The smell of success

Ever piled the kids in the car after a day at the park and wished you could spritz them good with Febreeze? Driving her three kids home from the zoo last summer, that sort of notion occurred to Alyce Blackstone. Surely, she thought, there’s a way to rid kids of smelling like puppy dogs. What about a gentle deodorant spray applied atop their clothes, she wondered. She pitched the idea to her husband, Chris, they soon met with a patent attorney and four months later they delivered their first shipment of KidzMist to local stores. Neither had any experience in the fragrance industry or with manufacturing a product for children. They identified and partnered with an expert manufacturer. “I’m a mom,” Alyce says, “I’m no chemist.”

Online research led them to a Dallas-based scent manufacturer, which now is their exclusive supplier. “My standards were that it can’t last just 30 minutes, and it can’t just mask the smell.” KidzMist contains both an odor neutralizer and deodorizer, Alyce says.

The product is not meant to take the place of a bath, Chris says. Rather, it’s perfect for busy days when kids hop from one activity to the next.

So far parents report good results with the product. The Blackstones use it on their kids, who now sometimes ask for it.

You can find KidzMist at local stores including Oh Baby, Varsity Sports, What’s Kickin’, and Victoria’s Toy Station. kidzmist.com