Homemade Deodorant: Just Use Baking Soda!
While I was busy collecting my plastic waste last week, I was also running another experiment: testing if baking soda works as a deodorant.The Hypothesis
Baking soda deodorant will leave your armpits smelling fresh and clean.
The Methodology
From Monday through Sunday last week, I replaced my usual deodorant with baking soda. To apply, I pressed an old powder brush for makeup, which I'm basically giving up, into a bowl of baking soda and dabbed it onto my damp skin directly after I exited the shower. Over the course of the week, I figured out how much baking soda to put on the brush based on how much would actually stay on my skin.
The Data
- Six out of the seven days, I was pretty much smell free. No strong odors were noticable at all, even though I biked 10 miles round trip to work on three of these days. Note that I could detect a very, very slight odor of sweat by the time I went to sleep, but it was so hard to notice that it's almost not worth mentioning.
- On one of the seven days, I could smell some odor under my arms. That particular day happened to be incredibly stressful at the office.
- I've heard that some people experience skin irratation from the texture of baking soda, but I did not experience this.
Baking soda is indeed an effective underarm deodorant. By the end of each day, I could only detect the slightest odor, which I would guess is usually there but is difficult to recognize because of the strong fragrance of most deodorants.
Even on days when I biked long distances, I also noticed little or no odor. On the other hand, when I was under stress, the soda wasn't quite up to the task.
The Conclusion
Baking soda deodorant is great! It's prevents odors and is inexpensive and easy to use. Just use caution if you anticipate high stress situations.
Further Exploration
Since I've never been someone with horribly smelly armpits, my very informal experiment doesn't prove this will work for everyone. What we need is a larger sample size!
Anyone willing to try this out and leave a comment about how it worked for you? Any men interested in trying it out?
Update: It's a year and a half after I wrote this post and I'm still using baking soda as a deodorant. Please note that I now mix baking soda and cornstarch in a one to one ratio, which neutralizes the abrasive effect of the baking soda and makes it quite skin-friendly.
Art courtesy of Sweet Babboo.
Comments
I ask because I've noticed (from anecdotes, conversations and personal observation) that people's b.o. output varies hugely from person to person and also across stages of life.
Soooo...in response to your comment, I slightly altered the Further Exploration section of my post :)
Thanks for your comment!
I began using baking soda a few weeks back and have had no problems. I am thinking of adding lavender oil to baking soda to just smell a bit lavendery.
Much like quitting Ambien and chucking my refrigerator, blowing off deodorant is one of those things that sounds great in theory, but the potential outcomes scare me.
My mother doesn't use any deodorant and doesn't smell. That kills me. I sweat like a man.
Actually, what I have found is that it's my clothing that smells, not me. I can get all sweaty and stinky, but as soon as I dry off I don't smell anymore. If I change my t-shirt, I'm totally fine. My clothes hold onto the odour.
~ Molly in NH
I do, however, have sensitive skin, and repeated use of baking soda can cause irritation to the point of skin shedding.
What I am going to try is mixing the baking soda with an oil of some sort, maybe jojoba or coconut, and a couple drops of essential oil. I did discover a nice coconut deodorant ( http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/deodorant.htm )but who wants to spend that much and buy into more packaging...
I must say, baking soda is one of the most useful household products and the start to a cleaner life, in many ways.
Keep up the green work!
I wanted to let those who use the deodorant crystals know that they're made of alum, so they're not an aluminum-free alternative...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alum
Change of subject, sorry, but i was just given a gift of an aluminum bottle as a replacement for polycarbonate...
hmmm not sure I want to soak my water in Al OR bisphenol... I will stick to old juice bottles (glass)!
What do you think of that? do you have a metal bottle?
;-)
I used the strongest men's deodorant for years, used prescription deodorant for a while then became very concerned regarding potential health issues so I switched to natural deodorants (stone, stick...) nothing worked.
This past week I decided to try baking soda only. It is amazing. I have had no odor. My clothing has had no odor. It has been in the 90's here and even the increased heat has not been a problem. I have not been in a public high stress situation, nor worn any of my dressier clothing that tends to create greater odor issues, so can't verify all situations, yet.
I have found irritation from the baking soda so thought I'd try a little cornstarch with it as a buffer. I've also considered wiping my underarms with alcohol or witchhazel first then putting the baking soda on. But for now the baking soda alone is incredible.
I am going to have my 17 yo son try the baking soda only for a week. He and my oldest daughter have the same sweat/odor problems. Perhaps we have found the answer. We are all tired of our clothing smelling and becoming discolored as well.
I wish I would have tried this sooner!!!!! I apply the baking soda in the morning and have not reapplied and I go to bed with a clean smell. Yeah!
I used to use ordinary deodorants/anti-perspirants, which worked to a point, although I hated how they built-up on my clothes (even the "clear" ones). Then of course I heard about the health concerns, so I tried lots of different natural deodorants, including the rock, which sometimes worked for a while, but usually didn't. I am so glad I never have to waste money on any of that junk ever again!
reading all of these comments (& blog) got me so (stinkin') excited to try baking soda!!
I've tried a bunch of natural alternatives to alum, and they never work- always have to resort to my aluminum anti-persp at about mid day when i realize that the natural stuff i've tried is a joke.
anyway, thanks for posting this- it was extremely helpful to read.
spencer
san diego
Does anyone know about this?
To those of you saying you sweat too much - stop using anti perspirant and your body goes crazy for a while. You will sweat like mad. Then it seems to find its own rhythm. I now sweat what I would call a normal amount but I do smell really bad unless I can use something.
Baking soda so far is the best performer out of everything I've tried. I tried some scented deodorant bars from lush.co.uk which are based on baking soda and they did work, but not as well as plain baking soda. The key for me is that without any fragrance at all, it's easier for me to tell if I need a top up.
Sweat doesn't cause the smell. Bacteria does, so keep clean, stick at it for a month and you'll notice that you sweat less and less.
i have a few friends who stopped using deodorant all together... who are surprisingly non-hippy...
they said at first it was hard, but after the detox period, there's no smell.
and i can attest these friends aren't smelly girls. or maybe i've never been to close to them.
It's still a beta-version, but once it will be finished it's gonna be a great source to find healthy and environmentally responsible products.
Happy armpit.
Over a year ago, I started eating a vegan diet. Something I noticed is that I stopped having the breakthrough B.O. After a while, I noticed that even when I forgot to use deoderant I didn't stink. Now, I rarely use it at all. I simply don't need it.
Someone else mentioned dairy products (said organic is better). I don't know if it's my diet or what. But there's a good chance that there's a connection. I really don't eat much refined sugar, refined flour, or packaged foods.
To be honest, I'm pretty lazy about shaving too, so it might have something to do with that as well.
So do you say it is enough to apply just baking soda to your armpits and that's it? But baking soda is a powder ... How does it stay in your armpits?
Most of people commenting here were talking about bad odour - that baking soda helped them to get rid of it. But I have another trouble... I sweat like hell. Does baking soda help sweating less? Or do you know about anything that can will make me sweat less?
Thanks for any advice
Kristina
So do you say it is enough to apply just baking soda to your armpits and that's it? But baking soda is a powder ... How does it stay in your armpits?
Most of people commenting here were talking about bad odour - that baking soda helped them to get rid of it. But I have another trouble... I sweat like hell. Does baking soda help sweating less? Or do you know about anything that can will make me sweat less?
Thanks for any advice,
Kristina
Kristina, here's my mix:
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp aloe vera gel
3 drops peppermint oil
So far so good. And it dried real fast. I think the mix should last me a week. My only question is--should I refrigerate the mix?
http://tinyurl.com/c2hx5m
The organism stinks when growing on a Petri plate. One of its biochemical reactions is that it uses urea. The breakdown of urea produces ammonia (same reaction you get with an old wet diaper sitting around for hours). I would think that the cleaner you can make your underarms, and the cleaner your clothes next to your underarms, the less you will smell. I don't think you have to become absolutely fanatic about it, but in the summer months you'll probably want to change your T-shirts more often, especially if you've worked out.
Some people have the condition that is called hyperhydrosis, which is excessive sweating all over the body. I wouldn't begin to know if baking soda would work on something like that. Hormones and pheromones make a difference also. People who don't shave are going to have hair under there that will catch more sweat, dead skin, etc. that have the propensity for odor than people who shave.
I personally have not made the move to get rid of plastic in my life yet - just started reading this stuff - but I thought I'd throw in my comments from a microbiology standpoint.
I guess I'll try each one - I bet the baking soda alone will hurt for me (red head, fibro, sensitive skin, etc.)
Which oil to use? Or put on dry? Or mix with corn starch (what IS that stuff anyway?) or baby powder?
Oy ... decisions decisions.
My issue with it is that I'm getting razor burn now and I never used to get this. Why is this? What can I do to get rid of it? How do I combat this? Has this happened to you?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/25473/how_to_make_a_homemade_deodorant_.html?cat=5
Here is a video of me making the recipe
Lane
www.LaneVids.com
Otherwise, I would just like to thank everyone - the Life Less Plastic blog goddess, and all of the awesome commenters - for the many options I have to chew on for cutting down on plastic use in our own home. You're all exceptional people!
Here's another tip I can give you guys, particularly with those whose clothing are already infected with it. WASH YOUR CLOTHES VERY WELL PARTICULARLY IN THE UNDERARM AREA. Spray or soak the underarm area first with white vinegar to neutralize the odor. Brush the area for some strokes. Then toss it in the washer. Dry the item immediately.
THANK GOD, HE INVENTED BAKING SODA.
I love the feel and smell of this as I dab it on my underarms!
I am odor free, irritation free and happy to be off commercial deodorants. Only on days when I wear clothing that is not cotton do I notice an odor. Of course, summertime is months away....we shall see how this works in the heat of the summer.
My clothes now have zero smell at the end of the day, my pits also--only the nice scent of lavender w/ tea tree. Last week I wasn't feeling well, did not shower for 3 (eek) days. Asked hubby to smell me. He thinks I'm nuts, but could not smell a thing.
Baking soda is the BOMB.
i was just googling home made deodorants,because i kinda ran out :/ lol, and i cant get to the store. my b.o isnt that bad, its pretty average, and i think im gonna try it :D and this kind im sure cant crumble into piece like stick deodorant (:
im 15 so i hope my crrazzyy hormones dont ruin it hahahha
One hint for your baking soda/cornstarch combo: I have used this exclusively. I found that breaking some bay leaves in the mix itself (the brush won't pick up leaves) imparts a great bay scent. Also, I once tossed in a mint tea bag (whole) and it left a really great scent too. I have added a couple drops of tea tree as well, but it's not necessary. You may want to try the bay leaf--remarkable scent!
Thank you!
Some have helped a little, nothing has been the silver bullet.
The baking soda is the first to seemingly neutralize the smell. I am only on day 2 of my soda experiment, but so far so good. I'll go workout later and see how it holds up. Fingers crossed!
Some have helped a little, nothing has been the silver bullet.
The baking soda is the first to seemingly neutralize/prevent the evil acid pits. I am only on day 2 of my soda experiment, but so far so good. I'll go workout later and see how it holds up. Fingers crossed!
I even use baking soda for toothbrushing, and other purposes. I try to use no soap for my shower/morning... except on rare occasions, and after using the toilet or before cooking. Yes, I look and smell good!
I've been using a crystal for *YEARS* now and will never go back to using chemical crap from stores again. I am a hefty guy, and the fact that a crystal works for my BO is a testament that it works. Again, it has been years now.
My crystal has been on the way out, getting very small now. Before buying a new one I decided to google what other options there are. Baking soda strikes again!!! God, what the heaven would we do if it weren't for baking soda???
So I grabbed my bottle from the shower that contains baking soda saturated dissolved water, which I use to shampoo & wash my body with (note that I follow B.soda with a vinegar wash) and splashed some of the slippery baking soda water into my armpits and massaged in with my fingers for a couple of seconds to ensure good coverage.
Would you believe that I can go multiple days with just this???
Bottom line is that I'm finally giving up the crystal despite it's good service for years. Baking soda is now my new under arm friend.
As a parting thought... I am astounded that baking soda is virtually forgotten about today. Seems that people have absolutely no idea what a good and useful thing it is. Too bad. Perhaps due to our affluenza inflicted minds we think that only complicated chemical-rich and expensive store bought products could be any good. Who would think that something so frugal and simple could actually be superior!!!
I've been on the hunt for a deodorant for a year now. Tried everything on the shelf. Everything irritates my skin(red,itchy,swollen). In the past 5 months Ive tried only deodorants from Health food stores which have left me frustrated because they cost so much and with in days i can tell they either don't work or cause skin problems.
Ive tried the Baking Soda/Cornstarch combo for 3 days now. I am amazed. Usually after a long days work(i am a nurse Aide)with regular deodorant i have a small ordor. First day..NO ODOR!! I was amazed. So i put it to a bigger test..Volleyball after work:)..No Odor again. 3rd test..1hr sweaty workout..No Odor. I am amazed!!! and so happy. thanks so much. Im going to make my husband test it for a bit to see if i can make a believer out of him too:)
Vinegar contains acetic acid which kills odor causing bacteria.
After you finish bathing apply the baking soda corn starch mix in order to stay fresh.
So I went to bed. Didn't put any deodorant on as instructed on the site I've been on. I always had a stinky pits, sadly, most especially my left armpit, even after I showered and applied deodorant...still stink! Neways, that's why I tried the baking soda whitening procedure at night, so that I won't have to worry about stinkin up...
Interestingly enough, when I woke up in the morning and out of habit sniffed my pits... There was hardly any smell... I couldn't believe my nose!!! I went through my day at home without applying any deodorant and I still didn't stink as much as when I was using commercial deodorant...
This evening, after shower, I tried it again..put it on for a minute then rinsed it off... I went out, felt a sweat in my pits and got kinda anxious about it. when I got home i smelled it.. NO STINK!... got a tissue to wipe off my pits hoping to smell that familiar stink...but NOPE! WASN'T THERE! I am still in disbelief! this is only my second time!
I'm gonna keep on trying it until it sinks in my head that THE STINK IS GONE!
I have tried other "natural" stuff, Tom of Maines, Avalon Organics, Crystal, but none worked well for me.
I found a recipe for baking soda/corn starch and decided to try it. It works! I have been using it for 2 weeks and I love it. No more sweaty/deodoranty smell or stains on my shirts!!
My recipe:
1 part baking soda to 2 parts corn starch. I mixed it in a glass jar, added 3 drops of tea tree oil and shook well. I use an old blush brush to put it on. If I know I might be sweating more than usual, I put it on over slightly damp skin with my finger tips and rub in well. Then apply the normal dusting.
If I can't shower, I just wash my underarm and reapply with no smell issues. Could never do that with Secret solid!
I am sold on it! I have found that if I don't use a good razor to shave, the mixture will slightly irritate me, but only for that day. I have been more careful about shaving and that has solved that problem for the most part!
Looking forward to your answers :)
Thanks!
The possible mixtures that I will give a shot (thanks to you all) are:
1.baking soda and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and perhaps sage, lavender, bay leaves, or vanilla for fragrance (I don't know what would smell good mixed with apple cider vinegar. Any advice? :D);
2.baking soda and coconut oil; 3.baking soda and water in a spray bottle;
and 4. baking soda and corn starch.
Dumb question alert:
Would mixing #4 with water in a spray bottle cancel out the sweat absorbing power of the corn starch? *Runs and hides*
I have actually been using baking soda as a deoderant for about 3 months, and am currently having irritation; which is how I came across your posting. I will try the cornstarch tip and hopefully it will help, because I love baking soda in place of the traditional deoderant which never really seemed to work efficiently for me, and always left my underarm skin tacky. Thanks for the tip!
However, I've been using Apple Cider Vinegar for over 6 months and it's worked really well for me. I use a spray bottle to apply it but you can also use a cotton ball/pad. The vinegar smell disappears once it dries! You can also rub a slice of lemon under your pits and it works just as well!
Will surely try this later.. =)
I wonder how safe baking soda is? I have never felt comfortable using deodorant because it delivers toxins directly to the lymph nodes. I was ignorant to the fact that baking soda is very effective as a deodorant and so I used all kinds of toxic deodorants my entire life. Many of the "natural" deodorants are toxic.
Is there a way to find out about the safety of baking soda?