Please No Stinky Gardeners

I hate to stink. Really, other than toddler boys and Lacrosse players, who does like to stink? More importantly, I like to be hygenic. Since this little organic journey began, I have been targeting specific areas one by one and slowly but surely converting my habits into more organic, more homemade and generally more green alternative habits. Now that our cleaners have been more or less converted, cosmetics and body care seemed like the next natural step. A few weeks ago a couple of us spent a morning trying out lotion and deodorant recipes. The results? Lotion - great - can't wait to make more (I will share the recipe once I have tweaked it a bit). Deodorant - royal flop. Terrible. Hardened and difficult to apply it would have been worth it if it eliminated the stink and/or kept me feeling dry. None of the above! So... what to do, what to do. Go without deodorant? Nope. Go back to store bought regular deodorant - only for special occasions. Purchase organic deodorant - way too expensive for this hardworking gardener. I had to try some alternatives. And this is what has worked best for me. Better, in fact, than store bought deodorant.

2 step routine:

Step 1: Spritz my shaved arm pits with a mixture of mostly rubbing alcohol and about 10-15 drops of my favorite anti-microbial essential oils. I love peppermint. Leaves a burning sensation for many, but for me it is a quick sting followed by the beautiful smell. Lavender would work - I just hate the smell.

Step 2: In a mason jar I have combined equal parts cornstarch and baking soda with a few drops of any favorite essential oil (this time I use a blend from Rocky Mountain Oils called Baby Skin). I keep an old nursing pad (a powder puff, rag or anything soft would work) in the jar under the lid. For step 2, I dab some powder on my pad and then rub my arm pits. The cornstarch gives an immediate and lasting feeling of dryness. The baking soda and essential oils fight the bacteria that causes the odor.

I have decided that I do not need a stick deodorant/anti-antiperspirant because this quick little process is cheap, organic and extremely effective. I consider this a success and am ready to move on to trying more home made shampoos and conditioners.