You probably already know that our overproof alcohol and all-natural ingredients do a great job keeping you feeling clean and smelling good all day. What you may not know is how well Pit Liquor works beyond a traditional deodorant. With the help of some of our biggest fans, we break it down for you below. 

Choosing a scent can be hard. So many choices and for now, at least, you can't smell through your phone or desktop. If you asked us what the best scent was you'd get a looong answer. We love them all like we love our children. (Pssst, ok, Whiskey Black Pepper is super dope.)

But don't listen to us, the sales data doesn't lie. If you're looking for a new favorite scent check out our top sellers from 2021 starting with...

At Pit Liquor, we’re committed to creating strong, effective products without sacrificing our beliefs. When we set out to pair delicious-smelling soaps with our ultra-effective, organic deodorants, we knew there would be no compromising our ethics. After searching high and low, we found Simi and her awesome, Colorado-based soap making company Muddy Mint. 

The Pit Liquor team joined forces this summer to help Jenny at Busy Bee Lavender Farm harvest this season’s lavender crop. Unlike many other deodorants on the market, we can actually point to where our ingredients come from, and we personally know the folks behind them. In fact, all of the lavender we use in our products comes from Busy Bee Lavender Farm, which is just down the road from our headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Smell it for yourself with our Lavender Collection. Shop pit-quenching, effective products with that gorgeous lavender scent.

My mom took me to the pediatrician at seven years old because I had body odor. She was convinced something was wrong with me. Perhaps I was suffering from Trimethylaminuria (fish odor disease), or starting puberty very early. The doctor, who always handled my mother’s anxiety and late night phone calls with grace and gentleness, assured her that I just needed to scrub better under my pits because I was a bit smellier than the other kids. 

Obviously, the problem got worse once I hit puberty. No kid’s body odor situation deescalates from seven to thirteen. Plus, living in Central Florida isn’t exactly conducive to not sweating. The only time I got a break was one week in January when temperatures dipped below seventy degrees. So, instead of stuffing my bra, I stuffed my armpits with folded up paper towels to create a buffer between them and my light yellow uniform shirt. 

Middle school was hard enough, especially when you’re two heads taller than all the boys - and most of the girls. I had to get pit stains out of the mix if I was to survive. Eventually, the doctor put me on a prescription deodorant, of which 20% was aluminum. It was the early aughts-- tanning beds, Furbies, and Limewire were popular. No one knew any better.  

Fast forward to adulthood. My braces and nail biting habit were gone, but my body odor was here to stay. My friends (God bless them for their honesty) never failed to let me know that I needed a little refresh. I stashed deodorant sticks in every bag and would frequently visit the bathroom for a little bird bath when on a date. I could not get away with a natural deodorant product, despite my best efforts. 

I needed the chemicals and I needed them badly. Moving into a van didn’t help the issue. Roaming around solo for a year with no running water got me super comfortable with my body odor, but I can’t speak to how the gas station attendants, campground hosts, and unassuming baristas felt. I tried several popular natural brands, lemon wedges smuggled away from the bar caddy, and face toner. Nothing worked. At least I was never truly alone, with my armpit bacteria along for the ride. 

Like all of the best things, Pit LIquor came into my life unexpectedly. And honestly, I didn’t believe it would work for me. I mean, alcohol and some essential oils? Couldn’t I just concoct this by myself with a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the drugstore for $0.99 cents? Nevertheless, I tried a few sprays of my boyfriend’s Whiskey Vanilla. It killed my odor instantly, which was a pleasant surprise. But I wasn’t sold. 

I continued to use it over the next few days but returned to my regular travel size powder fresh (yuck, I know, but powder fresh was the only thing that smothered my typical lox-bagel-extra-red-onion scent). Like earworms and chia seeds, something about Pit Liquor was sticking with me. 

Then my deodorant spirit guides stepped in to facilitate a slow stroll past a shelf of Pit Liquor at the local market. Compared to my $2.99 travel size conventional stick, it was certainly a splurge. However, my pits had been drinking aluminum for the past seventeen years and I wasn’t a stranger to splurging on fun items that caught my eye - 4th of July costumes, a surfboard I’ve used once, etc. After a first, second, and maybe third thought, I grabbed the Coconut Lime variety and plopped it into my basket.

To say I’ve never looked back wouldn’t be entirely true. I forgot it last time I traveled and used a conventional roll on in a pinch. But 99% of the time, the pretty glass bottle comes along. I’m still genuinely surprised that it works so well, doesn’t make me smell like booze, and doesn’t stain my shirts. On particularly sweaty days, I’ll need a refresh toward the afternoon. But other than that, my pits are just good to go. I get to let my body sweat, like nature intended. I get to put healthy, effective ingredients on my body and rest assured they are doing no harm. I get to smell like real lavender, real oranges, or real vanilla. But most importantly, I get to do the wave at large events without assaulting neighboring nostrils. It really was that simple all along.  

But hey, Pit Liquor is all about transparency so I want you to know that I write for this company. You’ll see my name on some other blog posts, although none as personal as this. However, I started writing for them because I love their products so much. If I can shepherd others down the path to healthy, odor-free armpits, confidence in their bodies, and pride in the way they show up in the world, then hell yes—my English Lit degree wasn’t a waste afterall! I’m changing the world, Mom, one pair of pits at a time.

Essential oils have gained a cult-like following in recent years, however, the practice of using these plant-based extracts for a variety of healthful purposes isn’t exactly new. For centuries, aromatic plant byproducts - like leaves, stems, roots, and flowers - have been a focal point in baptisms, embalmings, and everything that falls between. 

Since modern America has fallen in love with essential oils, the scented products have essentially (see what we did there?) taken off. At Pit Liquor, we’re big fans of our fragrant friends. We put them in everything we make! Not only do they smell amazing, but they have medicinal properties created by nature herself. Here, we’ll share the most common essential oils and their respective uses. 

What are essential oils? 

Essential oils are not deemed “essential” just because they capture the essence of the plant - or its pleasing aroma. Actually, what we deem, “essential oils” are in fact the metabolic secretions of plants - aka plant hormones, aka what brings all the pollinators to the yard.

To get the juice, you’ve got to squeeze. Obtaining a plant’s “essence” or its scent can be done in a host of different ways - cold pressing, distillation, wax embedding, expression, and more. Because essential oils are so potent, they are most often mixed with a carrier oil for topical application. 

What are the most common essential oils?

• Lavender. She’s the bell of the ball in our opinion. Lavender smells so delightful, is instantly relaxing, and comes from a gorgeous purple flower. Many use lavender essential oils in aromatherapy, during meditation, yoga, and for stress relief. Lavender essential oil can also be added to laundry, room diffusers, natural cleaning solutions, and more. 
• Peppermint. Ancient societies including those of Rome, Greece, and Egypt, used peppermint to quell headaches, relieve cold symptoms, and minimize body aches. Since then humans have continued to use peppermint essential oil for a variety of healing purposes.
• Rose. Like lavender, rose essential oil just smells so damn good. It’s an elegant aroma that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. Rose evokes light, bright feelings of springtime, and is actually used in aromatherapy practices to relieve stress and boost moods. Some studies show that rose essential oil can fight acne, hydrate the skin, and minimize the appearance of scars and wrinkles. 
• Sandalwood. In Ayurvedic medicine, sandalwood combats a host of mental and physical problems. Using sandalwood essential oil through aromatherapy practices or topical applications may significantly reduce stress, increase libido, fight fatigue, and improve focus.
• Cedarwood. Besides transporting one to a thick pine forest, cedarwood aids in minimizing the effects of many skin conditions, including eczema, inflammation, and bacterial infections. When mixed with a base oil and applied topically to the scalp, cedarwood may prevent further hair loss and sooth itchy, irritable scalps.
• Lime and orange. These citrus fruits may be celebrated sidekicks in the artisanal cocktail world, but in fact, the essential oil derived from lime and orange peels have noteworthy health properties. High concentrations of vitamin C make each powerful antiseptic that may be used to treat gum infections. Orange and lime essential oil is also used in skincare as a brightening agent that helps reduce the appearance of sunspots, scars, and discoloration. 

Welcome to the wild world of personal care product manufacturing. We’re about to fill you in on some lesser known secrets of this world. Teaser: your pricey, “all natural” lip balm may in fact be a generic formulation used by bunches of other personal care product companies. It ain’t all that special. 

What is co-packing? 

Co-packing, or contract packing, happens across industry during the manufacturing and production phases of a product. At its core, co-packing can assist brands in saving money when they start to expand product lines. This happens across the food, cosmetic, and household goods industries, as well as many others. 

Essentially, a brand will bring its formulation to a contract packager in hopes that they will be able to produce the product and package it for less cost than the business could do on its own. Co-packers are able to keep costs down for a variety of reasons that might inadvertently impact the companies that work with them. Co-packers often have long-tenured ties with ingredient and packaging companies that allow them to source items on the cheap. If personal care product companies want a certain brand of coconut oil because of its sustainable practices or desire a recyclable deodorant twist stick, the contract packager may not be able to deliver cost-effective options. 

Additionally, co-packers take on many brands that often make similar products. A co-packer is a business as well and will run in a way that makes it a substantial profit. If a product isn’t a top money maker for the co-packer, it may get placed further down the production schedule. This drastically impacts the loyal customer base that fuels small companies and can make it tricky to deliver high quality products, consistently. 

What is private labeling? 

Private labeling companies provide a book of formulas from conventional all the way to certified USDA organic that personal care brands can choose from when expanding their product lines. When looking to expand their deodorant scents or lipstick flavors, the cosmetic or personal care product company will select a formulation created by the private labeling company and then slap their own label on it. It’s easy for well-known brands to make even more money this way because of the trust given by a dedicated client base. The trusted brand isn’t required to disclose whether they made the formula or not. The buyers trust that they will like, believe in, and use the product because of their loyalty to their favorite brands. 

Why can co-packing be a bad thing?

Businesses who choose to co-pack may be looking to cut corners on costs. In doing so, they hand over control of their formulation and filling process. Ultimately, their name is on the final product, but they are not overseeing any part of their product’s creation. While a co-packing facility may claim to operate sustainably, pay workers well, or use the utmost care in sanitary practices, there seemingly is no way to tell. 

Both can be rather opaque. 

Luxury brands often dupe the very people they aim to serve by using standard formulations, created by private labeling companies. They may make it their own by tweaking a flavor or scent variety - if the private labeling company allows them to do so. Then, the brand will slap their label across it and push it out to their loyal following. That drugstore leave-in conditioner that costs $7 may be the exact same formula sold at a high-end salon for $37. 

In a similar vein, co-packing is often chosen because of its cheap nature. Co-packers need to make money as well and may seek to shave costs off medium to large-scale production runs, so they will choose the lesser quality, less costly packaging option. Usually, this doesn’t mean sustainable, recyclable, or biodegradable. 

It’s no secret that cutting costs most often negatively affects the entry level bracket of employees and the customer base while rarely impacting C-suite members. Co-packers abroad and stateside may not pay a living wage for the area in which their employees live. Production line manufacturing is no cake walk and, if co-packers promise short lead times, their employees must pay the price. 

Does Pit Liquor co-pack or private label? 

We’ll give you one guess. We don’t. Now, we’re not trying to knock companies that do. Many co-packing facilities and private labeling companies prioritize employees health and well being, conduct impeccable procedures, and have high standards for protecting intellectual property rights of the brands they work with. 

However, it’s inherently risky to pass off something as your own when it actually isn’t.  It’s a lesson we learned in sixth grade after copying the math homework only to find that your friend has no idea how to multiply fractions. 

We let it all hang out. 

Meaning, we keep our process out in the open. Our Pit Liquor deodorant is formulated and filled in the same facility, by actual people whose names we know and birthdays we celebrate. We are friends with our ingredient suppliers and pay a living wage that allows our team members to take care of their kiddos, buy quality food, and pay the rent. 

Our bottles are clear, like our conscience. When we say that our customers are supporting sustainable practices by purchasing Pit Liquor, we know this is true. We don’t have to grit our teeth and cross our fingers. We know where and how our waste, recycling, and compost gets disposed of. We know who is mixing our deodorants. 

The fact that you use Pit Liquor already tells the world that you’re a badass, conscious consumer who cares about their body and the environment. Go you! But did you know that the scent you choose might also have a little something to say about your personality? 

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Your fun-loving and adventurous spirit knows no-bounds and truly thrives in the scorching summertime. Despite soaring temperatures, you throw on a yellow swimsuit and coverup then bike to the river to bathe in mama nature’s chilly waters. You’ve recently started letting your body hair grow because you're so over modern beauty standards but you’re not totally sure you like how it looks and feels - yet. You’re definitely a kid at heart and not totally sold on the adulting thing so you shirk some responsibilities - like parking tickets, anything post office related, and bringing that box of clothes to the thrift store. However, you are responsible enough to hold down a few jobs that allow you to buy farmers market produce and afford a new pair of Birkenstocks. Priorities, baby. 

Whiskey Old Fashioned

You’re a crisp white shirt and blue jeans kind of guy or gal. Your collection of bolo ties is something to marvel at and you’ll always choose John Wayne over John Krazinski. As a child, your parents giggled at your “old soul” as you steeped a cup of Earl Grey before cozying up with a good comic book. Now, you’re an elegant adult who has both a typewriter and a record collection because life is meant to be savoured in a slow, meaningful way. Even if that means you have to lug a heavy typewriter and complete collection of Agatha Christie novels around every time you move apartments, you’ll bite the bullet and do it. John Wayne would be proud. Whiskey Old Fashioned sold out? Make your inner Annie Oakley proud with Whiskey Lavender. 

Roses & Champagne 

Oh you fancy, huh? Well why the hell wouldn’t you be? Life’s too short not to treat yourself to a dozen roses and champagne in your cereal. You’re decadent and your friends love you for it. You take things over the top - surprise birthday party for your cat complete with 200 balloons? You went there and it was so damn fun for everyone, except the cat. It’s likely that you have a few too many vintage dresses in your closet that you haven’t found an excuse to wear. No worries, you’ll throw a Queen’s Gambit-themed party one day soon and you won’t need to shop for an outfit. But you probably will anyway. 

Coconut Rum with Lime

You’re always on island time baby and we ain’t mad about it. Start times really are just a suggestion and you always roll up looking cool as a cucumber, ready to go with the flow no matter where it takes you. You're a windows down-AC on type and your low fuel light is constantly on. But you’ll be fine for a few more miles, surely. Nothing ruffles your feathers, not a global pandemic, not a tumultuous election, not even when Jamba Juice runs out of pineapple and can’t make your favorite Caribbean Passion smoothie. If on the off chance you get the slightest bit flustered you simply pause and ask yourself, “WWJBD” or “What Would Jimmy Buffet Do”? 

Whiskey Cedarwood

Move over Paul Bunyan. There’s a new lumberjack in town and he wears that flannel well. You spend your leisure time building the tiny home of your dreams that you’ll soon whisk away to the mountains. Cold winter mornings don’t bother you, in fact, you love the excuse to split wood out back with your grandfather’s ax, then come in from the cold and sip a cup of strong black coffee, only to feel your beard grow thicker and even more luxuriant. Your loofah is a pine cone and you’ve recently decided to only eat meat that you hunt yourself. It may be a lean winter but you’ve almost perfected your rabbit stew recipe. 

Finding a natural deodorant that works and keeps your body free from toxins, irritants, chemicals is a roller coaster of emotion that usually ends in dismay. You’re forced to buy a ticket to get back on the ride. If you’ve struggled to source a non-toxic, organic deodorant that eliminates stank and doesn’t irritate your pits, it’s likely you’ve experienced the 5 stages of deodorant disappointment.

It’s not me, it’s you.

You board the crowded subway and grab a hand hold only to catch a whiff of garlicy-musk so strong it brings tears to your eyes. You think to yourself that this bout of body odor must be coming from someone else in the packed transit car. You bought this deodorant yesterday, after combing through countless reviews. Yeah, that scent totally belongs to someone else. We’re in a heat wave after all and these bozos probably didn’t do as much investigation into their pit products.

The WTF Stage.

You sit down to lunch with a friend at a cute outdoor patio and reach across the table for the pepper only to catch another pungent whiff. Hint: it’s not your salad niçoise. What the ever-loving hell is going on here, you think as you vigorously pepper your lunch. Why is this new deodorant not working? Should you dab at your ripe pits with the delicate linen napkin across your lap or rush to the bathroom to a quick PTA bath, minus the T and A?

Perhaps-ing your way to Pit Perfection.

On your walk back to your coworking space, your mind starts churning. Maybe you really do need to detox your pits for this natural deodorant to work. Perhaps you just need to wait a few weeks and keep using it, day in and day out for your body to grow accustomed to it. No other personal care products work like that though, do they? Perhaps if you just commit to reapplying it every few hours, you can stave off stink until some magical ingredient kicks in. You pick up another stick on the way back and reapply hurriedly in the drugstore bathroom.

Unbridled Dismay.

You return home at the end of the day only to discover your cat doesn’t even want to nuzzle up against you. You sniff your pits and alas, the B.O. is back, baby, with a vengeance. You make a mug of hot tea, sink down on the couch, and begin to sulk. Bear hugs, conga lines, and high fives disappear in the rearview as you soldier on into a decidedly solitary future.  

Unacceptance.

Like you, we’ve worked our way through the four stages many times, only to find that the fifth stage – buying another stick of deodorant in hopes of achieving healthy, fragrant pits – was not good enough for us. We decided that we were going to hop off this emotional rollercoaster entirely and make our own deodorant. One that is actually non-toxic. One that works. One that offers people the chance to try it without fear of throwing hard-earned money down the drain.

Enter stage left: Pit Liquor. Denatured vodka and whiskey kills the bacteria that live in your armpits. Within seconds, the light alcohol scent evaporates and leaves behind naturally scented essential oils, like lavender, pear, cedarwood, or rose. Teas, arrowroot, and salt make your armpit undesirable for new bacteria to grow, resulting in good smelling underarms all day long and no chemical regrets. Each body responds better to either the rum, vodka, or whiskey base and we are happy to help you find deodorant heaven.

It’s time to get off this ridiculous ride. You’ve got better things to do. Try Pit Liquor. If you don’t love it, your first one is on us.