How do you add the tea tree oil to the baking soda?

C’mon, what’s wrong with the aluminium? It’s efficient and links to cancer and other diseases are still not clearly proven. I ride my bicycle to work every day and it’s the only thing that does it for me.

Is there any other alternative than those awful non-recyclable plastic bottles? Why eco-friendly always seem to rhythm with aluminium-free when it comes to antiperspirants?

Hi! Thanks for this! I’ll be experimenting with some of these recipes soon! I know that L’Occitane does, or used to do, shea butter in metal containers with a bit of a paper liner. No plastic, and really good quality stuff. Not cheap, but worth it.

Use magnesium oil (magnesium chlorid mixed with water). It is very good for health. Even if you put it all over your body. Ask youtube about magnesium oil!

which soda company do you use in eco friendly packaging that’s not tested on animals?

Thank you for all of this information! I am trying to go plastic free…finally! It is a daunting endeavor. I have a whole new outlook on trips to the store. Starting small with a specific need to find a deodorant antiperspirant that will work like the aluminum options, that isn’t housed in plastic. I did find a Mitchum spray but it had a plastic lid…how dumb…and the scent was so strong i was sneezing! Will try baking soda but have my doubts and can’t have residue on clothing….but will try. Please keep the suggestions coming!!!!!!

Thank you so so much for this!
I have struggled with all but one of the natural deodorants in either they don’t work, or 99% of the time they make my pits break into an angry rash.
The only one that’s worked for me is a tiny roll-on encased in the thickest and worst plastic, and I’ve been trying to compile a list of alternatives to try out to break myself off of it.
I am so glad that you put these out there. Friends of mine swear by the crystal, and I learned recently that the reason why it just doesn’t work for most people (myself included) is that we are only applying it to the hair line, and not all of our sweat glands around the arm pit. I have also heard that spraying with rubbing alcohol before using it intensifies it’s workability.
I’m giving it a try again and I’ll comment here when I learn more.

Lavilin would be a great addition to this list! I think Lavilin is the best in the biz for natural deodorants. I’ve been a loyal customer for over 15 years and I have never once been disappointed!

Fat and the Moon makes an amazing natural deodorant that actually works! And comes in a glass container with metal lid

Hello! What do you out the baking soda mix in when you travel? I put some in an old badger balm container, but it has made it hard to open. I’m trying to find something small and lightweight (so maybe not glass).

Thank you so much for your fantastic, inspiring blog and lifestyle!! I just wanted to make sure you have heard that tea tree oil has been found to have estrogen in it and can increase the risk of breast cancer
https://www.ecowatch.com/are-lavender-and-tea-tree-essential-oils-hormone-disruptors-1882143092.html

I started using just baking soda (just pat it on with a dry washcloth) a week ago. I figured it was worth experimenting with while I have a stick of my usual Toms of Maine deodorant on hand as a backup. I am amazed! This works SO MUCH BETTER than any of the ‘natural’ deodorants I have tried. I apply once in the morning and don’t stink at all during the day! I was worried that the baking soda would leave white marks on my clothes but it hasn’t. If I spill some on my clothes when applying, I just brush it off. No white powder seeping through my clothing, either. Even feel okay about sleeveless shirts — the baking soda isn’t really visible on my pale skin. Next it’s going into my shoes to combat stinky feet :) Thank you, Beth, for sharing this!

Well, you know Tom’s of Maine, since 2006, has been a division of multinational conglomerate Colgate-Palmolive. Hence, the plastic packaging.

Careful with the crystal deodorants–alum = aluminum, and recent research confirms how bad that is.I’m a fan of Herbalix deodorants. Their standard sizes come in Plastipure non-estrogenic plastic, but if you contact them they have glass bottles for their larger sizes of moisturizer, detox creams, etc.

I have the Chagrin Valley Deo in Mint Mist and LOVELOVELOVE it!!!

Melissa, just a few drops shaken into the baking soda container. Put on the lid and shake it up. The oil doesn’t make the baking soda clump. You really only use just a few drops.

A question for those of you who suggested witch hazel: Where do you get it without plastic packaging? Every place I’ve checked so far only has it in plastic bottles. Thanks!
Judy

For the last couple of weeks I have been using coconut oil only for deoderant. Even I can’t believe is works, but it does. It is supposedly anti-bacterial.

The first few days it worked ok , but after that it was great. Maybe it needed a few days to detox or something like that. All I did when the smellies struck at midday was smear a little more coconut oil under my pits and the smell went. Now it lasts all day.

And into the bargin, I use it for brushing teeth, and has a mild sun protection factor (anything from 4-10 SPF), which has been fine for my semi-mediteranean skin tone in this anything but mediteranean English Summer. Oh, and I also use it to condition my hair, as a make-up remover, hot oil cleanser, turning my mineral face powder to a cream foundation, even polished my shoes in an emergency, oh yes, and I eat it quite a bit too…

For extra yum, I’ve sunk half a vanilla pod into the jar, so it smells amazing.

For those asking about mixing the tea tree oil in with the baking soda, I just add a few drops, close the lid, and shake up the baking soda. A little goes a long way. The oil does not make the baking soda clump up at all. Really, just a few drops.

I use baking soda with a little corn starch and several drops of tea tree oil. Works well!

First, Thank you for all of this – your commitment, your communication, your research and all your experimentation. For years I’ve been talking to my own family and friends about the fact that plastic is an addiction foisted on us by the oil companies. I remember being in India in the late ’70s and being horrified to see street vendors whose stalls were chock full to the gills with nothing but brightly colored plastic *everything*. My illusions about a nation living close to the land and nature were shattered. I’ll leave the political/corporate/social discussion aside.
As for deodorant, here’s a tidbit of info most of your readers won’t find useful but may find interesting. Admittedly, I was a hippie and stopped shaving my armpits quite young. Living overseas for a good chunk of my adult life made that unremarkable. A mostly vegetarian, dairy-free diet meant that an occasional dab of essential oil for fun was all I needed under my arms.What *was* remarkable to me was that when we moved back to the states and summer (i.e. sleeveless weather) rolled around, I succumbed to the corporate American pressure and shaved for the first time in ages. And for the first time in ages, I had B.O. I was stunned. Over the years I’ve repeated this experiment and found that, contrary to advertising hype, hair under the arms does not “trap odor causing bacteria” and produce “offensive” perspiration. Make of it what you will, but IMHO the North American obsession with hair removal (which has spread, I’m sad to say, to Europe and South America too) may be a bigger cause of body odor than sweat is.

Great write up! Thank you for doing this! We started making PITS (from our “THE” BALM line) b/c not only were all the deodorants in plastic, but they just plain didn’t work. Even the crystal. I’ll bet a powder like Beth uses would be nice (:

Nice! (:::

Also wanted to note the type of laundry soap you use can also affect sweating issues. If you add one cup of plain vinegar to the rinse water cycle you will remove all soap/detergent residue and this helps a lot, because soaps have salts in them and if they stay in the fabric, next to the skin they can become like a wick and draw moisture out of the body and thus you find you have moisture under the arms, around the waist, in the crease areas of the legs etc.

Being a dancer by trade and living in Texas has made finding an effective and reliable natural deodorant very challenging for me. Here’s the best combination (yes, I’m a sweaty girl so I need more than one thing to not be stinky) that I have come up with. Upon exiting the shower with clean, shaved pits I : 1. Spray pits with lavender witch hazel to combat razor burn 2. rub vigorously with crystal deodorant (got mine in a little velvet bag -no plastic) 3. spray pits lightly with a blend of 20 drops tea tree oil, 20 drops lavender oil, 10 drops rosemary oil, 2 tbls vodka, and 1/2 cup water (originally meant to sanitize counter tops…) 4. dust pits liberally with baking soda. I know it sounds like quite an ordeal but it is very effective even in 105 degree temperatures and through 10 hours of dancing. Tried Tom’s of Maine at first; made me smell like kitty pee. Anyways, thanks for such a great comprehensive anti-stink article!

I was lucky enough to find a crystal totally unpackaged at a small natural foods store when I visited a friend in Madrid two years ago. Not the usual souvenir to bring home, but I like poking around in local groceries, natural shops, etc. especially in Europe, where it seems easier to find healthier, more enviro friendly choices. The rock hardly looks worn – should last for years! I plan to look for more alternative goodies when I visit a friend in Italy later this year. AND find a plastic-free pasta maker!

I’ve tried pretty much every DIY option on your list and none have really worked for me. I initially LOVED the bicarb/coconut oil/arrow root starch/EO recipe, but then I got a HORRIBLE red rash that made my underarm skin thicken and slough off in a day or two, leaving me with super tender and sensitive underarms for almost an entire week. I don’t usually shave my armpits but maybe once a month, if that, so it wasn’t shaving irritation of any kind.

I wanted it to work for me so much, for so many reasons, that I made mini batches using variations of the ingredient ratios and almost every EO I owned (quite a few since I have them for making and scenting my own soaps) as well as adding things like cocoa butter and shea butter (again from the soaping materials) trying to rule out irritation culprits and I still could never get it to work out for me. Super bummed about that. I’ve gone back to using whatever I can on super clearance in the mean time until I can afford to purchase something from one of the places you’ve mentioned in this post to try out instead as one of the reasons I’ve tried so many of the DIY options is super tight finances.

How do you add the essential oil to the baking soda powder?
I’ve been using the rock followed by a baking soda dusting with a powder brush. Where do you get the powder puff?

making my own is 100% satisfying, eco friendly, cheap, EASY and smells/works great. it’s 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup corn starch, 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 20 (ish) drops of whatever essential oil you prefer, my favorite is red mandarin! I keep it in glass baby food jars :P ENJOY!

Ever Clear or vodka..ole time perfume sprayer.. :)

I’m actually in the, probably minority, camp that doesn’t really get why most people feel that they need to use deodorants at all.

Some people, I’m sure, feel a particular need for it as they have the misfortune of sweating more than most and need to always stay within a socially acceptable body odour range. But I doubt most of us really need it. Want it is another matter (I’m all for having a bit of fun with something you like), I’m merely talking about feeling like it’s a must.

I stopped using deodorants years ago and I don’t smell unless you catch me between a workout and a shower. I don’t shower every day either, mostly just on days when I work out. But on warm days, when I do get a bit sweaty, I wash with soap and water. The smell and bacteria are gone instantly. Feeling sweaty and going out in public? I take off my shirt and, in my vest or bra, I wash my arm pits and elbow pits. If it’s really hot (and I’m wearing a skirt) I’ll even wash my knee pits.

Having only just got started on living “Plastic Free” I’d love to try the baking soda/ essential oils approach to deodorant but how does it affect your clothes ? I work with the public & often take my jacket off so I’m concerned about stains.

Great post! Thanks for all the suggestions. Baking soda works really well for me too but it makes my razor burn worse. I’ve found that witch hazel is a really good option for me because it controls odor and helps soothe razor burn at the same time. It comes in a plastic bottle, but you can make it yourself apparently. Here some instructions I found if anyone is interested in trying it: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48232.asp

I’ve been using the same crystal for so long that I’ve never had to buy another one. Years and years, I’ve had it three I think…

You can usually get alum for super cheap at Vietnamese and similar markets. It is used to prevent oxidation of cut fruits and vegetables. Some people use it as a form of deodorant the same way as the Crystal brand you mentioned only purchasing it from the Vietnamese market is a fraction of the price. You’d have to mix up a concentrated solution of your own to use it in liquid form as it usually comes in crystallized rocks varying in size from small pearl tapioca to US 50 cent piece. I also use it as a mordant for naturally dying silk and wool fabrics.

Thanks Beth! I finally found a homemade deodorant recipe I like, but it’s a lotta work!

Thanks for the great info. I have been using the LUSH but good to know I can make my own. thanks;)

Plain baking soda works great for me. But recently mixed up a deodorant recipe from Crunchy Betty with coconut oil, baking powder, and cornstarch. That works great too. I really love the low cost! It really works! And NO PLASTIC! Woohoo!

We use a Thai deodorant stone and have for a good dozen years. No packaging. And if you eat whole healthy foods, drink plenty of water and get good exercise and then take a shower you shouldn’t smell.

I’ve recently tried my pinesap salve as deodorant (olive oil, beez wax, pine sap) seems to be working better on these extra ‘special’ hot days when my coconut oil and lavendar don’t seem to be holding up.

I make my own with coconut oil (yes it comes in a glass jar), baking soda & cornstarch or arrow root. I just keep it in a 1/2 pint mason jar.

Awesome, Laura Kathleen Quinn Bouma. Will you please also leave this comment on the actual post so others will see it? That way it will be archived for when people read the post in the future.

I love Chagrin Valley’s products!

I *love* the deodorant in a tin made by Schmidt’s in Portland. I’ve only tried the unscented (she makes cedarwood scented too) – it works really really well! Ingredients: shea butter, baking soda, cocoa butter, arrowroot, hops extract, vitamin E.

Thank you! this is one of the products I’m most confused about

Thank you! this is one of the products I’m most confused about

I know it has a plastic top, but Dr Hauschka Deodorant (glass bottle) is hands down the best product I’ve ever tried. 100% effective, no side effects. Everybody I know who has tried it likes it. A little pricey but I find the bottle lasts a long time. Also, I agree with the posters who say that using pit products less often really does cut down on the body’s “need” for them.

Nobody has mentioned witch hazel applied with a cotton pad – it works for days when I don’t expect to get very sweaty.

Yardley Lavender body powder for me, metal can.

I sweat a lot, and used to use the clinical strength anti-perspirant. After trial-and-error, I discovered a combination approach that worked for me. It doesn’t keep me from sweating, but I RARELY smell.

I rub coconut oil under my arms, then apply the 50/50 combo of baking soda & corn starch (plus sometimes a little tea tree oil). I’ve tried the coconut oil alone, and I’ve tried the baking soda by itself too, but neither one worked solo for me. I also mix water with a bit of baking soda in a spray bottle, and spritz the liquid into the inside armpits of my shirts. (If I don’t do this, I won’t stink, but my shirt will.)

The only issue is that I have very sensitive skin, and would already have irritation under my arms from shaving. The baking soda would basically be like rubbing salt into wounds, causing a patchy red rash that burned like crazy. I had a simple fix though, I just stopped shaving my armpits.

How do you add the tea tree oil to the dry baking soda? Do you apply the tea tree oil after apply the baking soda?