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Last Updated: Feb 16, 2023
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Homemade Deodorants

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Dr. V. K ViswambharanAyurvedic Doctor • 24 Years Exp.BAMS
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Most commercial deodorants and antiperspirants available today are designed to simply mask body odor and sweat, but they often contain harmful chemicals and fragrances that can cause skin irritation, dryness, or even make you sweat more. They can also disrupt the natural pH balance of your underarm skin and make it a breeding ground for bacteria.

Fortunately, there are natural alternatives available that are just as effective at keeping you smelling fresh all day. Go through each word of the following information thoroughly and very carefully, as it can help you know the great benefits of natural deodorants and also teach you to make your own favorite fragrances or deodorants at home.

How Are Deodorants Different from Antiperspirants?

There are a few key differences between deodorants and antiperspirants. Deodorants are focused on masking or eliminating body odor, while antiperspirants are designed to reduce sweating. Deodorants typically contain antimicrobial agents or ethanol, which are essentially meant to kill bacteria, while antiperspirants contain aluminum-based salts that are helpful in plugging up sweat glands.

Traditional deodorants work by masking odors with pleasant scents or by using antimicrobial agents to kill the bacteria that cause body odor in the first place. An antiperspirant, as the name suggests, works to reduce or eliminate sweating by plugging up the sweat glands with aluminum-based salts.

Most deodorants available on the market today are actually a combination of both deodorant and antiperspirant, designed to get rid of both odor and sweat.

What Are Natural (or Homemade) Deodorants?

Natural deodorants are a healthier alternative to synthetic and artificial deodorants because they do not contain any harmful ingredients, such as aluminum. Instead, natural deodorants contain the following key components:

  • Essential oils such as sandalwood, bergamot, or lavender (for a pleasant scent)
  • Ingredients with great antibacterial or disinfectant properties that include coconut oil and tea tree oil
  • Natural absorbents, including arrowroot, baking soda, and cornstarch (to help combat moisture)

It must also be noted that because natural deodorants do not contain any aluminum, they won't plug sweat glands like most of the usual antiperspirants.

What Should You Expect from a Natural Deodorant?

When making the switch to a natural deodorant from a traditional one, it becomes important for you to manage your expectations. First of all, you should never expect the same results that you used to get from your commercial deodorant.

Apart from that, you must be aware of and understand the fact that it may take a few days or weeks for your body to adjust to the new natural product. You can use an armpit detox in the meantime with the aim of potentially speeding up the process.

However, you must keep in mind this fact: natural deodorants are not meant to halt sweat. Instead, they can be helpful in minimizing the odor stemming from sweat.

Furthermore, you may not want to eliminate your own personal scent signature anyway. Most people think that body odor is a bad and repulsive thing, but it is not always the same. As a matter of fact, your nose also plays a role in who you choose to partner up with.

Just think about it: When you meet anyone for the first time, you usually make a split-second decision about whether or not you like them. In fact, your decision has a lot to do with the way they smell. So, if you are eliminating your own personal scent signature with the use of artificial deodorants, you might be missing out on meeting someone perfect for you!

How Can You Make Your Own Natural Deodorant at Home?

Looking for an all-natural deodorant recipe that's both easy and effective? Try this one:

Ingredients

  • One-fourth cup of arrowroot starch 
  • One-fourth cup of baking soda
  • One-third cup of coconut oil
  • Six to ten drops of any of the above-mentioned essential oils (optional)

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix together baking soda and arrowroot
  • Add in the coconut oil and mash until blended (if desired, add in essential oils)
  • Pour the mixture into an empty glass jar
  • To use, just warm (or rub) a small amount of this mixture between your fingers
  • Apply the mixture to your armpits when it turns into a liquid

Conclusion

We hope that you enjoyed this interesting and informative article about artificial deodorant alternatives. It is important to take your health into consideration, especially for something like a deodorant that you use on a regular basis without fail.

We suggest that you try the replacement option we listed in this comprehensive piece of information so you can figure out if it really works for you and your body type or not.

Furthermore, feel absolutely free to contact us anytime if you have any questions about the information in this article or if you want to share your own experiences with some natural deodorants. We always look forward to hearing from you!

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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