Underarm Deodorant Alternatives

[Ahnung-quay]

I thinking of trying to make my own underarm deodorant using coconut oil and baking soda. I've tried the natural brands of deodorant such as Toms and I'm not satisfied with them.

I'm wondering if anyone has made their own effective deodorant? If so, can you share recipes?

If I were to use coconut oil and baking soda, what proportions would be best and should I add anything else?

[Metaphor]

I use fresh lemon only. Better than any deodorant ive tried. Easy recipe :-)

[Delight]

I make a very effective deodorant that is not meant to be a deodorant but is bacteriostatic so it works well AND supplies elemental magnesium in a very absorb able form through the skin. I make a "magnesium oil" of magnesium chloride crystals and distilled water and put it in a spray bottle. I also put essential oil of jasmine or lavender. You can also buy "magnesium oil" directly and use it. it will sting if you shave underarms so wait till later to use it.

This also works for feet. Soaking feet in a basin bath with magnesium helps with stinky foot issues. Also direct application of lavender essential oil is a "cure" IMO for "athletes foot".

insoles of shoes can be sprayed like stinky athletic shoes. The effect is GOOD as I don't like the downside of commercial deodorant.

http://drsircus.com/medicine/magnesium/uses-of-magnesium-oil

here is one testimony about body odor and the effect of magnesium.

http://www.cheeseslave.com/how-i-quit-using-deodorant-with-magnesium/

[Matt P]

Hands down best we use is apple cider vinegar, which we keep in a sprayer. Undiluted. Probably same concept as lemon juice (alkalizes).

Matt

[Ahnung-quay]

I do have some vinegar with the mother but, no lemons today. I'll try the vinegar first since it's easier than mixing something.

[guayabal]

I use magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) only (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_hydroxide) .

[Delight]

Hands down best we use is apple cider vinegar, which we keep in a sprayer. Undiluted. Probably same concept as lemon juice (alkalizes).

Matt

One thing I like too is taking organic lemons and peeling the skin (the zest and pith) and putting that in apple cider vinegar in a jar. In a couple of weeks, strain the peels. The vinegar smells good and has the oil. it works well as a hair rinse and for household cleaning too. you can add to salad dressing but is a slight bitter from the peels. Win win all the way.

[Cardillac]

maybe we should go back to ancient times where everyone 'smelled' (unthinkable now a days- gosh); if everyone smelled (like in ancient times) we wouldn't even NOTICE anyone's smell now a days;

despite deodorants why do most wild animals continue to avoid us because they don't like our smell?-

for decades I used after-shave spray scents like Dior's (outrageously expensive) 'Fahrenheit' and Jovan's much cheaper "musk"; but I've noticed in the last few years the alcohol content has been greatly reduced in all perfumes/after-shaves so they don't "do it" anymore;

so I've been forced to resort to 'conventional' spray/roll-on deos- they can't be healthy (not that the perfumed sprays are...)-

about 10 yrs. ago there was an article in German internet exposing the risks of deodorants; it was entitled "the time-bomb under the arm";

so who will lead the way into going back to mother nature, washing regularly (reportedly ancients didn't all that much until the Romans, but then this concept of "bathing too regularly" being detrimental to your health at times persisted until the early 20th century in Europe) but, at times, "smelling a bit"?- no-one;

so maybe we should all go back to ancient times; how did people wash themselves back then?- with clear water-

another aspect we should consider: all soaps, detergents, 'deos' require MONEY for their purchase; geez, do we see another aspect here?-

I rest my case- please be well all-

Larry

[Delight]

maybe we should go back to ancient times where everyone 'smelled' (unthinkable now a days- gosh); if everyone smelled (like in ancient times) we wouldn't even NOTICE anyone's smell now a days;

despite deodorants why do most wild animals continue to avoid us because they don't like our smell?-

for decades I used after-shave spray scents like Dior's (outrageously expensive) 'Fahrenheit' and Jovan's much cheaper "musk"; but I've noticed in the last few years the alcohol content has been greatly reduced in all perfumes/after-shaves so they don't "do it" anymore;

so I've been forced to resort to 'conventional' spray/roll-on deos- they can't be healthy (not that the perfumed sprays are...)-

about 10 yrs. ago there was an article in German internet exposing the risks of deodorants; it was entitled "the time-bomb under the arm";

so who will lead the way into going back to mother nature, washing regularly (reportedly ancients didn't all that much until the Romans, but then this concept of "bathing too regularly" being detrimental to your health at times persisted until the early 20th century in Europe) but, at times, "smelling a bit"?- no-one;

so maybe we should all go back to ancient times; how did people wash themselves back then?- with clear water-

another aspect we should consider: all soaps, detergents, 'deos' require MONEY for their purchase; geez, do we see another aspect here?-

I rest my case- please be well all-

Larry

Bathing is about the best way to stop smelling stinky and when Florence Nightengale helped the soldiers in the Crimea, it was using basic cleanliness. When puerperal fever killed women after childbirth, it was "doctors" dirty hands that spread it. Hand washing even without soap in clear water with friction is good to keep us from viral infections like the common cold. Also, we can be too averse to germs and lower our own natural immunity by lack of exposure.

The indigenous North Americans used sweat baths ceremonially and medically. It back fired apparently when smallpox was introduced.


"Traditional Native healing practices, such as fasting, taking sweat baths, and plunging into an icy river, did not help them fight the diseases, but made it worse.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/cher/sfoc/sfoc17.htm


I have been a student of the history of bathing and just about all "civilized" people esteemed bathing until Rome fell... here is an interesting conversation here continued in the comments. A comment made said that perhaps a mini ice age, lack of sanitary streams when cities formed and polluted the rivers all converged to make people stop bathing?


He asks “Why did people stop bathing after Rome fell? Breakdown in sanitation after “barbarian” tribes conquered Europe allowed plagues to fester and spread. Why was there such a dramatic break from Roman hygiene? The elaborate and incredibly advanced Roman baths were either mothballed or destroyed entirely, and people bathed very infrequently. Why? Was it that their newfound Christian fundamentalism made everyone phobic of nudity?

He observes that “The Jews were the only people in Europe who still bathed routinely (being bound by halacha to ritually immerse, especially the women). As a result, during the Black Death, Jews, while still effected, got the plague at a lower rate than the rest. So, people concluded, the Jews were obviously responsible for the plague, they must be poisoning us or something, so we herd them all into the nearest synagogue and burn them alive. (I got this from Rabbi Ken Spiro, who has Jewish history mp3s online).

(And later, courtesy of the site Straight Dope, Nick adds his own research:
“In the wake of the plague, though, Europeans decided baths were dangerous. Hot water allowed toxins to penetrate the skin–better to keep the pores caulked with healthy grime. A grossed-out Muslim in the Arabian Nights suggested that once Christians were doused with baptismal water they felt entitled to avoid bathing for the rest of their lives. Personal grooming, such as it was, focused entirely on appearances. People washed their faces and hands sometimes but refused to immerse their entire bodies except on doctors’ orders. The rich drenched themselves with perfume to conceal odor. Lice and fleas were universal, etiquette requiring merely that one refrain from scratching conspicuously in public. People were used to a baseline level of putridity; to attract attention, you had to really reek.” http://mybeautifulwickedness.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/why-did-early-modern-europeans-have-such-lousy-personal-hygiene/

[Cara]

I use plain aluminium-free bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). About a heaped teaspoon in one hand; a little water on the other hand; rub the two hand together to make a watery paste; apply on underarms.

This is very effective and even lasts for a couple of days. It also helps to alkalinise your body (there's lots on the web about how to do this) as being too acidic can lead to body odor (and disease, etc.).

Regards
searcher

[the_real_dave-id]

For years I have used a "deodorant stone" which are available from many companies and are made from "Natural Mineral Salts (Ammonium Alum)." I have never "smelled" unless I stopped using it. It seems to work by creating an environment in which the bacteria which causes the smell doesn't like to grow. They claim to be hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. I've always felt this was a good alternative.

Since no one has brought up this option, I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows if this is also harmful. I stopped using manufactured deodorants years ago because of the ingredient list and the fact that they basically seemed to try to keep you from sweating, (anti-persperant) which is bad thing IMO.

[Ahnung-quay]

Yes, I have no problem with bathing, I wash up or shower daily. I also don't have the same hormonal cycle going on anymore (am now a "grandmother") so I don't personally have as much or the same kind of odor as I used to. I'm just interested in finding out about natural alternatives to manufactured deodorants/antiperspirants with aluminum and other toxic ingredients.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I plan to try them. Today I tried the cider vinegar and so far it's working pretty well. It's about 95 degrees here and I have been sweating somewhat today. Tomorrow, I'll try the baking soda and move on to lemons and lemon combos after I go to the store in a few days.

I don't use perfumes or colognes but, I would try some essential oil.

Everyone has slightly different body chemistry so what works for one person may not work as well for another person.

I agree Larry. Bathing became unfasionable in Europe during the middle ages. Today bathing frequency varies from country-to-country. Some try to cover with perfume.

During first contact, the Native Americans rightly thought that white people stank. Most Native Americans that I've encountered (those with no white blood) have very little body odor; they don't even need deodorant.

[Bob]

That's fascinating Ahnung-quay about the native Americans that you have met with the lack of strong body odor.

I have noticed when not eating meat for about two weeks, the ability to notice a meat eater (especially cow and cow product eaters), increases dramatically. I noticed strong changes in perception with having eaten deermeat, elk, and antelope. Onions simply do me in no matter what, their aroma seems to leave by the pores for at least two days.

I didn't notice similar types of body odors with predominately fresh fish (not farmed) eaters.

Clean diet, good water, proper pH, with minimal sugars and refined carbs and the body aroma doesn't seem to be strong.. Again saying the skin flora live off what comes out of the sweat..

[Ahnung-quay]

Yeah, working on the diet. Haven't eaten any sugars or refined carbs for several months now. What can I say, I like beef. Now trying to eat grass fed only and only a few times per week. No alcohol which also bleeds out of the pores.

[Fellow Aspirant]

I haven't used ANY underarm deodorant for the last 35 years, and as far as I know, I have never offended anyone with my body odour. Not that anyone has ever let on, at least. :p When I found out about the aluminum content of virtually all such products, I quit using them.

You see, when I realized that the odour is given off by bacteria that feed off the traces of dried perspiration that adhere to the skin, and that these bacteria need at least 24 hours of growth before they give off any smell, I knew I had a timeline I could work with. Instead, I opt for a daily shower, using soap & water (and yes, it's fluoridated, but that's another story ...).

Clean clothes, applied daily, are also a good idea, but not always necessary (while camping or engaging in extended travelling, for example). Clothing that has absorbed body sweat must be left to dry out quickly after removal, else it will turn into a bacteria-laden olfactory nightmare. I have found that clothes will get odiferous only after extended wear, or after having been wadded into the bottom of a sports bag, where there is little air circulation (the bacteria are anaerobic, and thrive in conditions of low oxygen). So, clean body, clean clothes are the optimum. Having said that, there are some people with unique body chemistry whose sweat is almost instantly pungent, but they are very few in number. I have only ever met one.

Our culture's odour paranoia has been manufactured by the chemical companies as a marketing gimmick. It is, as usual, fear based. Interestingly, there is such a thing as 'fear sweat' secreted during times of extreme - you guessed it, fear. It's main feature is that it is more smelly than the sweat excreted during exercise. Makes ya think, eh?

Bottom line, don't gum up your pores with anything. Let the sweat do its job of cooling you off, and keep your ducts clear and healthy. Try it for a couple of days. Your skin will be much happier!

Cheers,

Brian

[Dennis Leahy]

$0.02 in this discussion:

Remember that our bodies, including the exterior of the skin, have a symbiotic relationship with numerous forms of beneficial bacteria. We don't want to kill 'em all. Not that any of the suggestions made so far are in the realm of "kill 'em all", but I though it might be good to remember we may want to think in moderate terms when speaking of eliminating some skin bacteria.

Dennis

[ginnyk]

I have been using the following recipe for about a year. I go to work out and line dance classes about 4 days per week. This seems to keep me pretty dry as well and there has been no problem at all with odor or irritation. I just rub it on after my shower.

3 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil
3 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
2 Tablespoons of Shea Butter
2 Tablespoons of Arrowroot or cornstarch
(I also add 1 Tablespoon of Bentonite Clay, but that was not in the original recipe. I think it helps provide the dryness.) You can also add an essential oil of your choice but I choose to leave the fragrance out to eliminate chance of it irritation.

By the way, that coconut oil is just wonderful to rub on your face and hands. I use it under makeup and at night. I would imagine it would be good after shaving. There is no coconut odor and it absorbs immediately and is not greasy. Hope this helps.

Gin

[Dennis Leahy]

For years I have used a "deodorant stone" which are available from many companies and are made from "Natural Mineral Salts (Ammonium Alum)." I have never "smelled" unless I stopped using it. It seems to work by creating an environment in which the bacteria which causes the smell doesn't like to grow. They claim to be hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. I've always felt this was a good alternative.

Since no one has brought up this option, I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows if this is also harmful. I stopped using manufactured deodorants years ago because of the ingredient list and the fact that they basically seemed to try to keep you from sweating, (anti-persperant) which is bad thing IMO.I've never researched this, but just found this article om ammonium alum, and they say that the aluminum is in a molecule too largeto be absorbed through skin: http://www.ehow.com/info_8603755_difference-ammonium-alum-ammonium-chloride.html

Dennis

[the_real_dave-id]

Thanks Dennis, I read through the article and it does claim that:

"Like ammonium chloride, ammonium alum is a salt -- a product of an acid and base reaction; however, the atomic formula of ammonium alum is slightly more complex. Ammonium alum is made up of the ammonium group of a nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms, an aluminium atom, two sulphate molecules (one sulphur atom and four oxygens) and 12 water molecules. This much larger molecular mass is too large to pass through the pores of the human skin, making ammonium alum, unlike ammonium chloride, safe for use in deodorants and other products. Ammonium alum occurs naturally in the earth's crust, and is known as alunite as well as by its more formal name, ammonium aluminium sulphate."

So I feel safer than ever using the "deodorant stone." Thanks for this find!

BTW --- Thanks also for not pointing out that I could have done that research myself on the very same tool I typed the question to everyone here on. D'oh! :o

[Joanne Shepard]

Tea Tree Oil, Unbelievable :)

[Ahnung-quay]

Hmm, tea tree oil. I have some of that to try as well. I like the recipe ginnyk and I'll be trying that one as well. So far the vinegar is still working pretty well as of this morning (applied yesterday morning).

[Bassplayer1]

Thank you Metaphor for the fresh lemon advice ... I came across your reply yesterday and as a result, today is my second day using fresh lemon only! And anyone reading this .... It works!!!

[Metaphor]

Thank you Metaphor for the fresh lemon advice ... I came across your reply yesterday and as a result, today is my second day using fresh lemon only! And anyone reading this .... It works!!!
Hallelujah...It sure does :-)
Glad to help

[TargeT]

$0.02 in this discussion:

Remember that our bodies, including the exterior of the skin, have a symbiotic relationship with numerous forms of beneficial bacteria. We don't want to kill 'em all. Not that any of the suggestions made so far are in the realm of "kill 'em all", but I though it might be good to remember we may want to think in moderate terms when speaking of eliminating some skin bacteria.

Dennis

I would go further and say bathing every day is a bit excessive and not good for our skin ecosystem, your skin is very active and doesn't need to be constantly doused in soap and other chemical preperations.

I do still "get wet" every day, but showering with chemicals is limited; two or three times a week at most.

[Yetti]

I use for the last 12 years just plain baking soda. We buy it by the bag 25 # is cheaper and also I use for my farm, to put it on the chicken and goat pen floor before the bedding straw, keeps the odors away!

[Sean]

I'll try some of the recipies here,but, for me, using non-aluminum deodorant like Tom's made a world of difference. I'll be honest: I struggled with BO for years because of the reaction I had in my armpits due to most conventional deodorants. I didn't understand what was happening. Once I figured it out, I told my doctors this was a problem, they laughed at me. This problem basically destroyed most of my relationships and had a pretty bad effect on my career as well. People never tell you to your face(well, rarely) that you stink. they just quietly exclude you. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to understand the problem..would have saved me much embarassment.

[vilcabamba]

There's one deodorant at Whole foods that works great. It's Aubrey E plus High C. It is the only safe deodorant that works effectively I have found. And I tried a lot of them and didn't like most of the natural ones.

[Violet]

I'm also deo free for about a couple of years now. Some observations for starting:

1) Though sometimes - after sports and such - soaked in sweat, the odour is not even half as offensive as when I used to use deodorant and be on junkfood diet.
2) You'll sweat out what you eat. I realised this when I was doing some garlic detoxing and went to the sauna. That whole room smelled of garlic and at first I didn't realise I was the culprit. Was just going: what's that garlic smell? :o
3) No more stains on shirts
4) No more clogging of whatever it was that clogged in the pits when I was using deodorant
5) If you shave or epilate, you'll notice that the pits actually get lighter as compared to when using deodorant (seems to leave dark stain in the pit).
6) Coconut oil will make grease stains though.

These are the things I use:

1) NaH2CO3 (sodium bicarbonate): take a bit of the powder, wet other hand palm, rub hands and rub on
2) NaH2CO3 (sodium bicarbonate) in one hand and a dab of coconut oil in the other, rub hands, rub on
3) You can make a deodorant out of this using equal proportions of NaH2CO3, coconut oil and cornstarch. Finish with essential oils if desired (tea tree, lemon).
4) I tried lemon, but I'm not sure yet, must try it more.
5) I will not try apple cider vinegar because the stench will repell people more than my natural odour, I'm sure. Therefor Delight's recipe for mixing it with lemon sounds good. Must try.
6) I might try household vinegar. Was that suggested too.
7) Last, and least, rubbing alcohol (if nothing else is readily at hand and I'm in a hurry)

[Violet]

$0.02 in this discussion:

Remember that our bodies, including the exterior of the skin, have a symbiotic relationship with numerous forms of beneficial bacteria. We don't want to kill 'em all. Not that any of the suggestions made so far are in the realm of "kill 'em all", but I though it might be good to remember we may want to think in moderate terms when speaking of eliminating some skin bacteria.

Dennis

I would go further and say bathing every day is a bit excessive and not good for our skin ecosystem, your skin is very active and doesn't need to be constantly doused in soap and other chemical preperations.

I do still "get wet" every day, but showering with chemicals is limited; two or three times a week at most.


Yup, showering everyday is also part of the market deal. It causes people to use more soap and shampoo and return to the store quicker. It's not necessary, except for very hot summers and then the focus will shift on just cooling.

[AjaJane]

I used to use Tom's, and I didn't like it at all, it didn't control any odour. I just switched to a brand called Jason and I really like it, I'd recommend it if you want the convenience of a conventional stick. Smelling good is important to me, because I'm a ballet dancer, so I sweat all day and I'm working closely with others. The Jason deodorant keeps me smelling alright for the whole day, just as well as my old aluminum-and-**** stuff. I use the aloe vera scent, which is basically unscented.

[kevlor]

simple - i just use my mms - i have had no deoderants for over six years, the mms has been working a treat

[Realeyes]

I am going to throw in a totally wild card on this subject that I don’t expect will become the next fad - lol.

Back in my teens I knew a beautiful young lady who didn't bathe nor wash her hair - she worked with horses yet didn't smell of horses. Her skin and hair were the healthiest I have ever seen, she glowed, her hair glistened and she never had any bad odour about her, she even allowed me to sniff her armpit to prove it. Once a year she would wash; her hair the rest of the time never looked greasy, always flowing as if just washed showing that lightness of perfectly conditioned hair. At that time I was an everyday wash girl myself and her idea of not washing repulsed me.

I never forgot this lady; she held a mystery I did not understand. About 25 years ago I decided to have my own experiment of not doing the daily wash. After 3 weeks my hair was driving me mad with grease and my scalp itched like mad; I couldn’t wait to pass the 6 weeks phase where the hair balanced out; I gave in grabbing the shampoo. YET I did not wash my body and continued with the experiment. What I noticed is that after 3 weeks all body odours disappeared over night (I have an acute nose for the subtlest of smells); by 4 weeks I started to have a smell of sweet flowers about me and this continued to grow stronger as the weeks unfolded where my skin looked amazingly youthful and I no longer needed body moisturisers because my body was naturally attending to this. I called off the experiment around 6/7 weeks as my 'social habit mind' convinced me this ‘non cleaning’ must be unhealthy......

This experiment taught me a few things, one being that the body takes care of itself. I now only wash my hair once a week, if I wash it more often it becomes greasy very quickly as if the body is saying 'we need to grease up'. I also only shower once or twice a week; if I wash more often I literally become smelly with body odour within hours, something I find most curious. I don't use any deodorants, just a simple flannel and water if I need to.

So in my own observations upon myself, it seems the more I wash, the more the body thinks it needs to grease or moisturise up the skin. Of course if I have been busy doing something that involves heavy manual labour and getting dirty I will have a wash - otherwise I just listen to my body when it is time to have a scrub down. Only my hands are regularly washed throughout the day for hygiene.

I had better add here that no one has ever told me I pong, on the contrary they might ask what lovely perfume I am wearing - I haven’t worn perfume for donkey’s years, it is my natural smell I tell them. I believe each one of us has our own unique pleasant ‘natural smell’ (when healthy) yet this natural smell rarely gets a look-in as it is covered over by so many unnatural strong smelling manufactured potions that we accept to be ‘the smell’ of perfect cleanliness.

I believe cleanliness begins from ‘within’.

Since my experiment (that some may think was just an experiment to practice being unhygienic and be ‘dirty’, I understand that thought pattern as this was my reaction all those years ago when I knew this lady) yet by taking this unlikely path I noticed something else that I found most curious. If I am doing a bad attitude or about to come down with a dis-easement of the body like a cold etc, I notice I started to pong real quick – for me it is a great warning sign that I am out of ‘balance’. When I stay in my ‘present’ observing and staying detatched to whatever drama is occurring around me, I smell sweet like flowers. So perhaps there is a link to the body smells we produce to what our state of mind is thinking/doing/being at the time?

I have heard stories of holy people who never wash nor do their one set of clothes get dirty – yet have a wonderful fragrance about them as well as a glow of radiant health. It always bemused me how it was even possible for clothes not to gather up dirt or stains from one’s journey..... I read in a book discussing this phenomenon explaining (paraphrasing) the clothes gathered up zero dirt because the owner of the clothes was mindful to not disturb ‘anything’ along their walk. I have greatly pondered this notion.

So for myself, I think there is much more to learn about different types of body ‘odour’ because it holds a lot of information about ourselves not only about how our body is operating, whether it is healthy/unhealthy etc, but spans deeper with information about our emotional, mental and spiritual bodies that we have yet to understand and decode.

Also a common theme when reading about historical spiritual people who obtained within themselves a peaceful presence is that many also had a sweet fragrance about them. Perhaps humans are trying to emulate this sweet smell with all these types of perfumes, an unconscious remembrance of sorts of the ‘smell of inner balance and harmony’?

Animals have acute noses for smell, I am sure this is part of their extra sixth senses. So for me personally I do not use perfumes because if my ‘odour’ changes, it is telling me something about myself, a message indicating imbalance of sorts, and when balance is regained I smell sweet once more.

Thank you for all the alternative natural ingredients recipes for making deodorant, I will pass these on to my friends who still use the regular roll-ons. I also found Aloe Vera useful as a deodorant.

[RunningDeer]

I am going to throw in a totally wild card on this subject that I don’t expect will become the next fad - lol.

Back in my teens I knew a beautiful young lady who didn't bathe nor wash her hair - she worked with horses yet didn't smell of horses. Her skin and hair were the healthiest I have ever seen, she glowed, her hair glistened and she never had any bad odour about her, she even allowed me to sniff her armpit to prove it. Once a year she would wash; her hair the rest of the time never looked greasy, always flowing as if just washed showing that lightness of perfectly conditioned hair. At that time I was an everyday wash girl myself and her idea of not washing repulsed me.

I never forgot this lady; she held a mystery I did not understand. About 25 years ago I decided to have my own experiment of not doing the daily wash. After 3 weeks my hair was driving me mad with grease and my scalp itched like mad; I couldn’t wait to pass the 6 weeks phase where the hair balanced out; I gave in grabbing the shampoo. YET I did not wash my body and continued with the experiment. What I noticed is that after 3 weeks all body odours disappeared over night (I have an acute nose for the subtlest of smells); by 4 weeks I started to have a smell of sweet flowers about me and this continued to grow stronger as the weeks unfolded where my skin looked amazingly youthful and I no longer needed body moisturisers because my body was naturally attending to this. I called off the experiment around 6/7 weeks as my 'social habit mind' convinced me this ‘non cleaning’ must be unhealthy......

This experiment taught me a few things, one being that the body takes care of itself. I now only wash my hair once a week, if I wash it more often it becomes greasy very quickly as if the body is saying 'we need to grease up'. I also only shower once or twice a week; if I wash more often I literally become smelly with body odour within hours, something I find most curious. I don't use any deodorants, just a simple flannel and water if I need to.

So in my own observations upon myself, it seems the more I wash, the more the body thinks it needs to grease or moisturise up the skin. Of course if I have been busy doing something that involves heavy manual labour and getting dirty I will have a wash - otherwise I just listen to my body when it is time to have a scrub down. Only my hands are regularly washed throughout the day for hygiene.

I had better add here that no one has ever told me I pong, on the contrary they might ask what lovely perfume I am wearing - I haven’t worn perfume for donkey’s years, it is my natural smell I tell them. I believe each one of us has our own unique pleasant ‘natural smell’ (when healthy) yet this natural smell rarely gets a look-in as it is covered over by so many unnatural strong smelling manufactured potions that we accept to be ‘the smell’ of perfect cleanliness.

I believe cleanliness begins from ‘within’.

Since my experiment (that some may think was just an experiment to practice being unhygienic and be ‘dirty’, I understand that thought pattern as this was my reaction all those years ago when I knew this lady) yet by taking this unlikely path I noticed something else that I found most curious. If I am doing a bad attitude or about to come down with a dis-easement of the body like a cold etc, I notice I started to pong real quick – for me it is a great warning sign that I am out of ‘balance’. When I stay in my ‘present’ observing and staying detatched to whatever drama is occurring around me, I smell sweet like flowers. So perhaps there is a link to the body smells we produce to what our state of mind is thinking/doing/being at the time?

I have heard stories of holy people who never wash nor do their one set of clothes get dirty – yet have a wonderful fragrance about them as well as a glow of radiant health. It always bemused me how it was even possible for clothes not to gather up dirt or stains from one’s journey..... I read in a book discussing this phenomenon explaining (paraphrasing) the clothes gathered up zero dirt because the owner of the clothes was mindful to not disturb ‘anything’ along their walk. I have greatly pondered this notion.

So for myself, I think there is much more to learn about different types of body ‘odour’ because it holds a lot of information about ourselves not only about how our body is operating, whether it is healthy/unhealthy etc, but spans deeper with information about our emotional, mental and spiritual bodies that we have yet to understand and decode.

Also a common theme when reading about historical spiritual people who obtained within themselves a peaceful presence is that many also had a sweet fragrance about them. Perhaps humans are trying to emulate this sweet smell with all these types of perfumes, an unconscious remembrance of sorts of the ‘smell of inner balance and harmony’?

Animals have acute noses for smell, I am sure this is part of their extra sixth senses. So for me personally I do not use perfumes because if my ‘odour’ changes, it is telling me something about myself, a message indicating imbalance of sorts, and when balance is regained I smell sweet once more.

Thank you for all the alternative natural ingredients recipes for making deodorant, I will pass these on to my friends who still use the regular roll-ons. I also found Aloe Vera useful as a deodorant.

You continue to amaze me, Realeyes! Thank you. :hug:

[Violet]

Realeyes, I just came across this, reading about that other thread on H2O2:


Sound and Odor self diagnosis

Question: Body odor with a sweet tinge to it?

Which internal organ does that indicate needs attention?

Answer: Spleen / stomach


and


Using deodorant does one thing only- it masks your health disorders and allows the deterioration in your health to continue.


Full: http://www.hps-online.com/nlisten.htm

[Natalia]

I use this, it's natural and very effective

http://www.asnatureintended.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/salt-of-the-earth-spray3.jpg

[RunningDeer]

I use this, it's natural and very effective


http://www.asnatureintended.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/salt-of-the-earth-spray3.jpg

Thanks, Amethyst. Here’s a blurb on it. It’s mineral salts, and also it's effective for feet.

Salt of the Earth Spray Deodorant
(http://www.naturisimo.com/index.cfm?nme=Salt%20of%20the%20Earth)
Salt of the Earth Spray Deodorant natural formulation works not by covering up body odour, but by eliminating the bacteria which cause it. An invisible layer of natural mineral salts prevents bacteria from multiplying providing remarkable all day protection. These mineral salts do not block pores but inhibit the formation of body odour on your skin, providing you with long lasting protection.

The unisex, unscented formula is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike conventional deodorants and antiperspirants, it does not make embarrasing white marks, like the conventional and it does not interfere with Homeopathic medicine.

HOW TO USE: Simply spray on clean underarms or feet. Hold 10 inches away from skin before spraying. It works under arms or even feet. Do not use on broken skin.

[Ahnung-quay]

Hi all. It's been awhile since I started this thread. I did try some of the recipes and ideas that contributors posted here with some good results.

Lately, I've been experimenting with essential oils. I tried liquid coconut oil in a roller ball bottle with a few drops each of lavender, thyme, tea tree, wild orange, and lemon.

So far, it's working great. Of course, it's the middle of winter and sweating is at a minimum right now. My recipe may need some adjustment as the warmer weather comes on.

I read that thyme oil and chamomile oil are good for women's breast health so that gave me the idea to use the thyme oil in my mixture.

Thank you for all of the responses!

[Olaf]

There was a company here in Germany that sould a "bio" deo stick with a small additive of living effective microrganisms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_microorganism) (EM). They put it in because then it is not necessary to add any chemical preservatives. Besides the product then is pro-biotic and not anti-biotic, which is a much healthier approach.

This addition had also the effect that the EM drive away other bacteria. Per definition EM are kinds of bacteria that do not produce any poisonous substances. That's way they are so effectively used in organic agriculture to get rid off the bad smell of composting or when farming of animals.
With EM doing the work of decomposing substances from your skin you have no bad odor at all.

Unfortunately this deo stick became not very known, so they just stopped producing it. But I had another product with EM in it (a pro biotic drink) which also works when applied to the skin. You only need one drop of that solution (there are millions of EM in it).

In my case bathing did not help. I can bath as much as I want. Two hours later my skin will begin to smell at the armpits. Using effective microorganisms (in form of that "pro biotic" deo stick) I never have problems with bad odor.

[conk]

A distinction between deodorant and antiperspirant should be made. The antiperspirants are what we want to avoid.