Making deodorant with natural ingredients(Part 1)

Part 1

I've always been attuned to my surroundings. Although I don't have allergies, I notice that when I deviate from a healthy diet, my body reacts negatively. This sensitivity also extends to using commercial shampoos. Recently, I started making my own natural shampoo, which left my hair looking great. However, when I ran out and didn't have the time or motivation to make more, I resorted to my usual store-bought shampoo. The scent was overwhelming, and within two hours, my scalp became itchy, with bumps and blisters forming. I was taken aback. I quickly made another batch of my natural shampoo and rewashed my hair. Thankfully, the itchiness disappeared, and the blisters on my scalp subsided. Due to this experience, I began assessing all the products I was using. Today, it's about making deodorant using natural ingredients including essential oils.

This blog post is about creating natural deodorant after I ran out of store-bought options and wanted to try something clean and natural. The results were unexpected. Keep reading to learn more and watch my video to see how to make this product.

Most of us have experienced sweating due to being in a hot environment or feeling stressed before an interview. It doesn't take long for odor-causing bacteria to thrive, turning your underarms into an embarrassing situation.

After creating this deodorant, I initially wasn't sure if I would like it. The first reason was that the deodorants we typically purchase are white, whereas this one has more of an off-white, tan color. Additionally, when I applied it to my forearms, I noticed the bar was creamier than store-bought versions. Finally, it felt quite abrasive, but I decided to test it for 7 days to see if it was effective. It was soft, and the scent of shea butter was lovely.This deodorant stick is highly nourishing for your skin. I observed that the scent of tea tree and lavender was absent, which I expected given the low concentration. However, even if you can't smell the essential oils, they remain effective due to their antibacterial properties.

After using my deodorant for a week, I was pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness. It had a lovely shea scent and lasted throughout the day. Even when working outside in the hot sun, I felt protected. While my body perspired, my underarms stayed dry and soft without any embarrassing odor. The color was barely noticeable, and the soft texture made it easy to apply with just one application. The abrasion didn't bother me either. I suspect I might not have mixed the solution well, which left abrasive materials like baking soda and diatomaceous earth on the surface of the bar. After continued use, there was less abrasion, but the deodorant remained effective.

This recipe makes one 74 g bar of deodorant. To make this product, you will need the following ingredients and supplies:

Equipment:

·      Repurposed Deodorant containers (1– 74 g container)

·      Double boiler or a wax melter

·      Weighing scale

·      Containers for ingredients

·      Spoon

·      Hand mixer or Immersion blender - not required

·      8 g beeswax

·      15 g shea butter

·      30 g of coconut oil

·      10 g arrowroot powder (I used tapioca flour)

·      7 g baking soda

·      5 g Food grade diatomaceous earth

·      1 d of tea tree

·      3 d of lavender

Total: 75 g

Total of 4 drops for a 0.25 % dilution of essential oils. You can use a dilution of 0.50%, so 8 drops if you want. When remaking this recipe, I would try adding 4 drops of tea tree and 4 drops of lavender.

Reasons for using each ingredient:

Beeswax: Known for its moisturizing qualities and ability to form a protective barrier against moisture loss. Beeswax is ideal for products due to its high melting point, ensuring the product remains solid and doesn't melt.

Shea butter, Vitellaria paradoxa: Excellent for moisturizing with a delightful fragrance. It is very emollient and suitable for all skin types, making it a great addition to lotions and moisturizing creams. Caution: Shea butter's chemical composition is similar to latex, so individuals sensitive or allergic to latex may react to it.

Coconut oil, Cocos nucifera: Highly moisturizing with antibacterial and antifungal properties, and offers some UV protection (4 to 8%).

Tapioca Flour Manihot esculenta or cassava: Serves as an excellent thickening agent, valued for its absorbent and soothing qualities, particularly beneficial for oily skin.

Baking Soda or Sodium bicarbonate: Effective at neutralizing odors, it is used for its odor-absorbing and mild exfoliating properties.

Diatomaceous earth (Food Grade Only): Made from fossilized algae (diatoms), it is utilized for its absorbent properties.

Tea tree essential oils Melaleuca alternifolia: Employed for its antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal benefits.

Lavender essential oils Lavendula angustifolia: Also antimicrobial, lavender's scent is known for its calming and relaxing effects.

Instructions:

Step 1: Measure all your ingredients and place them in separate bowls.

Step 2: Transfer the beeswax into the double boiler or the wax melter pot.

Step 3: Melt wax and add other ingredients, mixing well. Once thoroughly mixed and melted, if using a double boiler, carefully remove from heat and add essential oils (optional) and mix.

Caution: When using a wax melting pot, switch it off if it becomes excessively hot. I set mine to halfway, and it still melted my beeswax very quickly. I turned it off when it was near boiling, which you should avoid, particularly if you plan to add volatile compounds like essential oils.

Step 4: Transfer solution into your container(s).

Step 5: Let it cool. Place in the refrigerator or freezer to expedite the cooling process.

Step 6: Apply a thin layer to the underarms.

Enjoy!

In Part 2, I plan to modify this recipe by removing the baking soda and diatomaceous earth and including a unique ingredient. The next update is set for September 11, so make sure to subscribe to my video channel to stay informed.

Making Deodorant using Natural Ingredients