About 5 years ago I stopped using any commercial products with chemicals, I don't even bother with make up and deodorant was one of the first items to go in the bin because it contains a toxic metal Aluminum
aluminum is an attacker and its target is your central nervous system. [2] Studies show that toxic metals contribute to brain diseases by producing oxidative stress and aluminum is one of the worst offenders. [1] The prevailing belief around the world is that aluminum is linked to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.Source
There's a lot of information out there on the internet by mainstream consensus that tells us using aluminum products is safe because aluminum is naturally occurring in water, because this metal is everywhere and unavoidable. But how we process water in our bodies is one thing, that does not mean that exposing ourselves to aluminum continually is safe for us. As someone who worked with jewellery making we were always taught that aluminum is a toxic metal and you do not want to work with it as a metal smith.
To be honest I didn't think to make my own deodorant right away, I started using a brand in the health shop called 'Crystal Springs, Salt of the Earth' and I still had it in my cupboard up until recently I ditched it after taking a closer inspection at the ingredients which is Potassium Alum which is short for potassium aluminum sulfate and basically still contains Aluminum no one really knows for sure if this 'natural Alum' is safe or not, I personally don't want to take any chances as this ingredient works by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor. I've got a feeling that we are not suppose to completely stop this bacteria and that it is there for a reason.
Before deodorant people were using perfumes to hide and disguise unwanted scents, this is what a homemade deodorant essentially does, so I often find it works better if you can keep it topped up through out the day. Sometimes as an extra preventive measure I put a few drops of pure essential oil on to the arm pit area of my t-shirt and let it completely dry before wearing the top (I don't recommend this for expensive or treasured clothes, although I have no stains from doing this!) I find the smell of the essential oil is quite strong and lasts for ages, it also works as an aromatherapy throughout the day, and i'm often more alert from having the strong and fragrant smell at arms reach :)
Ingredients
Depending on your container size quantities will very, you might want to make several batches in one go!
- Coco oil (Melted) 2/3 of container
- Cacao butter or shea butter (Melted) 1/3 of container
- Essential oil of choice a few drops
I like to use fresh scents like Eucalyptus or Lemon, I also use tea tree as an anti bacterial and antiseptic properties - Baking Soda or arrowroot for antibacterial properties (baking soda may cause irritation in some people) I only use a very small amount or don't use it all and just make sure you use tea tree essential oil in your mixture.
Method
I filled my small pot with coconut oil
Added the baking soda and stirred
Filled the rest of the pot with Cacao butter
Added the drops of essential oil, stirred again
Left it to harden (might want to put it in the fridge to speed up the solidifying process)
All you need is a pea sized amount that you can rub on to your pits, or you could make this in a mould and have a bar and use it like a roll on, make sure you keep it in a cool place or fridge so it doesn't melt.
Some people may experience a detox faze when switching from commercial deodorant to natural ones, don't worry , allow your body to do it's thing whilst you are re-adjusting, please don't be tempted to switch back and put yourself at risk by doing so!
Care for you body by not exposing it to extra harmful substances and avoid putting your money into brands who are only interested in profits. Take control by making your own products, and enjoy the process, it's really fun and you will feel like an alchemist for 5 minutes, that's all it takes!
✌️Join the food revolution now✊
