DIY: DEODORANT

Photos by Morgan Brinlee

Summer is here or on its way for most of us. With the rising temperature comes...you guessed it, sweating. I'm not going to sugar coat it for you: summer in Istanbul can be amazing but also quite smelly. Deodorant isn't as widely used here as the States. I actually have no beef with that. For me, sweating is natural. However, for the sake of my fellow beings, and my own comfort, I wear deodorant -- as long as it isn't filled with ingredients that do me, or anyone else for that matter, no good. To be safe, I normally make my own deodorant, and this has become more and more of a necessity in Istanbul since all of my favorite natural deodorant brands don't exist here. For those curious, my favorite brands are this and this.

Now, on to the recipe! This deodorant contains moisturizing butters and oils that keep your skin super soft. The baking soda acts as a natural antimicrobial (no germs!) and the lemongrass essential oil adds a nice scent while also protecting against bacteria and unwanted smells.

What you'll need:

1 cup blend of cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil (I used around 1/4 cup each)

1 tsp vitamin E oil

2 - 3 tablespoons of baking soda (make sure it's aluminum free)

10 - 15 drops of essential oil (I used lemongrass with a bit of lemon and orange)

An old deodorant container or a muffin tin*

How to make it:

In a large pot, boil around an inch of water, then place a smaller pot on top to create a double boiler. Add the butter and oil mixture to the smaller pot. Remember, when working with raw ingredients, we don't want to melt over a direct flame. This will destroy the beneficial properties we are trying to maintain. Once the mixture melts, immediately take it off of the heat. Let rest for one minute or so. Slowly stir in the vitamin E oil, baking soda and essential oil until a thicker, but still pourable, liquid forms. Immediately pour into an old deodorant container or muffin tin. Place in the refrigerator to set for about an hour then enjoy!

*Note, if you use a muffin tin to make this deodorant, it will be like a portable soap that you can rub on with your hands.

#allnatural #diy #diybeauty #diydeodorant #deodorant #naturaldeodorant #zerowaste #zerowastehome #essentialoils #sheabutter #cocoabutter #coconutoil #beeswax #greenbeauty #organic #naturalbeauty #organicbeauty #summerbeauty #summer