- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Nina Dombowsky

Kelowna entrepreneur Michelle Webber loves animals, particularly her two rescue dogs, Crash and Ebby. In 2019, she became curious about the use of animals for testing products she routinely stocked in her home.

香蕉视频直播淚 learned that dogs are often used for testing, and I thought, how can I love my own dogs so much but use a product that is tested on other dogs?香蕉视频直播� she recalls.

Determined to switch to products made by companies that don香蕉视频直播檛 test on animals, she started researching, and came up empty-handed in her quest for deodorant.

香蕉视频直播淚 used to buy the best-smelling deodorant on the grocery store shelf, but I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 find a deodorant that was aluminum-free and did not test on animals,香蕉视频直播� she noted.

香蕉视频直播淪adly, even if the label says, 香蕉视频直播榗ruelty free香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播榥ot tested on animals,香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 not necessarily true and there are no repercussions for lying. Companies might say they don香蕉视频直播檛 test on animals because that testing doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen in Canada香蕉视频直播攂ut that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean it香蕉视频直播檚 not happening elsewhere. You really have to check who the parent company is香蕉视频直播攁nd more often than not, in the case of a major deodorant brand, the parent company is a terrible perpetrator of animal testing. I resolved that I don香蕉视频直播檛 want a single penny of mine to go towards animal testing,香蕉视频直播� the 41-year-old declared.

She quickly observed a significant gap in the marketplace.

香蕉视频直播淵ou have pharmacy brands that have been there all our lives, and they香蕉视频直播檙e cheap but full of chemicals. Then you have the 100 per cent natural deodorants that are expensive and don香蕉视频直播檛 necessarily work as well. I wanted something that was clean and healthy, but it also had to work.香蕉视频直播�

Determined to create a clean, healthy deodorant that would be made in Canada or the US, Michelle intensified her research香蕉视频直播攁mid her career at Joie & Luxe, the wedding planning company she owned, and her mobile oyster bar, Shucked Oyster Co.

She familiarized herself with deodorant ingredients and partnered with a Canadian manufacturer who helped her come up with a winning formula that was free of aluminum, parabens and phthalates, all ingredients of concern. Then she raised $75,000 from investors to finance the first production of a healthy deodorant that would outlast the heat without using harsh chemicals or causing a rash. And there was no animal testing involved.

In November 2022, she and her husband Kris launched , a deodorant in three fragrances: coconut jasmine, pineapple bergamot, and sandalwood, vanilla and lime. Available in retail locations across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, SONDR deodorants can also be purchased directly online at sondrfresh.com.

SONDR香蕉视频直播檚 mantra is to 香蕉视频直播渕ake clean mainstream香蕉视频直播� and 98 per cent of the brand香蕉视频直播檚 ingredients are naturally derived.

香蕉视频直播淓verything in there is healthy, safe and clean for children using deodorant for the first time, pregnant women and anyone else. What香蕉视频直播檚 more, it lasts all day long,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Affordability was another key concern. A full-size SONDR deodorant, which lasts up to three months, costs $19, while travel-size deodorants retail for $11.

The term 香蕉视频直播渟onder香蕉视频直播� is defined as the 香蕉视频直播減rofound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one香蕉视频直播檚 own, which they are constantly living despite one香蕉视频直播檚 personal lack of awareness of it.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 thought that was a great name for a brand that was trying to make things better for people, for animals and for the environment,香蕉视频直播� she said.

SONDR is off to a great start, available in boutiques, some Pharmasave locations as well as spin and fitness studios. Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 goal is to grow the company in terms of its reach and product offerings.

香蕉视频直播淏y growing, we can make an impact in the industry and force other companies to change their strategies and be cruelty-free and healthy,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She dreams of making sun protection products, shower gels and moisturizers, and even a line of healthy cleaning products for the home. For now, though, deodorant is SONDR香蕉视频直播檚 key product.

Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 mother recently challenged her in a conversation, asking, 香蕉视频直播淚f you were offered a massive amount of money for your company, are you telling me you would never sell?香蕉视频直播�

Always thinking ahead, Michelle went straight to her lawyer and added a clause in her company contract.

香蕉视频直播淭he new contract says we will never legally be allowed to sell to another company that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 uphold the same ethical standards we do,香蕉视频直播� she affirmed. 香蕉视频直播淲e will never sell out for money!香蕉视频直播�

Customers have embraced the SONDR brand, and Michelle is thrilled. She香蕉视频直播檚 also aware that animal testing continues, a cruel practice she香蕉视频直播檚 determined to avoid.

香蕉视频直播淚 encourage people to learn about the products they香蕉视频直播檙e buying, for their own health, for animal-cruelty practices and for the environment,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淪ONDR is my legacy company, so when you see our logo, our promise to be ethical, healthy and effective is 100 per cent what we香蕉视频直播檙e doing.香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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