Homemade Deodorant

Did you know that in December 2004, the FDA began requiring that all antiperspirant products containing aluminum include a warning that advises people with kidney disease to consult a physician before using the product? For me, the first red flag in that statement is that there is something in this product that the average person would use on a daily basis that could cause problems with your kidneys. The second red flag is that there’s aluminum in antiperspirants.

For many people, that bit about the aluminum is old news. In fact, I did know about it for a long time, I just didn’t think it was a big deal. Then again, I never took very seriously how much our skin absorbs into our bodies until we started using essentials oil, specifically lavender, to treat problem below the skin’s surface.

My husband suffers horribly from Charley horses and our daughter used to get awful leg cramps in the middle of the night. In both instances we needed something that worked quickly on the cramped muscles. After a recommendation from my mother-in-law and a little extra research on my own, I bought my first bottle of lavender essential oil about 15 years ago. I mixed a couple drops of lavender with a little baby oil, of all things, and applied the mixture to my husband’s and my daughter’s legs whenever they’d start cramping. It was truly amazing how quickly the muscles relaxed and the pain eased. That wouldn’t happen if the oil just stayed on the surface of the skin. Our pores don’t just push sweat and waste out, it absorbs things, too. So, what are you absorbing from your antiperspirant and deodorant?

That aluminum in antiperspirants really is dangerous and can be in significant amounts in antiperspirants. You’re applying that antiperspirant to a very warm area of the body. When things heat up, your pores open wide to let you sweat and cool off. In the meantime, that aluminum has just entered your body. Guess what has to filter that metal out of your body: your kidneys! There’s also a link between that aluminum and Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, memory issues, and urological problems.

Unfortunately, in spite of the health risks, it’s just not okay to stink! I live in Florida where even the luxury commercial antiperspirants typically fail miserably on a sticky August afternoon, and those pricey natural deodorants at the health food store bust the budget and then still don’t work well. A couple of months ago, my friend Christa shared her recipe for homemade deodorant on FaceBook. I’ve seen and made a lot of unusual homemade things, but deodorant wasn’t even on my radar. How could a homemade version outperform those heavily-scented chemical-laden modern miracles? Easy. It’s all in the science.

That smell that we’re all trying to avoid is a product of several factors including moisture and bacteria. Homemade deodorant relies on simple, natural ingredients that absorb moisture and kill bacteria without caking your pores with aluminum. Our bodies were made to sweat. It’s a natural process to help keep you cool and to eliminate waste from your body. Sweating in good. It’s the body odor that’s the social faux pas. Homemade deodorants absorb moisture and kill bacteria. What else could you want? Oh, and you can make yours smell any way you want! 

By the way, if you’re grasping onto your commercial anti-perspirant for dear life because you know your body doesn’t smell as sweet as it could, you might want to think about the fact the there’s more to body odor than what comes from under your arms. Garbage in, garbage out. And that’s all I’m saying about that one.

Here’s the recipe I’ve been using for a while now and really like. Check out these blogs for their recipes: Amy at the Angry Chicken (an excellent recipe for people with sensitive skin), Ivory and TL at Little House in the Suburbs (Ivory actually made stick deodorant!), and Amy at Homestead Revival.

Homemade Deodorant

1/4 C. baking soda (to absorb odor)
1/4 C. cornstarch (to absorb moisture)
5 - 6 T. coconut oil (spreadability)
20 drops Essential Oils such as Tea Tree oil, lavender, grapefruit or ylang ylang

Combine the baking soda and cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir in coconut oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature. You may want to warm it a bit in the microwave to make it easier to stir in. Add about 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or a combination of oils. Oils like tea tree and lavender have natural anti-bacterial properties.

If you warmed the coconut oil first or your home is usually warmer that 76°F then the deodorant will be a bit wet. Give it a day or two to solidify or pop it in the refrigerator for a little while to firm up.

Store in an airtight container. A 4 oz, canning jar works perfectly!

To use: rub a small amount on your underarms.

You can eliminate the coconut oil, if you like, and make a nice body powder instead. Just shake the cornstarch and baking soda together in a jar with the essential oils. Or make both the deodorant and the body powder in the same scent. Use the deodorant under your arms and the powder anywhere else you like. You’ll smell lovely, it won’t cost a fortune, and they’ll be the healthiest beauty products you’ve ever used!

Thanks for stopping by for this week’s health and science lessons!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Betty