The Purists Deodorant Challenge


Imagine if it were possible to create a functional, effective deodorant that consisted entirely of botanicals. Imagine if it were pleasantly scented due to the inherent natural fragrance of the ingredients. It would be easy to apply, didn't stain clothing, wouldn't sting the skin (even after shaving), and basically fulfilled every green purists vision of the ultimate all natural deodorant.

And just to kick it up a notch: imagine if it were self-preserving.

Would that not be a pretty awesome thing?

I think so.


Let's Make Awesome!

I do like a good formulating challenge. And as deodorant development seems to be an indisputable part of my formulating life, I decided to give myself a bit of a project for 2018 - just for kicks.

I promise not to bore you with details of every batch, but to check in with progress reports along the way.


So Far

Because this is a quest for the perfect herbal synergy, I'll admit to having made and tested a few batches already – some of which have performed better than others.

It's not just a question of dosage, but also of creating the perfect combination of botanicals.

The batches that have performed best so far have been pretty impressive, but there's still room for improvement. Ultimately, I'd like to achieve 12 hour deodorizing protection. The current leader of the pack offers 8-9 hours of protection.

That's definitely not bad, but I think we can do a bit better.

Stay tuned for updates!


Do Tell

Do you make your own deodorant?  What is your star ingredient?

Comments

SoapsbySly said…
I tried several times years ago other recipes and some of my own with terrible results. I would love to formulate your 8-9 hour recipe and see how it works for me.
I use store bought and hate it - it's the only chemical I put on my body!
I look forward to your follow-up posts.
Thanks so much!
Sly
Exciting challenge! I've been using a deodorant balm with sage and hop extracts + zinc ricinoleate. I was really happy with it but my skin is now itching with tiny pimples, so I'm back to the black board!
LisaLise said…
Hi SoapsbySly - I am considering adding this formula to an upcoming publication.

Hi Bien Dans sa Peau- oooh sorry to hear you haven’t had the best of luck with your deodorant although you might be able to tweak a bit if you’re up for a bit of experimentation.
Unknown said…
Hi there, I've been using my own deodorant with great results for several years now. No itching, blotches or discomfort after shaving. No stains on clothes either. The main active ingredient is potassium alum at a low percentage (the kind you buy in crystal-form and which I then grind down to almost powder). I use tea tree and other essential oils as well as water, lemon juice, and xanthan gum to give it a little thickness in my roll-on bottles. There is no preservative in there. I experimented with and without preservative and without has worked fine - which surprises me that it doesn't need it!

There seems to be some confusion about potassium alum as there are different variations of it, perhaps some are refined or altered in some way. But I make sure I get the crystals that come out of the ground - the kind old gentlemen have been using on their shaving cuts for eons!
LisaLise said…
HI Heather - Thanks for you comment. It sounds like you've found the perfect combination for you! You are correct about potassium alum being a misunderstood ingredient. I've done a few posts about this on the blog.
Unknown said…
Hi Lise, I shall check out your posts on potassium alum. And much as my deodorant ticks 99% of the boxes for me, I would love to find a totally botanical one! So I am watching your progress with great interest!
LisaLise said…
HI Heather - I think you will find there are numerous options when it comes to doing a 100% botanical deodorant, and the challenge is to find the ultimate combination that works for you. I hope to be able to provide a 'short list' of effective and useful combinations - but it could be a while before that information is available. :)
Unknown said…
Hi Lise, I look forward to your 'short list'. It's all so interesting!