Norwalk Repellent Company Develops Scentless Bug Spray

NORWALK, CT — Chris Fuentes realized he wanted to make a better bug spray after finding out his sons would not be able to run track in college. They had received Division I scholarships, however they were unable to run a single race after contracting Lyme disease and enduring the physical effects of it.

Fuentes, who himself has had the disease twice, realized he needed to do something to help protect others from diseases like Lyme and the insects that spread it. In response, he and his partner, Ted Kesten, developed a new kind of insect repellent and founded their company, Ready Ranger Repellent in Norwalk.

"It really was out of personal passion that this company was started," Public Relations & Social Media Manager Teddy DeRosa said. "I think a lot of people don't want to wear insect repellent because it just smells so gross, so we're hoping that more people will wear this and less people will get bit by ticks, then there will be less of a rise in Lyme disease."

What sets their product apart from other insect repellent brands is that Ranger Ready Repellent is completely DEET-free, the leading active ingredient in most repellents. Instead, the company utilizes Picaridin, which provides 12 hours of protection when worn properly. It also helps make their product safe for not just the average consumer, but also children over the age of 1, women who are pregnant and pets among others.

Fuentes and Kesten also tackled one other issue they found many had with insect repellent: its scent.

"Our products don’t smell like bug spray," DeRosa said. "They actually come in [different] scents. They kind of smell like cologne and perfume. It’s crazy, and the one we are announcing now is one that smells like nothing; literally no scent at all."

This new product, called Scent Zero, is the company's fourth scent and is anticipated to be its biggest seller.

"Most folks don't prefer scent," Fuentes said. "We know they don't want to smell like bug spray. Scent Zero is for when you don't want to smell like anything but you want to be protected. It's a great new product."

"Most repellents have sort of a really abrasive, citrus scent and don’t feel good on your skin," DeRosa added. "This is absolutely wearable by everyone from ages 1 to 100, and it’s not abrasive. It feels really nice on your skin."

A Local Business

Located on Woodward Avenue in South Norwalk, Ranger Ready Repellent was started a little over a year ago and currently employs just 10 people. According to Fuentes, Norwalk was the ideal location for the company due to its central location between areas of New York and Connecticut and its great distribution facilities.

"[Norwalk's] advantages are its nimbleness and lower costs, and it's easy to operate," Fuentes said, "and everyone's small business-minded here. We buy all of our products locally if we can."

The company also works to support small and local businesses, as their products are currently not available in big box stores.

"We like to work with independent businesses, so we are in a lot of independent pharmacies," DeRosa said. "We like to partner up with small businesses to make sure we can help them stay in the family."

Of course their products can also be purchased online, either on Amazon or on the company's website. They also have a partnership with the Professional Golfers' Association and are the official supplier for the Association of Professional Tour Caddies.

Their Mission

According to Fuentes, the company's mission is to protect people from serious vector-borne diseases caused by ticks, mosquitoes and other biting insects and reduce the "alarming" increase of Lyme disease, Zika virus, West Nile virus and other serious illnesses.

"The numbers are staggering. It's 5,000 people a week who get Lyme disease," Fuentes said. "We think that number can be first lowered and then reduced if people properly wear repellent, so our mission is to stop people from being bitten by ticks and mosquitoes. It's pretty simple."

One thing Fuentes emphasized is for people to be aware that ticks are a year-round issue.

"Anytime the temperature is more than 34 degrees, ticks are active and will remain active until there is a deep freeze," Fuentes said. "If you're outside, when it's freezing cold and you have an expectation that the ground has not thawed for some time is about the only time not to wear repellent."

He also encouraged residents not to use items like bird feeders that attract birds and other wildlife, as those animals may drop ticks into a yard. Dog owners are encouraged not to let their canine companions onto beds and couches, and to spray them down as well.

"Dogs are the number one vector for families," Fuentes said. "Most people get Lyme disease within one mile of their home. It's not because they were hiking in the Adirondacks...it's because they were a mile from their home and their dog brushed against something that had a tick on it."

With their mission of helping fight the rapid spread of vector-borne diseases in mind, Fuentes hopes to see the company continue to grow and expand.

"We'd like to be the number one Picaridin brand in the United States, and that's where we're headed," Fuentes said. "We're seeking to be the leading Picaridin-based brand in the country. We'll see where that takes us."