So when I first read Amy Karol's (Angry Chicken) deodorant recipe last year, I didn't pay too much attention to it: It seemed counter-intuitive to me that smearing wax in your armpit could stop it from stinking!
However! Given Kelly's recent rave about it, I thought I might revisit it. I duly bought the organic ingredients and made it up a couple of weeks ago, but the weather hasn't been warm enough to really give it a good test... until yesterday.
It was officially 38'C (that's 100'F) but my gauge still read 38'C at 5pm so I reckon it got hotter than that, particularly at 3pm when we walked to and from school in the blazing sun. That sure gave me - and the deodorant - a work out!
The verdict? Nice! It didn't stop me sweating profusely, but then that goes with the territory when you are an amply-endowed woman shall we say, and sweaty bras have their own pong that competes pretty stiffly with any underarm whiffiness... but I asked Miss Six how I smelt when we got home (you can't go past the honesty of kids), she said I smelt like clean nappies? I'm guessing that could be interpreted as Shea Butter smell (which is pretty strong and smells a little like lanolin), and she assured me it wasn't offensive, so yay! No B.O.
My thoughts:
* Amy mentioned in her recipe that she'd add a little glycerine to her recipe next time, and I will too I think; it's chalky and a little hard, and along with a poor choice of container from my perspective (I used the jar with the widest mouth I had but it's still hard to get it out), I have to use the tip of a teaspoon to scrape some out to use, though it does melt nicely in the heat of my fingers so that it can be smeared around easily. Or maybe I'd just use more wax/butter and less bicarb & cornflour.
* It does need a lot of essential oil to overcome the Shea butter smell. I didn't add nearly enough - about 30 drops, which I will at least double in future.
* It does leave your fingers greasy afterwards which is not easily removed with soap, but hey, if it works...!
I know Veggie is using it too and loves it, anyone else using this recipe? What's your favourite essential oils to add, and how much do you use in your mix?
Cheers,
12 comments:
Funnily enough, I am browsing for suppliers for the ingredients for this deodorant as I read this. I'm also looking for suppliers of bulk flour and that's why I popped by your blog.
I haven't tried this one, but I've used Jackie French's in the past and found it effective :) http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Making-and-Mending/Homemade-Deodorant:-The-French-Alternative/1454
Telela, that's spooky! LOL. I got mine from the supplier Kelly recommended (also got some soap nuts from there to try but haven't used them yet).
Hi Leah,
Thanks, that recipe is quite similar isn't it? Sounds nice :-)
Cheers, Julie
It sounds as though a tube dispenser, of the sort mainstream deodorant is sold in, would work for you. Casting a block of it and winding several layers of kraft paper around it with a string sticking out, like a giant grease pencil, would probably also work.
Thanks for sharing this idea.
I use aluminum free tea tree deodorant from the super market. Hubby says it smells like fly spray, so lets hope it keeps the mozzies away. LOL
This was actually on my list of things to try. Hadn't got as far as purchasing the ingredients yet but I suspect I will soon when we get to the days that the crystal and I just don't agree about what stink free smells like.
Kind Regards
Belinda
**ver word = ecopiers
We love it! I had posted a different recipe on my blog before, but it gave us a rash.
This one is mild, extremely effective, and no rash at all.
I only put a few drops (2-3?) of Ylang Ylang oil in the mix. It's a fragrant and mild essential oil. I can't smell the shea butter, but maybe that's just me. :)
hey julie, if ya no likey likey, you can always re-melt it in the jar and add the extra oils and transfer to another pot very easily. No need to wait until next time! ( could be years with that stash).
ps. loving belindas word veri above!
Hi Joel,
Yup, that does sound like it's the way to go, thanks!
Hi Tania,
ROFL, tea tree does smell like fly spray I have to say now - it's OK for hubby but it worries me that I smell a bit blokey some times LOL!
Hi Belinda,
LOL, love the veriword :-)
Hi Veg :-)
Hmm, maybe it was because I used orange and lemons oils and they aren't as strongly scented? I did almost use Ylang Ylang actually - great minds think alike apparently ;-)
Hey Kel,
See, this is why you're doing the PhD and I'm not ;-) My brain cells all went on holidays after having kids and never came back...
Cheers,
Julie
I use a recipe similar to that, but I use organic coconut oil and cocoa butter instead of shea and cocoa butter. It makes the mixture softer and it's cheaper for me. I just have to be careful because it goes to liquid if it gets too hot. If it is hot where you are maybe a mixture of the three oils would be good. I use non-virgin coconut oil because I don't like the coconut scent but if you want coconut scent use the virgin stuff. Coconut oil is supposedly naturally anti-bacterial, too. Also, if you get any irritation for this deodorant, it may be the baking soda so you can dilute your recipe with more oil. I've also had irritation from using too much essential oils, or too strong essential oils. I haven't had trouble with lavender but I think orange gave me a rash if I recall. Happy deodorant-experimenting! :)
If it's leaving grease on your fingers that is hard to wash off, it's leaving it on your clothing too.
I have an easy deodorant without baking soda - baking soda so badly burned my armpits that I have scarring from it.
I use regular isopropyl alcohol - the kind you use to sterilize your kids' thermometer. I put it in a spray bottle and give a couple of spritzes under each arm. I've been using it for about 20 months - two summers at least. Works well in the hot, humid southern US. It won't stain like some of the butters and oils will.
The other thing that has worked well for me is to not use commercial detergents for laundry. About 5 years ago (when I was still trying to find something that worked as far as "natural" deodorants), I was having problems with my clothing retaining a smell to them after I exerted myself and got sweaty. I finally broke down and started making my own laundry products. I only use 2 tbs for heavily soiled clothing (we do have naturally soft water here). I also use about 1/2 cup white vinegar to rinse the clothing. It took a couple of washes for all of my clothing, when I got hot, to lose body-odor type smells. I think that commercial laundry products with the ability to "smell good in your closet" can work in reverse after you've gotten hot in them. And this is AFTER laundering with the called-for amounts of the commercial product and not overloading the washer.
The recipe is nothing more than WASHING soda (not plain baking soda or sodium bicarb) and Fels Naptha soap. You can also add some baking soda if you wish along with any EO's that you might like. And you can use you're own homemade soap. Recipes abound for laundry powder/gel on the 'net.
hth
Hi Pomegranate,
Your recipe sounds lovely :-) Sadly, coconut oil is so expensive here that I don't even buy it to cook with! I don't know why? Just not commonly used here?
Hi Darlene,
Ouch! Doesn't spraying pure alcohol in your armpit sting? Re: laundry powder, I've been using my own recipe for over 3 years now, aren't they great? I'd never go back commercial powders, in fact I find the smell of the perfumes used in them on other people's clothes irritating now. I don't know what Fels Naptha is I'm sorry, I've never heard of it.
Cheers,
Julie
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