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Deodorant alternatives and No-deodorant option

 
Elissa Teal
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Location: Detroit, Michigan
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posted 11 years ago
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Hi All, I was watching a video of one of Paul's presentations (with 72 points) and he mentioned that he has gone without deodorant and he doesn't stink. I haven't used store-bought anti-perspirant or deodorant in years -- up until about 3 months ago I made my own deodorant. Then in October I was getting irritated in my pits so I switched to Tea Tree Oil diluted in a 1/2 tsp. or so of carrier oil and just rubbed that mixture into my pits. Unfortunately, the stinkies don't stay away all day which I am very disappointed about since TTO is supposed to be anti-bacterial and I believe that it is bacteria growth making the stinkies. Am I wrong?

I am grain-free most of the time (Paleo, except that I have sugar and raw cream in my 2 morning cups of coffee). I eat a lot of veggies and fruit (I go for 9 cups a day) and very little cheater foods like Paleo bread, etc. Most of the meat that I eat is grassfed. Our eggs are from our backyard hens. So, I can't believe that I am "full of toxins" from my diet.

Anyway, I'd love to hear more from those of you who don't use deodorant and those of you who use deodorant alternatives.

TIA, Elissa

New to Detroit. Looking to help out with current permaculture and urban farming projects. Here is my blog from when I was an urban homesteader in Ohio but I am continuing to post about our suburban adventures in Permaculture. http://crunchymamasurbanhomestead.wordpress.com/

 
David Livingston
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I use Alum just a Crystal nô perfume nô areosol

David

Living in Anjou , France,
For the many not for the few
http://www.permies.com/t/80/31583/projects/Permie-Pennies-France#330873

 
John Elliott
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Deodorant is just soap, you know.

Read the ingredients on a typical deodorant and it's like propylene glycol and sodium stearate -- not that much different than glycerin soap. It doesn't take much soap on the surface of your skin to keep the bacteria from multiplying, which is all you want to do to keep from smelling bad.

If you have a bad skin reaction to deodorants, but there is a hypoallergenic soap that you can tolerate, try applying a small amount of that to serve as a deodorant.
 
R Scott
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My whole family is diet sensitive when it comes to BO. We don't have to eat junk, too much sugar is too much sugar even when it comes from fruit. And we have to keep the acidity down.

We are experimenting with deodorant recipes as most natural recipes contain too much cornstarch or baking soda--both are irritants for several of us.

If we do find a recipe that works for everyone in our family, it should work for most. Haven't found it yet...

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

 
Dawn Hoff
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I use bicarbonate soda and coconut oil (whip it to a cream), when I use anything - which becomes more and more rare.

I find that if I don't get enough magnesium I tend to have quite a BO. If you don't eat grain you should make sure to get magnesium from other sources - and most of the vegetable sources are not readily obtainable (incl. grains). Bone broth or galantine from pastured animals contains tons of magnesium (and doesn't upset my stomach). But also salt water drinks (water w. A little salt water + lemon juice), Epsom salt baths, sea baths and magnesium cream (I use it on my feet), helps (on other things beside BO - like fatigue, PMS, migraines, candy cravings etc).

soloenespana.wordpress.com

 
Mikaela Koncilja
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Location: Zone 10a Ft Lauderdale florida
posted 11 years ago
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Hi. I live in zone 10b and make my own deodorant Ingredients are organic coconut oil, baking soda, arrow root powder , and 10 drops of purify which is an essential oil from doterra Ad then 5 drops of whatever essential oil I want to add to the batch I have made sandle wood, wild orange, elevation, lemon. Smell good all day ! - Mikaela
 
Elissa Teal
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Mikaela and Dawn, I'm suspecting that my body just is too sensitive for baking soda.

R Scott, it is possible that I am consuming too much sugar from fruit and that my body might be too acidic. That is something for me to consider. Thanks for the lead.

Dawn, I am confident that I am getting enough mag. since most of my meat is from grassfed cows or pastured pork PLUS I am pretty liberal with my use of Real salt which has a lot of minerals in it. But thank you for pointing that out for me to consider.

David, thanks for the tip on the alum. Perhaps I will try that. I had tried it a long time ago and it didn't seem to work for me but I might try it again.

New to Detroit. Looking to help out with current permaculture and urban farming projects. Here is my blog from when I was an urban homesteader in Ohio but I am continuing to post about our suburban adventures in Permaculture. http://crunchymamasurbanhomestead.wordpress.com/

 
Deku Buu
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Hello I don't know if you got the deodorant issue sorted yet so I thought I would throw in my experiences with going deodorant free. Our family pretty much uses nothing from the store in terms of soap and lotions but that is not necessarily relevant here.

My husband is also sensitive to baking soda, if he uses just baking soda and coconut oil it usually will result in a red rash within a couple of days of use. It works great for deodorizing but obviously this was not going to be a good solution for him to break out in a rash just to use deodorant.

I came across a couple of other recipes and found one that works for us, 6 tablespoons coconut oil, quarter cup baking soda and a quarter cup cornstarch (or arrow root powder, possibly potato starch would work too, I have only used cornstarch since it works well for us). This worked great for a while, he didn't get rashes until one day I used a different baking soda and then the rashes came back again. I found that the regular baking soda from the boxes causes rashes. The one baking soda that works for us is Bob's Red Mill. I think it works best because it is such a fine texture compared to any other baking soda we have tried to use. I don't know what your sensitivity to baking soda is but hopefully this helps.

http://www.yummykefir.com - Milk kefir and water kefir recipes to keep your belly happy.

 
Elissa Teal
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Deku Buu wrote:Hello I don't know if you got the deodorant issue sorted yet so I thought I would throw in my experiences with going deodorant free. Our family pretty much uses nothing from the store in terms of soap and lotions but that is not necessarily relevant here.

My husband is also sensitive to baking soda, if he uses just baking soda and coconut oil it usually will result in a red rash within a couple of days of use. It works great for deodorizing but obviously this was not going to be a good solution for him to break out in a rash just to use deodorant.

I came across a couple of other recipes and found one that works for us, 6 tablespoons coconut oil, quarter cup baking soda and a quarter cup cornstarch (or arrow root powder, possibly potato starch would work too, I have only used cornstarch since it works well for us). This worked great for a while, he didn't get rashes until one day I used a different baking soda and then the rashes came back again. I found that the regular baking soda from the boxes causes rashes. The one baking soda that works for us is Bob's Red Mill. I think it works best because it is such a fine texture compared to any other baking soda we have tried to use. I don't know what your sensitivity to baking soda is but hopefully this helps.



Thanks for the tip! Interestingly enough I was reading an article on baking soda today and it mentioned Bob's Red Mill.

New to Detroit. Looking to help out with current permaculture and urban farming projects. Here is my blog from when I was an urban homesteader in Ohio but I am continuing to post about our suburban adventures in Permaculture. http://crunchymamasurbanhomestead.wordpress.com/

 
Angelika Maier
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Deodorant is a pretty new thing. Did people stink before?
I guess not.

Medicinal herbs, kitchen herbs, perennial edibles and berries: https://mountainherbs.net/ grown in the Blue Mountains, Australia

 
Justin Wood
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I have not used deodorant in over 5 years.

I do the following things:
* keep my armpit hair short - not razored, but beard trim short
* scrub with soap
* apply coconut oil mixed with essential oil - usually lavender or thieves

I notice not only diet, but also detox. If I am taking diatomaceous earth and calcium bentonite, I can eat a lot of junk food and not smell. I also try to do a fasting morning throughout the week or at least every 2 weeks. Nothing major, just break the digestion routine. The fasting lets me know how toxic I really am. If I skip a meal, there are times when I don't even notice and there is no BO. At other times, if I skip a meal, I have a headache and I stink. This lets me know I need to detoxic my system.



 
Eva Taylor
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Since learning about the effects of ph on bacterial growth I figured that by changing the ph of my pits I would alter the environment enough to change the type of bacteria.  I spritz with ACV every morning after showering, so far it seems to be working pretty well.  Since kombucha vinegar is easy to make I'm planning on trying that as well.

Eva

 
Adrienne Halbrook
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For me I find that I don't usually need deodorant unless I'm stressed, stress BO stinks!

I've used the rock crystal deodorant sticks and they worked ok. Applying witch hazel works ok too. Plain old lavender oil dabbed on works fine. I have yet to find anything that really, really works for a lot of stress sweat so I'm looking forward to trying out some of the suggestions in this thread!

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” Winston Churchill

 
Dee-Bee Hilly
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Alchohol/liquor .... Moonshine, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey, Brandy. Each has s different fragrance when mixed with essential oils. Try Cardamon and ginger or patchouli and orange, bergamot. The choices are endless.
Put into a small glass spray bottle and shake before use. Can be used a couple of times a day or more. Is no different than old fashioned after shave.
Has never irritated my armpit skin, but baking soda and that Crystal rock deodorant have both caused very irritated skin.
 
Chris Kott
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I must be lucky. I used conventional deodorant throughout my schooling, and stopped as soon as I started working summers in an uncooled warehouse environment where the temperatures regularly flirted with 90 degrees fahrenheit, and no product would keep me from sweating anyways.

I shower every day. I wash normally on day one, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and then on the two days that follow, I wash with water, with a bit of conditioner to tame my bedhead and soap for my stinky bits.

I have been accused of not having a smell. I have often wondered if it's some weird genetic thing, or if I just accidentally eat properly and maintain adequate hygene for my personal needs.

I should take up hunting.

-CK

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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For about 4 years I am very strict no-poo. Not only using no shampoo for my hair, also no soap and no deodorant. Only for brushing my teeth I use a mix of coconut oil and baking soda. The rest of my body I clean only with water. I start the day with a shower, with some extra attention for the 'pits'. About twice a week I shower my hair too, massaging it as good as I can. When I wash my hands I use a small brush to get dirt off.

As far as I know I do not stink. Nobody ever says so (and I'm sure some of my friends would tell me if I would be stinky!).

I do my best to eat all organic whole foods, very little added sugar, but I'm not on any diet. I eat all kinds of food (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, grains, vegetables, fruits, coffee, chocolate).

My opinion is: in fact it is the soap, deodorant and other 'body care' products that cause the body to react with a 'stink'. When left to itself, making its own layer of protection, the body will smell  better, feel better, and not give irritated reactions like rashes, acne and even sunburn! Instead of those products for the 'outside' you'll have to take care for the 'inside': what you eat and drink, maybe also what you think (are you stressed? how's your spiritual life?)
My opinion isn't 'evidence based', except for my own experience.

"Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them" (Luke 6:31)

 
Huck Johnson
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Has anyone tried fat lighter/ heart pine?
 
K Eilander
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We've also found that what you wear makes a big difference.

100% cotton = 100% no problem, but if I put a polyester shirt next to my skin for a couple of hours I can't even stand my smell!

Be the shenanigans
you want to see in the world.

 
David Huang
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Personally I've been using the mineral salt deodorant stones for about 2 decades now.  It doesn't stop perspiration, but really I don't think I want to stop my body from perspiring.  As I understand it what this type thing does is make the area it's applied to inhospitable to the bacteria that cause the odor.  Currently I'm on my second stone, and unless I drop it or something it seems like it should last me another decade at current usage.  Having used it for so long I don't think I need it much anymore either.  Initially years ago I'd rub it over my skin once a day.  Now I probably use it 2 to 3 times a week.

From a financial standpoint these are a no brainer for me.  I recently looked at what regular deodorant sticks cost these days and was shocked!  The stone was slightly more money, but lasts for years and years.  I suppose if you are able to completely go without that would be cheaper yet.

You are welcome to check out my blog at http://www.theartisthomestead.com or my artwork at http://www.davidhuang.org

 
Huck Johnson
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I use this recipe and apply it twice a day if it’s hot out. https://www.thehippyhomemaker.com/diy-baking-soda-free-peace-pits-deodorant/
 
Joe Banks
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For deodorant, I found something a few months ago which is simple, and truly works. Mix together equal parts baking soda, corn starch, and petroleum jelly. If you want it scented, mix some of that in (I chose ground cloves). Then you're good to go. I literally can go an entire week on one application, and even with bathing, I still don't stink. Granted, it's winter and I'm not sweating as much. But this stuff is simple, cheap, and effective. I just keep it in one of those plastic pint containers on the bathroom sink.

"Things that will destroy man: Politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; worship without sacrifice." -- Mohandas Gandhi

 
John Suavecito
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There is another related thread on this topic, but it is big, I warn you: https://permies.com/t/80/4947/personal-care/purity/arm-Deodorant-alternative

I have used coconut oil and baking soda for years. I found that the baking soda was abrasive, so I decreased the amount of that, and added more corn starch.  That helped and worked fine until summer, when I sweat more and stink more.  I just put this mix into a small jar I reused, and apply it with my fingers in the morning. On the other thread, I read about using non-nano zinc oxide powder that was food grade. I got mine on Amazon.  I added a teaspoon full at first.  When summer came, I added one more teaspoon full, mixed it in on a warm day,  and that made the difference.  It works great, it's cheap, I am not using a lot of plastic for the landfill, and I'm not adding weird toxic ingredients on my body.

John S
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