Benzyl benzoate

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve bought two small bottles for an itchy horse.
I’ve used it years ago and remember it really helped lessen the itch but can’t think how I applied it or what it was mixed with.
Wondered about using Udder cream or even if I can get some udder salve (more like Vaseline than cream) to apply to the sheath and underneath area but don’t want to be plastering that all over his face!

 

[Birker2020]

I’ve bought two small bottles for an itchy horse.
I’ve used it years ago and remember it really helped lessen the itch but can’t think how I applied it or what it was mixed with.
Wondered about using Udder cream or even if I can get some udder salve (more like Vaseline than cream) to apply to the sheath and underneath area but don’t want to be plastering that all over his face!

Don't you apply with cotton wool straight out of the bottle? I believe you can also rub it in with your fingers.

I can still smell it now, lovely smell.
Found this sweet itch rug at a knockdown price on one of the searches too!
https://www.sweetitch.co.uk/product/equi-theme-sweet-itch-fly-rug-sheet/

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We applied it directly to the pony on cottonwool.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I’ve bought two small bottles for an itchy horse.
I’ve used it years ago and remember it really helped lessen the itch but can’t think how I applied it or what it was mixed with.
Wondered about using Udder cream or even if I can get some udder salve (more like Vaseline than cream) to apply to the sheath and underneath area but don’t want to be plastering that all over his face!

You have to put it in a carrier don't apply it neat, I've used aqueous cream and zinc castor oil before

 

[Pinkvboots]

There is another thread about it on here one of mine reacts to it his hair falls out and sounds like someone else's horses is the same so I wouldn't use it neat.

 

[Annagain]

I used to make a mixture of 40% BB, 50% calamine lotion and 10% meths for my old man who had sweet itch. It's very old school but it seemed to work for him.

 

[I'm Dun]

It depends if its already diluted or not. It will say on the bottle.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

We used to mix it with calamine lotion.

 

[Hobo2]

I used to just mix 50-50 with water and use a sponge. That is if it is the proper pure product from the chemist. Nowadays I just buy summer freedom cream from nettex really good stuff and soothes and heals as well as stopping the itch. It also lasts at least four days between applications.

 

[Pegasus5531]

I used to just mix 50-50 with water and use a sponge. That is if it is the proper pure product from the chemist. Nowadays I just buy summer freedom cream from nettex really good stuff and soothes and heals as well as stopping the itch. It also lasts at least four days between applications.

I used it like this on one of mine and worked really well. It was the stronger stuff though so needed diluting think it depends on the concentration?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We used to mix it with calamine lotion.

We used to buy a cream from Boots with Calamine and BB mixed with something else, can't remember what but I assume that was the cream element. We used that as a step down from BB liquid on its own

 

[Flowerofthefen]

We used to mix it with surgical spirit.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks, a few ideas. I thought you HAD to dilute with something? They are only small bottles of neat Benzyl. It suggests vegetable oil on the bottles but I’m not keen on covering him in vegetable oil!
calamine lotion sounds nice on sore patches.
Meths and surgical spirit are not two Id have thought of, would they be quite harsh on sensitive skin?

 

[Annagain]

I have no idea what the meths does (I have wondered if it was to toughen the skin and make it more difficult for the little blighters to bite?) but my vet swore by it and it definitely seemed to help my boy be less itchy. I know you're not supposed to use meths on broken skin so I imagine it could sting a bit, maybe the calamine calms that sting down a bit.

 

[exracehorse]

I bought from hyper drug. It says use neat. I use a kitchen sponge. All over face. Ears etc. he wears a sweetitch rug. Last summer he rubbed his face until it was bleeding. Touch wood .. we’re doing ok so far. I pour it on top of mane.

 

[Fransurrey]

If you've bought neat, to make lotion you'll need emulsifying wax and water. I melt the wax in the microwave (75 g wax to 100 mL BB) and stir in the BB. Top up to about 900 mL with warm water, stirring as you add. You will end up with a quite runny emulsion. Put into bottle (I use old cordial bottles) and top up to 1 L. As it cools it'll form the characteristic lotion. You can go lower with the concentration of wax (this is 7.5 %), but I find this a nice mix. I add a little more water as the bottle gets used up, as it does thicken over time which makes it hard to get the last bits out! You can also up the BB to 200 mL (to make it 20 %, which is around what most of the commercial lotions are), but I don't find it necessary.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

We used it with surgical spirit for years without any issue. I would be wary of using oil of any sort with sunshine and heat. I would be worried about burns.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We used it with surgical spirit for years without any issue. I would be wary of using oil of any sort with sunshine and heat. I would be worried about burns.

That’s exactly my worry yes

 

[Gloi]

It depends if its already diluted or not. It will say on the bottle.

That is the most important thing. You only used to be able to buy it made up ready to apply but now with the internet etc people are selling pure benzyl benzoate. This is okay if people know what they are doing but you hear of people mixing it with the strangest things when it needs to be made into a proper emulsion. If undiluted benzyl benzoate ends up on the skin it can make a real mess of it.

 

[Gloi]

I bought from hyper drug. It says use neat. I use a kitchen sponge. All over face. Ears etc. he wears a sweetitch rug. Last summer he rubbed his face until it was bleeding. Touch wood .. we’re doing ok so far. I pour it on top of mane. View attachment 92768

Yes this is the sort you use neat. It says cutaneous application. It has already been made up into an emulsion for you. The worry is people buying 100% benzyl benzoate and putting it on their horses like that or diluting it with water without an emulsifier so it is not properly mixed and ending up with with neat benzyl benzoate on the skin.

 

[claret09]

i use kilitch it works really well with my boy who has sweet itch. i also wash him regularly during the "midge" season. really recommend

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Just don't buy it from your local chemist claiming it's for personal use?.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I have a bottle of pure Benzyl benzoate. Is it ok to mix with E45 moisturising lotion? Thanks

 

[Gloi]

I have a bottle of pure Benzyl benzoate. Is it ok to mix with E45 moisturising lotion? Thanks

Yes, no more than 25% benzyl benzoate and never put it on broken skin.

 

[Landcruiser]

The stuff from Hyperdrug works great. I've been using it for years on my itchy horse. Much cheaper than Killitch.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Yes, no more than 25% benzyl benzoate and never put it on broken skin.

Thank you!

 

[spotty_pony]

There is another thread about it on here one of mine reacts to it his hair falls out and sounds like someone else's horses is the same so I wouldn't use it neat.

I used it once and it started making the mane fall out.

 

[claret09]

rather than using that i use kilitch and find that that is excellent

 

[Nasicus]

Please always patch test first, some horses react awfully to it despite correct dilution/application!

 

[HappyHackerK8]

We used this years ago and it was great! So I’ve bought some more and I’m mixing it 1:3 with baby oil! Thing is, I can’t remember the frequency of application?? Is it 5 days every day then a few times a week?? It’s not every day through summer is it?? Clearly won’t be able to pop it on when we/ IF WE get any sunshine