My experience after having kids, no pit stick could tame my underarm smell. Thanks hormones. I have tried the cheap and the expensive stuff to no avail! What works now? Read on to learn how to make your own deodorant. All you need is two household ingredients!!!!!
Please note this recipe for natural deodorant and how it works for me is anecdotal. Please reach out to your health care provider when looking to explore other options for controlling body odour aside from the store bought options.
Why do we smell?
Sweat by itself doesn’t usually smell but when this protein-rich liquid mixes with bacteria from your skin…..hello smelly pits. Body odour caused by bacteria breaking down into acids that causes the unpleasant smell. Foods such as spicy foods or veggies like asparagus and brussell sprouts, hormones, hygiene and stress can also influence your smell.
We usually use deodorants or antiperspirants or if we are really brave, we rock that natural aroma we are creating.
Deodorants make the skin more acidic making it more difficult for bacteria to thrive.
Antiperspirants prevents sweat – blocking the sweat pores.
Get science-y about sweat here
The deets on how to make your own deodorant
Very little scientific research has been done on why these household ingredients work. But drum roll please……the two ingredients that have worked for me…….Baking soda and lemon juice!
Healthy skin has a ph level of 4.7.
Baking soda – neutralizes smells / odour absorbing ph level of 9 alkaline -drying affect
- can cause redness, rash, itchiness, scaly skin
Lemon Juice – citric acid kills bacteria odour / ph level between 2-3 / reduces your skin’s ph level /
- may cause skin irritation and hyperpigmentation.
Apply on a patch of skin before applying to pits to see how skin reacts.
REMEMBER: This is what works for me – talk with a health care provider if your body odour is a concern.
Combine 1-2 tbsp of both lemon juice and baking soda stir, apply with a cloth to the arm pits and then store in fridge for next day.
In conjunction with helping control body odour, wash daily with warm water and dress in natural fibres – think cotton.
What works for you?
