Ready for a DIY recipe which will have you creating, simplifying, saving money AND cleaning up your personal hygiene routine in a few quick steps? Enter the switch to DIY deodorant paste.

This gesture, amongst other things, is an impactful way to reduce our footprint, product consumption and presents a perfect opportunity to be more self reliant in terms of our personal hygiene items and routines. Like a toothbrush, deodorant is a common bathroom staple that definitely contributes a lot of waste throughout our lifetimes. Aside from the environmental impact of personal hygiene products, common deodorants also have health implications too. Typically, store bought deodorants contain a number of chemicals and toxins, which, after using them for extended periods of time, can have a harmful impact on our skin and bodies. This is particularly true for the breast tissue around our underarms, due to the exposure of aluminium, which these deodorants normally carry to prevent perspiration. 

A key solution to minimising our consumption in the bathroom and with more economical decisions in mind as well, is to embrace DIY products where possible. For deodorant, this is a simple to make, extremely affordable, and fun recipe that you can tailor to your specific preferences. The staple ingredients often live in your pantry, and contributes to the notion that anything we put on our bodies should be able to consumed. Like other bodily organs, our skin absorbs everything it touches too!

Our go-to ingredients and method for a homemade, DIY deodorant are:

• 2 parts coconut oil 
• 1 part bi carb soda (optional)
• 1 part corn flour / tapioca flour / arrowroot powder
• 2 parts shea butter
• A few drops of your preferred essential oil(s) – patchouli and rose geranium are a nice combination that also have anti fungal properties.
  

Note: Bi-carb sode normally irritates sensitive skin, as it has a much higher alkalinity than our skin. If this is you, be assured you are not alone. Sesnitivity to bi-carb is very common, and, as such, ensure to do a patch test with a small teaspoon size of the ingreidents mixed with some bi-carb before adding bi-carb to the whole batch.

If you choose to leave out the bi-carb soda if you find you have a sensitivity to it, and add an extra part of the flour instead. 

Action Steps: 

1. Boil a small amount of water in a saucepan on your stove top

2. Measure out the desired amount of coconut oil into a bowl and then place the bowl over the saucepan of boiling water

3. Once the coconut oil is melted, stir in the other ingredients gradually, removing clumps as they form with a spoon

4. Move the bowl and saucepan off the heat and add the desired amount of essential oil at your discretion (a few drops should do) and stir, folding the ingredients over itself

5. Once it has cooled slightly, rub a small amount onto your skin to check that the scent and consistency is right for you. This is where you can test with a little bitch of bi-carb as well before adding that in. Add a little bit more flour if it is too watery, or a bit more coconut oil or shea butter if it is too thick

This part of the process can vary, so make sure to test it out and ensure it rubs into your skin well! It should be a similar consistency to a paste or very thick mosituriser

6. If you are then happy with the texture (keeping in mind it will solidify in cooler climates), carefully pour into small glass jars or containers while the paste is still warm.