Today we’d like to introduce you to Diala Marroquin
Hi Diala , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2016, I learned about the potential dangers associated with the use of commercial deodorants due to the many chemicals used in deodorants to block armpit pores which block sweat glands, as well as the use of synthetic fragrances used to mask odors. That is when my quest to find an effective and all-natural deodorant began. After using numerous so-called “natural deodorants” that claimed to work against odor protection, I found that none of them worked for me given that I am one of those persons who requires maximum odor protection. A vast majority of the so-called “natural deodorants” I tried were effective for just a small period of time, and then the odor would kick in, while others were so egregious that they irritated my skin creating bad rashes. At one point, I was unable to use deodorant at all. For those reasons, I decided to create my own. I made it my mission to come up with a deodorant that would be gentle enough for hypersensitive skin (such as mine) as well as effective in providing maximum odor protection, both fitting my personal needs when it comes to deodorant. After a lot of trial and error, testing different ingredients and amounts, and many months of testing effectiveness with friends and family, I came up with the perfect combination of ingredients that, when combined, work remarkably against odor prevention keeping armpits odor-free all day long. Recently, while working on obtaining my master’s degree in business administration, I had the opportunity to work on numerous projects where I used my small business to conduct research, evaluation, process improvement, and several other areas that made me look at the business in other aspects I did not see before. With the help of several of the projects I worked on for my MBA, I was able to start the testing phase towards a solid deodorant stick version. The reason I did not consider a solid deodorant stick in the past was due to the plastic containers used to stock solid deodorants, which do not mirror my ideals regarding the environment. This idea of working towards a solid deodorant stick version came after I found a stocking container that is completely biodegradable made of 100% wheat straw material, for one of my school projects. I am happy to share that I am in the final stages of launching this new version and I am super excited to share it with everyone in the near future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It all began as a hobby to make my own deodorant that would work especially to meet my needs. After I reached that goal, I started getting requests from friends and family members who wanted to buy the deodorant. Because I had a full-time job as well as a 2-year-old at that time, I did not want to put a lot of my free time into making deodorants. Despite that, I was excited to share what I saw as a safer and healthier deodorant alternative with everyone. Which, consequently, made it the main reason that motivated me to continue. I wanted any person looking for what I view as a safer and healthier deodorant alternative, to have access to one that truly works and at a price they could afford, so I priced it with that in mind. It has been challenging from the beginning being the sole person responsible for all aspects of this small business. Overlooking all the areas of it, from research, development, FDA requirements, labeling requirements, design, local media platform marketing, website development, licensing requirements, budgeting, accounting, purchasing, and all other aspects of managing a business entail. We are still on the road to broadening our scope of public reach which includes finding opportunities to make Modern Elephant Natural Deodorant available at local stores for San Diegans to have access to this wonderful product and make the switch to a healthier deodorant alternative that really works in keeping armpits odor-free all day long.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Currently, Modern Elephant is a small home-based business that solely specializes in making this amazing and effective all-natural ingredient deodorant that actually works toward odor protection. What truly makes Modern Elephant Natural Deodorant stand out amongst all the large commercial deodorants out there is that this product not only meets but exceeds its claims against all-day odor protection. Modern Elephant is also a product that is genuinely made of 100% natural ingredients, which cannot be said about most of the competitors. One of the things I am most proud of is to continue working towards the goal of only using the highest quality natural ingredients as well as using zero plastic, to bring our consumers a safer and healthier natural deodorant. Not only do our consumers use the best and truly all-natural deodorant available, but they also do their part in reducing the use of plastics, supporting the ongoing pursuit of an eco-friendly sustainable environment. Modern Elephant Natural Deodorant’s main goal is to provide a natural deodorant alternative for men, women, teens & tweens that has been shown to be as effective or even better, than commercial deodorant but without all the harmful chemicals and aluminum. My vision is to reach individuals who are mindful of their health and well-being and inspire those who are not to use our hand-crafted, long-lasting, all-natural ingredient deodorant.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe that luck is a reflection of the work one puts into doing something. In my case, even after having several rejections, I strongly believe 100% in the effectiveness of Modern Elephant Natural Deodorant and will continue on my path towards making it available to anyone who is ready to make the switch towards a safer and healthier natural deodorant. I do believe that some opportunities only come once in a lifetime, and one must act upon them. If, for some reason, you missed out on what seemed to have been the only opportunity you had, don’t look back and just focus on what lies ahead and all the opportunities that may come your way.
Pricing:
- $13.00 per Jar which lasts about 3 months
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.modern-elephant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modern_elephant_natural_deo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernelephant/
