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The system says I can't rep anyone for 24 hours, so if you've posted recently, I'll get to you, soon.
Re: making homemade deodorant -- my objections right now are twofold: 1) I don't have easy access to things like arrowroot, tea tree oil (etc) and 2) I need to find things that work ASAP. More on that in a minute.
I'm not against homemade stuff at all! I used to make shampoo bars, cleaners, and face cream, but I also lived in an area where I could quickly get the raw ingredients in one easy shopping trip.
UPDATE: I chatted with several ladies in my circle. Today, we're going to buy 4 different types of solid natural deodorant (Whole Foods will be one source) and split it up (probably cut it with a razor blade and repack in foil -- The logistics are still under discussion). WH has Schmidt's and that is one everyone wants to try. I will post the names of the products and our results in a few days.
* We will not be testing Tom's -- that is one of the brands that hasn't worked for us.
* We will not be testing the "crystal" -- that was another product that either didn't work or quit after a few hours.
The main goal is odor control. Two of the ladies would like to control wetness better, as well, but we discussed the limits of herbs. The overall goal is to reduce potential cancer-causing chemicals on our skin but still be socially acceptable at work (especially when working outside in a booth!)
Two of us are bikers and past hikers. We know about "hiker funk," but that's just not acceptable on the job.
Forgot to add that it's best to apply this homemade deodorant on clean and dry skin. I wouldn't put something else on your underarms before using this homemade deodorant, not even water. It seems to dilute the effect of the deodorant. The antibacterial needs to have direct contact with your skin, which is where the bacteria live. We want to "zap" the bacteria first, and that will keep us odor-free.
I'm not sure how "natural" it is, but it's not an antiperspirant, which I like. As an added bonus, your clothes don't get pit stains. In fact, it was my daughter who started using it to avoid pit stains in her clothes and then turned me on to it.
The system says I can't rep anyone for 24 hours, so if you've posted recently, I'll get to you, soon.
Re: making homemade deodorant -- my objections right now are twofold: 1) I don't have easy access to things like arrowroot, tea tree oil (etc) and 2) I need to find things that work ASAP. More on that in a minute.
Arrowroot should be fairly easy to find! It is usually next to the cornstarch in the grocery store (it serves as similar thickening function in cooking, generally used more in the Caribbean!) But I had got some for some recipes a while ago, and it is cheap!
I've worn natural deodorants for several years, and here are my favorites (top to bottom):
1. Soapwalla Deodorant Cream (hands down my favorite, either in citrus or original. It's expensive at about $20 per jar, but lasts at least three months).
2. Oyin Handmade Funk Butter
3. Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant (if baking soda is a problem for you, this is a good alternative).
4. Crystal Essence Mineral Deodorant Spray (use mostly at night after shower)
5. Ora's Amazing Herbal Body Powder (blissful earth scent; use at night before bed or shower)
6. Honey Bee Gardens Deodorant Powder (at night)
I also use witch hazel or organic (mother) apple cider vinegar under my arms once a week or so to eliminate bacteria
I'm not sure what the users gender has to do with the discussion. We are fast approaching a genderless future in the real world but online I still see 'womancentric' and 'mancentric' discussions and... I don't know, besides the reproductive anatomy, how are men that much different from women? Still, the little last century (sexist) biology I know, says that a woman should actually get better results from natural (less effective) deodorant products than men do.
Tom's works for me. I tried the crystals when I used to manage a health food store that sold them. I don't know whether they work great or not, I don't like the feel of them. I have a very good female friend that likes the crystal deodorants very much. But if that was all I had to offer it wouldn't be all that useful since earlier posts have said as much. What I have not seen in this thread so far is an awareness that it is possible that a persons dietary habits have bearing on how much their sweat smells. If the o.p. is unable to control odor using Tom's the problem is not likely to be address using herbs or oils.
My main beef with Tom's is they address the aluminum problem but fall well short of a truly 'natural' solution. Works for me because my main issue is aluminum. For those who really need to go the extra wholistic mile and use coconut oils and/or herb concoctions you need to help those products out by adopting dietary and hygienic practices that help those products reduce odor. I am sure there are sources of dietary information specifically targeted at sweat odor minimization. And the earlier suggestion to refresh at midday is definitely on the right track. FWIW.
This was also from the article: try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar, and leave it uncovered. The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies will sink and drown.
Ahah!
My bottles of vinegar thus far had not managed to trap anything---I will add the soap to see if that helps!
Question---do you fill the bottle up to the top, or just some in the bottom? I have 3 bottles---one its filled to 3/4, the other has just the bottom inch, the other is filled 3/4 with about 1/4/ vinegar and the rest water. The organic vinegar is a tad expensive and I wanted to see if its necessary to fill the bottles, just a small amount, or if diluting it would be as effective. Hey, an idea for a kids' science fair experiment! Thank goodness those dasys are behind us
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