Grapefruit Lavender Coconut Deodorant

I sweat a lot.  I have always been this way, since I was young, and my Grandmother would always tell me it was good to sweat. It releases the toxins in the body.  Well, I am the girl that after a run when I am stretching I create a small puddle with the sweat dripping off me. So I definitely always need to wear deodorant.  I don't want to be smelling funky...unless it is a new aromatic perfume I created myself from essential oils (which is a good funky not the bad stinky funky).  I have been using natural ingredient based deodorants for a while now since I try not to put chemicals on my body.  However none of them really worked that well.  I found one that worked pretty well, and it smelled good, but things still got funky sometimes after a long sweaty workout, or just a long walk in the hot sun.

I thought that was the best any deodorant was going to get.  Until I saw this recipe by Mind Body Green for a coconut deodorant.  I was intrigued. I wanted to try it!  I am all for trying things like this once.  It was simple, very few ingredients and easy to make.  When I mixed it together, it seriously smelled like dessert.  Because I chose grapefruit and lavender essential oils to scent it, the aroma reminded me of citrus coconut lavender macaroons.

But the question was...would it work?  I think you know the answer because I am sharing the recipe, but it totally worked!  I went on a long, sweaty run, and I had actually applied it the night before and it kept me odor free!  My arm pits actually smelled good.  I was pretty shocked.  I am never going back to my other deodorant now that I have this stuff, it is wonderful!

Grapefruit Lavender Coconut Deodorant
Recipe adapted from Mind Body Green 

1/4 cup raw coconut oil, warmed to liquid
1/8 cup cornstarch
1/8 cup arrowroot powder
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
1 Tbsp baking soda*

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together, then pour into an empty deodorant container, or a glass jar (I just set it on my counter, remove about 1/4 tsp with my hands and rub it into my armpits when I want to apply) and set in the fridge until solid (if your home is cool enough, you can store it on the counter, which is what I do and it is soft enough to rub in, but if your house is warmer than about 75F, then you should store it in the fridge (and if you are using a jar, you will have to chip out pieces to use).
*Note, some people are sensitive to baking soda on their skin, if this is you, leave it out.