Homemade All Natural Deodorant

First off, let me preface this by saying I really don't have any major issues with commercial deodorant.  But I will tell you that almost all commercial deodorant contain aluminum.  Aluminium toxicity has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, various cancers, as well as other health issues.  Commercial deodorant also contains parabens, which I talked about the dangers of here.

Again I wasn't on a hunt to eliminate commercial deodorant from my life, but I ran across this recipe several months ago and about 6 weeks ago or so I decided to give it a try.  I'm not really sure why I remembered it or thought about it, but I did, and I happen to have all the ingredients so I decided to give it a whirl.  So here you go- homemade all natural deodorant that costs next to nothing.

Ingredients: 

• 6-8 Tbs coconut oil** (solid state)
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup arrowroot

Directions

• Mix arrowroot powder and baking soda
• Slowly mix in coconut oil to incorporate into powder.  (I just used the back of a spoon)  Continue to add in coconut oil until consistency is like that of regular deodorant- more of a solid state but easily applied.  

That's it!  It took me less than 5 minutes.  I store it in a small pyrex container in our bathroom and apply it with my fingers.  (You could also transfer it into an old deodorant container- click here for a tutorial.)  I've been using it for over a month now and will say it works well.  (i.e. no one has complained of me smelling and I have not smelled myself.  Remember I'm pregnant and my sense of smell is SUPER keen right now, so if I smelled I promise I would know.)  I was slightly concerned about it staining my clothes, but it has not at all.  It also rubs in incredibly well and leaves no residue to be seen.  It has a pleasant smell, but it is not over-powering or overly noticeable.  It could easily be used for both men and women.  (Although you will NEVER see or hear of my husband using this.  He would probably kill me if I asked him to try it.  There are some lines you just don't cross in your marriage.)  You could also add a couple drops of tea tree oil for the pleasant scent and anti-bacterial properties.

I will also say that it has not been particularly hot outside and I have not been heavily exercising either, so perspiration has not been an issue.  I will probably continue to use commercial deodorant when heading to the gym or running and probably for those humid Georgia summers when sweating tends to be more of a problem.  But for now I will continue to use the natural homemade deodorant and know that I am limiting my exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in my environment. 

**Coconut oil does change from a solid to liqued state at 76 degrees, so if your bathroom or house tends to be on the warmer side (like 76 degrees) you might have issue with it melting...
**Although we primarily use coconut oil in the kitchen for cooking, it has A LOT of other great uses for skin and hair.  For more uses for coconut oil click here

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