Before getting to this awesome deodorant, let’s first talk about most conventional deodorants bought at the store. Most popular brands of deodorant are incredibly toxic and can cause all sorts of disruption in our bodies. Some of these ingredients are as follows:
- Aluminum: Aluminum has been linked to breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, and has also been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The main ingredient in most all deodorants is Aluminum. You would be shocked at how much aluminum your body absorbs just from daily use of a deodorant containing it. If you don’t believe me, read on to see how I found out just how much this is the case!
- Parabens: Ugh! I hate these things, and unfortunately, they don’t just show up in deodorants – they also show up in MANY of our personal care products such as lotion, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, soaps, etc. Parabens are linked to birth defects and organ toxicity. They disrupt our delicate hormonal balance and can cause hormonal cancers. Although I make a majority of my personal care products myself, when I do buy a beauty product, I make it a HUGE point to only buy paraben free products.
- Propylene glycol: This is a petroleum based material that is used to soften cosmetic products. Studies have shown that it can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver and heart. Propylene glycol also exacerbates overgrowth of candida. Due to the normal American diet being filled with sugar and other junk food, candida overgrowth is prevalent in many of our digestive tracks and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, depression, yeast infections, rashes, poor nutrient absorption, weight gain/loss, etc.
- Phthalates: These chemicals are tricky, because usually your ingredient list won’t list them outright. They show up in cosmetics, synthetic fragrances, body care products and medical goods. Anytime you see “fragrance” or “parfum” listed on your ingredient list, there are usually phthalates hiding in there. Phthalates affect our endocrine system by disrupting hormone receptors. This causes an increased risk of birth defects in pregnant women, and increases the likelihood of cell mutation.
- Triclosan: Triclosan is utilized as the odor killing part of antiperspirants because of its anti-bacterial properties. It is also commonly used in antibacterial soaps, hand wipes and gels. Triclosan is actually classified as a pesticide by the FDA. It is also classified as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. This classification is why some companies have removed it from their products, but unfortunately, it can still be found in many products.
You may think that we use such a small amount of deodorant when we use it that our bodies wouldn’t absorb very many of these chemicals – WRONG! Several years ago when I became very ill, I had a hair analysis done to see if any toxic metals showed up and to see what my oxidation rate was doing. At the time, I was using a popular brand of deodorant (rhymes with schmecret 😉 ). My hair analysis came back showing an EXTREMELY high amount of aluminum in my system, and I was told that normally when it’s that high, it means I had been or was being exposed to something causing this (Yikes! Not what I wanted to hear as I was already dealing with trying to recover from being ill anyway!). I racked my brain, and the only thing I could think of was my deodorant. I stopped using that deodorant and started making my own. A year later, I had another hair analysis done, and the aluminum levels had gone down to a completely normal level (we all have a small amount no matter how careful we are). Phew, I was relieved, however – this just goes to show how much of these nasty chemicals that our bodies actually absorb and store – even if we are only using a small amount of product!
As I said, I stopped using store bought deodorant a few years ago after doing some research and finding out how incredibly toxic many of the ingredients in mainstream deodorants are. I tried quite a few different “natural or organic” store bought deodorants for a few months, but it never failed that when I would read the ingredients, there was at least one that was undesirable. I decided to take matters into my own hands and try making my own. I tried quite a few different recipes, and the one I’m going to share with you is the BEST! It works so well, not a trace of body odor, and it’s actually quite moisturizing for you skin because of the coconut oil. In all honesty, I’m not one to normally get BO, but I made this deodorant for my hubby, and it works great on him as well, so I am convinced that this one is the absolute best and effective recipe.
While trying to concoct the perfect deodorant recipe, I kept coming across recipes that called for “aluminum free” baking soda. I was so confused, because I didn’t think baking soda had aluminum in it. I knew baking powder commonly has this in it, but not baking soda. I would search for aluminum free baking soda, and it was so hard to find. I did my research, and you will be glad to know that I was right on this one. Baking soda DOES NOT contain aluminum. Some brands put “aluminum free” on their packaging, and it’s true that it is aluminum free, but it is just a marketing tool. So, one more time: baking soda DOES NOT contain aluminum.
Okay, now that that is cleared up, let’s talk about this deodorant recipe! This recipe is SO easy, and it works wonders. It only contains 5 ingredients and the fifth one (essential oils) is optional! I really like to add the essential oil though – you can make some really nice scented deodorants and not have to worry about the fragrance containing any of those hidden chemicals. In the summer, I like to use a combination of lemon, sweet orange, and lime essential oils. In the fall and winter, I like lavender and peppermint or sweet orange, clove, and cinnamon. Since my hubby doesn’t want to smell like a girl, I made his to be scented with vanilla, clove, and coriander seed oils – smells so nice! However, the essential oils are optional, so if you are sensitive to them, you can leave them out. Let’s go ahead with this recipe!
HOMEMADE DEODORANT
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup organic virgin unrefined coconut oil
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1 tsp. Beeswax organic pastilles (Beeswax pellets)
- 5-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions:
1.) In a medium mixing bowl, combine the baking soda and arrowroot powder.
2.) In a small sauce pan, heat the coconut oil and beeswax pellets over medium heat, stirring constantly until melted completely.
3.) Poor the melted coconut oil and beeswax pellets over the baking soda and arrowroot powder. Stir until well combined and smooth. Add your essential oils and mix well.
4.) Pour the mixture into an empty deodorant container (you can get these here), or you can poor into a jar and just use your fingers to apply. I prefer the deodorant container because it’s easier, and the containers are cheap.
5.) Put in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes and let it harden a bit. Take out and let it harden the rest of the way out of the refrigerator (This will avoid it hardening too much, making it impossible to twist the applicator up – yes, I did learn this the hard way!). Label your deodorant container if desired.
6.) When solid, roll up the applicator and apply like you would normally apply deodorant. If you decided to store it in a jar, just use your fingers to apply.
Perfect! Safe, non-toxic, no harmful chemicals, easy to make, and completely effective! Enjoy! 🙂
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor a medical professional. The information presented on this site is for educational and entertainment purposes only. One should always consult with their doctor or medical professional before taking on any sort of major dietary or lifestyle changes.
Loving and Laughing 