Gallimaufry Grove: All Natural DIY Deodorant That Actually Works!!

I have been meaning to post about this recipe for some time. I am SO excited about it. (I am easily entertained...) I have tried about a bazillion different natural deodorants and none of them worked. Not one. Then I decided to take some of what I've learned about all-things-natural and try to come up with my own deodorant. I never thought it would really work. But it does!!

It even works for my husband's pits. And friends, that is the final frontier of deodorants.

But before I give you the recipe, let's explore why on earth anyone would be crazy enough to ditch the store-bought deodorant in the first place.

Anatomy 101: Your pits are meant to sweat. Shocking, I know. Armpits are one of your body's ways to cool down your body temperature and keep you from overheating. It is also a major way your body detoxifies.

It is important to understand what your body is trying to do when you sweat. It has a purpose. Your pits aren't trying to make you a social outcast. They are just trying to do their job -- temperature control and detoxification.

When you use store-bought anti-perspirant/deodorant, you are actually slathering your poor pits with a chemical cocktail designed to STOP your body from doing it's job. You can do your own research about those chemicals, but here's an article about 7 harmful ingredients in your deodorant. Weird chemicals aside, the way store-bought deodorant works makes me wonder what the long term implications of stopping up all those glands and pores will be. I prefer to let my body work the way God designed it, thank you very much.

Special Notes about switching to All Natural Deodorants:

There are a few things you need to know before making the switch from conventional anti-perspirant/deodorant to All Natural Deodorants.

1. This is a Deodorant, not an anti-perspirant. That means your body is still going to be able to sweat. I consider this a really good thing, because that's what your pits are designed to do. But if you are used to chemically stopping that process, it might take some mental adjustment. My deodorant works to detox your pits and keep them from stinking, but it won't stop you from sweating.

2. If you have spent a life-time on arm-pit-chemicals, then there will likely be a detox period before you are stink-free. Commercial anti-perspirant/deodorant doesn't stop the toxins from happening in your pits, it just keeps them from coming out -- so they get backed up in there. When you start using my All Natural Deodorant, it will start a detox process that will pull those built up toxins out (the bentonite clay is wonderful for this). During this detox period, you may stink worse than a dead skunk. Don't panic. Just wash your pits often and reapply the natural deodorant. How long this lasts will depend on how toxic your pits are, but I'd give it a couple weeks. If you're really, really toxic, it could take longer. Once you get past that transitional stage, you won't have to use nearly as much All Natural Deodorant to keep your pits smelling sweet.

Yes, yes and yes. I made this for the first time last summer. After the initial detox period, I was thrilled, but I never was a super big sweat factory to begin with, so I wasn't sure it was really as amazing as I thought. I took it with me on a beach vacation in South Texas. It is HOT there. Still, my deodorant kept me absolutely stink-free. So far, so good.

It was time to try it on a man. Specifically, my husband. I knew that if it would work for him, it would work for anyone. I made a more masculine scent and handed him a jar. He looked at me like I was weird. That isn't unusual. He always looks at me like I'm weird.

A few days later, he told me, "I really like that deodorant you made. It works at least as good, if not better than my regular kind." And a few weeks later, he said it again. And he keeps saying it nearly a year later. And I don't smell stinky pits anymore. Huzzah!

All Natural Deodorant that WORKS!!

1/2 cup Virgin Coconut Oil

2 Tbsp Beeswax granules

4 Tbsp Arrowroot (or non-GMO cornstarch)

2 Tbsp Diatomaceous Earth (optional. Don't get the pool-grade stuff. Use the feed-grade)

5 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract (as a preservative)

Essential Oils (see "flavor" choices)

20 drops Lemon Essential Oil

30 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Men's Flavor (My Hubster really likes this scent)

20 drops Orange Essential Oil

20 drops Lemon Essential Oil

25 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

10 drops Clove Essential Oil (may use less or eliminate for sensitive skin, but it really helps give a more masculine scent.)

Gently warm the coconut oil and beeswax until melted. Remove from heat and stir in the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Add essential oils and stir. Pour into a tin or shallow jar. Label.

To use: Just get some of the deodorant out of the tin with your fingertips. Massage onto your pits like a lotion, making sure to get the entire pit area. Ta Da! Enjoy your frugal, clean-living self.