Summer has hit its peak in India, and sweating is inevitable. While there are several things we can do to minimise sweating, there is just no way to avoid it altogether. So while we can’t control it, deodorants come to our rescue to keep body odour at bay. However, most aerosol-spray deodorants found in the market are laden with chemicals and toxins, doing us more harm than good. This could be especially difficult for people with sensitive skin, because the chemicals can end up irritating your skin and even lead to a severe allergic reaction in extreme cases. So what’s the alternative? What if we told you that it’s possible to make completely gentle homemade deodorants that will make your skin feel great *and* leave you smelling like a dream.
How To Make Your Own Natural Deodorant
Want to make a homemade natural deodorant to make you smell like a dream? Well, read on to make one of your own make deodorant at home!
1. Aloe Vera Deodorant
Sweat is created by our bodies after they heat up too much, as a way of regulating our body temperature. The sweat is meant to cool down our body. So the best way to avoid sweat is by making sure your body doesn’t get overheated at any point. That’s where the Aloe Vera helps. The plant’s cooling properties help keep the heat at bay, while the shea butter and other ingredients will moisturise and keep odour at bay!
Here’s what you’ll need:
-4 tablespoon shea butter
-5 tablespoon arrowroot powder
-1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon baking soda
-1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
-5 drops tea tree essential oil
-5 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
Step 1: Add the shea butter to a pan on a stove and let it melt over low heat.
Step 2: Once melted, turn off the heat and add the aloe vera gel, baking soda and arrowroot powder.
Step 3: Stir continuously till you get a smooth paste
Step 4: Add the tea tree and lavender oils and stir continuously
Step 5: Pour the mixture into an airtight container and store it in your refrigerator
2. Activated Charcoal Deodorant
Plenty of beauty experts call activated charcoal a magic ingredient, and we can see why. It’s known to suck out impurities from the skin and is known to adsorb 1000 times its own mass in harmful substances. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it can be a great ingredient in a deodorant! It’ll help in removing impurities, toxins and heavy metals from your skin and don’t worry, it won’t stain your skin black!
Here’s what you’ll need:
-4 ½ tbsp coconut oil
-5 tbsp corn starch
-1 tbsp and 1 tsp baking soda
-1-2 capsules activated charcoal
-20 drops essential oil of your choice (lemon or rose work best!)
Directions:
Step 1: Add the coconut oil to a pan on a stove and let it melt over low heat.
Step 2: Once melted, turn off the heat and add the baking soda and corn starch. Empty two capsules of activated charcoal into the mixture.
Step 3: Mix well until you get a creamy paste, and then add the essential oil of your choice
Step 4: Once the mixture has cooled down, pour it into a container and store it in the refrigerator.
3. Coconut Oil Deodorant
Coconut oil is a holy grail skincare ingredient. You can use it for literally any beauty purpose–as a makeup remover, moisturiser, cleanser, and even in a face pack! So there’s no debate that it will work as a great ingredient in a homemade deodorant as well, owing to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it will also keep you moisturised and make you smell great!
Here’s what you’ll need:
-4-6 tbsp coconut oil
-1/4 cup baking soda
-3/4 cup arrowroot
-20 drops of essential oil of your choice
Directions:
Step 1: Add the coconut oil to a pan on a stove and let it melt over low heat.
Step 2: Once melted, turn off the heat and add the baking soda and arrowroot
Step 3: Mix well until you get a creamy paste, and then add the essential oil of your choice
Step 4: Once the mixture has cooled down, pour it into a container and store it in the refrigerator
4. Vodka Deodorant
Yes, you read that right! If your skin is too oily and you don’t want to use an oil or cream-based, an alcohol-based deodorant would be perfect for you. Alcohol has great antiseptic properties and is the main ingredient in store-bought deodorants too! Adding herbs to the mixture would make for a divine-smelling homemade deodorant spray-on.
Here’s what you’ll need:
-1¼ cup vodka
-¼ cup sage leaves
-¼ cup thyme leaves
-¼ cup dried lavender
-Peel of 1 lime or lemon
-Essential oil of your choice (20 drops)
Directions:
Step 1: Add the sage, thyme and lavender to a mason jar and mix them together
Step 2: Add the vodka to the jar and cover it with a lid
Step 3: Let the mixture sit for one month, so that the aroma of the herbs gets absorbed. Remember the shake the jar once a day!
Step 4: After a month has passed, drain the mixture using a sieve and add the essential oil to it
Step 5: Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and you’re good to go!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you use in place of deodorants?
Deodorants might seem like a necessity during the sweaty summers, but they’re not the only option you have when it comes to keeping body odour at bay. If you think deodorants are too harsh for you, you could try using perfumes or body mists. And if you want to avoid chemicals altogether and go au-natural, you could try homemade deodorants. You can find them either at the store or make your own at home, using ingredients mostly found in your own kitchen! Refer to the recipes above if you want to make one of your own.
What is the best natural deodorant?
This is really subjective because it depends on each person’s skin type and personal preferences. For example, if you have dry skin you might like an oil-based deodorant like coconut oil or shea butter, but if you have oily skin you might prefer an alcohol-based one. Plus, what fragrance you choose to add to your DIY natural deodorant in the form of essential oils is also based on your personal choice. I personally love the smell of rose, but others might prefer lavender! So to answer your questions, there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all you need to try a lot of natural deodorants to figure out what works for you.
Is coconut oil a natural deodorant?
Owing to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil actually works great as a natural deodorant! It also keeping perspiration at bay and also moisturises the underarms area, keeping irritation at bay. Underarm odour is primarily caused by the apocrine glands, which releases sweat that is high in protein. This tends to attract bacteria because it is a warm, moist area, and they release a foul-smelling odour as a byproduct of protein metabolism. Coconut oil is able to neutralise those bacteria, which prevents the unpleasant and embarrassing smell. Plus, it also helps that coconut oil smells great!
How do you detox your armpits?
You might feel the need to ‘detox’ your armpits if you’ve been using too many harsh chemicals owing to store-bought deodorants and aerosol sprays. You can try an armpit detox if you feel like the skin on your armpits is feeling irritated. Stop using chemical deodorants and switch to natural ones for a specific period of time, say two weeks. After the detox, you can either choose to continue to use your chemical deodorant or switch to a natural one completely–it’s up to you!
Featured Image: Shutterstock
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