Why Your Deodorant Is Worth Reconsidering (And a Quick Recipe to Replace It)

Toxin Free Recipe Series: Part 1

The average person applies deodorant every single day. Most of us have done it since adolescence without giving much thought to what is actually in it. When you start paying attention to toxic load in other areas of your life, you start to realise deodorant should be one of the first to swap out!

What is actually in conventional deodorant

Most commercial antiperspirants use aluminium-based compounds to physically plug the sweat ducts. Aluminium is a heavy metal. It accumulates in tissue over time and the underarm is a super absorptive area of skin, sitting directly above a network of lymph nodes that run up into the breast tissue and chest.

Beyond aluminium, conventional products typically contain synthetic fragrances, parabens used as preservatives and propylene glycol as a carrier. Synthetic fragrances can carry phthalates and other compounds that interfere with hormone signalling. None of these are things most people would choose to apply to a highly absorptive part of the body if they stopped to read the label carefully.

How natural deodorant works differently

Natural deodorants work on the surface of the skin rather than inside the duct. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment that odour-causing bacteria struggle to survive in. Arrowroot powder and cornstarch absorb moisture without blocking the duct, so the body can still do what it is designed to do. Coconut oil has well-documented antibacterial properties. Tea tree oil is one of the most studied natural antimicrobials available.

Theres no reason you need to spend $12+ on a natural deodorant from the grocer either, because we are going to show you how to make it for just a couple of dollars! One thing to note - If you have used conventional antiperspirants for years, your body might take a couple of weeks to recalibrate. You might notice more sweat initially as the ducts that were being blocked start functioning again. This is normal and it settles, so dont give up! Most people find that after the adjustment period, they sweat less than they expected.

Another thing worth noting, is that sweat itself does not actually smell! The odour comes from bacteria on the skin metabolising compounds in sweat. Blocking the sweat duct entirely like conventional deodorants do is one approach to that problem. But a much better and healthier approach is addressing the environment that lets odour-causing bacteria thrive in the first place.

If your someone who does experience a bit of a wafty B.O., its important to note that what's happening on your skin is often a reflection of what's happening in your gut. An imbalanced gut microbiome changes the byproducts your body produces and excretes, including through sweat and can shift the bacterial environment on your skin towards the strains that cause stronger odour. Parasites and pathogenic bacteria in particular can throw this balance off, leaving the gut working harder to process toxins and that load showing up in less obvious ways, like body odour. This is part of why a deodorant swap and a gut reset so often go hand in hand. 

The recipe

This is SO simple to make, inexpensive and its effective. The ingredients are easy to source from a health food store like source or any bulk food place (or online)

Makes enough to last several months.

·       5 tbsp coconut oil

·       5 tbsp cacao butter

·       3 tbsp baking soda 

·       1/2 cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder

·       12 to 15 drops tea tree oil

Melt the coconut oil and cacao butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and stir through the baking soda and cornstarch until fully combined. Add the tea tree oil and stir again. Pour into a glass jar or an old deodorant container and allow to set at room temperature, or refrigerate to speed up the process.

Apply a small amount with your fingertips. It will be firmer in cooler weather and softer in summer. We find a glass jar kept in the bathroom works well year-round.

The bigger picture

At Zeally, reducing toxic load means looking at both directions: what the body is clearing out and what it is continuing to take in. A parasite cleanse or heavy metal detox protocol works harder when you are not continuously adding new sources of exposure through everyday products.

If you are working through our heavy metal detox protocol, switching your deodorant is one of the simplest changes you can make alongside taking Fulvic Humic Drops. The drops work as a cellular binder, capturing and carrying metals and toxins out through the gut. Reducing external aluminium exposure while actively supporting clearance from the inside is a logical pairing.

More in this series

This is the first in our Toxin Free Recipe Series, which will cover practical, low-cost alternatives to everyday products.

If you make this recipe, share it on Instagram and tag @zeallyherbs. We would love to hear how it goes! x