Natural Deodorants

Have you heard that antiperspirant deodorant is bad for you? This is certainly news to me! The bad components in antiperspirants are the aluminum compounds. There have been links to Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer from these aluminum compounds, which get into your body through the pores in your armpits.¹ So what should we do about it? The best thing to do is to stop using all types of deodorants but in today’s society that is unacceptable. Some alternatives are to use lemon juice, baking soda, make your own natural deodorant, or buy natural deodorant that is aluminum-free. By using natural or homemade deodorants you are keeping your own body healthy and our planet healthy too! Here is a guide to making your own natural deodorant bar based on a ‘Girl on bikes’ recipe!²

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Less synthetic chemicals being produced in our system and deodorant packaging!

BENEFITS FOR YOUR HEALTH: Less aluminum going into your body, reducing your risks of developing diseases down the road.

COST: Low

TIME AND EFFORT: Minimal

Deodorant Bar Recipe:³

Ingredients:

• – 1/4 cup baking soda
• – 1/3 cup cornstarch
• – 10 drops or 1/2 tsp tea tree oil
• – 1 tbsp coconut oil
• – Optional: ¼ tsp of your favorite scented oil added in

Instructions:

1. Mix together in a bowl the baking soda, cornstarch, tea tree oil, and any optional scented oil you choose.
2. Once your mixture has an even consistency, add in the coconut oil.
3. Try adding food coloring to the mix for a fun color!
4. Shape your mixture into a disk shape or any shape you like. Then either place your deodorant bar into the oven at 145 degrees for 15 minutes or you can microwave it for 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an empty deodorant container to put your mixture into and then heat that in the microwave.
5. Once the bar cools it should be firm and ready to use!

Here are some additional ways to make deodorant!

Deodorant Powder:⁶

Ingredients:

• – 1/2 cup baking soda
• – 1/2 cup cornstarch
• – Optional: a few drops of your favorite scented oil, such as lavender or cinnamon.

Instructions:

1. Place the ingredients in a glass jar and shake it to mix the ingredients.
2. Sprinkle a light covering of the powder on a damp washcloth. Then pat the washcloth onto your underarm area.

Liquid Deodorant:⁷

Ingredients:

• – 1/4 cup each of: witch hazel extract; aloe vera gel; and mineral water
• – 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• – Optional: a few drops of antibacterial tea tree oil or scented oil of your choosing such as lavender or cinnamon

Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, then shake the bottle well and spray onto your underarm area.

Alternatively, you can buy natural deodorant at a store instead of making it yourself.
Here are some recommended brands to try:

1. Tom’s of Maine⁸
2. Herbal Clear⁹
3. Burt’s Bees Herbal Deodorant¹⁰