Everyone needs deodorant. Not everyone wants a synthetic, metallic-based aerosol sprayed on their skin every day.
People with sensitive skin or noses can find alternatives to "Big Soap" at ZirYab's in Silver City, an old brand with a new storefront on the corner of Bullard and Broadway.
Started in San Diego by Brenda McFarlane as a way to avoid the mysterious chemicals in commercial products, her handmade deodorants and soaps have turned into a multi-state brand with a large following.
"Too many people who suffer from excessive sweating love my product," McFarlane said. "I almost feel responsible. I always wanted to change the world for the better, I just didn’t know it would be a silly thing like underarm deodorant."
ZirYab's Body Brew Natural & Local Products offers products like soaps, lotions, essential oils, perfumes, handmade deodorants and toothpastes, cleaners, hair care products, lip balms, pet products, even insect repellents. Everything is made by hand using natural, environmentally friendly plant-based ingredients that don't contain harmful substances or chemicals that can irritate the skin.
The CEO was the first customer: McFarlane says she made some deodorant for herself that fit her body chemistry and diet. She has taken what she has learned to make products that don't irritate the eyes, nose, lips or skin and don't contain mystery metals.
"My husband tells me I’m a bit obsessive about it and that my nose is just extra sensitive," McFarlane said. "Over the years I’ve become an expert at what fabrics, colors and patterns show perspiration."
ZirYab's Body Brew Natural & Local Products offers products like soaps, lotions, essential oils, perfumes, handmade deodorants and toothpastes, cleaners, hair care products, lip balms, pet products, even insect repellents. Everything is made by hand using natural, environmentally friendly plant-based ingredients that don't contain harmful substances or chemicals that can irritate the skin.
According to McFarlane, commercial hygiene products could contain unnatural-sounding ingredients like aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, aluminum silicate, steareth-2, steareth-20, PPG-11 stearyl ether, glyceryl stearate, PEG 40 stearate, cetyl esters, dimethicone, disodium EDTA, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulos.
The store's namesake, Ziryab, was an Arabic musician and gentleman active during the 10th century who is credited with inventing an early form of toothpaste and for popularizing deodorant and perfumes.
McFarlane and her husband relocated from San Diego in 2012 and slowly started growing their product line. Online retail is a big part of ZirYab's business. Since opening a decade ago on platforms like Etsy and through their own website, they've filled more than 40,000 orders. Their products have been available to customers at Silver City Co-Op since 2012, and they also sell retail locations in Truth or Consequences, San Diego, Florida and Sedona, Arizona.
The new retail shop on Bullard Street is also their studio — where they plan to stay for a while.
"The money I make from selling products goes directly into the community, to employees and not to corporate shareholders," McFarlane said.
