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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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Great deodorant! I stopped using regular deodorant when I got pregnant, I’m breastfeeding now and I was stinky. This is just what I needed! I notice that I have less sweat and I don’t smell at all!
I would just like to throw some caution to the wind for anyone that might be as uneducated as myself in the essential oils department. Don’t use peppermint oil in this recipe. It might be ok for someone without sensitive skin but it caused almost a chemical burn. Very uncomfortable. It could have been that I used too much maybe, but either way use caution if you do. I love the smell of lavender and mint so I used that for mine and after a few days (and after shaving) I was in pain which continued even with the plain coconut oil. I will have to clear this up and start over and make sure the peppermint oil is in fact the culprit but my assumption is that either I used too much or it just isn’t good for the delicate underarm area (for me) and in case there is anyone else who is new to all the MYO recipes I wanted to share my experience. Thanks for the recipe. I always had an issue were I felt like I would start to smell after a few hours and I am the kind of person that just sweats in the underarms even if it is freezing out. With this I felt like my sweat wasn’t as much and if there was any smell at all it was very faint and didn’t come unless under extreme exercise. For anyone that has issues with the stains, try the magic of dawn dish soap dilluted as a pre wash spray.
Thanks for this idea. I’m making it today! Normal deoderants haven’t seemed to work in the summer for me, and in the winter I don’t use them very often. What a great idea, thanks for the recipe!
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