All photos by author.

After traveling for days on end with limited access to laundry facilities, it’s safe to say that accumulating lingering stench is inevitable. While I’m more than guilty of spraying whiffs of perfume into funk-filled sneakers and onto dirty clothes to mask odor, I’m usually on the lookout for more natural remedies or products like Febreze intended for such cover ups.

But first, the marketing spiel – Fresh Wave ® products are eco-friendly and are made from natural ingredients such as lime, pine needles, aniseed, clove, soya, and cedar wood. This blend of ingredients allows the products to neutralize smoke, mildew, musty clothes, and other relatively unpleasant smells.

Instead of masking odors, Fresh Wave ® says its products use “the power of nature to neutralize them.” If you’re interested, here’s the nitty-gritty chemistry behind their battle between nature and stench:

The science behind Fresh Wave odor neutralizer is its natural molecules. By carrying an electrostatic charge on their surface, these molecules attract and bind malodorous particles. Once saturated, the Fresh Wave molecules fall away, effectively neutralizing the odor.

So when Fresh Wave® sent me a couple complimentary odor neutralizing products geared towards travelers to test, I knew exactly what to try them out on…my 12-year old beat-up Adidas running shoes.

Anyways, I tore into a pine needles-scented packaging box to unveil a sexy bag of gel beads (Pearl Packs), a 2-oz travel sized spray bottle, and an aromatic soy-based candle. Each pungent sachet of odor destroying beads was enough to take out an entire army with its heavy smell.

Maybe I’m not as outdoorsy as I think I am, but I certainly wasn’t expecting the pine-y goodness that instantly filled up the room.

I pulled out my running shoes, which were thankfully stinky on cue, and tossed a satchel of beads into each shoe, leaving them to simmer overnight.

The Results

By daybreak, I removed both sachets of pearls from the shoes, clearly baffled by their superhuman regenerating capabilities. Their scent seemed even stronger than the day before, and my stinky shoes had been neutralized into submission.

The pearl beards are designed to last for 30 days without losing strength and I wholeheartedly believe they do.

Sexy packaging? Check.

Effective? Check.

Efficient? Check.

But that odor?

Though the pearls are non-toxic and free of harsh chemicals, the word “unscented” on the packaging seemed confusing as they clearly contain extracts of lime, pine needles, aniseed, clove, and cedarwood.

If heavily-made up attendants wielding perfume bottles at malls freak you out, this set of odor neutralizing products, no matter how natural their scents, will definitely overwhelm you.

Other Fresh Wave® products include jars of neutralizing crystals, carpet shake powder, vacuum pearls which go into your vacuum cleaner bags, a multi-purpose liquid additive that can be added to laundry to remove odors, and a slew of other items.

Price: $8.95 – $150.00 I BUY at Fresh Wave Online

Maji delivering water to local families in Nicaragua. Photos courtesy of Maji Water.

And Maji Water is the latest in feel good products we’ve discovered.

Based in Montreal, Canada, Maji Water bottles spring water sourced from protected natural springs at Saint-Elie-De-Claxton, Quebec.

How It Works

Maji Water currently runs three missions in Nicaragua, India, and Darfur. When you purchase a 500ml bottle of Maji Water, up to 1.5 liters of water will be donated to one of their community-based missions.

Here’s an excerpt from their work in India:

The World Bank estimates that 21% of communicable diseases in India are related to unsafe water.

In India, diarrhea alone causes more than 1,600 deaths daily – equivalent to the total number of passengers in 8 jumbo jets.

Rural India needs more access to clean drinkable water today.

With the help of the diaspora, MAJI is working on sustainable solutions to provide potable water to communities in rural India.

Unfortunately Maji Water is only available in local Montreal stores. While you can order biodegradable boxes of water via their website, driving 2 minutes to your grocery store may seem more practical.

However, Maji Water supports a solid cause – providing fresh drinking water to marginalized communities – and if you can’t get their own brand of water, grab another brand from your local grocery store that actively supports a similar cause.

Price: 6-Pack ($5.99), 12-Pack ($9.99), 24-Pack ($19.99) | Shop Online

Move over Swiss Army knives, this Chinese Military Shovel is the only multipurpose tool you’ll need for your travels.

With this single compact lightweight tool, you can shovel, dig, saw, cut, slice, chop potatoes, peel fruit, measure distances, use it as a scissors, climb, use it as an anchor, shield against an attacker, grapple, hammer nails, pull nails, open bottles, use it as a can opener, tighten cable wires, use it as a pickaxe, hanger, prier, as boating oars (if you’ve got two), as an isolation belt, as a hoe, to set up tents…

No joke.

Watch the video below which comes complete with its own 80s superhero soundtrack.

Visit ZGWNJQ for more (if you can read Chinese).

The Daily Mail reports that the latest in bulge-battling technology has been developed by a Harvard biomedical engineer. Professor David Edwards has invented a chocolate spray that you inhale to help curb your chocolate craving.

According to Edwards, “..when you breathe the chocolate into your mouth, it dissolves immediately and coats the tongue and taste buds.”

His invention called “Le Whif,” (an ingenious name I might add) comes in a lipstick-size tube which contains only 8-10 puffs of chocolate scent depending on how much you puff.

More from the Daily Mail:

Critics question whether the experience of biting into a bar of chocolate can really be replaced by a pocket-sized aerosol.

They also point out that the smell of food usually heightens appetite, rather than suppressing it.

Louise Thomas, a chocolate consultant who runs tasting events, said that ‘whiffing’ would not confer the many health benefits associated with eating dark chocolate.

Word on the street is that Edwards has also developed a coffee Le Whif version and according to Daily Mail, “…is working with Michelin-starred French chef Thierry Marx to create new varieties, including aerosol spices, cheeses and liqueurs.”

Classic Le Whif is available in pure chocolate, raspberry chocolate and mint chocolate flavors.

At $2.50 a pop to “smell” chocolate, I might as well just skip a meal and buy a 99 cent king size Twix candy bar from a gas station.

Buy: Le Whif Chocolate and Coffee | $2.50

Have you tried sniffing a food item instead of consuming it to curb a craving? Did it work?

Measuring in at 7 feet long comes the latest breakthrough in sleeping bag technology called the ChumBuddy. Hand crafted with care using soft fleece fabric and 30 lbs of poly fill material, this bag also doubles up as a plush stuffed toy for kids.

According to designer PatchTogether,

In an effort to make sharks (a very misunderstood animal that also happens to be one of my favorites) more cuddly, I designed and produced a prototype for the ChumBuddy.

So do you think this is an ingenious idea?

Well, the Huffington Post thinks otherwise, citing:

What child wants this? No offense to the creator, as it’s an ingenious design, but we repeat: what child wants this? Kids have enough problems being afraid of the dark (there was even a SNICK show dedicated to this subject matter), so we can’t imagine there’s a kid out there begging their parents for the sleeping bag that will devour them in their sleep.

That said, if such a kid does exist (and we hope he doesn’t), make sure he gets this “Chumbuddy” – he’s not someone you want to cross. (via Patch Together)

And what do I think?

Anything that reminds me I’m merely flesh and bones that can be gobbled up by an animal just like I tear into grilled chicken churns my stomach…pun intended.

Price: $199.95 | Estimated Shipping Date: 4th Quarter, 2010

Community Connection

For more wacky creations, check out:

Grow Moss In Your Bathroom
Bang Bang The Egg Toaster
Build Your Own Secret Door Knock

Eden Project Surfboards. Photo via Telegraph.co.uk

A gift is a small way of showing gratitude and for the environmentally conscious consumer, here are green gifts you can give to friends and family.

Gift a plant

A flowering plant can be a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries or simply for showing appreciation. You could also go a step further and gift seeds.

However, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the climate of the place so ask yourself these basic questions when deciding which bag of seeds to buy:

Which plants grow wild in the region?

What’s the average rainfall?

How warm or cold can it get?

If all goes well, who knows, next time you’re visiting, you’ll find a beautiful sapling (or tree) growing in the backyard.

Gift Green Gadgets

The Solar Power battery Pod with its solar panel, biodegradable plastics and wool felt, is a fantastic present to give to friends who love listening to music.

Gift a pretty journal made from recycled paper

Saving trees to prevent deforestation is a worthy cause. A beautiful journal goes a long way in saying thank you, and what’s more, the trees will be thanking you for not felling them.

Here is a list of some other environmentally friendly gifts and where you can find them:

Organic Cotton Toys

1. Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer, pays artisans fifty percent of the money when an order is placed and the entire amount when the product is shipped.

Beautiful earrings made from newspaper and coiled mats, also made from newspaper, are sold here.

2. For those of your friends and family who love to surf, environmentally friendly surfing boards could be a good option.

3. Soy candles are also a great way to show your love without hurting the planet.

4. Designer Bryan Parks has combined art and conservationism by coming up with a bowl made from Chopsticks.

5. For kids, toys made of organic cotton might be a good bet.

6. Internationally acclaimed authors like J.K Rowling, Ian Rankin, Günter Grass, Marlene Streeruwitz, Isabel Allende and Andrea De Carlo have all pledged to use forest friendly paper, according to Greenpeace.

7. Offer to build a house for someone- if you are using bamboo, make sure it’s not of the variety that giant pandas eat. If that’s too much for you, you can always help around the house by using non-toxic paint while painting the walls or by helping install a tank that conserves rainwater.

Green Gifts can go a long way in you doing your bit for the environment. What’s better than giving a gift that promotes a sustainable lifestyle?

Community Connection

Looking for more eco-friendly gifts? Check out Improving Your Goodprint, 6 Gadgets to Make Your Life Greener, and 12 Gadgets That Harness the Power of the Sun

Feature photo by stevendepolo. Photo above by wili_hybrid

The second little secret is to pack products which serve more than one purpose. Use an oil that is suited to your face, hands and hair, or pack a cosmetic that can put a rose in both your cheeks and lips. The more purposes an item serves, the more it earns a position in the cutthroat world of toiletry cases.

Beyond your basic toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant, here are ten of my personal favorite products; several are multipurpose, and they all come in handy travel sizes.

Now you have more room for that duty free perfume you’ve got your eye on.

Multipurpose Oil –Trilogy Rosehip Oil

This is a brilliant moisturizer that suits all skin types, and can be used on the body, face, and for dry hair. Great to use after time spent in the sun and for cracked cuticles as well. Natural, nourishing and multipurpose.

Dry Shampoo/Hair Powder – Principessa Hair Powder

If you can’t get hold of shampoo for a few days, are in seemingly endless transit, or don’t have time to wash your hair, this is your best friend.

It soaks up oil, extends your blow-dry and gives limp travel hair an instant boost.

Lip Balm – Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter

Lip gloss doesn’t moisturize so make sure you pack a balm. This small compact balm is full of natural goodness for lips that have borne the brunt of in-flight air conditioning.

Cheek/Lip Stain – Benefit Benetint

Stains are long lasting and can be used on both lips and cheeks. Instead of packing a blush compact and a lipstick (too fiddly for traveling), go for a tint.

One handy little bottle means rosy cheeks and lip color and more room in your toiletry case.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an absolute no-brainer and finding a travel sized product is easy, so no excuses. Go with a minimum of 30+, particularly when traveling in the Southern Hemisphere (we lost our ozone layer).

For light face coverage, try a tinted moisturizer with SPF.

Atomizer

Buy an atomizer, available at chemists and most perfume specialty stores, and fill it with your favorite perfume. Not only does it save lugging the full sized bottle around (and the risk of breaking it) but they’re small enough to take in carry-on luggage, so you’ll always have a spritz of your signature scent on hand.

Face Wipes – Garnier Fresh Complete Cleansing Wipes

Cloth wipes don’t break or leak, are easy to transport and a great pick me up after a long day of sightseeing. You can also take them on a plane for that much needed in-flight freshening up.

Hand cream – Nivea SOS Intensive Balm

If you’re flying a lot, or in a dry climate, then your paws will get dry and itchy and when your cuticles split, it’s painful. This perfectly sized handcream provides quick absorption and is uber-hydrating.

Manicure Kit – Dumpling Dynasty Beauty Kit

Manicure kits, like sewing kits are things you think you can do without but when you lose a button, a key or a splinter, these little things come in mighty handy.

Mineral Powder – Inika Mineral Powder Foundation

No one wants to be bothered with a full face of make up when traveling. This light, completely natural mineral powder acts as a concealer and foundation.

It’s the definition of no fuss.

Feature Photo by dreamglow. Photo above by letsputphotographsontheinternet.

Well, that’s what the Japanese manufacturers claim.

Regardless of your beauty goals, the beauty and hygiene aisle in Japanese pharmacies and department shops will never bore you.

Whitening creams

I’ve noticed that whitening products have a big market in Asia where lighter skin is considered a sign of beauty. The Japanese Olay brand carries white radiance, a moisturizer to lighten your skin by breaking down melanin with hydroquinone ( a chemical I saw in radiology class). There are also whitening pills to make you “fairer”.

Photo credit: Hannari-Ya

Nightingale bird poop (Uguisu No Fun)

It’s reputed that the poop of the pretty Nightingale bird has an enzyme which is considered to lighten and even out your complexion.

Traditional geishas and kabuki performers have used this stuff to remove heavy makeup and nourish their complexions.

If you’re brave enough to try it, the Chidoriya brand carries it in powder form which you reconstitute with water and use as a face mask.

Face slimming

A small and slender face size is prettier than one that is huge—or so many Japanese believe. The Akaishi brand makes a face slimming roller that massages the face, rendering it free of facial edema and the double chin. Kogao Sukiri makes face slimming stickers which claim to magically slim your chubby cheeks. There’s also a Kogao Sauna mask which makes your face lose weight by sweating it out.

Eye glue

This glue creates a double eye lid or an eye lid crease. A small plastic “fork” is included in the packet to push and pull the eye lid skin until you’ve got a crease height that you like. I shudder to think of people doing this in with their rear view mirrors, while driving late to work. For those who find glue to be cumbersome, there’s also eye lid tape that does the same thing.

Feature Photo by kalandrakas.

Big eye contacts

If you find the look of baby eyes irresistible or want gigantic anime character eyes, buy some Big Eye Contacts by Acuvue.

Popular in Korea and Japan, these are designed to enlarge your irises like the baby eyes you once had.

Pore cleansing stick

If you’re obsessed with pore cleanliness, this stick made by Dahoo is for you. There’s a pocket for your index finger as you rub the abrasive surface on every single visible blackhead. .

Collagen marshmallows

Perfect for combining a love of marshmallows with a collagen needle injection. Made by the Eiwa brand, a pack costs approximately 200 yen, and the marshmallows have a light grape fruit flavor and decent texture. Eiwa claims they have a similar effect of the injections without the pain.

F cup cookies

F cups seem a lofty ambition for most breast enhancement products, particularly one that comes in the form of tasty cookies. Pueraria Mirifica, a Thai herb is the magic estrogenic ingredient in these cookies which come in chocolate praline or soymilk flavors.

Directions say to eat 1-2 daily with a disclaimer that overdosing causes loose bowels. If you absolutely can’t wait to try them, they’re sold on Ebay, along with F-cup tea, to go along with the cookies.

Pink nipple cream

Its packaging is girly pink and sports a childish cartoon image of a breast with a pink round nipple. It claims to turn brown nipples peachy pink. The idea is enhanced by the addition of peach leaf extract to the product.

Foot peel pack

If you’ve never given your neglected backpacker’s feet a “facial”, the Foot Peel Pack is like a day spa for your feet. There’s a pair of pre-medicated plastic socks with a liquid to slough off all those dead skin cells that you’ve accumulated over the years.

In an hour, emerge with feet as soft as a baby’s.

Mimikaki, the ear picker

Nothing can be a better bonding experience than picking each other’s ears. Mimikaki is a skinny piece of bamboo stick with a spoon like end that scoops out the earwax.

It usually comes with a second stick with a feather pom pom end to dust away “crumbs”. Performing “mimikaki” service is quite common between husbands and wives.

These wooden devices are rather cute—the scooping stick has a small Daruma-like classical figurine, and the Hello Kitty brand makes one in pink. If you’re hooked, the more modern plastic model has spiral-like ridges on the device, for extra trapping potential.

Photo: daytona_k

Ten years ago, most of us had no clue how many harmful chemicals and by-products were a part of our daily health regimen. It was more about finding what products, from shampoo to antiperspirant, actually cleaned our hair and well, kept us from sweating.

Now, information about harmful ingredients found in your average beauty merchandise is slowly making its way to the masses. But what is the real story, and what can be used instead?

Yes, many products most of us use every single day have cancer-causing ingredients. So I’m here to dust off that ole’ holistic nutrition degree and list ones which might be drastically negatively affecting your health, and what in the world to replace them with:

Sunscreen

First off, I have to mention that we are undergoing a crisis of epidemic proportions with Vitamin D deficiency. The best source for this cancer-prohibitive vitamin (yes, even of the skin variety) is the sun.

What’s in your beauty products / Photo: neys

Now, I know it freaks some people out – especially the super whities – to go out in the sun without being lathered through and through with the white stuff. But just 10-15 minutes when the sun is strongest can fulfill your Vitamin D needs for the day (and hopefully store some for the winter).

Then slather on all the sunscreen you want, as long as it is a natural brand that uses Zinc, such as Soleo Organics, to protect you from the UV rays, NOT oxybenzone, which has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor and has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage.

Soap

Ah, soap. Smells good, doesn’t it? Well, between the fake fragrances that can cause skin allergy nightmares, and the petroleum-based ones that should actually be going in your car’s tank instead of on your skin, it ain’t so fresh anymore.

What to do, you ask? When in doubt, there’s Dr. Bronners. There may be crazy writing all over it, but it is just plain good stuff, with a base of organic olive, coconut, hemp, and jojoba oils, it’s cheap, and lasts FOREVER. Or make it yourself; find step-by-step instructions here. Homemade soap also makes a great present.

Antiperspirant

Remember that chain email letter that went around about 10 years ago saying that deodorant can cause cancer? Yeah, everyone said it was bunk, but it was kind of true. Aluminum, the main ingredient in antiperspirants that stops sweat, has been linked to breast cancer.

I’m completely and utterly guilty of this one. But there are natural deodorant alternatives, such as Kiss My Face, Chrystal Rock, and Jason. Unfortunately, no antiperspirant alternatives though, so if you are a sweaty person, these deodorant alternatives need to be used a lot.

Or, you can at least switch up using the natural alternatives most of the time, and then occasionally wearing the regular stuff. You know, when you have a date after a snowboarding session or something.

Shampoos and Conditioners

Alright, I attempted to go the shampoo-free gal route, using baking soda and apple cider vinegar to clean and condition my hair. Didn’t quite work, though it might have over time.

I tried it for good reason: if you take a look at the ingredients of most shampoos and conditioners (even “natural” ones), they contain parabens, Propylene Glycol (antifreeze), and dioxins, which are pretty well known to be endocrine disruptors and probably linked to cancer (TreeHugger busts the myth around sodium lauryl sulfate being linked to cancer).

Photo: Wesley Fryer

Even if they don’t have these ingredients, they have plenty of other chemicals you can’t pronounce, such as triethanolamine and TEA-oleate. Mostly, these chemicals do such important things like make it lather. Pffft.

Don’t forget, if you have a wheat or soy allergy, almost ALL shampoos and conditioners have one or both ingredients. And just because you don’t digest it through your mouth doesn’t mean it won’t affect your body.

The best natural shampoo I’ve found is Beeceuticals (although I’m not a fan of some of the ingredients in the conditioner), but please let me know if there is another TRULY natural one out there that works.

Makeup

Ladies, ladies, ladies (and some gents). I can’t stress the importance of using natural makeup enough. There are all kinds of cancer-causing agents in all forms of regular makeup, including parabens, toxic metals such as mercury, and everyone’s favorite, formaldehyde (uh, isn’t that for dead people?).

A few brands that I can personally vouch for include Dr. Hauschka, Miessence, and Lavera. That’s not saying they are 100% perfect – there are some ingredients in even these brands that I’m not a fan of. But they are much better than what you find at an average drugstore.

Tampons

Sorry, guys, but this needs to be discussed. Cotton is the most highly pesticide-sprayed crop, and when you use a regular tampon, you are putting those pesticides right beside your ovaries. NOT a good idea.

Luckily, there are a couple of organic cotton alternatives (that I also believe help in reducing the possibility of toxic shock syndrome–no wonder it is so prevalent with those toxins in there!), such as Natracare organic tampons and pads.

There is also the much more environmental choice in purchasing the Diva Cup or my friend Emily’s favorite thing in the world, The Keeper (apparently The Keeper is more, well, comfortable). These “cups” can be used again and again for years on end. Or you can purchase washable pads, such as Luna Pads.

Bottom line is to stay away from ingredients you can’t pronounce, and just know that there are plenty of healthier choices available.

Photo: Dr.Bronners

Taking a hot steamy shower is enjoyable. Taking a hot steamy shower and lathering up to Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Bars takes it to another level.

Believe me.

I’m an addict. I have seven of these soap bars sitting on my bathroom window sill, waiting to be used. I also have a collection of their liquid bottle soaps for camping, traveling, and everyday hand washing.

In addition, Dr. Bronner’s products practice what they preach. Their soaps are made from certified organic essential oils and are wrapped in 10% hemp-flax / 90% post-consumer recycled paper from Living Tree Paper Company.

They come in multiple scents, using the same base ingredients that make up the magic formula: organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba, and hemp oils.

This mix creates a one-of-a-kind soap that cleans effectively without being abrasive to the skin, resulting in a soft lather that leaves the skin refreshed and rejuvenated.

Use it daily or take it on your next adventure. It’s the closest thing to luxury when you’re in the middle of the jungle somewhere and you need a refreshing cleanse.

The soaps are organic and natural, so don’t be afraid to go skinny dipping and lather up in the pond with the babe/stud you just met at the camping site.

Just tell them the doctor prescribed it.

Dr. Bronner that is.

Cost: $4.19 Per Bar | Where to buy: Dr. Bronner’s