Goodbye Sandfly beginning
Goodbye Sandfly was formulated while working as canoe guides on the Dart River out of Glenorchy. We spent the summer of 1999 trialing different blends with willing canoe guests, getting feedback and refining the formula.
The idea
Our goal was to create a product that worked on repelling sandflies, but as importantly, that people liked using. We also wanted a product that was made of oils with few complicating factors, and be safe for children to use.
We learned that citronella, rosemary and geranium, although classic repelling oils, were not universally liked. The resulting product is a blend of natural ingredients: 6 aromatherapy grade essential oils (and they are not a secret- they are eucalyptus, lavender, pine, manuka, lemongrass & tea tree) in a base of expeller pressed almond oil.
Outdoor wedding with sandflies
The very first bottles of Goodbye Sandfly were given away to guests at our outdoor wedding in 1999. John (Kiwi) and I (Becky, American) met as raft guides working in Nepal in 1996. We now have two children: Isaac (3) and Helena (7) who are our laughs, our growth, and our test subjects for Goodbye Sandfly.
West Coast!
We moved to Karamea (on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand) in 2006, and for the first time, we were actually living in true sandfly country. We had sandflies in our house if the wrong windows were left open. Goodbye Sandfly started getting daily use, and our understanding of the product, and the environment improved.
Living with Sandflies
Living with sandflies on a daily basis, and learning from our community, we realized that there is a lot of information to share. People on the coast have such a patient, grounded attitude about sandflies. They just deal with whatever bug situation they’ve got to deal with and get on with their lives.
It’s Not about the Bugs
Over the years we’ve found ourselves spending as much time educating and encouraging people as we have selling Goodbye Sandfly. Many people market bug products with fear, and we have chosen to market with power of information. We’ve decided to formalize this into a free digital magazine- and have asked people that we personally know & respect to be contributors to it. We have designed it to cover a broad spectrum of topics- each issue a little gem. If you have any interest in natural living, food decision making & outside recreation, I hope you will join us.