I'm biased because I work for the company, but All Terrain (based in Sunapee, NH) makes a very effective natural insect repellent called Herbal Armor. It has been shown effective against black flies, mosquitoes and other insects. Independent testing also proved it 100% effective for two hours and 95.8% effective for three hours.

Hope this helps!

So all I have to do to get rid of bugs while hiking is toss a match into the leafs?? That's GENIUS!! Why didn't I think of that?! Would do a heck of a nice job viewscaping as well now that you mention it. I'm going to have to write to the forest service and see what they think about this plan.

This guy smokes neem leaves while hiking? I think I was behind him on a trail once... cause I swear the dude ahead of me was smoking SOMETHING.

I've found the BEST insect repellent to be winter. Which is fortunate... because if you've ever tried to find neem leaves in the winter, its damn near impossible.

...my wife is a total bug magnet, and swears by Natrapel wipes: 20% picardin and the other 80% evidently inert. 50¢ each @ Amazon.

I just stay close to her, and the bugs don't even notice me!

I sprayed my hiking shirts, pants, shorts, hats, socks, boots, backpacks, and tents with permethrin last spring. Worked great. I'll do the same thing this spring. Instead of the Sawyer spray bottles, I buy a large economy size and mix it with water to the same dilution. Spray the stuff outside and let it dry. One treatment is probably enough for a full bug season in New England, unless its something you are wearing and washing constantly. Then, you might have to re-treat mid-season.

I use DEET on my skin. I doubt the brand matters at all. 100% DEET is 100% DEET.