Comments on Towards Sustainability: You can't call me Pong Whiffy

Hi Pomegranate, Your recipe sounds lovely :-) Sadl...

2009-11-07T20:07:41.509+11:00

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

If it's leaving grease on your fingers that is...

2009-11-07T00:46:49.221+11:00

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

I use a recipe similar to that, but I use organic ...

2009-11-06T01:19:10.308+11:00

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! :)

Hi Joel, Yup, that does sound like it's the wa...

2009-11-04T20:27:48.909+11:00

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

hey julie, if ya no likey likey, you can always re...

2009-11-04T14:17:18.123+11:00

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!

We love it! I had posted a different recipe on my ...

2009-11-04T13:24:19.545+11:00

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. :)

This was actually on my list of things to try. Ha...

2009-11-04T13:11:00.239+11:00

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

Thanks for sharing this idea. I use aluminum free...

2009-11-04T12:21:08.842+11:00

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

It sounds as though a tube dispenser, of the sort ...

2009-11-04T12:17:53.545+11:00

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.

Telela, that's spooky! LOL. I got mine from th...

2009-11-04T12:12:33.897+11:00

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

I haven't tried this one, but I've used Ja...

2009-11-04T11:57:56.240+11:00

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

Funnily enough, I am browsing for suppliers for th...

2009-11-04T11:34:55.954+11:00

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.