the smelly mom

Ok, let me be honest with you.... I don't wear deodorant. Frankly, I've never liked the concept of deodorant, and I seriously gag at the smell of it. Over the last few years I've been on the search for a natural deodorant, but never actually found one that worked for me. I had eventually weaned my body off wearing anything during the winters, but would struggle with "surety" for the remainder of the year. It got to the point that while laying with my daughter at night to put her to sleep, she would actually complain about my smell and would strategically place our bodies so that she couldn't smell my armpits. I had become the smelly mom!!!

And then I found my miracle! I gave it a try and I can honestly say it works better than any deodorant I have ever used, and it's totally natural, and completely aluminum free. I never smell. Never. At least of body odor, that is. There's always a faint smell of coconut, but I'm totally okay with that. My daughter's complaints have stopped and I feel confident being au naturale!

Seriously, if you care at all about your aluminum exposure and are still using antiperspirants, or you don't like the smell of commercial deodorants, TRY IT! It takes less than 5 minutes to mix up.

Here's the how-to:

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup corn starch
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil

Mix together with a fork until creamy (depending upon the temperature of your kitchen, you may need to zap it in the micro for 5 secs or so- coconut oil turns to a liquid between 70-75 degrees F). Using an old, empty deodorant tube (I just emptied the natural one I had that didn't work) pack your mixture into the tube and place it in the refrigerator. It will harden and look like regular deodorant.

I always keep mine in the refrigerator because of the coconut oil's low melting point. The downsides: You cannot travel with it very well. I just take one of my less effective natural sticks; You have to remember to go to the kitchen to put on your deodorant (although I swear this stuff sinks in and will cover you for a day if you forget); and you have to let it air dry for a few seconds so you don't get it on your clothes (but 3-5 seconds is enough).

Give it a try and tell me how you like it!

And, btw, if you are trying to limit your aluminum exposure, have you looked at the back of your baking powder? Shocking, I know. I now buy aluminum-free baking powder at Sprouts or Whole Foods.

xoxo