In the DIY world of home health and beauty products, deodorant seems to be the the most feared replacement. Stinking is NOT OKAY in our culture, right?
But aluminum crammed in your pores cannot be good for you, and it seems in recent years that store-bought deodorant is becoming less and less effective anyway. This deodorant uses a natural moisture absorber (cornstarch), a natural deodorizer (baking soda), and a natural anti-bacteria/fungal oil (tea tree oil) to keep any stink from developing in the first place.
So, here’s what I suggest….make this stuff ahead and use it on SATURDAY, or a sick day, or any day you aren’t going to see anyone special, so you’ll feel secure and not look like a nut obsessively sniffing your underarms all day. Once you get over the stink phobia, let your body get used to it, and you’ll never go back.
1. Put 1/4 cup each of baking soda and cornstarch** in a bowl with 10+ drops tea tree oil. (I like 20 drops, but I’m a tea tree oil nut. I hear lavender oil will work as well.)
2. This deodorant can be used as a powder, but if you want a stick, go to the shortening section of the store and buy this solid-at-room-temperature-awesome stuff:
3. Stir 2+ TBSP in until it’s the consistency you like.
4. Smash into empty deodorant container. (Will be a bit sturdier once it sets a day or so.)
When applying this deodorant, use a lighter hand than you would with normal stick deodorant, especially the first couple of days or it’ll drop little balls on your bathroom rug.
Used correctly, this stuff is invisible and lasts for ages, as it works with a very light layer. You should not be able to SEE it once applied.
**If you have especially sensitive skin, increase the amount of cornstarch to 6T and decrease the baking soda to 2T.
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Standard baking soda has aluminum in it, so you need to make sure you get baking soda without aluminum.
i tried this recipe. it’s wonderful. i’ve tried 4 different brands of “natural” deodorant from the health food store and this one has been far superior.
This looks great, I can’t wait to try it! I’m allergic to the store bought brands, so hopefully this will work for me
I just started using this two days ago and so far I don’t smell! This stuff is awesome and I will be making my deodorant from now on. Thanks!
By the way, baking soda doesn’t have aluminum in it. Baking powder does. Companies just use the confusion between baking soda and baking powder to market baking soda as “aluminum-free” so they can charge more for it.
I LOVE THIS STUFF! Been using it for a couple of months and will never go back to store bought deodorant! Thank you so much!
I have been sprinkling powder under my arms for some time now (bicarbonate of soda mixed with cornflour ((Australian names for baking soda and cornstarch)) and a little zinc powder) but I just could not convince my 14 yr old daughter to give it a go. I have managed to graduate her onto stick deodorant rather than spray…so this looks like a recipe that might actually work!! Thank you very much.
hopefully it works!
Is there a way to substitute EVOO as the liquid agent and crushed lavender instead of lavender oil? If it is possible, would you still need the coconut oil? This recipe looks like a terrific substitute for the store-bought ones that sometimes do contain ingredients that are irritating to susceptible persons.
EVOO isn’t solid at room temperature. Crushed lavender would be fine if it didn’t irritate your skin.
This article is great. Fiancee uses baby powder right now because he can’t stand regular deodorants. It works some but still ends up stinky at end of the day.
I’m going to see if this works for him. He likes tea tree oil scent so hopefully it will. As for applying the powder easily- get a cheap fine weave sock and fill it up. Swing sock on area to be powdered and some will poof out. It’s the same as the chalk bag rock climbers use to keep their hands dry.
I have been using this deodorant recipe for about a year now, and it’s awesome. Thank you so much for posting this.
I have substituted cedar essential oil for the tea tree, and it still works great. Also, I use extra virgin coconut oil since it has not been refined, bleached or deodorized. It adds a great smell to the deodorant. I store my deodorant in the fridge so it stays nice and hard.
None of the natural, health-food store type deodorants ever worked for me. I would stink after about two hours. This recipe works wonders!
Hurray, can’t wait to try this. For some reason, this year I have started to try to go sustainable?? I’ve been canning, freezing, making lavender cold processed bar soap, dishwasher detergent, and last but not least…laundry detergent. It has all been very successful, and I am having a blast doing it. I feel like as though I am doing something good for my family as well.
So now its onward an upward to replace my Smooth Powder, flawless touch Secret with Olay, ha.
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