Not a Secret Homemade Deodorant

crunched by Crunchy Betty on April 20, 2011
filed under Household, Natural Beauty Recipes, Skin

You know exactly what's in this homemade deodorant. It's not a secret.

It’s been seven months since I switched to 100% homemade deodorant.

The switch, it seemed like this HUGE DEAL that could ruin my life. Like, this monumental thing that might alienate all my friends and family. Like, scary. I mean, scary.

Guess what? It’s not that big of a deal.

In fact, it’s the smallest big deal I’ve ever dealt with. (And this is coming from someone who’s neurotic about which sea salt to buy.) It took about a week to get used to, and now I don’t even think about it anymore. It works, it’s inexpensive, and it contains zero aluminum. No brainer; no big deal.

Frankly, I’m madly in love with this homemade deodorant. So much so, that it was like pulling teeth to try a new recipe.

But, several people had pretty annoying issues with the baking soda and/or the cornstarch in that recipe. It can be itchy at times, and there was a rash or two reported.

So this is an awesome alternative to the baking soda/cornstarch one, if you’ve had issues. Or, if you just have a hankering for some super smooth and delightful pits (hello shea butter), give it a whirl.

It’s not a secret.

It’s all right here. Every ingredient. And every ingredient comes straight from nature.

Not a Secret Homemade Deodorant

Before we start, I have to tell a quick story.

When I first started making this deodorant, I had the bright idea to reuse a toilet paper roll to hold the deodorant. It turned out not being all that bright. The deodorant kind of seeped through the outside of the roll, so whenever I grabbed it, it would make my hands slick. Then, I realized I had no bright idea on how to cover it.

This is why, occasionally, you’ll see a toilet paper roll in the pictures.

(Here’s what I’m talking about:)

It was slick, so I fastened a paper towel around it with a hair band. Still couldn't think of a way to cover it, though.

After trying to work out the kinks for a while, I realized that it would be far easier to just push all of the deodorant into an old cleaned out deodorant container.

I’m so thankful I planned ahead and kept it all these months.

So, if you can figure out a way to make the toilet paper roll idea work, kudos! Share! Otherwise, I recommend using an old, cleaned out deodorant container for this recipe.

Your ingredients for Not a Secret Deodorant.

Above, you’ll see everything you need for this recipe. It includes coconut oil, shea butter, clay (I used bentonite, but you can use any type of cosmetic clay), beeswax, and a couple of essential oils. You might also try substituting cornstarch for the clay, if you don’t think it’s irritating and you don’t want to buy clay.

First, grate 1-1/2 Tbsp of beeswax and melt it with 4 Tbsp coconut oil over low heat.

You want to wait to add the shea butter until after the beeswax has all melted, because shea shouldn’t be heated for long, or it becomes gritty and not quite as pleasant.

Melting the coconut oil and beeswax on VERY low heat.

After the coconut oil and beeswax has melted, you’ll add in 1 Tbsp of shea butter.

At this point, you can probably remove it from the heat and just continue to stir until the shea has all melted, as well. It doesn’t take long, so don’t go far.

Maybe to the cupboard to grab a piece of chocolate. But no farther than that. Mkay?

Once the shea butter is nice and liquidy, as well, sprinkle in 4 tsp of clay (or cornstarch … though I haven’t tried cornstarch in this recipe, so you’re pioneering here and taking your chances).

Break out your whisk at this point, which you could have used all along, but forgot and grabbed your green spatula-spoon instead. Whisk everything well until it’s nice and sort-of creamy.

Sort-of-creamy homemade deodorant. Soon, it will be solid.

Drop in 20-25 drops of your essential oil. I actually cheated a little. I used 7 drops of rosemary essential oil and 7 drops of tea tree essential oil, for odor protection. But then I also added 10 drops each of sweet orange and ylang-ylang, because everything I make smells like sweet orange and ylang-ylang these days.

After you’ve whisked in your essential oils, you might want to place the pan in a cool water bath, just to help it all set up faster.

Mine really needed to set up faster.

Impatience is a virtue. Right? RIGHT?

Homemade deodorant, just chilling in a cool water bath.

Leave it there until it sets up a little bit, but not until it becomes solid. You should still be able to dip your spoon in and have the deodorant drip off slowly.

It will look something like this:

Ignore the toilet paper roll, please. Pretend it's a different container. A fancy one.

Once it’s beginning to set up, you’ll want to fill your container with it. If you’re using an old deodorant container, make sure it’s completely washed out (I also recommend boiling it for good measure) and that it’s rolled down all the way.

This recipe pretty much exactly filled the container you saw in the first picture (also what you’ll see below). But the little roller had to be rolled down completely to make room for all of it.

So once you have all your slightly liquid deodorant in the container, pop it in the freezer for 15-20 (or more) minutes to help it set up all the way.

The beeswax keeps the other ingredients a bit more solid, so it shouldn’t soften much until it’s heated by your skin while you’re putting it on.

Here’s what the final deodorant looks like in a close up.

Looks pretty, huh? Smells even prettier.

Just so you know what everything does in this recipe:

Coconut Oil: Softens, but especially adds extra antibacterial protection. Bacteria is what leads to stinkiness. Coconut oil is your best weapon.
Shea Butter: Softens (a lot). It will also most likely help with the little bumps you get from shaving.
Clay: Adds extra dryness protection. It will help at whisking away sweat and drying it up before it reaches your clothes. However, don’t expect it to work quite as well as antiperspirant (which contains the aluminum you REALLY want to avoid). They work in two very different ways.
Beeswax: This may help, a little, with the perspiration problem, but the main point of this ingredient is to give the deodorant a more solid feel, so it’ll stay in your container the way you want it to.
Tea Tree and/or Rosemary Essential Oil: These two oils are exceptionally antibacterial and antifungal, so they’ll work really hard at keeping any stinkiness from happening. Again, you can use any essential oil you’d like for scent (lavender, bergamot and lemon essential oils would be great as a substitution for tea tree and rosemary in terms of odor-stopping).

And here’s the printable recipe:

Not a Secret Homemade Deodorant

1-1/2 Tbsp grated beeswax or beeswax beads
4 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp shea butter
4 tsp clay (bentonite or other)
20-25 drops essential oil (tea tree, rosemary, lavender, lemon, bergamot, or a mixture of any listed)
Empty, clean, sterilized deodorant container

Melt the beeswax and coconut oil on very low heat, whisking often. Once melted, add in the shea butter and whisk a few times, then remove from the heat and continue melting. After that’s melted and you have a liquid, sprinkle in the clay and continue to whisk well until everything is combined. Drop in the essential oil, whisking still. Place the pan into a cool water bath, and leave for 5 minutes or until it just begins to set up. Spoon the mixture into your deodorant container and place it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes (or until completely hard). If, for some reason, it starts to get too soft on a hot day, just put it back in the freezer for a while.

What’s Your Deodorant?

What kind of deodorant do you guys use these days? Are you still sticking by the more traditional store-bought kind (you know, the kind they keep a “secret”)?

Have you switched over to a more natural brand?

Or are you one of the crunchy ones who’s used a homemade version for a while?

(If so, have you had any problems with it?)

In no-secrets-around-these-parts crunch!

WHAT’S FRESH AT CRUNCHY BETTY’S NATURAL MARKET

See something you like on Crunchy Betty, but you don't want to make it yourself? Check out Crunchy Betty's Natural Market on Etsy to find all sorts of fresh and natural handmade skincare items.

Take a look at the popular LUCID Moisturizing Facial Oil - Blended with acneic and oily skin in mind! (Soaks into your skin and nourishes from the outside in)!

Crunchy Betty Natural Market's BEST seller!: Kokomo Cream Handmade Deodorant - a light, lime-and-coconut cream deodorant packed full of ingredients to keep you fresh and oh-so-soft.

http://www.facebook.com/people/MarkandKiera-Richardson/1773123319 MarkandKiera Richardson

Thank you so much for this post! I have now said goodbye to my last stick of Dove. And I have to admit, till I started reading your blog, it never occurred to me to try and introduce homemade products to my family. I just bought what I saw on the shelves and looked at people weird who said they don’t use soap, shampoo, deodorant, tampons, ect. Hmmm sorta like my husband looks at me now! But he has no complaints about soft skin, nice smells and low cost! I started using this deodorant at about the same time I started a workout routine. While it doesn’t stop perspiration (and really that would be a bad thing biologically speaking right?), after 30 minutes of exercise I still smell like coconut:) I live in Alaska so there is no problem keeping the oil solid, I put everything in my stand mixer and let it go till it’s mixed and soft. Then I can pack it into old deodorant containers:) Thanks so much for you blog, I love not only all the wonderful info (and even better the personality) you bring to us, but also the awesome community of people wanting to help and contribute!!
Michelle in Massachusetts

I wish I could remember where I found the recipe (Maybe OneGoodThing ?), but I have been using a mix of one part baking soda to six parts cornstarch for about two months now, and I can not believe how easy it is and how well it works! I mix it up and put it in a reused talcum powder bottle. Sprinkle in palm, spread on pit! No odor!

Michelle in Massachusetts
Kristen

where do you buy shea butter?
- Kristin
  
  I bought mine on Amazon. This is what I got:
  http://www.amazon.com/African-Shea-Butter-Cream-100%25/dp/B0009MHJS0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332530316&sr=8-1
  
  You can also get it (and lots of other wonderful things) from mountainroseherbs.com
Kelseycarleen

I am on my second batch of this, and I have to say that it is wonderful! I searched and searched for a homemade deodorant that would work for me – the more common baking soda/cornstarch-based ones are marvelously effective, but they leave me with basically a chemical burn. This is the answer. There was a bit of a learning curve, however, and this is what I’ve decided works best for me since I first made and tried this recipe:

- I don’t pour it into an old deodorant container anymore. I tried this first, but I found I was applying way too much. It stained all my clothes, and it looked like I’d spread mud under my arms. (I used white kaolin clay instead of bentonite, and it made the end product sort of an olive drab color instead of the creamy beige in these pictures.) I’ve since just poured it into a clean glass jar and apply a teeny amount – like half pea-size – under each arm with my fingers. Much better.

- With the last batch, I would start to smell as the day went on. I forget the exact essential oil proportions I used then, but with my second recipe I used between five and seven drops of lavender (hard to be specific because they tend to drip a few time as I stop pouring,) the same amount of rosemary, and about ten drops or so of tea tree oil. This has worked remarkably well!

Thank you so much for this great recipe!
- KarenS
  
  Kelsey – I also got burns/rash from the baking soda/cornstarch deodorants. I used arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch and natural baking soda (both Bob’s Red Mill) and no rash whatsoever. Read Kathy’s post above about the cornstarch and see the link on this site about baking soda. Can’t believe the difference in the cheap baking soda vs the natural type, even in cooking!
Kathy

Love what you are teaching and how down to earth you are in the process! I also want to comment on the value of the ingredients. Anything we put on our skin absorbs into the skin and circulates throughout the blood stream. Even if you apply something on the bottom of your feet, it reaches every tissue, gland and organ within 21 minutes. So if you are applying coconut oil ( I write health articles for a local paper and one article was on all of the anti-viral, anti-biotic and anti-fungal benefits of coconut oil), you are applying something BENEFICIAL to your whole body! Keep that in mind. Same with the clay I do want to give you a caveat on the cornstarch for those of you who are using that as an ingredient. Virtually every processed/boxed product with corn on the label, be it corn starch or corn oil or whatever, contains genetically modified corn. There is much research to support that GM products retain high levels of the pesticide used and that GM products are doing huge damage to our guts. Now granted corn starch applied to the skin does not go through the digestive system, but as I said above, anything applied to the skin circulates throughout the body. I would bet there are NON GMO corn starches available and just want to make sure that if you are going through the process of creating healthy deodorants and other home made products, that indeed you know those ingredients are indeed health promoting. Hope this helps!
- KarenS
  
  Thanks for sharing this about the cornstarch. I’ve had to substitute arrowroot powder for the cornstarch because I get a nasty rash from it. Wonder if it’s because it’s a GM product? The arrowroot powder works great – I get Bob’s Red Mill brand. I even use it for body powder (1 part clay, 8 parts arrowroot, few drops of essential oil). I could not use the baking soda until I discovered “natural” baking soda like Bob’s Red Mill. Where the ingredients come from makes a huge difference.
  - Lorinda
    
    You get a rash from the cornstarch as it is a yeast feeding starch!any warm moist area on the body ( especially the female body) is susceptable. arrowroot does not feed yeast. And is not GMO’d. yay!!!
  - thephrog
    
    Just wanted to point out, as I’m allergic to corn and have to know where it hides, that by using bobs red mill, you’re still getting corn. That company is KNOWN in the corn allergic community for being cross contaminated and to be avoided at all costs. They’re not careful with their products, and everything is contaminated with everything else…just FYI.
    Also, corn is evil, and it’s everywhere. Everywhere. That’s all I want to say. Thank you.
  - thephrog
    
    Just wanted to point out, as I’m allergic to corn and have to know where it hides, that by using bobs red mill, you’re still getting corn. That company is KNOWN in the corn allergic community for being cross contaminated and to be avoided at all costs. They’re not careful with their products, and everything is contaminated with everything else…just FYI.
    Also, corn is evil, and it’s everywhere. Everywhere. That’s all I want to say. Thank you.
KarenS

Love all the info on your site. I’m allergic to all commercial deodorants, even the natural ones. Had been unsuccessful with making my own since I’m allergic to cornstarch and the baking soda also gave me a horrible rash. Made some deodorant using arrowroot vs cornstarch and it didn’t give me a rash, but only stopped odor for about 4 hours. Read about the difference between “natural” baking soda and common ones like Arm & Hammer. Got some Bob’s Red Mill natural baking soda, made this recipe with the arrowroot and BRM baking soda, and have not had a reaction to it!!! It is the best deodorant. Goes on smooth and dry – it’s not sticky or greasy. And with the BRM baking soda, it stops odor for 10-12 hours or longer. Thanks for the great info on the baking soda (The Great baking Soda Anti-Hoax)!!! I’ll never buy the cheap stuff again. It may not be an aluminum issue, but I’m convinced there is a major difference between natural baking soda and the cheap stuff.
idwhite

Okay I am glad there is an updated recipe for this. The other one left me feeling menopausal…aka murderous… due to the pain of a serious rash. I will make it this week when I get the chance but I am glad there is no baking soda or cornstarch.
http://www.myofficeisthekitchen.blogspot.com/ Wendy

I use a deodorant made from coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and tea tree oil. Works great.
Tracy Curato

Do you have any problems shaving in the shower and then putting this deodorant on after the shower?
- De
  
  I use a mix of shea butter, baking soda, corn starch,olive oil and tea tree oil. after reading about the baking soda rashes/burns I added more cornstarch to my mix ( ex. for 3T of Shea I added 6T of cornstarch) I haven’t noticed any stains on my clothes and YES! yesterday I was able to apply immediately after shaving with no problems ( I was pretty excited!!!!) going on my second month of using -I store it in a jar on my dresser.
Kris

I love this post! My boyfriend and I have been using the coconut oil/corn starch/baking soda deodorant for about 6weeks now, and while he LOVES it, it has been damaging my poor sensitive little pits with chemical like burns. Yowch! I’ve been looking for a good substitute for a few days now. I also find that towards the very end of the day I do start to get a little bit stinky and I dislike that. I think your version with the essential oils etc will really, really help with this (not to mention the burned pits). I’m super excited to round up all the ingredients and give it a go!

Thanks!!
annette

I have really been having a hard time with homemade deodorant! I first tried 1/4 c BS 1/4 c CS and Coconut oil with lavender and tea tree oil…worked great loved it but it was turning my arm pits brown!!! I stopped using it and the brown went away…I tired this recipe but I didn’t have any clay so I used CS and it does NOT work at all! lol not so fresh! I did put 1 tea spoon of BS in it. It is also turning my pits brown as well! I dont know why this is happening any one have any suggestions?
Renee

Some bentonite and other clays contain aluminum so I would recommend using baking soda instead.
Glendaestrada

where can i get bee wax and clay?
Beccakatzen

I was wondering Crunchy Betty if you still use this deo or if you are using the baking soda one? I used the baking soda one at first and LOVED it! If I had a little bit of BO and put it on it was GONE! But after a few weeks I developed a rash that I’m blaming on the baking soda (but might have been the cornstarch). I then made this formula that you have here with the bentonite clay and using arrowroot but by the end of the day (everyday) I have BO. So I’m thinking about combining the two recipes…Maybe just adding half the amount of baking soda. Just wondering what your experiences have been and which one you are currently using. Honestly the best deo I’ve come across is the salt crystal…but it takes a little more effort to put it on, and then there’s no lovely scent :/ Thanks!
Duun

Hello,
I used a homemade baking-soda-cornstarch deodorant for a while, but actually forgot to add cornstarch to the recipe and it has burnt my pits.. now I’m trying to recover with only a few drops of tea-tree aplied. It works too. Planning to return to the full version (with cornstarch added) of the deo soon.

I guess as a next step I will try your recipe as baking soda doesn’t feel nice on my skin – thanks a lot for the inspiration!

As regards the container – my deodorant is filled in a big stick glue container – it rolls out and in nicely and the tube has a cap ;)

Duun
Adriana

Ok well, using kitty litter for your clay might not work becuase cosmetic clay has a much finer consistency. Maybe you could use a food processor? LOL, I have no idea. Seemed like a good idea at the time. :)
Heather

I don’t use deodorant and haven’t for a very long time (no one has complained yet) but if I did I’d certainly give this one a try.
Robin

Why does your shea butter look like that?
Heather

Have you ever tried adding honey to your recipe? This is what I was initially searching for when I stumbled upon your recipe. It sounds great though. Do you think honey would help with it’s anti bacterial properties? Plus I love the way it smells!
Gertrude

I’ve been doing the coconut oil/arrowroot powder/baking soda/choice of EO’s for a few months now. Without the beeswax, I just dip my finger in and get a fingertip worth, rub it between both hand’s finger tips and spread on each armpit, and voila! good to go! After going without for a few years, i found it difficult combining being an omnivore with exercise, and found I needed to eat more raw foods and give myself a little bit of help. So I was inspired by your recipe and those in the comments…. I’m so glad I tried it! Thanks!
Kj

Please help! I need to know if you can use refined coconut oil and if you can use red clay powder instead
flyphish

How about taping some wax paper to the inside of the toilet paper roll?
http://www.facebook.com/bella.rivolta Cheryl Lee Altizer

I can’t remember which article drew me in, but now I am a Crunchy Betty fiend! I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease a year ago and I’ve been wanting to simplify my beauty routine as well as get healthier inside and out. Thank you for your site…it makes the whole process seem fun and totally doable! :)
Ann Mancini-Williams

I can’t wait to try this recipe (just waiting for the ingredients to arrive!!)
I have a question. I could not find deodorant stick containers for under $2, so I thought I would go to the $1 store & buy some of them BUT, the ones I bought, the inside piece that holds the deodorant & pushes it up is not a solid piece-it looks like a grate with holes in it. So, I was wondering how to fill the container with out it leaking through those holes or if you know of a brand of deodorant that I can empty where the bottom piece is solid?
Thank you very much!!!
http://www.facebook.com/okapigirl Tamara Joslin

I DID it! I have finished my first batch of no-secret deoderant and have actually been COMPLIMENTED on how great I smell! It has been a little odd at first. Awkward to smear my smear on at the gym. But I do love it! It is August and generally over 100 and I work out.
At the bottom of the jar, I find I have more mud than shea butter, so I’ll be stirring during the firming process this time.
I keep mine in a Palmer’s Cocoa butter jar. They even make a tiny one I take to the gym.
I love my deoderant now and am so happy it is one more natural item I can do myself! So proud of myself!
Erin

I am so excited to try making this tonight. One question though, where do you get beeswax? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in a store…
mcmaestas

Can I put the mixture in a jar instead of a deodorant container?
Nicole

Thank you so much for this info! I’m so excited to make the switch!
http://www.facebook.com/inkdigger Jennifer Albert

ok, i tried this and it came out grey (i don’t wear white often so that’s ok) but it was also REALLY soft, like lotion soft, but sticky. i remeledted it and added some baking soda and more beeswax. i hope it works!
Eri Potts

I like your recipe except the shea butter part, could I sub it for something else? If not I’m hoping you could point me in the right direction. I am trying to find a deodorant recipe that I found online and forgot to bookmark. I can’t use shea butter, or baking soda, this recipe had neither, it did contain bees wax. Thanks.
kbrownnc

I’m wondering…could I add the clay to any deo recipe? I do a simple one of coconut oil, arrowroot powder, baking soda & essential oils. I was also going to add probiotics to it after reading a blog or two about adding it in deo (depending on the probiotic brand will depend on if you have to keep it in the fridge). I guess I’ll try it and see. I do like that my deo has just a few ingredients, but I can always go back to the original if it’s an epic fail!
Martha_Yarrow

I was so excited to FINALLY try making this deodorant tonight, after having stockpiled my ingredients for months. I had just finished my store bought stuff and put the container in some very hot water to loosen all the guck. A couple of hours later I returned to the sink to find that my mother-in-law had thrown away a part of it. Alas. There we were, going through the trash and the recycling (she couldn’t remember which can), all to no avail. I didn’t tell her why I wanted the thing, as she already thinks I’m a bit of a nut job for using cloth napkins and cloth diapers. She was giving me some suspicious looks. Tomorrow, when she is safely back on the plane, I am so dumping those cans and getting my doohickey back! Wish me luck!
Shannon

Thanks for the recipe! I didn’t have any beeswax sitting around so I made it without, and added an extra teaspoon of shea butter for good measure. It’s too soft for a deodorant tube so I put it in a tupperware container and it’s easy to apply with my fingers. Incidentally, while waiting for the coconut oil to melt I read the back of the bentonite jar, which mentioned something about facials, so I figured what the heck…once everything was set I smeared a little bit of the finished product on my face about 10 minutes before showering, rinsed with warm water (no cleanser), and my face was soft and smooth! I never thought I’d be putting deodorant on my face, but it really helped my dry skin. :)
http://www.facebook.com/RebeccaHorstCampbell Rebecca Horst Campbell

i became allergic to some deoderants at the same time my odor intensified, because of hormonal changes due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. even baking soda gave me a rash. i use a smear of plain milk of magnesia on each armpit. start with a clean and non-smelling armpit of course, after a shower. rub some on, not too thick, hit it with the blow dryer on cool setting to speed up drying. it works wonderfully. i can go up to three days with no odor. i shouldn’t admit that, but sometimes i just don’t get to take a shower with the new baby and a toddler.
http://www.facebook.com/sheila.opp.schulz Sheila Opp Schulz

I just recently discovered that my store-bought deodorant, which is hard to find without antiperspirant, and which I thought was relatively safe, contains Triclosan. I was mortified! I knew that it causes superbugs, especially when it’s used in handsoap, but I recently read that it also causes muscle weakness. I found your article when I searched for homemade deodorant. Great article, btw! I also love your name – Crunchy. I’ll be scouting out more of your website. Cheers!
http://twitter.com/heathenmom78 Amber

Where do you find all the ingredients? I have no clue where to find clay or beeswax, coconut oil or shea butter. Is the shea butter just the lotion? I know this is natural and will save money in the long run, but how much do you need to invest to start? I made a lot of my own things already, but these are ingredients that are brand new to me!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1086240067 Amanda Bachand

You can use magnesium carbonate as a natural, safe substitute for talc. In fact, anyone having issues with corn starch, baking soda, or arrowroot can probably substitute magnesium carbonate in this recipe.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1086240067 Amanda Bachand

Has anyone thought of or tried using unsweetened dessicated coconut and powdered coconut milk instead of coconut oil? I’m theorizing that they might have the same anti-bacterial properties as coconut oil without staining the clothing, and the powdered coconut milk with magnesium carbonate will have the bulking and absorbing properties as the baking soda, but minus the irritation. Thus, less melting issues, less skin irritation issues, less clothes staining issues. LUSH sells a coconut deodorant powder that inspired that theory, but I figured if you’re looking for a solid the powdered coconut and magnesium carbonate would go well with the beeswax and shea butter. Just a thought if anyone wants to give it a go.
KPP

Made the no secret deodorant but came out brown. I used redmond clay but not sure what the problem is or is it just that way? essential oils used were ylang ylang, lavender, lemon, and tee tree oil. Works great but wonder what went wrong to turn it that color? HELP!
Jodi

I use crystal deodorant you know, the big block of salt you have to wet to put on? I have used it to avoid aluminum. I have noticed it contains ammonium alum and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is harmful or if I should just suck it up and make my own? it is not an antiperspirant by any means, but it does stop me from smelling.
Lauren

Can I use candelilla wax instead of beeswax to make this vegan?
http://www.facebook.com/Theraphosidguy Michael Riviere

I love this recipe, however, I have been substituting arrow root powder for clay since both bentonite and kaolin clay both contain Aluminum. Bentonite clay is a aluminium Phyllosilicate, and kaolin is a aluminum silicate mineral. With the substitution of starch for clay I have had great success with this recipe :)
Crystal

I’ve tried a new DIY deodorant too (similar but not the same as your recipe) and am now starting to get a rash (been about a week or two)… I hear a lot of people online talking about this. I wonder if it’s just our bodies reacting to the lack of chemicals and trying to get them out of our systems now that we’ve given it a break?
Acqua

How about covering the inside of the toilet paper roll with oven wax paper?
http://www.facebook.com/laurie.teason Laurie Teason

I wonder if dipping the toilet paper tube in beeswax a few times if that would have worked out. That was a great idea!