by OK, so this post is all about battling B.O. Not only that, but battling it in a safe and reliable way with aluminum-free ingredients. Finally, you can feel good about what you and your family put on your pits. :O)
Why aluminum-free? Well, store-bought deodorants contain aluminum or aluminum compounds, which are said by the “experts” to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and certain kinds of cancer. I don’t know about you, but my children are approaching the age of deodorant usage…and for them to have zero-exposure to toxic metals sounds good to me!
I love being able to pronounce the ingredients of the things I put in and on my body, don’t you? That’s just one more *plus* to this deodorant recipe.
Homemade Aluminum-free Deodorant
- Bob’s Red Mill Aluminum-free Baking soda (most baking soda brands are processed w/aluminum, so go with Bob’s!)
- Witch Hazel (available at your local supermarket…same section as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide)
- fingertip-spray bottle (for witch hazel)
- plastic storage bottle w/a flip top lid (for baking soda storage)
- essential oil of choice (coconut or rosemary…)
Fill the mini-spray bottle with witch hazel, and if desired, add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil. Likewise, fill the other flip-top container with baking soda. To use, simply spray the witch hazel on your armpit, then dump a bit of baking soda in your hand and cup it to your pit…patting it around. It’s not as messy as it sounds, and I’m so happy to report that it’s the BEST protection I’ve ever had from B.O. My friend who got me started w/this recipe told me that prior to trying this recipe, she also had searched for a good coverage deodorant but always ended up smelling like B.O. and whatever scent the deodorant happened to be.
I’ve been using this recipe with totally happy results for several days now!
One last tip for sensitive skin, try one part witch hazel, one part aloe vera gel, and one part water.
While we’re on the topic of homemade deodorants, I want to point you to another recipe that sounds good…this one we haven’t tried yet, but came highly recommended by another friend of mine. She says it’s totally replaced store-bought deodorant for her family…teenage son and all! This one is more of a roll-on, and calls for coconut oil, arrowroot powder and baking soda.
At any rate, should we somehow experience a world-wide shortage of hygiene products, you now have a recipe or two to save the day!
Store bought doesn’t really work for me anyway, so I’m going to try this soon.
Bethanie, I’m so happy at how well this works. I’ve put in some long hot days without even having to reapply this…it works splendidly, even in our 111* heat wave! Absolutely no stink. :O)
I plan on trying it, as soon as I run out of all the free deoderant I have. 🙂
Anne~the coupon queen! I understand…but I’m thinking of chucking the stuff I’ve still got on hand!