Pins I’ve Tried: Homemade Deodorant

Hi there! Long time, no post, huh? Sorry about that. It’s been a crazy, overwhelming month and I just couldn’t do much more than get through it as best as I could. But I do have lots of projects that I am going to be sharing – including our new master bathroom!! It’s about 90% complete, but I fear if I wait to show you until it’s 100% done, it will be old by then. I plan on taking some pictures today and getting the post ready this week. Sorry for the delay, but you are going to be amazed at the difference – I am still in awe every time I go in there!

But for today, I am going to share with you my experience with Homemade Deodorant – yes, homemade deodorant.
I know you are probably thinking, why would anyone make their own deodorant? I can’t answer for anyone else, but I tried it because I am cheap thrifty and I am tired of spending a ton of money on store bought brands that sort of work. And I have pretty sensitive skin, and the clinical strength deodorant I was buying was making my skin irritated and dry. So, when I saw this pin from How About Orange, I was intrigued.

The ingredients call for:

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup arrowroot powder

4 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

10 drops/shakes grapefruit essential oil

A tin or jar with lid

Except for the arrowroot powder, I already had the ingredients on-hand. (I LOVE my coconut oil!!) You can purchase all the ingredients at Whole Foods. You can choose a different essential oil, based on your scent preference, but I went with grapefruit because it has a clean, light scent. Some people have commented that they used lavender, pine and other various scents, but I am loving the coconut-ty light citrus scent of mine.

It’s so easy to make – I just mixed all the ingredients together and put it into my containers. Took about two minutes. Smelled amazing.

Coconut oil is solid(ish) below 76 degrees, but since I live in Florida, it was kind of soupy when I mixed this concoction up. But, if your coconut oil is solid, you can melt it a little in the microwave before you mix it up. The consistency of my deodorant is kind of like pudding, but I’m sure it’s subject to change with the temperature in the bathroom. Some people put the mixture right into an empty deodorant container, which makes it easier to apply. I throw out all mine, so I couldn’t 🙁

I was kind of afraid that I would be out and about, and the deodorant would stop working, and I would need to put on more, so I made sure to put the little container in my purse. The fabulous news is that I haven’t had that problem, not at all! I have been working outside, doing yard work and painting furniture, and I never got stinky at all.  I use just about a pea-sized amount on after my shower and rub it in. The coconut oil absorbs pretty quickly into your skin and leaves your skin so soft too.  All day long, I smell fresh and clean. Even the next morning, no stink!!  Not even the clinical strength deodorant I was buying at $10 a pop could say that.

Why does it work? According to the post and the comments, the reason this recipe/concoction works is because coconut oil and (some?) essential oils have anti-fingal/antimicrobial properties – and they smell fabulous! The arrowroot is basically a thickener, and the baking soda neutralizes the acidity of sweat. All I know is that it works. A few of the other comments mentioned that you should not use cornstarch, as it can lead to a yeast infection/rash – blech! And used UNREFINED coconut oil, and it won’t stain your clothing.

I love it, and as long as I continue to have the fabulous results I’ve been experiencing, I will be using this instead of the store bought brands.

Have you tried homemade deodorant? What are your experiences with it?

Thanks for stopping by!

Eliesa