Ah, spring: sunnier skies, warmer temperatures, and...the return of sweat.

If you’re like Kevin Kline’s character in A Fish Called Wanda, you may love the smell of your own B.O. Or, if you’re lucky, a healthy diet that includes plenty of vegetables and water may allow you to go without deodorant some days. Perspiration (a natural and healthy body function) has almost no odor, but the bacteria that breaks sweat down into acids does—which is why most of us reach for deodorant.

For years now I'd been hearing about possible links between the chemicals used in antiperspirants and deodorants and diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's. The scientific studies are inconclusive. The National Cancer Institute has stated: “More research is needed to specifically examine whether the use of deodorants or antiperspirants can cause the buildup of parabens and aluminum-based compounds in breast tissue. Additional research is also necessary to determine whether these chemicals can either alter the DNA in some cells or cause other breast cell changes that may lead to the development of breast cancer.”

Meanwhile, smearing those chemicals onto my armpits every morning while waiting for further research is just plain scary and, luckily, also unnecessary. When my daughter was home for a spell last summer, she mixed up a batch of homemade deodorant one afternoon using just what she found in my kitchen cupboards and some lavender essential oil I had on hand. I gave it a try and was hooked.

We’ve both been happily using her homemade deodorant recipe for months now. But the baking soda that's in most deodorant recipes has given some people skin irritation or rashes.

Also, the naturally antimicrobial coconut oil base for the deodorant melts at 72°F, so it has to be kept in the fridge during the summer.

I’m going to give you a whole slew of recipes and solutions to address these issues and help you smell fresh without worrying about the scary chemicals in most commercial deodorants. One quick reminder: Don’t apply any deodorant or any solution immediately after shaving-- wait 30 minutes.

Basic Baking Soda Deodorant

½ cup of coconut oil

¼ cup baking soda

¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder

10 drops lavender or other essential oil

1. Warm the coconut oil in the microwave (using ten-second intervals) or in the top of a double boiler just until it melts. Heating coconut oil this way will not destroy the Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) that make it antimicrobial, but you can skip this step— it will just make blending and pouring a little harder.

2. Stir in the baking soda and the cornstarch or arrowroot powder (you can find arrowroot powder at most natural foods stores).

3. Making sure the mixture is not too warm, add the lavender or other essential oil. You can also add 5 drops of tea tree oil, which has antibacterial qualities.

4. That's it! Now pour the mixture into an recycled deodorant dispenser for easy application or into a lidded jar to apply by hand.

Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

1½ to 2 tablespoons of baking soda (adjust for sensitivity)

10 drops lavender or other essential oil

1. Warm the coconut oil in the microwave (using ten-second intervals) or in the top of a double boiler just until it melts. Heating coconut oil this way will not destroy the Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) that make it antimicrobial, but you can skip this step—it will just make blending and pouring a little harder.

2. Stir in cornstarch or arrowroot powder and the baking soda.

3. Making sure the mixture is not too warm, add the essential oil.

4.  Now pour the mixture into an recycled deodorant dispenser for easy application or into a lidded jar to apply by hand.

 

Summertime, Melt-Free Deodorant

The addition of beeswax in this recipe will keep the deodorant from melting so you won't need to keep it refrigerated.

½ cup of coconut oil

1 tablespoon of beeswax pellets or shaved beeswax

¼ cup baking soda

¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder

10 drops lavender or other essential oil

 

1. Warm the coconut oil and the beeswax in the microwave (using ten-second intervals) or in the top of a double boiler until the coconut oil melts and beeswax is very soft. Stir the mixture until the beeswax melts.

2. Stir in the baking soda and the cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

3. Making sure the mixture is not too warm, add the essential oil.

4.  Now pour the mixture into an recycled deodorant dispenser for easy application or into a lidded jar to apply by hand.

 

 

Quick, Baking-Soda-Free Underarm Solutions

 

If you find that even the small amount of baking soda in the deodorant recipe for sensitive skin irritates you, try the following solutions in place of deodorant. They will adjust the pH of your underarm’s skin and fight the bacteria that causes odor.

 

Simple Tea Tree Solution

2 tablespoons (1 oz) water

2 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix the water and the tea tree oil and and apply to your underarm area with a cotton ball or make a larger amount and apply using a small spray bottle.

 

Simple Vinegar and Essential Oils Solution

3 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar

4 drops lavender essential oil

4 drops bergaptene-free bergamot essential oil

Mix the ingredients and apply to your underarm area with a cotton ball or apply using a small spray bottle.

 

Essential Oil with Carrier Oils Solution

2 tablespoons grapeseed or almond essential oil

1 drop of cypress essential oil

1 drop of bergaptene-free bergamot essential oil or lavender essential oil

1 drop of tea tree essential oil

Mix the carrier oil and the essential oils and apply to your underarm area with a cotton ball or make a larger amount and apply using a small spray bottle.

 

Make Your Own

Go ahead and try making your own deodorant—you'll be surprised by how easy it is.  You can blend your own custom scents, you'll save money, and you'll feel good about what you're putting on your skin! Here's a list of oils that are great for deodorizing to get you started:

Need to stock up on essential oils?  Use the links below!

BergamotCypressJuniper BerryLavenderNeroliPeppermintRosemaryTea Tree