No No-See-um Blog

No No-See-Um Wins Best Outdoor Safety Product

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Sanibel, FL. (November 12, 2012) – No No-See-Um (created on Sanibel Island) announces today that is has been selected as Best Outdoor Safety Product in the 2012 SheKnows Parenting Awards. According to SheKnows, the active community of SheKnows readers voted for select finalists, recognizing outstanding products and services in the parenting industry, based on functionality, quality, safety, convenience and best bang for the consumer’s buck.

No No-See-Um is an ALL-Natural insect repellent that helps protect against most biting insects that carry diseases, including mosquitoes and no-see-ums. Mainstream repellents are toxic and hazardous, especially for children. No No-See-Um combines citronella, lemongrass, and geranium oils and has been proven to be extremely effective. The formula is DEET-free, safe for children and pets, smells wonderful and parents can feel comfortable about reapplying as often as necessary.

About SheKnows
Recently honored by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Websites for Women and one of the Top 10 Lifestyle Sites for Women, SheKnows also won the OMMA Award for Web Excellence for the second year in a row in 2011. SheKnows has been named the No. 1 site for Family, Parenting and Women’s Interests. For advertisers, sponsorship opportunities and creative integration go well beyond the banner and make marketing messages an uninterrupted part of the user experience. The company is based in Scottsdale with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. SheKnows is part of Atomic Online (www.atomiconline.com), Evolve Media Corp.’s publishing unit.

About the SheKnows Parenting Awards:
Each year, the SheKnows Parenting Awards program (formerly the SheKnows Parents’ Choice Awards) seeks out products that have set themselves apart as a leader in the parenting industry. The goal of the awards is to give SheKnows readers all the information they need to make educated decisions in their everyday lives – particularly when it comes to their kids! Nominated products are reviewed by the SheKnows team of editors and hand-picked for quality, functionality, safety, convenience and more. Winners are determined via an organic online voting process open to the public and are announced on the SheKnows website each fall.

The SheKnows Awards Voting Has Begun!

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

It’s Official! The voting for the best parenting products for 2012 is underway.

No No-See-Um is proud to have been chosen as a finalist in the 2012 SheKnows Parenting Awards. Our amazing product is one of the four finalists in the category of Outdoor Safety. The awards recognize “outstanding products in the parenting and pregnancy industry based on functionality, quality, safety and convenience.”

Our fans have the chance to vote once a day throughout the month of October and winners will be announced on November 5, 2012.

CLICK HERE to vote for No No-See-Um.

Thank you to everyone for showing your support!

No-See-Um Breeding Habits

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The female No-See-Um will lay her eggs in a wide range of locations. Breeding ground for the female No-See-Ums to lay her eggs require a moist location. This is why they are more prevalent in rainy season. It can be small or large, freshwater or saltwater areas.

Breeding locations can include:

freshwater lakes and ponds
marsh lands and mangrove areas
wet sand along seashores
even moist soil and water retention area of house plants

side note: Since no-see-ums are small enough to fit through most window screening it is possible for them to breed in your house. However, since they require a moist environment to lay their eggs, they are not going so in the carpet or furniture like fleas or bed bugs would. If you have bugs reproducing in these places, the no-see-um is not your bug.

A single female no-see-um can breed up to 7 times per year and lay more than 400 eggs at one time. YIKES!!! With such as short lifespan, the large populations of no-see-ums swarming around your region is no mystery.

SheKnows Parenting Awards 2012

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Great news! No No-See-Um has been chosen as a finalist in the 2012 The SheKnows Parenting Awards!! Editors and parents at SheKnows picked our wonderful product as one of the four finalists in the category of Outdoor Safety. The awards recognize “outstanding products in the parenting and pregnancy industry based on functionality, quality, safety and convenience.” Our fans will have a chance to vote throughout the month of October and winners will be announced on November 5, 2012. We’ll keep you updated on how to vote for No No-See-Um as we get closer!

Thanks to everyone for all the support.

Gear Up For Camp

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

No No-See-Um was featured in the April 2012 Issue of Parent & Child Magazine. Southwest Florida moms love our all natural product that keeps the bugs away and their children safe from harmful chemicals.

Bug Spray Born On Sanibel In National Contest

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

By Jeff Lysiak, Island Sun - Sanibel Island, FL

For nearly two years, the war against no-see-ums, mosquitoes, midges, black flies and other biting insects is now being won by human populations following the invention of No No-See-Um, an all-natural, skin-safe bug repellent created by a pair of Sanibel residents.

But now, the popular and effective anti-insect spray is facing another battle, and the locally owned and operated company could use the assistance of some fellow islanders to claim another important victory.

Beginning on March 7, No No-See-Um became one of more than 4,000 products to be entered into Get On The Shelf, an online contest sponsored by retail giant Walmart. The top three products – as selected by two rounds of voting (via Facebook and text messaging) – will become eligible to be distributed by the world’s leading retailer.

“We are a local product looking to go national,” said Caroline Semerjian, COO and co-founder of No No-See-Um. “There’s a huge need with a safe, effective product like this out there. It’s so frustrating when people call us up and ask where they can buy our spray where they live, and I have to tell them that – outside of Sanibel and Captiva and a few places in Florida – they can only get it online. Winning this contest would be a really big boost for us.”

Currently, the all-natural, DEET, PABA and paraben-free insect repellent is distributed at more than 60 locations on the islands as well as several retailers in Southwest Florida. It is also available at single outlet stores in Arizona, Georgia and South Carolina.

According to Kip Buntrock, director of sales for No No-See-Um, his sister alerted him to the Get On The Shelf competition after she saw it televised on a morning news program.

"I called Caroline and told her we had to get in on this," said Buntrock. "We bounced around a couple of ideas for a video, which we shot during the second week in February. And some of it was even filmed right here on Sanibel."

In the two minute, five second commercial, several humorous scenarios where the No No-See-Um spray is used – including a wedding, golf outing and fishing trip – shows the Waterside Inn, Bailey’s General Store, Beachview Golf Club and Island Pharmacy.

“We wanted it to be funny, but we also wanted to show how No No-See-Um spray is able to help out in many ways,” added Buntrock.

The first round of Get On The Shelf voting will end on April 3, with the top 10 products receiving the most votes moving on to the second round. Between April 11 and 24, the final round of voting will take place, with one grand prize winner and two first prize winners selected. The grand prize winner will receive an opportunity to have their product sold on Walmart.com and in retail stores across the county, or be issued a check for $12,500. Each first prize winner will also receive the same opportunity, or be issued a check for $10,000.

"This is a great opportunity for a ‘Mom & Pop’ business to get some national exposure for their product," said Semerjian. “Perhaps other chain stores will hear about our product and want to carry it, so something like this could be a huge stepping stone for us.”

To watch the No No-See-Um video and vote for it to win the Get On The Shelf competition, visit www.getontheshelf.com/product/4245/No-No-See-Um (Tiny URL http://goo.gl/lb7Na). There is a link to vote for the product via Facebook or by sending a text from your mobile phone to 38383, with the message 4245. People may vote once per day using each method.

For additional information, visit www.nonoseeum.com.

Vote for Us in Get on the Shelf

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

No No-See-Um is currently entered in a contest sponsored by Walmart for getting on the shelf. The 10 products with the most votes go onto the second round. The top winner gets the opportunity to have their product sold by Walmart.

Voting for round 1 is March 7th - April 4th. You can vote by going to http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/4245/No-No-See-Um and voting with Facebook or my texting 4245 to 383838.

You can cast a vote every day. Please help us out.

No No-See-Um Promotional Video

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

DEET INSECT REPELLENT DANGER: DEET insect repellent can cause serious side-effects

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Because DEET is absorbed through the skin, it can cause serious damage to the nervous system and the immune system. Thus it can significantly reduce immunity to various illnesses as well as cause nervousness, seizures and agitation - especially in children, seniors and people with life-threatening illnesses.

It is alleged that DEET is not harmful because it is applied externally to the skin. This allegation completely ignores the fact that the skin is our largest organ and does absorb many liquid chemical compounds directly into the body. And once DEET enters the bloodstream through the skin, it is known to cause neurological damage.

There is now evidence that DEET can kill brain neurons and therefore may possibly be a cause of ADHD, sleeping disorders and autism. Thus, DEET should be used on children. Instead, a natural product – with the same effectiveness - should be used exclusively. No-Noseeum is just such a purely natural product.

Top 6 Mosquito Attractants

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. You can avoid being bitten by making sure you aren't attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent.

Top 6 Mosquito Attractants

Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you.

Moisture
Mosquitoes like humidy and after a good rain, mosquitoes are more prevelent. Perspiration increases the humidity around your body which mosquitoes love. They are also attracted to perspiration because of the chemicals it contains . Even small amounts of standing water, sich as in the bottom aof a bucket or plant container will attract mosquitoes. Standing water also allows mosquitoes to reproduce.
Dark Clothing
It's no mystery that mosquitoes are worst at night in in the wooded areas. In other words... dark places. Mosquitoes visually locate hosts from a distance. Therefore dark clothes and foliage are mosquito magnets. Where light colord clothing.
Skin Temperature
The exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremiti
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is released in the body when exercising or after eating foods that are salty or high-potassium foods.
Fruity or Flowery Fragrances
In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
Carbon Dioxide

You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.

Things that Reduce the Effectiveness of Insect Repellent

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

So you have applied your bug spray and a ready to hit the muggy and buggy outdoors. You have used your spray successfully many times before and this time it's not working. "What has changed?" you ask yourself.

Well, there are many factors that can effect the effectiveness of any bug spray.

Depending on the humidity, high temperatures and wind will cause the spray to evaporate or soak into the skin more quickly.
Sunscreen, epecially the scented kind. No No-See-Um scent was taken into consideration when formulated.
Sweating, swimming or rain will dilute the bug spray.

Keep in mind that natural bug sprays and natural insect repellents may need to be reapplied more frequently. Althought the ingredients are all natural, be make sure that you do not have a skin allery to any of the ingredients before applying too much.

DEET Plus Suncreen is a No-No

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Little known fact: While the EPA says that using DEET is "safe" as long as you follow their long list of warnings, it should never be used with sunscreen. Recent studies using animal and human skin cells suggest the mixture might increase DEET absorption but also might make sunscreen not protect against UV rays as well. About 20 versions of sunscreen-bug repellent combinations are sold, but because the Food and Drug Administration regulates sunscreen and the Environmental Protection Agency regulates insect repellant, guidance for using these combo products is in limbo since they don’t really belong to either agency. Complicating the issue, Canadian researchers recently tested human skin cells and found questions beyond the all-in-one products: Spraying on DEET and then rubbing on sunscreen actually increased DEET absorption the most.

Be aware that when you’re sitting at the outdoor bar after a day on the beach that the sunscreen is still on your body. No-see-ums wake up when the sun goes down and are most active at dawn and dusk.

So what's your choice going to be to avoid becoming the main course for these biting bugs? DEET the all natural bug spray No No-See-Um?

The Truth About DEET Mosquito Repellent

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Great video. No No-See-Um is made out of the highest quality essential oils. Our proprietary blend combats mosquitoes, noseeums, black flies, green heads an dmost biting insects. As Dev Khalsasays states, you may need to apply a natrual bug spray a little more often than DEET, but isn't that a small price to pay for for your health?

DEET can be Dangerous

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood stream the same way that the nicotine patch does. Knowing this, why would you willingly ingest a chemical that has effects on the central nervous system? When DEET is combined with permethrin, a common mosquito spray ingredient, it can lead to motor deficits and learning and memory dysfunction.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that DEET users should:

Apply DEET only to exposed skin and/or clothing. Don't put DEET on skin that will be covered by clothing -- this will cause your skin to absorb the DEET.
Don't use DEET on any open wounds or rashes.
Keep DEET out of your eyes, mouth and ears.
Don't spray it directly on your face.
Avoid inhaling it. (How? It's usually in a spray can, as stated previous precaution.)
Don't apply DEET near food or use it in enclosed areas. (Ummmm.... picnics?)
Apply DEET in a thin layer -- just enough to cover your exposed skin. Avoid heavy application or oversaturation.
Once you return indoors, make sure you wash off the DEET with soap and water. It's especially important to do this if you plan to reapply the DEET later or the next day. (No need to wash off our essential oils. The ganenium actually has a calming effect.)

Given all these cautions and potential harms, is it wise to use this powerful chemical as an insect repellant – or is it far better and safer to use a completely natural and organic product like No No-See-Um that is just as effective?

Entrepreneurs take sting out of summer

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:00:00 GMT

A parched economy hasn't deterred entrepreneurs from acting on their dreams - and launching new businesses. Southwest Florida's latest crop of startups includes three that could make this long, hot summer more comfortable for consumers.

Their products: A no-see-um repellent, a cami counterfeit and a mobile grocery store.

Here's a closer look at their plans:

No No-See-Um

Caroline Semerjian's no-see-um repellent, No No-See-Um, has been spritzed on vacationers and locals throughout the islands for about a year.

The repellent is a blend of lemongrass, citronella and geranium oils that wards off no-see-ums, a kind of gnat that is prevalent on Southwest Florida's coastline and in other parts of the U.S.

Semerjian, a Sanibel resident who also runs a Web development company, said interest in the repellent is on the rise.

Businesses and resorts on the islands such as Bailey's General Store, Jerry's Foods, Tarpon Bay Explorers and H20 Outfitters are selling the repellent -- about 40 outlets in all across Sanibel, North Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Useppa and Bokeelia, Semerjian said.

The company's biggest clients buy as many as two, 96-bottles cases every four to six weeks, she said.

Kip Buntrock, who helps Semerjian market the product, said the bottles retail for anywhere from $9.95 to $12.95, and Semerjian's company, Velmaxxx Enterprises, sells the each bottle for $5.97 at wholesale.

As businesses become more interested in the product, Semerjian moved development of the spray to a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer that whips up about 5,000 bottles at a time.

Since January, she's sold about 6,200 bottles of No No-See-Um, she said.

"It's exciting," she said. "I'm tired of sitting behind a computer screen all day."

So far Semerjian has invested $10,000 in launching the business and developing the product.

"I'm trying to make this to where I don't have to get investors, so I'm just starting small and every penny that I make goes right back into the production," she said.

-- Staff writer Laura Ruane contributed to this report.

* Contact: 872-216-2847 or nonoseeum.com to purchase retail or wholesale.