Homemade Deodorant
So let's talk deodorant alternatives. You can use a salt block. You can use baking soda. You can even use a potato! Well, that's according to Niahm, a BSc in Nursing Science, and host of the Fairyland Cottage youtube channel. You can check out that particular video here.
I can't honestly say I've tried the potato option. And I couldn't find a salt block that came without plastic packaging. But I did try using baking soda and found that it irritated my skin. So I scoured the internet and found a recipe on a blog called MamaInstincts.com and lo-and-behold I already had all but one ingredient.
I'm sure you recognize baking soda and coconut oil, but I'll explain the others. In the top right ramekin I have arrowroot powder--this is the one ingredient I still needed to buy. Luckily for me, my local co-op down the street sells it in bulk, so I just brought an old bouillon paste jar with me and got a few scoops of it. The little vials on the left are essential oils (tea tree and grapefruit). Below them, the bottom left ramekin contains shea butter. In the blue bowl I have cubes of beeswax. I bought a large block of it from a local honey producer (again via the co-op) for about $10 a year or so ago. I found it difficult to chip away chunks of the block, so I melted it all down and poured it into a silicone ice cube tray (that I purchased before going plastic-free). The cubes are much easier to handle.
Oh, also you need a place to put your deodorant after you make it. I had some old containers from previous deodorants. Both were nearly empty, so I cleared out the one and put all it's extra deodorant into the other. I then washed out and dried the dispenser I planned to use.
The rest is pretty easy. You melt the wax, coconut oil, and shea butter in a double boiler (I used a glass measuring cup inside another pot), then turning off heat, but keeping the mixture in the hot water, you stir in the arrowroot powder and essential oils. Pour into the dispenser and let harden for about 30 minutes.
I will note that this recipe makes two sticks' worth of deodorant, but as it usually takes me a year or more to go through one stick I decided half the recipe. Good thing I did too, because I filled the one dispenser full and had a little extra that I poured into the second container.
I've been using this deodorant for about 2-3 weeks now. I can report that it has NOT caused any irritation on my skin. However, if I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure it's the best choice when wearing a white blouse or any shirt where the sleeves cut into the armpits in any way. Oils and colored wax do make up the majority of this product. And while those ingredients smell amazing, they don't exactly mix with fabric well. I have NOT noticed stains on most of my clothes; just an already stained white shirt and sleeveless blouses that tend to cut into my armpits more than they should. It has worked well with my work and exercise clothes, so I'm willing to give it a longer trail.
Have any of you used homemade deodorants or other deodorant alternatives? Have you found a recipe that works well for you? Please share with us. Until next time, please take care.
I can't honestly say I've tried the potato option. And I couldn't find a salt block that came without plastic packaging. But I did try using baking soda and found that it irritated my skin. So I scoured the internet and found a recipe on a blog called MamaInstincts.com and lo-and-behold I already had all but one ingredient.
I'm sure you recognize baking soda and coconut oil, but I'll explain the others. In the top right ramekin I have arrowroot powder--this is the one ingredient I still needed to buy. Luckily for me, my local co-op down the street sells it in bulk, so I just brought an old bouillon paste jar with me and got a few scoops of it. The little vials on the left are essential oils (tea tree and grapefruit). Below them, the bottom left ramekin contains shea butter. In the blue bowl I have cubes of beeswax. I bought a large block of it from a local honey producer (again via the co-op) for about $10 a year or so ago. I found it difficult to chip away chunks of the block, so I melted it all down and poured it into a silicone ice cube tray (that I purchased before going plastic-free). The cubes are much easier to handle.
Oh, also you need a place to put your deodorant after you make it. I had some old containers from previous deodorants. Both were nearly empty, so I cleared out the one and put all it's extra deodorant into the other. I then washed out and dried the dispenser I planned to use.
 |
 |
The rest is pretty easy. You melt the wax, coconut oil, and shea butter in a double boiler (I used a glass measuring cup inside another pot), then turning off heat, but keeping the mixture in the hot water, you stir in the arrowroot powder and essential oils. Pour into the dispenser and let harden for about 30 minutes.
 |
 |
 |
 |
I will note that this recipe makes two sticks' worth of deodorant, but as it usually takes me a year or more to go through one stick I decided half the recipe. Good thing I did too, because I filled the one dispenser full and had a little extra that I poured into the second container.
I've been using this deodorant for about 2-3 weeks now. I can report that it has NOT caused any irritation on my skin. However, if I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure it's the best choice when wearing a white blouse or any shirt where the sleeves cut into the armpits in any way. Oils and colored wax do make up the majority of this product. And while those ingredients smell amazing, they don't exactly mix with fabric well. I have NOT noticed stains on most of my clothes; just an already stained white shirt and sleeveless blouses that tend to cut into my armpits more than they should. It has worked well with my work and exercise clothes, so I'm willing to give it a longer trail.
Have any of you used homemade deodorants or other deodorant alternatives? Have you found a recipe that works well for you? Please share with us. Until next time, please take care.
I came up with a recipe I really liked, loosely based on a recipe including bentonite clay (i already have it because I use it in my tooth powder), but I haven't been able to replicate it. Your posts makes me want to try again though! I think I based it on a recipe I found on wellnessmama's blog.
ReplyDeleteThat's so great! Having tried this recipe for longer I'm not as happy with it. I think I should have used clear beeswax as the traditional does actually leave a residue on lighter clothing. If you remember the recipe you liked I would love it if you share it!
Delete