BIG win! I’ve been making myself crazy every morning when I apply my deodorant. For about 3 years now I’ve known that there are several toxic chemicals in deodorants that no one has any business putting in their body.
What are the toxic ingredients in deodorants?
1. Aluminum. This is in most antiperspirants. It is linked to breast cancer in women. It has even been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s! Stay clear.
2. Parabens. Another bad news ingredient in several beauty products. This is a synthetic preservative. It basically messes up our hormonal balance. It has been linked to birth defects and organ toxicity. Watch out for this one.
3. Propylene Glycol. Studies have shown that in large quantities this chemical can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver and heart. ‘Nuff said.
4. Phthalates. This beauty has been linked to a higher risk of birth defects and increasing the likelihood of cell mutation.
5. Triclosan. This is actually classified as a pesticide. The end.
Help! I need an alternative to chemical filled deodorants!
That is pretty much what I said. I should have just typed that in my Google browser. Even the more natural store bought deodorants had at least one or two ingredients I questioned—or they didn’t work. I thought about making my own. I’m such a DIYer that I have no idea why I was so resistant to making my own deodorant. I make EVERYTHING else! Then, during a conversation with a friend, an idea was born—a DIY deodorant SPRAY.
How do I make my own deodorant spray?
Ingredients
- 1 spray bottle
- Sea Salt
- 3 drops Purification Essential Oil
- 3 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil
- 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- Distilled water
Directions
- Drop a small pinch of sea salt in the bottle.
- Add all the drops of the essential oils.
- Fill with water.
- Shake.
- Apply.
Does this DIY deodorant spray work?
YES! I would ask this same question. I’ve been using it for THREE weeks now.
Purification essential oil blend is a natural deodorizer (it smells amazing).
Clary Sage is a natural sweat reducer. (source)
Lavender soothes skin irritations and has often been recommended for use in deodorant. I added this because my armpits are sensitive and can get irritated. I figured it would help.
I went to Cape Cod for a friend’s wedding and had been using the deodorant spray for just over a week before I left. I used the spray the entire week I was there (including during the wedding where we worked up quite a sweat on the dance floor). I’ve continued to use it here in North Carolina and it is still kicking butt! I’m officially calling it a win. Woohoo!
Still too lazy to make this? Here is a store bought option that has received good reviews. Click here.
Hi! I’m just curious about the clary sage in this deodorant recipe. Since it effects estrogen and it’s so close to the breast tissue, would it increase the risk for breast cancer? Thank you in advance.
I haven’t read anything that leads me to believe that would be the case. If I understand what I’ve read on the issue, the risks involve actual progesterone supplements not an essential oil like clary sage that does not have progesterone in it.
Clary sage should not be used when pregnant….it may be good to state that in your post, as some may not be aware of that 🙂
Thank you for your comment. I have researched this topic and the issues surround clary sage and pregnancy.
According to Wildwood, “A common myth in aromatherapy is that massage oils containing essential oils such as Clary sage, rose or even rosemary can cause a miscarriage and hence should be avoided throughout pregnancy. Authors such as Ron Guba, Kurt Schnaubelt, and Chrissie Wildwood have all pointed out that there have been ‘no recorded cases of miscarriage or birth defect resulting from aromatherapy massage using therapeutic applications of any essential oil.”
http://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/#pregnancy
According to Tisserand and Balacs, the following essential oils should not be used during pregnancy: wormwood, rue, oak moss, Lavandula stoechas, camphor, parsley seed, sage, and hyssop.
I’ve been looking for a blend like this. It looks great!
Great! I hope this helps. The crazy thing is I used this for weeks and then now I rarely apply deodorant at all.
How much distilled water do you add? 🙂
I just filled the remainder of the bottle with it.
I’m assuming, since you listed the bottle and it appears to be a 4 ml, bottle, that that is the approximate amount of distilled water? I have a 4 oz spray bottle, and am wondering about the ratio of oils to water. I obviously am making a larger amount… have you made a larger batch, and do you happen to have those amounts?
The bottle I used is about 3-4 ml. It doesn’t need to be exact, you can approximate. I’ve even put a drop of Purification essential oil in the palm of my hand with a dab of coconut oil and used that as deodorant in a pinch! AND it works!
How much water ? want to make sure the ration is enough to be potent !
I filled up the little spray bottle with water. They are probably about 3 ml bottles. I bought them on Abundanthealth4u.com but I don’t see them right now.
also, do you think geranium would be a good sub for clary sage? that is what I will try.
Geranium sounds like it would be great! I learned in one of my aromatherapy books that Clary Sage is a natural sweat reducer. That is why I added it.
This is a great natural deodorant recipe, Kara! I’ve been looking for something like this! It is so, so easy to make. I love that you used essential lavender oil. This makes it a winner for me, already!
Hi! I’m going to try this today, thank you so much for posting! One question; why do you need the salt?
The salt help the essential oil distribute more evenly throughout the water.
could you use a regular kosher or table salt if you are out of sea salt?? I live in a very very very backwoods rural community,we do not have a health food store or anything like that ,,,shoot I cannot even buy arrow root powder here and things like that I kinda like to see and read and look at it while I am holding it before buying,,lol
Yes you can! The point of it is just to help the essential oil to disperse in the water when you shake the bottle. 🙂
I really want to go all natural but just based on my location it is not very cost effective for me but I at least wanna try to go all diy and simple natural as I possibly can, any recommendations on blogs or sites that have just super super simple diy’s??
Hi Alisha! I can definitely help you with that. If you have just a few basic ingredients you can make a lot! Watch this video here: http://lifesanity.com/diy Also, would you like to chat? I can talk with you for a few minutes and help you get started and be successful fast. 🙂
Kara, Just wanted you to know when I was first making my own deodorant I used Clary sage and it worked great but it also made me spot. This was a little alarming since I hadn’t had a period or any bleeding in 2 years. Once I stopped the clary sage deodorant it stopped. I will try the Geranium and see what happens.
Thank you for the very informative site.
Never heard of clary sage being used in a deodorant before. Good ideea.
So excited to make my own deodorant with Purification! Thanks for the recipe! One question…lots of recipes out there use witch hazel. Any reason to use water/salt over witch hazel that you know of? Trying to decide which road to take! Thanks!!
Hi!! You can definitely add witch hazel. It acts more as a preservative for it. I use the salt to get the oils to disperse in the water. 🙂
This sounds fantastic. I just made it and can’t wait to try it!! I sweat a lot at night too so I’m looking for something natural. Thanks for sharing!!!