The Story

Kiriwai was born in the Hawke's Bay hills.

While training for a 100km endurance event, I couldn't find a natural deodorant that would last as long as the training sessions I was doing with my team mates.

With my childhood nickname 'Smelly Melly' ringing in my ears, I decided to follow the old saying 'necessity is the mother of invention' and create my own holy grail of deodorants.

Armed with a seemingly endless check list of requirements, I researched ingredients and collaborated with a medical herbalist, a chemist, a naturopath and an apothecary. Then I set to work, making my own at the kitchen bench.

After much trial and error (and no complaints from my team mates) I started to get results with a paste made from a unique blend of mineral and plant based ingredients. 

Kiriwai is a Māori word, meaning 'skin, dermis, corium - the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis of the skin'. This protective layer of the skin is also home to the thousands of sweat glands in our bodies. It is our true skin. It seemed a fitting name for a range of natural deodorants.

Take care

Mel x