Natural Deodorant (soy, nut free, coconut and baking soda free variations)

The Original Pinterest Recipe:

• 2 parts raw coconut oil

• 1 part starch of choice (corn, arrowroot, and tapioca are popular)

• 1 part baking soda

Add ingredients to a small mixing bowl, and mix very thoroughly with a spatula or hand mixer, until the paste resembles a whipped frosting. Store in a low, wide-mouth jar. Allow to set overnight before using.

To use: apply a pea sized amount to each freshly cleaned armpit with your fingertips.

I, personally, have found this recipe to be the most effective deodorant I have ever used, natural or not. I obviously have no problem with coconut oil or baking soda, like a lot of people do. If you need ingredient substitutes, here is what I would recommend:

• For coconut oil, unrefined beeswax, preferably local. Considering beeswax is very thick, you may want to use a double boiler to melt together 1/2 or 1 part beeswax to 1 part oil (such as olive or castor oil) to get the beeswax to the consistency you want for the recipe.

• For coconut oil, raw cocoa butter. Unfortunately, the antibacterial properties aren’t perfectly matched, so you’ll want to look into an add-in for extra odor protection.

• For coconut oil, beef tallow. Like the above, this is not going to have the same antibacterial properties as the coconut oil, but will act as a base for some add-ins.

• For baking soda, double your starch. I’ve made it this way as an anti-friction balm, you will need an add-in to make up for the antibacterial properties.

• For baking soda, very fine milled clay. I would again recommend an additional antibacterial with this.

To add some additional antibacterial “oomph” to your recipe:

• Essential oils. Popular oils to use for deodorant are: lavender, patchouli, cedar, rosemary, clove, frankincense. Be mindful when using citrus oils, they make your skin photosensitive, i.e. prone to sunburn. A lil’ orange, rosemary, clove, and frankincense for the Christmas season under thick sweaters is fine, a mojito blend for the beach is not.

• Raw honey, and it does have to be raw. Locally produced is best, if possible. To incorporate honey into your recipe, melt it together with your “coconut oil” or oil substitute at a ratio of 1/2 part honey to 2 parts fat in a double boiler. Let the mixture set before continuing on with the recipe. Will this be sticky on the skin? Not if you let it sit overnight and meld properly into the paste.

• Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Colloidal Silver, Hypochlorous Acid - you may find your deodorant is more effective with a two-part process, an antimicrobial or PH balancing liquid like those I just listed, before applying your deodorant paste.

Here are a few of my favorite essential oil blends:

• The Perimenopause Stank Buster: 2 parts lavender, 1 part geranium, 1 part clary sage, 1/2 part ylang ylang.

• The Music Festival: 2 parts patchouli, 1 part lavender, 1/2 part rosemary, 1/2 part cedar.

• The Wanderer (as in a dupe of the old Burt’s Bees solid perfume fragrance from the 90’s) : 2 parts patchouli, 2 parts ginger, 1 part nutmeg, 1/2 part clove, 1/2 part black pepper.

• That Festive Funk Buster I mentioned earlier: 2 parts orange, 1 part rosemary, 1 part frankincense, 1/2 part clove.

• The Goth Dance Floor: 2 parts patchouli, 1 part clove, 1 part frankincense, 1/2 part ylang ylang (can omit for a more masculine fragrance).

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