University-developed Geraniol-based products winning over golfers across the country — including LPGA?s Carin Koch
CARTERSVILLE, GA (December 2007) – Golfers know all too well the buzzing, biting insects that seem to target their bare skin and clothing the second they step onto the course. Now there’s a DEET-free insect repellent that allows golfers to concentrate less on swatting bugs and more on hitting long drives.
BugBand insect repellent products provide protection from biting insects while avoiding traditional synthetic pesticides. It is safe for children and pets, and can be used around food. BugBand also doesn’t eat away at golf club grips like solvent-based repellents can.
BugBand, which is debuting its new four-ounce camouflage pump spray at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show (booth 3211), is a safer choice. According to laboratory and field studies by the University of Florida, Geraniol, the plant-based active ingredient in BugBand, has been proven effective in repelling a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats, no-see-ums and fleas. The naturally derived, pleasant-scented Geraniol insect repellent vapors create an invisible shield to repel bugs. “Going without protection when you’re outside simply isn’t an option,” says BugBand president Dan Ritter. “The fact that Geraniol is both safe and effective makes it an alternative that golfers of all ages can feel good about.”
BugBand is capturing the attention of golfers across the country, including LPGA star Carin Koch. Earlier this summer, at the 29th LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, NY, Koch and the rest of the players had to deal with an inordinate number of buzzing, biting insects. “I think everybody underestimated just how big a problem the insects would be this year,” Koch says.
The two-time LPGA Tour winner used BugBand insect-repelling towelettes before every round, and managed to repel the gnats and mosquitoes that plagued her competitors. “The rest of the players were trying everything they could think of to keep the bugs away,” she says. “It didn’t take long to realize that I was the only player on the course not getting bitten.” Koch quickly asked for a shipment of BugBand insect repellent to be rushed to Corning, and shared the towelettes, spray and wristbands with her competitors. “I’m a big fan of BugBand,” Koch says. “I appreciate not only how well it works, but also how environmentally friendly it is.”
Geraniol is a naturally occurring repellent that can be extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process. Cartersville, GA-based EES, Inc. (Effective Environmental Solutions), licensed the technology from the University of Florida, Gainesville, which developed and tested alternatives to synthetic chemicals over a 17-year period. The company now distributes the insect repellent in several forms, including BugBand wristbands, pump spray, and towelettes, as well as several commercial applications.
BugBand insect repellent is made in the USA and is available online at www.bugband.net, and at golf, department, grocery and drug stores across the country, including Target; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Bass Pro Shops and Sportsman’s Warehouse. For more information or to order online, visit www.bugband.net.
What is Geraniol?
For years, people have planted geraniums on their porches or in window boxes, believing that the flowers helped deter mosquitoes. Today, scientific data supports that belief. Geraniol (geranium oil), a natural oil derived from geranium plants, has been proven to be an effective means of repelling insects. The everyday geranium plants we grow in our gardens and flowerpots contain geranium oil, although only at low levels. Geranium plants earmarked for commercial oil production have been bred and refined over the years, and are currently grown in Nepal and other Southeast Asian countries.
BUGBAND PRODUCTS
Wristbands: The vapors from the plastic BugBand wristband form a protective shield, keeping insects (including mosquitoes, flies, gnats, no-see-ums and fleas) a safe distance away. While many repellents are easily diluted or rinsed off with swimming or perspiration, the wristband just keeps working, up to 120 hours. It’s packaged in an innovative reusable plastic “pod” which can be used to store the wristband and sealed between uses to preserve the active life of the product. The plastic band is designed with a patented break-away strap that snaps if it becomes entangled. It can also be worn on belt loops, hatbands, fastened in tents, attached to baby carriages or applied to other areas where insects could be a problem. The BugBand wristband comes in multiple colors, including dark green, light green, blue, yellow, red, pink, and glow-in-the-dark. It has a suggested retail price of $4.95, and is available at retailers including Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Bass Pro Shops, and online at www.bugband.net. A family pack is also available that offers four bands — each in its own “pod” — for the price of three, $14.95.
Pump Spray: BugBand spray lotion does not contain any propellants, but relies on a highly effective metered pump sprayer to dispense a fine mist over the area to be treated. By spraying the BugBand liquid directly on clothing or skin, the Geraniol vapors form a protective barrier to deter insects from biting. It is ideal for uses around the ankles, wrist or neck, where insects tend to invade clothing. Use once for hours of insect protection. The 6-ounce BugBand pump spray has a suggested retail price of $6.95; the 4-ounce camouflage bottle is $5.89. Both are available at area retailers, and online at www.bugband.net.
Towelettes: The BugBand towelette is a very handy, easy-to-use method of applying Geraniol insect repellent. The 6-by-8-inch pretreated towelettes are available in 15- or 40-count containers. Easy to use, safe and effective, the towelettes allow for exact application of Geraniol lotion on exposed skin. They’re ideal for using around your face or neck without worrying about over-applying. The BugBand 15-count towelette dispenser has a suggested retail price of $5.95 (40-count: $11.95), and is available at retailers including many Walgreens locations and Sportsman’s Warehouse, and online at www.bugband.net. BugBand towelettes are also available in a foil two-pack for $.99. The towelettes can be folded and stored in the foil container for future use.
BugBand Geraniol repellent is also available in commercial applications, including spray-a-jell, bead bags, dumpster deodorant, playground/grounds granular insect repellent, and livestock bedding treatment. For more information, visit www.bugband.net or call 1-800-473-9467.
Contact:
Brian Bellmont
Bellmont Partners Public Relations
(952) 233-0428, brian@bellmontpartners.com
