What makes GOOD RIDDANCE INSECT REPELLENT special:

Good Riddance produces a range of DEET-free insect repellents that protect against mosquitoes, midges, and sandflies. Our goal is to help Australians get back outside and enjoy the great outdoors without the bites and harsh chemicals.

We believe that an insect repellent can (and should) be a pleasure to wear; it doesn’t need to feel sticky and stink.

Good Riddance focuses on using the highest quality, naturally derived ingredients so as to minimise our environmental footprint and offer our customers a premium, highly effective alternative to traditional DEET-based repellents. Our unique cream formulation serves as a fixative for the active ingredients, allowing the product to offer longer-lasting protection than most other botanical repellents.

Your role/part:

I am the founder and director of Good Riddance and our parent company, Natural Wonders Australia. I have formulated all of our products and built the brand from a single market stall at the Mindil Markets in Darwin into a national brand with over 450 stockists.

As we have scaled our business, I have been able to step away from the day-to-day running of the business and return to a formulation research and development role with the aim to grow our range and develop some zero waste alternatives.

How have your studies helped progress:

While living in Darwin, I was applying an insect repellent every day to myself and our young boys. I saw there was a clear need for a DEET-free repellent that was a pleasure to wear while offering a long-lasting, high level of protection. Completing a Diploma of Personal Care Science through the Institute of Personal Care Science gave me the confidence to formulate a product from the ground up.

The course also helped with my understanding of regulatory requirements and the science of safety and stability which proved extremely valuable while we were undertaking the APVMA registration process for our insect repellents. I’ve also learned invaluable skills that have helped me more effectively communicate with suppliers and keep our manufacturing in house while scaling up the business.