Today I'm sharing with you something, that for me is super super exciting! And I've decide I'm gonna be really frank in this post as body odor for a lot of people is something everyone cringes away from. So here I go! (Scroll to the end for the recipe & cut out the jibber jabber!)
Since I hit puberty, I've been a sweaty betty. I've tried numerous deodorants and antiperspirants to stop me sweating. Let me tell you, antiperspirants don't exist, well at least not in my experience they don't, so I've given up the hopes of ever not sweating like pig in a bacon factory, because turns out, its good for us to sweat, we expel toxins and it helps to cool our skin down.
But obviously with sweat comes body odor. In my experiences through school and throughout life I have come to the realisation that there are a few types of body odor.
Number 1. The unwashed extreme of stale body odor and the kind that really is unpleasant to be around. Gives you that shock where you HAVE to breath through your mouth.
Number 2. The sweaty, not-too-bad-but-you-kinda-don't-smell-nice-because-your-purfumey-deodorant-has-turned-stale-in-your-pits kind of smell.
Number 3. The just been to the gym/hard days graft salty man scent (manly reserved for the man, obv's)
I fall (fell) into the Number 2 category.
So in my slow quest to lead a more crunchy lifestyle I bought a couple of natural deodorants and tried those out. One was a salt based one (LINK) that to use I had to wet under the tap and well I gave up on that one (but this was right at the start of my transition so I should of stuck with is) and the other a DR ORGANIC honey type one that smelt amazing but left me in the same situation.
I eventually happened on a video by HOLISTIC HABITS for a DIY Natural Deodorant and thought I'd give it a try.
I've been using my natural deodorant now for maybe a month, and it has changed my arm pits life!
Out of every deodorant I have tried for the last 15 years this works the BEST! And I'm not exaggerating! There was an adjustment period of about 2 weeks where I would still get a bit wiffy and had to keep a spray in my bag, while my under arms got used to the new regime, along with a bit of recipe adjusting. But so far this is the best thing I have ever tried. I still get hot and sweaty at work and embarrassing to admit it, but I come home of an evening and give my pits a smell and they are fine. I even have my fiance give 'em a smell and they just smell of skin! Result!
So what do you need to make your miracle pit savior? Just two little things! Coconut oil and Baking Soda.
The basic recipe mix is to melt 2 tbsp of coconut oil and then mix in 2 tbsp of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and mix really well. You can add in an essential oil as well to add in a scent. I found I had to add in more baking soda later on which ended up equating to 4 tbsp'ish. I added in about 10 drops of Lavender Essential oil, but you do need to be careful with this. Coconut oil sets which subsequently separated the lavender oil from the rest of it.
The main odor-busting ingredient in this little beaut is the baking soda which combats and eradicates bad odors. So if you start with equal measures, you can always add in more baking soda later on.
I've found the best way to use this is to keep in melted, I keep mine by my radiator. To use simply dip your fingers in the deodorant (if its melted, give it a stir too) or scrape it up and rub on to your under arms. The more baking soda you have used the more flaky you will find it, but that's ok still works a charm.
And voila!
I'm so happy with this and I'm never going back to conventional deodorants!
Sorry this post was so freaking long but I do hope you give it s try and let me know how you get on!
Jeni xo
