Embracing My Crunchiness!

Yes, I am crunchy and proud! My sister has called me that for years, and I fought it tooth, nail, and claw, but I is what I is!  So what does it mean to be crunchy? According to urban dictionary.com (Parents, if you want to know what the hell your kids are talking about, add this site to your favorites, lol):

 Adjective. Used to describe persons who have adjusted or altered their lifestyle for environmental reasons. Crunchy persons tend to be politically strongly left-leaning and may be additionally but not exclusively categorized as vegetarians, vegans, eco-tarians, conservationists, environmentalists, neo-hippies, tree huggers, nature enthusiasts, etc. Also used to describe establishments where alternative foods and products are sold, i.e. natural food stores. Modified derivative of granola.

While I can't say that everything in this description applies to me (I am in no way a vegetarian or vegan, but I am starting to select and eat meats that are organic, farm-raised, or free-ranged), a lot of this crunchiness does. I am becoming so much more conscious of the things I put in my body, and on my body! All of my newest creations, be it soap, fragrance, whatever, will now only feature phthalate-free fragances (another day, another post). This means my choices may be limited, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make in honor of my crunchiness!

Now, let's move on to the subject at hand: deodorant! I am a sweater! Not the kind you wear when it's cold, but the one who can just feel heat and the glands kick into high gear. I've always been self-conscious of my sweating problem, but time has taught me to accept the things that I cannot control. I've decided it's high time to ditch the commercial deodorant/anti-perspirant in favor of my own natural, creation. Let's get something straight first. Deodorants are just that: They de-odor. They do not necessarily stop wetness. I can deal with that as long as I don't smell like a bag of raw onions.

I've been testing my formula for the last month, and I am quite pleased with it. Every single ingredient is all natural. It's stuff you find in both your kitchen and your local health food stores. The main ingredients are shea butter, baking soda, and arrowroot powder with a few other goodies thrown in the mix. It's scented in essential oils of lavender cuz I love the calming scent of it, tea tree cuz it's a natural anti-septic and stinkanator, and sweet orange cuz, well I love sweet orange, and it balances out the medicinal smell of the tea tree oil. The consistency is thicker than your average cream deodorant and a little grainy-but not crumbly. The shea butter melts right into your armpit, and you won't get that sticky, gloppy feel-like I used to get when I used Tussy. Do ya'll remember that old school deodorant?

Guess what I named them? Okay, you'll never guess, so I'm going to tell you: Neo Deo (even though it's plain as day in the pic, lol)!  I have not yet listed these because I'm still deciding on the final packaging, but I'm really excited to share this with you! The first 5 (cuz that's all I have) responses will get a free .50 oz sample tin. This should last a few days at most.