Homemade Deodorant
It’s as easy as can be to be stink-free.
Written by Allison Mädl | March 20, 2019
Lunch Hour Lesson #20: Baking soda works great by itself as a deodorant..
Deodorant and antiperspirants are personal-care product staples. Both men and women use them, for good reason: we don’t want to have off-putting body odor.
But there are drawbacks to the ingredients in conventional products. Antiperspirants in particular contain aluminum to stop the sweat glands from producing. The aluminum does get absorbed directly into the bloodstream and with daily use can put a burden on the body’s detoxification systems.
Also, it is not desirable to stop one’s body from sweating. Sweating is an important function that helps keep us cool and flushes out toxins! So I do not recommend antiperspirants.
Last week in What Your Skin Wants, we talked about how important it is to use only natural products, basically food, on your skin. Today I’m going to describe one way that you can do just that.
Homemade deodorant can be as simple as putting plain baking soda on your underarms after showering. Keep a little jar in the bathroom and pat your fingers into it and just rub on your skin. A little goes a long way.
That is what my husband and I have both done for years, and it the easiest and cheapest solution. I used to be a high school teacher, and was very conscious to make sure I didn’t smell! The baking soda worked better than anything else to prevent odors.
Side Note: When we eat better, we don’t stink as much, and bad breath and body odor improve.
I used to make deodorant by mixing baking soda into coconut oil that I had slightly warmed, and then adding a few drops of whatever essential oil I liked. Citrus oils are a good choice, or lavender. Put it in a jar and apply a small amount to underarms with your fingers as needed.
Some people find that baking soda irritates their skin. For sensitive skin, you can make a version without it. Most recipes contain some combination of coconut oil or shea butter, arrowroot powder, and diatomaceous earth (food grade). There are LOTS of recipes online, but I like the ones from the Mommypotamus blog because they are simple. Someone on that blog also suggested that you can swipe or spray apple cider vinegar under your arms as a "prep" for the baking soda and that works to prevent any baking-soda related irritation.
And, if you’re really not into making homemade deodorant or using baking soda, I encourage you to purchase a natural deodorant at the health food store or online. Primally Pure is a brand that makes a great natural deodorant. Your skin will thank you!
Weekend Tip
Use only baking soda on your underarms this weekend (dab on after showering) and see if you like it!