You can make these natural deodorant recipes at home, these formulas will keep you safe and odor-free. Most people equate perspiration with body odor, but that’s not really accurate. Perspiration itself doesn’t smell bad—it’s when sweat comes into contact with bacteria on your skin that unpleasant odors are created.
Perspiration is secreted by two types of glands: eccrine glands, which have the job of regulating temperature and produce sweat that’s mostly water, and apocrine glands, which are concentrated in the armpits and groin area and respond to emotional stimuli. The apocrine glands are the primary culprits in body odor because they produce perspiration rich in fatty substances that bacteria feed on. Although the exact function of apocrine glands isn’t clear, some researchers believe that they convey information, such as mood and sexual arousal, through the release of pheromones.
Homemade Deodorant Recipes
• Herbal Deodorant Recipe
• Herbal Deodorant Antiperspirant Recipe
• Aromatherapy Deodorant Recipe
• Aromatherapy Deodorant Powder Recipe
• Aromatherapy Foot Spray Recipe
• Cypress-Patchouli Foot Bath Recipe
Commercial Deodorants: Do or Don’t?
Regular bathing washes away sweat and bacteria, but most people
rely on a deodorant or antiperspirant to control body odor.
Deodorants contain antimicrobial compounds and fragrances to mask
odors, while antiperspirants contain aluminum compounds that react
with sweat to plug ducts in the sweat glands, thereby reducing
perspiration.
There are good reasons to avoid most conventional deodorants and
antiperspirants. Some deodorants (and deodorant soaps) contain
chemicals, such as triclosan, a potentially toxic compound
implicated in liver damage and cancer. Many health-conscious
consumers have long shunned antiperspirants because of the possible
connection between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. More recently,
researchers have raised concerns about the potential link between
antiperspirant use and breast cancer. Some researchers believe
that, because aluminum mimics estrogen, it poses a risk to women.
The jury is still out on the health risks of antiperspirants, but
the Food and Drug Administration recently began requiring
antiperspirants to carry a warning label stating that people with
kidney disease should consult their doctors before using the
products.
Because safe alternatives to conventional deodorants and
antiperspirants are available, there’s no reason to use
chemical-laden products. Most people can keep body odor under
control with deodorizing herbs and essential oils. Reducing the
intake of alcohol, caffeine and garlic also can help alleviate body
odor.
See the natural deodorant recipes at the top of this article.
Laurel Vukovic writes and teaches about herbs from her home in
southern Oregon. She is the author of 1001 Natural Remedies (DK,
2003) and Herbal Healing Secrets for Women (Prentice Hall,
2000).