Why I Created a Natural Bug Repellent on St. George Island
People often assume SGI Naturals started as a business idea.
It didn’t.
It started as a bug problem.
When we moved to St. George Island, Florida, we quickly fell in love with the beaches, wildlife, sunsets, and slower pace of life. It is a beautiful place to live.
But like many coastal communities, it also comes with bugs.
Lots of bugs.
The Problem
The worst offenders were usually the no-see-ums.
If you’ve never encountered them before, consider yourself lucky.
They’re tiny, difficult to see, and remarkably persistent. During calm mornings and evenings, there were times when simply walking the dog became an exercise in frustration.
I’d find myself constantly swatting at my face, neck, arms, and legs while trying to enjoy a simple walk.
Then came the seasonal visitors.
Yellow flies.
Horse flies.
Mosquitoes.
Some days it felt like the bugs were organizing against me.
A House Full of Bug Spray
At the time, we also operated a vacation rental house on the island.
With guests checking in and out almost every week, something interesting started happening.
People kept leaving bug spray behind.
Every brand.
Every formula.
Every type imaginable.
Eventually we had an entire laundry basket filled with partially used bug repellents.
That told me two things.
First, everyone was fighting the same battle.
Second, nobody seemed completely satisfied with the solutions they were using.
What I Didn’t Like About Traditional Sprays
For me, the biggest issue wasn’t the smell.
It was the feeling.
Many bug sprays left my skin feeling sticky and uncomfortable. I always felt like I needed a shower the moment I came back indoors.
Some local construction workers who were helping with our renovation felt the same way. They complained that after applying bug spray they felt uncomfortable, grimy, and couldn’t wait to wash it off.
I wanted something different.
Not necessarily perfect.
Just something I would actually enjoy using.
Two Years of Experimenting
What followed was nearly two years of experimentation.
I started with grass-fed beef tallow because I was interested in its skin-conditioning properties.
At first I used plain whipped tallow.
It worked surprisingly well as a moisturizer, but it wasn’t quite right.
Adding beeswax improved the texture and made it easier to carry and apply.
Adding a small amount of lavender oil improved the scent and created the formula that eventually became SGI Naturals Bug Repellent Balm.
Simple.
Portable.
Easy to use.
The Neighbor Test
One of my neighbors, Mike, walked his black Labrador every day.
Mike took bugs seriously.
Long sleeves.
Long pants.
Boots.
Wide-brimmed hat.
As much coverage as possible.
Meanwhile I was usually walking around in shorts, flip-flops, and a T-shirt.
One day I gave Mike and his wife a few sample tins to try.
They loved them.
That was one of the first moments when I realized I might not be the only person looking for a different approach.
Why SGI Naturals Exists Today
I never set out to create a skincare company.
I never planned to manufacture bug repellent.
I simply wanted to enjoy living on St. George Island without feeling like I was constantly at war with the bugs.
What began as a personal solution eventually became something friends, neighbors, and customers started requesting for themselves.
Today every tin of SGI Naturals Bug Repellent Balm is still inspired by that original goal:
Helping people spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time worrying about bugs.