Homemade deodorant, a straight-up re-link.

29 May 2009, 05:55 · bodies, diy

Do us a favor stinky, by Natalie Dee.

Do us a favor stinky by Natalie Dee

Every time I mention that I use homemade deodorant, I realize that I’ve never actually linked to the awesome internet recipe that I use.

So here it is, Angry Chicken’s homemade deodorant recipe, styled after Lush’s Aromacreme natural deodorant but less likely to cause a rash. This is the only deodorant recipe I’ve ever tried, and I’ve been using it happily for about a year. It’s cheap and it works and it gives me a better vibe than the “you stink” industry.

Our personal household version is a little simpler, like so:

5 Tablespoons shea butter
3 Tablespoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons corn starch
Essential Oil (ylang ylang, rosewood, nutmeg and cinnamon)

Melt, stir, pour into container(s), cool. Store extra in the fridge.

Comments

How much essential oil do you put in? I made some and it works really great, but I’m getting a rash, dagnabbit. Maybe it’s the baking soda, but maybe I put in too much essential oil?

— Tracey · 18 June 2009, 19:10

I use these essential oil guidelines from Silk Road Tea in town. For the 75mL of shea butter in the recipe, up to 45 drops of oils would only make a 3% solution, max.

Also, I probably should have mentioned that I only use a tiny amount. A piece the size of maybe a sunflower seed (no shell), split between two armpits. I get itchy if I use much more than that, I guess from the baking soda. But the tiny amount works for me.

I hope that helps! It would be a shame if your glorious concoction gave you an unavoidable rash.

— Sarah · 22 June 2009, 14:12

I just use zinc oxide ointment or diaper rash ointment. Both are about 5 bucks for a year’s supply, don’t irritate the skin, only need to be applied about every 4 days and are good for soothing irritations and knocking back fungus on other parts of the body.

Generic zinc oxide contains about 20% zinc oxide in a mineral grease base. Diaper rash cream (Desitin or generics) is a little stiffer and tends to be cheaper for a formula with more zinc oxide in it (40%), but also contains cod liver oil for vitamin A and D, plus that characteristic “freshly changed baby” scent which you may or may not like.

I’ve considered compounding my own using a vegetable oil like coconut or palm shortening and zinc oxide powder. Not sure where to get the zinc oxide from though.

— Lark · 31 August 2009, 14:15





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