GoPure Naturals 100% Pure Peppermint Oil review + DIY for stinky sneakers

Disclaimer:  I received a free bottle of  GoPure Naturals 100% Pure Peppermint Essential Oil in exchange for an honest  & unbiased review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

First, I love mint! I always have a few types growing in pots, the tea is perfect for upset tummies and hair rinses, and I make a spray with the leaves to keep ants out of  the house during the rainy season. So I was really looking forward  to playing around with  GoPURE naturals 100% Peppermint Oil. 

The product arrived securely packaged. The inner box contained a large 4 oz. bottle of Peppermint Oil and a tall glass/rubber dropper. With essential oils, a few drops goes a long way; this bottle should last me quite a while. GoPURE states that this is "100% Pure, Therapudic grade A cold-pressed peppermint essential oil. Ideal for treating a wide range of ailments and disorders, this peppermint oil is the purest oil available." Also that it contains "No harmful chemicals, No parabens, additives or artificial fragrances" and has a "90 day money back guarantee." Hey, you can't go wrong with that.

There are many different uses for peppermint oil, from cosmetics and fragrance to health and home. A drop or two added to a glass of water can ease a stomach ache or freshen bad breath. A quick sniff of few drops added to an oil warmer or cotton ball can open sinuses and even help headaches. I now carry a tiny vial in my purse for minor complaints and reach for it before taking over the counter medication for these basic problems. 

I  also added a few drops to my store bought hair conditioner. I love the wake-me-up scent and tingle. Plus here in hot and humid Florida, it leaves my scalp with a light cooling sensation which is much appreciated. If you give this a try, just give the conditioner a shake before each use. And do NOT get it into your eyes.  

This past weekend, I was spray painting and managed to zap my arm. When scrubbing with soap and water did not remove the paint, I reached for a cotton ball, a drop of  peppermint oil and a drop of vitamin E oil (what I happened to have on hand). This took the paint off easily, leaving a light tingle. I then washed with soap and water as usual.

Please note: Peppermint is very strong! If you are going to apply it to your skin, it is best to add it to a carrier oil (like coconut, almond, or even olive oil)  or lotion so that it doesn't tingle too much. Be sure to test on a small patch of skin first just in case it does irritate you. 

My son has sensitive skin, sweaty feet and VERY stinky sneakers. We decided to tackle these problems with peppermint oil. Last week's temps reached 90 degrees and the walk home from school was extra sweaty and sticky. First I made up a simple spray to cool his toasty toes. This is super easy and refreshing:

I filled a 2 oz. spray bottle with water and added 2 drops of peppermint oil. My kid gave it a shake and a spray. It wasn't quite tingly enough for his tastes, so I added 2 more drops. Success! He spritzed this all over his feet to cool them off. We popped a label on the sprayer and he stores in in the fridge for even more chill factor.

That was the easy part. Now for the smelly shoes.

Last summer we made up some deodorizing shoe powder using tea tree oil. Tea tree has anti-fungal / anti-bacterial properties which did the job, but it left a strong medicinal scent behind. I figured we would give it another try with the peppermint oil. All you need is:

Baking Soda

cornstarch

peppermint oil

measuring spoons

a container to store it in - I used a small baby powder shaker

Measure out 2 Tbl. each of the baking soda and cornstarch. A curled piece of paper makes an easy funnel.

Then add 3-4 drops of peppermint oil. (You can use more, but this should be strong enough and too much oil may make the powder too clumpy to easily shake out). Close the container. Give it a good shake and let it sit for a while.

Sprinkle a bit in the shoes and leave overnight. These were some stinky sneakers but, once again, a little peppermint went a long way.

The next day, the shoes had a faint scent of mint (& only mint- yay). The bottle is small enough to keep by the front door and the kid just adds a quick shake of powder into each sneaker when he gets home. Easy Peasey!

Want more uses for peppermint oil? GoPure Naturals has tips on their Facebook page. Pinterest Fan? There are oodles of ideas and projects there.  

You can also find out more about all kinds of essential oils and other natural products at the goPURE Naturals website.

Looking to pick up some 100% Pure Peppermint Oil? Here is a link to this item on Amazon.

Also, be sure to pop back next week. The kiddo and I are going to try our hand at soap making using essential oils. We will share our results... and an easy to follow DIY if we are successful.