Back in 2015 I tried some of the many homemade deodorant recipes which you can find online. I was quite skeptical, Erik even more so than I. But we were both surprised at how well it worked and 7 years later we are still using it.

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This deodorant is great because it …
won’t block your pores
has no harmful chemicals to be absorbed into your body
it will be cheap
is package free
has a subtle smell

RECIPE:

6 Tablespoons of Bicarbonate of Soda
6 Tablespoons of organic/unrefined Coconut Oil
4 Tablespoons of Maizena or arrowroot powder
4 Tablespoons Shea Butter
20 drops of essential oils (tea tree, lavender, lemon, orange etc)

Melt the sheet butter and coconut oil over a low heat and add in the bicarb and maizena, keep stirring, stirring, stirring to get it all mixed in.  Add the essential oils once it has cooled. 

I don’t add a lot of tea tree, maybe just 5 drops and then something like lemon or lavender. But do your own research and experimenting for oils that work for you. Having tried many different oils over the years, I favour lemon, orange and/or rose geranium.

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Notes & tips:

To use, you just need to scoop a pea sized (or smaller) amount onto your finger and gently smear onto your armpit. There may be a few grains of bicarb, but just brush these off. Once you have used this deodorant for a while, you will effectively be detoxing the bacteria from your armpits that cause the smell. I suggest using day and night in the beginning. This post is worth a read: How to Detox your Armpits by Wellness Mama

If you live in a hot climate, it will be quite runny, so I would suggest experimenting to what suits you. For a very hot climate, maybe a tablespoon less coconut oil. Store in a cool place, away from sunny window sills.

I find you get the best consistency with lots and lots of stirring whilst the mixture is still warm, as this helps to dissolve the bicarb as much as possible. Pour it into your tubs/jars and then once it has cooled, give it another stir just to mix it up in case there has been a lot of settling.  You are trying to avoid all the bicarb sitting at the bottom.  

I make it in a larger quantity to save time, and then just decant into smaller pots for daily use.  

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