Sunday, January 24, 2010

Homemade Deodorant

I recently stumbled across a recipe online for homemade deodorant and decided to give it a try. After some tweaking of the recipe, I am pleased with the results and don't plan on buying the store brand stuff ever again.

Here's what I did:
Girl on bikes homemade deodorant.
*1/4 cup baking soda
*1/4 cup cornstarch
*1/2 tsp tea tree, lavender, &/or your favorite scented oil
(tea tree works best because of it's antibacterial properties)
*1 tbsp+ coconut oil

Mix baking soda & cornstarch in a bowl with the oil or oil blend of your choice. Stir in coconut oil in until it’s the consistency you like. (mix it quite a bit before adding more)
Shape into disk or smash in to empty deodorant container. The cornstarch needs some heat in order to begin thickening so I put mine in the dehydrator at 145 degrees for about 15 minuets. The bar will be gooey until it cools so try to resist touching it. Once cool it will be firm and easy to handle.

29 comments:

  1. Cool! I love making homemade necessities!


    http://christiecottage.blogspot.com

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  2. no way! i have to try this! (^_^) thankyou!

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  3. Ok- wow! This needs to be tried out!

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  4. Well, this is something I will have to give a try.

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  5. is that it? dang!i think ill have to do this for now on. do ya think Patchouli oil would work?

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  6. give it a shot. Any oil should work for scent. You just won't get the benefit of antibacterial from the tea tree. But the cornstarch and baking soda will still help keep you dry.

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  7. Thats so interesting! Ill try it out... Most deodorants have Aluminum for the antiperspirant, but the anti bacterial sound much more logical...

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  8. Neat idea! I will definitely try this as I have become increasingly sensitive to nearly all chemicals and soaps.
    Question: At what point did you gently heat? After it's all stirred together and then molded? Or did you just place the bowl with the cornstarch only into the dehydrator to warm before mixing all the ingredients?
    Again, thanks for sharing!!
    Rebecca

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  9. I heat after I have smashed it in to an old deodorant container. I you don't have an old container and just want to make a hand held bar, then you just shape it and heat it.
    I have also tried zapping it in the microwave for about 2 min. and it actually works fine. Not sure about the whole plastic in the microwave thing though :/

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  10. Do you think it might work to heat it then stuff it into an old container? And does the coconut oil have a purpose or would some other natural oil work as well. I ask because my husband has allergic reactions to most deodorants including the natural ones and I'd like to try and make it as allergy proof as possible.

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  11. I love this, it worked perfect for me! I just had it as it is, but this time i will try put it in some kind of container.

    Thanks for sharing! <3

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  12. Oh my goodness! I just found this post....Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  13. so what do I do if I don't have a dehydrator? oven?

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  14. Sometimes when I'm lazy I shove it in an old deo container then microwave the whole thing for about 3/4 min or so. It works fine.

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  15. Hi there,

    Thank you so much for such a fab recipe, that really, really works. Is it ok to post a link to your recipe on the high on health website please?

    Thanks again,

    Hayley :-)

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  16. For sure Hayley. Please just link to me. I'd love to share it with as many people as possible.

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  17. Thanks Girl on a Bike. Link to where I've posted it below:

    http://www.highonhealth.org/my-secret-natural-deoderant-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-66101

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  18. It looks great! I already use plain soda which does miracles for me, on the other hand, this looks more as a real thing. I am just wondering, whether the cornstarch does not make white stains on clothes...? Soda and oils - ok, I can imagine they dissolve somehow... but the cornstarch...? Doesn't it get into clothes? Thanks for sharing!
    Umbra

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  19. i made mine this weekend and it works really good!
    the only issue i have is that the tea tree oil burns my armpits a bit...especially after shaving.
    It goes on kinda gritty, but works all day.
    I don't know if i will use it with tank tops since it tends to fall off or flake throughout the day.

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  20. Thanks for your review Sommer. It's interesting to hear the different results people get.
    I myself have no problem with it being flaky or gritty, for me it's really smooth and I only need to put a tiny bit on. No more than 4 quick swipes. I don't shave my armpits either which may or may not have an effect on the way it goes on.
    I'm glad it works for you though. Maybe try messing around with the recipe a bit till you find a consistency you like best.

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  21. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! As for heating, I don't have a dehydrator or a microwave. Any tips on heating it with an oven?

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  22. i was wondering if i could feature this post as partial inspiration for my journey to soapless, manufactured deodorantless, shampooless existence?

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  23. Of course R.Pagett. It would be great if you linked back here to the post. Please let me know when you get it posted, I'd love to see it.

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  24. I tried the recipe with a little tweak, of adding a dab of shea butter( which I got the idea from another homemade deodorant recipe). It needed a little more wet ingredient to hold together. I decided not to use my dehydrator, and mix the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl over the low setting on my electric stove, while using a pastry blender to mix. I was able to form nice patties, and after talking to a neighbor who also used your recipe, decided to use my oven's lowest setting (170) for 10+ minutes to dry it out a little more. I then tried to use it, and found that it kinda crumbled as I rubbed it on, but mostly held together. Later on my shirt (dark brown) was stained darker, and I don't have feedback on if it will come out or not? I wondered if anyone had any experience with staining and if so, is it permanent? Thanks. As far as stinkiness, none to report! I used bergamot, tea tree, lavender, and lemon essential oils.

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  25. Chaya, did your neighbor report any staining? The crumblyness might have been because it was just too dried out. Try only doing the oven or the bowl over the burner but not both.
    The staining might be from the shea butter. I haven't had this issue with the coconut oil alone though it could also just be something with each individuals body chemistry. I have had from time to time some white marks left on my pits on days that I tend to REALLY sweat. It always washes out though.

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  26. I just found your recipe on Pinterest even though you posted this recipe 2 yrs ago! I have a question for you, where does one find tea tree oil? Or, for that matter, what type of store or place would sell scented oils that would work in this deodorant recipe? I remember seeing several fragrant oils in the past as I browsed through stores, but I can't remember where it was since we've moved around so often! I don't live in California so I don't need a name of a specific store, just a type of store to look in. Drug store? Target or Kmart type stores? If in a big store, what department would I look in?

    I would really appreciate your help, Girl on Bike, as my eyesight is so bad I have to find out where things are before I leave my house! Help! Thanks so much for sharing this, Girl on Bike!

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