fan to give you air. Do you have a fan? If you do not have one, send me my name and full address to my email margaritaecologica@outlook.com and I send you one by mail. I am always with my fan from side to side. Loving caresses to Meg and Grace. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
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Thank you Margarita, don’t worry, I’m keeping cool, in the shade of the trees. The orchard is a lovely place to sit at the moment. I’m contemplating the pears, and thinking what I’m going to make with them when they are ripe. I have a fan, thanks. It certainly helps in this weather. I think it’s going to get hotter over the weekend. Good luck in the prize draw which Incognito is running for me. Meg and Grace are keeping me company in the shade. Loving greetings from karen xx
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