With the rise in concerns over the safety of antiperspirants, many are seeking natural deodorants as alternatives. Aluminium has had bad press lately in relation to cancer and neurological diseases. Add to that, the other toxic ingredients such as parabens, triclosan, and artificial fragrances, and a natural alternative seems an obvious choice.

Aluminium

Antiperspirants work by placing a layer of aluminium under the skin. The aluminium swells when combined with perspiration creating a barrier within the skin that blocks sweat from getting through. There are real concerns over this process. Aluminium within the body has been linked to disease. Some research suggests that after aluminium is absorbed through the skin it has estrogen producing properties (1). Obviously, in close proximity to the breast area, this is a real concern for the development of breast cancer tumours.

There are also neurological diseases linked to aluminium within the body. Several studies have linked aluminium to Alzheimer’s. Professor Exley of Keele University says in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, “… aluminium may cause a particular condition to be more aggressive and perhaps to have an earlier onset – such occurrences have already been shown in Alzheimer’s disease related to environmental and occupational exposure to aluminium.”(2)

Aside from the possible dangers of aluminium, blocking the skin’s sweat ducts stops the release of perspiration and toxins from the body. Perspiring is a natural, healthy process.

Parabens

Parabens are synthetic preservatives found in many cosmetics including deodorants and antiperspirants. Parabens have also been found in breast cancer tumours and are reported to be hormone mimics. So is this another ingredient common in antiperspirants that we should be avoiding?

Parabens can mimic hormones in the body and disrupt endocrine system functions. The Silent Spring Institute summarising a paper studying parabens and breast cancer tissue (5) says, “The chemicals are considered estrogenic because they activate the same estrogen receptor as the natural hormone estradiol. Studies have linked exposure to estradiol and related estrogens with an increased risk of breast cancer, as well as reproductive problems. As a result, the use of parabens in consumer products increasingly has become a public health concern.”

Breast Cancer UK is campaigning for all parabens to be phased out from cosmetics due to associated health risks (3). With deodorants and antiperspirants being applied to the underarm area, switching to a paraben free deodorant would be a sensible first step towards eliminating parabens in your personal care products.

Triclosan

Triclosan is used in deodorants and soaps and a number of other products for  its antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Like parabens, triclosan has been linked to hormone disruption and estrogen mimicking properties. Although the FDA approves triclosan as an ingredient, they also state that “…animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation”.

Triclosan has also been linked to decreased muscle function. A study on mice found that after one dose of exposure heart function was reduced by 25% and grip strength was reduced by 18% (6). Putting triclosan onto your underarms on a daily basis is surely best to be avoided.

Artificial Fragrance / Parfum

Artificial fragrance has serious health concerns. The Environmental Working Group reports artificial fragrance to be a known human immune system toxin and gives it a danger rating of 8/10 (4).  Artificial fragrance, also known as parfum, is found in most conventional deodorants and antiperspirants and even in some deodorants that claim to be natural.

Always check the ingredients list. It’s worth bearing in mind that some fragrances that sound natural are synthetically derived. Many natural deodorant manufacturers reject synthetic fragrances, choosing instead to use essential oils to scent their products.

The Alternative

Making the switch to a natural deodorant is a positive step for your health and wellbeing. Remember, natural deodorants are not antiperspirants. This means that your body will perspire. However, if your natural deodorant is working well, you will not notice any body odour. Sweating is a natural process with a genuine function, one that we all need to start getting a little more comfortable with.

If you don’t sweat much, you may find that coconut oil applied to the armpits daily works well as a simple, natural alternative to deodorant. You can also try rubbing a lemon under your arms in the mornings. If you perspire a little more heavily then you may need something a bit more hardcore to tackle body odour.

There are many types and forms of natural deodorants. It may and it can take some trial and error to find one that suits you. Be certain to check the ingredients to ensure that any scented products contain truly natural fragrances – whole essential oils. Also, be sure to check that your choice is an aluminium free deodorant, as aluminium can still be found in many natural deodorants.

Further Reading:

• How to make your own Natural Deodorant at Home – Recipe
• Is Your Deodorant Drugging You Through The Armpits Daily With This Neurotoxin?
• Triclosan – Avoid This Antibacterial Chemical in Soaps and Hand SanitizersSources
• The Soap and Shampoo Conspiracy
• The Power of Our Hormones and How To Balance Them
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Sources:

1. Underarm Cosmetics and Breast Cancer – NCBI
2. Why Industry Propaganda and Political Interference Cannot Disguise the Inevitable Role Played by Human Exposure to Aluminium in Neurodegenerative Diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease – Frontiers in Neurology
3. EDC Free Europe – Breast Cancer UK
4. Fragrance – EWC Skin Deep Database
5. Parabens and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Ligands Cross-Talk in Breast Cancer Cells –Environmental Health Perspectives 
6. Triclosan: The Soap Ingredient You Should Never Use — But 75% of Households do – Mercola.com 

When I am at my healthiest, I do not have body odor. I smell when I sweat, but it’s really not an unpleasant odor. People often ask me what kind of cologne I am wearing, and I do not wear cologne. But my natural smell does turn to body odor if I am not eating extremely well or if I am stressed out.

When I was in a relationship, my girlfriend and I became very aware of smell. In fact, when we got used to each other’s smells, we knew when we were irritated, overly stressed, happy, and even horny. We knew when we should leave each other alone, and when knew when we should get under the sheets, just by body aroma. It is subtle, but something well worth tuning into and practicing. Imagine how much better we as a society would get along if we all paid attention to each other’s natural pheromones!

I don’t always eat perfectly. And there are times when I get stressed. Unfortunately, in the outside world it’s not appropriate to let everyone know that I am not in a good mood via body odor.

I have tried many natural deodorants. Many of them that claim to be natural are not natural and/or are not healthy. Most of them do not work. In fact, I have only come across three that have worked. One is made by a multi-level marketing company called Miessence.  Erin Ely, an independent marketing distributor, sent me a sample. Her website is elyorganics.com. The deodorant roll-on I tried worked great! It lasted 6 to 8 hours and it is truly a natural healthy product. This is by far the best all natural deodorant that I have ever used.

Another good one is Herbal Magic Roll-On Deodorant by Home Health U.S.  I found this one at Whole Foods. It worked for 3 to 4 hours and did a fine job of keeping me odor free.

The third best all-natural deodorant I have tried was Terressentials Super Protection Deodorant. This deodorant is powerful, lasting as long as anything I have ever used, but it has one very significant drawback—it leaves a white residue on clothing. For this reason I rank it in third place.

You could try these deodorants or you can make your own deodorant at home!

All Natural Deodorant Recipe DIY

• 5 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil (Green Lifestyle Market sells coconut oil here)
• 5 tablespoons pure cocoa butter (no additives)
• 3 tablespoons of aloe-vera juice (Green Lifestyle Market sells aloe-vera juice here)
• ½ cup baking soda and/or arrowroot
• ¼ cup witch hazel extract
• 4 drops tea tree oil (Green Lifestyle Market sells tea tree oil here)
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil

Heat the coconut oil and the cocoa butter until they are liquid and combine ingredients in a blender, or a food processor. Place into a container of your choice and refrigerate overnight.

There are a lot of ways you can adjust this recipe. If you want a powder deodorant you can decrease the amount of liquid ingredients and increase the baking soda and you can also add corn starch. (Corn starch feeds yeast. If you have any yeast problems, forgo the corn starch).

You can make a roll-on liquid or even a spray deodorant by using less coconut oil and less cocoa butter, leaving out the baking soda, and adding more aloe-vera juice and witch-hazel extract (consider ¼ cup of each).

Add more cocoa butter (I’m talking about the real, pure, super thick cocoa butter, not the creamy stuff with the additives) and it makes for a great stick deodorant that you can put into an old deodorant container.

Feel free to experiment with essential oils for fragrance. For a masculine woodsy scent try oil of oregano, which also adds to the odor protection with its anti-bacterial properties.

If you have any all natural deodorant recipes or variations of this one that has worked for you, feel free to share in the comment section below.