Making deodorant is like everything else, deceptively easy. It has 6 ingredients and together they are a pretty potent cocktail in the fight against body odor. TMI time.... Several years ago I had to have a total abdominal hysterectomy catapulting me into a surgically induced menopause hell. Ever since, my body odor has become quite harsh. I can shower and still stink. After a long day of manual labor and I can make the dogs clear the room. I had used many different store bought versions with minimal effects and the worst ever dry armpit itching ever. I had even sought out medical advice. I was told to bathe more frequently and use lotion for my itchy pits. Um... thanks. I had all but given up hope when I discovered that apple cider vinegar naturally neutralizes odor by destroying the bacteria responsible. I used it. It burns after you shave. But it works. YAY! But I was still stuck with using store bought deodorant and itchy pits.
I started thinking about other natural odor eliminators. I could only come up with one... Baking soda. But it's really abrasive. Definitely didn't help with the dry pit either. Coconut oil did help with the itchy pit. You don't get a much better moisturizer. But it has such a low melting point it's kind of messy for use as a deodorant. So I decided to add mango butter due to it's stiffness. But there was still the issue of the abrasiveness.... I came up with Arrow root powder! It would definitely cream up the mixture and cut down the abrasiveness. With that, I came up with my deodorant recipe...
Ingredients
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1/3 C Coconut Oil
1/3 C Mango Butter
2/3 C Baking Soda
2/3 C Arrow Root Powder
1/3 C Apple Cider Vinegar
20 drops Essential Oils
Melt the mango butter and the coconut oil together in a small bowl (double boiler method). Mix in the apple cider vinegar with the melted oils and add in the essential oil of your choice (I used tea tree to help with the itchiness and increased antibacterial properties). Mix the baking soda and arrow root powder together. Mix the powders into the oils/vinegar and mix until a thick creamy paste.
That's it. I keep mine in a Tupperware and smear it on daily and after my shower. I still use the extra vinegar, but it's super easy to just do it in the shower since I've started the no poo method. The best part... if you have a day or two (I'm a mom, no judgement, no shame... I completely understand) without a shower, you still won't stink! Even if you only get to put it on after your last shower and not reapply. This is truly a miracle in the whiffy wifey department (and the Stinky hubby dept too)! We even have our oldest using it (puberty funk is a special funk all on its own). I really hope this helps all of you out as much as it has helped me!
With that in mind, your baby step is to make an all natural personal hygiene product. Use one of mine or utilize Google for something more your speed! Just do it! (sorry Nike) You will be amazed at how easy it is to make and the level of satisfaction you will get from making something so practical with your own two hands. Find something you use everyday or once a week and find an all natural home made alternative! It's a very simple step to self sufficiency and think of the chemicals you will be eliminating for you and your family's lives! I know you can do it! And share a comment and let me know all about it! I am always looking for new ideas of things and ways to make stuff!
Today I wish you curiosity. You will never find knowledge if you don't seek it first!
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