My interest in making my own deodorant stems from reading, some years back, that most commercial deodorant has an aluminum compound that has been tied to higher rates of cancer, particularly breast cancer. This aluminum molecule is so small that it fits through the human pores and enters the bloodstream. Also, some deodorants are harsh on the skin and have synthetic chemicals.
One alternative to commercial deodorant is the crystal, a colorless stone that is made of natural minerals. It’s easy to use, requires a bit of water to be applied, and has anti-bacterial properties. It contains an aluminum molecule that will not enter into our bloodstream and is therefore safe.
Proponents of homemade deodorants argue that the body needs to sweat and that this is one of the ways in which we detox. They believe we should avoid antiperspirants, which inhibit the natural process of releasing toxins through sweat. Instead, they say we should discourage the growth of bacteria which create bad odor in the underarm by using anti-bacterial soaps and deodorants.
The basic deodorant recipe calls for half portions of baking soda and cornstarch and the addition of coconut oil, which has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Coconut oil is also good for the skin and scalp, and people who are interested in moving away from chemical products should definitely research the properties of coconut oil and other natural oils.
The standard deodorant recipe that I use half a cup mixture of baking soda and cornstarch, plus about five tablespoons of coconut oil. Use a bit more if needed, but the mixture must not be too moist. This is enough to make a deodorant bar, but I take it a step further. The mixture can be enhanced by adding sandalwood oil for a man’s deodorant (although women may use this recipe as well), or rose oil for a woman’s product.
Other oils may also be used. Some people use lavender oil. I haven’t used it, but lavender does have calming properties, is used frequently in aromatherapy and has always been used to make detergents. In fact, the word lavender comes from the Latin word for clean.
Homemade deodorants go back to ancient traditions, many of which have been lost. It’s what all of our ancestors did: the Egyptians used scented oils to mask body odor daily, placing a small container on the top of their heads which would slowly drip oil on their hair and neck throughout the day. The oil-box on top of the head can still be seen in many Egyptian sculptures. Most ancient cultures used natural oils and even fruits to mask body odor: Rastafarians in Jamaica use akee as a soap and deodorant.
Applying homemade deodorant is a bit different from commercial deodorant, but again this is something we may easily get used to. I usually moisten my underarms prior to application, and moisten the deodorant bar. It then becomes easy to apply.
Another advantage of homemade products is their customization, since people tend to be partial to specific aromas. I encourage experimentation with deodorant recipes. There are many versions of them online that can be used to develop our own recipes.
