Companies with founding stories is nothing new. From Innocent to Nike there’s a tale to be told but we would make a bet that few include near death experiences. Attacks of both malaria and dengue fever, temperatures of 104oF and febrile renditions of “It’s a nice day to have a fever” to the tune of “It’s A Long Way to Tipperary” are not the only things to mark Howard Carter’s 10 year journey to developing his 100% natural, 100% effective incognito Mosquito Repellent. A Good Energy customer and partner we wanted to find out more about incognito and its inventor, the self-styled Mr. Anti Mosquito.

“Contracting those diseases while using 100% DEET and taking anti-malaria tablets made me realise that this product, recommended by travel agencies and UK pharmacies, is not doing what it says on the tin,” says Howard. “It planted a seed firmly in my mind: I was going to find something that not only really worked against all mosquitoes, but was safe for both humans and the environment. I spent years studying and researching, getting the top 100 ingredients used in mosquito repellents across the globe, paring that down to 20 before I started mixing. I’ve done it all myself; the kitchen sink played a big part in the process at first! But then I started hiring labs.”

Travelling around the world for the third time in 2005 Howard was convinced that this time, armed with his new super potion, he would not get bitten. Using “hotel bathrooms, shacks, sometimes it was outside in the forest on a tree trunk” to mix the formula he tested it there and then. On himself and other travellers. “I did a lot of the testing in India and South East Asia where you’re coming across people who are getting bitten all the time. I might be with them for a week or just a few days but I’d ask them if they wanted to try it. I already knew it was pretty good stuff and would give them a small bottle to use. Invariably they would not get a single bite. People were fascinated. Some of them are still customers today which means we’re sold in all sorts of weird and wonderful places; little shops in Hawaii and in the ports of the islands of southern Thailand.”

Incidentally, it’s probably worth mentioning here that incognito is also available in Waitrose and Holland & Barrett as well as many independent health food shops across the country. And of course, after its initial eccentric testing method, incognito (when used in conjunction with an impregnated mosquito net) is clinically proven to protect against malaria. The active ingredient in the newest formula has been rigorously tested by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the product is approved by the British Government’s Trading Standards. To hear Howard talk in more detail about how incognito works click here.

incognito’s idiosyncrasies, certainly make a great story but there is a sobering side to what Howard is trying to achieve: malaria kills 781,000 people each year and every single one could be prevented with the right protection. “We do an awful lot to help tackle malaria,” says Howard. “We match every mosquito net purchased from us with the donation of one to African villages where the vast majority of malaria deaths occur. We also load up volunteers visiting villages with our sprays and products so they have plenty to leave behind for the residents. We sell our products as cheaply as we can to charities such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace when they go on campaigns and have a Disaster Fund whereby we refill leftover bottles from our discontinued products with the latest (and strongest) formulation and box them up for organisations like The Red Cross and Shelter.”

“We also give 10% of our profits to environmental charities,” says Howard. And reading incognito’s Environmental Policy page you realise quite how much they do. “It was important to me from the very beginning that incognito wasn’t a burden on the environment. We look at the environmental impact of very decision we make.” Of course, being powered by Good Energy cuts incognito’s carbon footprint significantly but they also run a number of environmental projects – at Bethsaida Hermitage in Southern India and have planted hundreds of trees with PATT. These efforts combined mean they are currently one of only three companies in London that is carbon positive.

It’s certainly a fascinating story. And by all accounts the product is fantastic. Have a look at their online store to see if there’s anything that takes your fancy. Quote GOODINCOGNITO at the checkout and you’ll get a free box of incognito citronella incense sticks – just put them in your basket with the rest of your purchases.

You can find incognito on Twitter and Facebook too.