Alcohol + Food-Based Aromas = Dreamy Pits

Pit Liquor deodorant is something like a sommelier for your pits—offering a complementary pairing of alcohol and food that really does make you smell absolutely delicious. 

"Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." -Lucille Ball

You care about yourself. You know what you love; you know what you hate. You choose your favorite foods, your best dress, your drink of choice. You're a confident and capable human being. But the moment you walk down the personal care aisles at your favorite store, you freeze up. You wonder how to decide which shampoo or deodorant or cosmetic to buy. What if you use your amazing self-confidence to choose your bath and body products too? It's already inside you, you just have to discover how to use it.

Our world full of ads and influencers and strategic product placement can make it seem confusing to choose the best products. And like we've shared with you before, even "natural" products might not actually be natural! So how do you love yourself and your body well?

Start with the ingredients.

Before you place that beautiful bottle in your basket, flip it around and take a look at the ingredients. Are there chemicals or long names you've never heard of? Sulfates and parabens and that mystical catch-all "fragrance"? These kinds of products are hiding all sorts of chemicals that will poison your body over time. Your health and hormones work hard to filter our this kind of garbage every day, so make it easier on them by choosing natural products that boost your health. Find ingredients that you know, and are made from food or natural substances. Look for a short list that includes only what's really necessary, not a long list of additives.

Know yourself.

You already know your likes and dislikes, so dig down deeper to your health and wellness. Perhaps you have a gluten allergy or a history of breast cancer. Maybe you're vegan or allergic to fragrances. You already know this important information about yourself, so filter your body purchases through these conditions. Choose cruelty free or gluten free products. Look for non-aluminum deodorant or fragrance-free lotion. Don't be afraid to contact the brands you love and ask questions, or Google search for specific criteria. Chances are someone else has a similar health issue and has discovered or created just what you need.

Love yourself.

It can be easy to explain away splurging  on your favorite scents or quality products. But the bottom line is that you are worth the cost. You are worth caring for the body you inhabit. You are worth that favorite scent or favorite brand or extra-special item. So go for it. Give yourself the comfort and health you deserve by choosing products that are great for your body and make you happy. 

Wondering where to start your better-products journey? Find out more about our brand and why we started Distilled Bath & Body in the first place.

It's that time of year, when you think about those you love and choose gifts to exchange, Christmas cards to send. Some years this seems fun and easy: a new apron for Mom, a thoughtful gift for your partner, a popular new toy for your kids. But other years? All you can think about it how hard it is to give gifts! What do your family members need or want? Santa is seriously underpaid. 

Never fear, we've got you covered! We have a gift idea for every hard-to-buy-for relative or friend on your list. Even better? Every gift has been thoughtfully selected from small, eco-friendly businesses, many run by women just like our own CEO. So sit back with a cup of coffee and get ready for some truly great gifts for all your hard-to-buy loved ones.

1. For your beloved grandmother across the country.

Talking over Zoom is the worst, especially when you're trying to call sweet Granny who still uses Windows 98. All you want to do is give her a hug and talk about her memories over a warm cup of tea. In years past you would visit once or twice a year, enjoying the Florida sunshine and Granny's company. But this year, everything has changed, especially for higher risk folks like your grandmother.

Try the Felt greeting card app. You can send beautiful cards with your very own handwriting straight from your phone to your grandma's mailbox. Now she can see pictures of your dog or her great-grandkids with a few thoughtful lines from you. The app makes it easy to send cards regularly so she won't feel forgotten after the holidays. She'll feel all your love, even from far away.

2. For your over-achieving, on-the-go sister-in-law.

Every time you call her she's in the middle of another volunteer event while simultaneously running fifteen miles and updating her color-coded planner. She seems to be everything and do everything while still maintaining her figure and somehow squeezing in some sleep. Just thinking about her makes you feel exhausted, but you still have to buy her a gift (wrapped perfectly, of course) before you can take a nap.

Try Girlfriend Collective leggings. These fair-trade, eco-friendly leggings mesh with her on-the-go lifestyle and even better, they're made from post-consumer plastic bottles and recycled polyester. The high rise pocket legging can hold her phone and keep her comfortable any day of the year. Throw in a few of Kate's Real Food bars in her stocking to fuel her on busy days and she'll be happy all year long.

3. For your kind-hearted aunt who has room for everyone around her table.

It might be a virtual table this year, but your aunt is the most compassionate, down-to-earth woman you know. She's never met a person she doesn't like, and she's always making new friends. Every time you're at her house, you feel like the most important person in the world to her. Her relaxed manner, her simple home, and her focus on kindness instead of competition make her everyone's favorite person.

Try Pit Liquor! Our products are as kind to her body and the earth as she is to everyone around her. You can choose a scent that's just right for her (pineapple is a favorite!), and give her a practical gift that will keep her hug-ready all year long.

4. For your best friend who has been virtual-schooling her kids all year.

It's been a year for parents, and your best friend is right in the thick of things. She's juggling two elementary school kids learning online this semester plus a toddler who needs her attention. She's holding it all together beautifully, but you know this is too much for any one person to handle. She needs (and wants!) to send her kids back to school so she can take a breath and gather herself back together. 

Try Wander + Ivy wine. This woman-owned company offers delicious organic wine in 6oz single-serve bottles. Now she can pour herself a glass at the end of a long day and take a well-deserved bubble bath. Order a holiday gift bundle so she can try a few different wines and she'll love you forever. 

5. For your brother working day and night on his new start-up.

It's been a hard year for businesses across the world, and your brother is no exception. His startup is doing well, really well, but it's requiring everything he has night and day. You've barely connected with him this year, and next year will likely be another year going full throttle to get this amazing company off the ground. You want a gift that tells him you're thinking about him and believe in him, even when you can't see him.

Try Copper Cow coffee. This pour-over Vietnamese coffee is easy to make at home and comes in a variety of delicious, organic flavors. No matter how busy his days (or nights!), your brother can make a quick cup of coffee to fuel his work. Try the Best-sellers Bundle or splurge on a Coffee Club gift subscription. He'll be ready to start the new year off right! Try

Bonus: this woman-owned, sustainably sourced company is definitely worth supporting, just like your brother's startup.

6. For your extra-tidy, extra-thoughtful mom.

Every time she calls (which is often), she's cleaning something around the house. She tells you all about her bunco club or your dad's latest project while she does the dishes, mops the floors, or dusts the shelves. Lately she's been in overload adding Christmas décor so her grandkids have something to see over Facetime when they call. Her house is warm, cozy, and always immaculately clean. While you could never achieve this level of housework perfection, it's nice to know you have a neat and tidy house to visit at the holidays that's brimming with holiday cheer.

Try Whoa Nellie cleaning supplies. This delightful company, handmade in Iowa, offers non-toxic cleaning supplies, cleaning accessories, and a few personal care products in pretty colors and patterns. Their Swedish dishcloths are as practical as they are festive, just like your mom. Send her a holiday cleaning bundle and she'll be all ready to welcome the new year.

7. For your always-drunk-at-Christmas uncle.

At this point you can't imagine a holiday without Uncle Bobby saying something inappropriate while drinking liquor out of Aunt Shirley's favorite holiday mug. You still have no idea how he manages to hold down a full-time job and take the family to Disney World every summer but props to him for pulling it off. You need a gift as unconventional as he is.

Try a Viking horn cup. He'll be delighted by the unconventional shape and history, while Aunt Shirley can finally get her mug back. Instead of picking a fight with your dad, he will feel ready to set sail with the Norse gods. 

 Looking for even more companies with a great mission and fantastic products? Click here to check out a few brands we love and join us in shopping small this holiday season to make the world a better place.

Melanie lives near Raleigh, NC with her husband and three kids. She loves hot coffee, good books, and deep conversations. Connect with her on Instagram via @intentional_motherhood

Three years ago, Pit Liquor deodorant was born from the desire to find a truly natural deodorant that works. Through hard work, grit, and determination, the company has gone from a kitchen counter to a full-fledged small business. Today, on Small Business Saturday, we want to take a look back at how this small business has grown and where it all began.

Pit Liquor was started back in 2017 by husband and wife Jason and Erica. During Erica's pregnancy with their daughter, Eve, Jason was concerned about the carcinogens in deodorants. They'd been trying various natural alternatives, but none of them worked. One day, he begged Erica to stop using toxic deodorant for the baby. So she slapped hand sanitizer on her armpits and headed out the door issuing Jason a challenge to find something that actually worked. When she got home, she was surprised to find she didn't stink. The hand sanitizer illuminated a new idea: high-proof, drinkable alcohol is less toxic than anything unregulated and potentially made from inedible ingredients.

Always the inventor, Jason thought plain old hand sanitizer was a boring (and not entirely non-toxic) solution to underarm stench. Any friend could tell you Jason and Erica's love for good whisky, so obviously, they turned to whiskey to solve their quandary. Jason began reading medical textbooks about deodorant and had a conversation with their doctor about the topic. He did research, trials, and found a perfect formula all while sticking to a motto to use only ingredients that are safe enough to eat.

Once they had a product and a fantastic name, they started (and completed!) a successful Kickstarter campaign and sit cozy with their patent pending. Three years later with two babies and a Great Dane in the mix, Erica and Jason have turned their idea into a thriving business, selling Pit Liquor online and in select stores, and are growing so fast their warehouse is bursting at the seams.

Pit Liquor has had over 100 media stories written about its products. They've been featured in places like: Playboy, Circa, local papers like the Loveland Reporter Harold and the Coloradoan, and even Michael Symon and Clinton Kelly talked about us on ABC's The Chew. Recently, Erica even appeared on Entrepreneur's show Elevator Pitch to promote Pit Liquor.

With hard work, ingenuity, and a little humor, Pit Liquor has grown into something Jason, Erica, and their team are truly proud of. We at Pit Liquor hope you'll join us to today to support this small business and many more like it. Cheers to quenching that stench and living your dream!

Razor burn is the worst. It makes you feel uncomfortable, and often comes with an unsightly rash. It seems like one of those terrible but inevitable parts of shaving. But we're here to tell you it doesn't have to be.

Men have been making use of razor burn solutions for decades, using after-shave balms that are mostly alcohol, a known bacteria-killer. But women? We are way behind the curve. Pit Liquor aims to change that.

How exactly does razor burn happen? Glad you asked. 

You shave your face, pits, legs, or, you know, other areas. While you're just there to shave, your razor indiscriminately opens hair follicles in addition to getting rid of those pesky hairs. The razor itself brings bacteria into those now-open follicles, injecting bacteria into any open area because your razor has old hair, skin cells, and general bathroom germs trapped within its blades. The bacteria goes all the way into the base of the hair follicle because the hair protecting this is now gone. Then the bacteria has a big ole party reproducing until your armpits become one giant rash.

So sure, spraying alcohol deodorant to prevent razor burn on your pits post-shave might sting, but it also kills off all that bacteria trying to leach into your pores. It means no razor burn, and we think that's worth celebrating. Here's how to stop razor burn with Pit Liquor:

A few tips:

Really feeling the burn? Try applying your Pit Liquor 5-10 minutes after your shower instead of right away. You'll still reap the rewards but lessen your sting.

Don't want to get too burned? Be sure to absolutely, positively, never spray down there. Trust us. It's a choice you don't want to make.

Razor burn still hitting a day later? Try reapplying 12-24 hours after you shave for a second time to keep your pits fresh and burn free.