With so many deodorants on the grocery shelves, it’s hard to determine which one is right for you. However, conventional deodorants don’t last as long as they are advertised and the chemical ingredients can be harmful to the skin. If you want to have a long-lasting deodorant or you prefer to use natural ingredients, you can make your own deodorant at your own home. Here are three main recipes that you can try when making an organic deodorant:
Recipe # 1 – Coconut-oil deodorant
You need ¼ cup of cornstarch, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 6-8 tablespoons of coconut oil. Combine the cornstarch and baking soda, then slowly add the oil and blend it altogether till it creates a thick paste. Pour the paste into a small clear container for storage. You can apply a small amount of deodorant to your underarms daily.
If you have very sensitive skin, you can replace the baking soda with food-grade diatomaceous earth. This food chemical is safe for human use.
Recipe # 2 – Coconut-oil with butter and beeswax deodorant
You can add other ingredients such as cocoa or shea butter and beeswax to make a better deodorant. (You can get butter from the herbal store, while you can get beeswax from your local bee-farm or from an online store) First, mix a half-cup of cocoa, shea or mango butter and a half-cup of beeswax in a glass bowl or jar. Leave the jar over a saucepan with 1-inch water and bring the water to a boil until the butter mixture melts. Transfer the butter mixture to a bowl and mix it with the same amount of baking soda, cornstarch and coconut oil.
If you want the deodorant to smell great, you can add essential oils such as tea tree and lemon. Add 6 or 8 drops of oil to the mixture before blending it altogether. Do note however, that some oils like clove and cinnamon leave skin irritation.
Recipe # 3 – Baking soda and cornstarch powder deodorant
If you don’t want to have a sticky deodorant, you can make a powder version instead. To make one, use any container with a wide mouth and a screw-top lid. Add ¼ cup of cornstarch and ¼ cup of baking soda into the container. Cover the container tightly and shake it well until the ingredients are fully combined. You can use a brush or a cotton ball to dab an amount of powder to your underarms.