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Deodorant Yes, the title of this post just proves that you never know what you might be reading about here on TammysRecipes.com! This is my deodorant. It's actually a rock-hard salt crystal (potassium alum, to be exact). To use it, you wet it with water and rub it under your arms (or on your feet, or wherever you want to use it). These crystals last for years! I've been using them for 12 years, and my first one lasted for about 10 years before it was too small to use! I'm not sure exactly how much they cost, because I got both of mine at a garage sale (new, in the package) for $1.00. I thought it would be a fun experiment. Besides the super low cost of this method of deodorant, it's so much better for you than the deodorants and anti-perspirants sold in the store. Even deodorants without aluminum often have questionable ingredients. Do we really want to put that stuff under our arms every day for the rest of our lives?! :) Okay, so maybe you do... :) But the big question is how well it works. I won't lie and say that this deodorant keeps you dry and will make you smell nice for a week. It won't. You will sweat a little. That's natural, after all. If you take a shower every day, you should be fine. If I shower daily, this deodorant works great. Joshua, who does manual labor for 8 hours every day, tried using this deodorant, and it just didn't eliminate enough odors. While I didn't think he "stunk" (well, any more than usual, after a day's work!), the armpits of his shirts definitely weren't something you wanted to rub your nose into. (Joshua now uses a deodorant without anti-perspirant or aluminum.) Now, here's the strange part. This isn't scientific, and I haven't heard this from other people; this has just been my own experience. I think my body had to adjust to this more natural alternative. When I was using anti-perspirant every day, sure, my armpits smelled great... almost like... perfume. When I stopped, and went to this salt deodorant, I felt like I sweated a lot more at first. After a few days (or maybe a week? I can't remember...) it leveled out. I feel that with a daily shower and use of this deodorant, there's really not much difference than when I used anti-perspirant, minus the perfume-y smell. But it gets even stranger. On a couple of occasions, when I have been traveling, I thought it would be more convenient to just use a commercial deodorant. After using the salt crystal for so long, when I used store-bought deodorant I thought it made me sweat more and didn't control the odor. I know it seems odd that after the initial period of "adjusting" to using a salt crystal, the commercial deodorants and anti-perspirants wouldn't work as well as a silly lump of potassium alum... and I'm guessing that if I completely gave up the salt crystal deodorant, my body would probably adjust back. But I've given up trying, and now I don't travel without taking this lump of salt as my deodorant. So, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about my personal odor habits! More frugal tips can be found at Crystal's blog! :) P.S. I DO wear deodorant now...at least when I go somewhere. My complete deodorant fast was temporary and unintentional.:-P Ruth Well... Interesting subject. I could go even further, but I won't. :-D I have not used deoderant in a couple of years. I have tried several other things, but right now I use hand sanitizer under my arms. I have not shaved in 15 years or more, so I don't have to worry about rashes or stings when using alcohol. The hand sanitizer kills the bacteria, so that pretty much eliminates the odor. It works about as well as your rock: shower every day, apply it every day, and it works very well. But, I have also adjusted to accepting the more natural state of things. People sweat (and that is good) and people have a very earthy fragrance. ;-) It's natural... Thanks for this post! Hi. This is in response to the hand sanitizer as deodorant. The reason it works is because it is made up of mostly alcohol and then just some stabilizing chemicals to create the gel consistency. You could cut your cost even further by just using rubbing alcohol. It is highly effective and kills germs well. Just thought I'd help. :-)  I agree about one's body adjusting. When I used "normal" deodorants, my underarms never smelled, but they did have bumps and irritations. I now use all natural deodorants and have much happier, healthier underarms. The same thing happened with my hair. It was always dry and frizzy and "needed" conditioning. When I switched to the Nature's Gate shampoo, my hair evened out and rarely needs any conditioning. It seems very often that less is more. I've never tried the salt crystal kind, but now you've got me curious! I think I'll give it a go the next time I run out. I don't wear lots of deodorant, so I've been on the same one for a year. ;-) I love natural deodorants, but have never tried this kind. You have convinced me to give it a try :o) I, too, have noticed the adjustment period with natural hygiene & beauty products. After the first odd week, I am always amazed at how much better natural options seem to work for me. ~Mrs. Brigham What an interesting, and surprising, post. I would quite like to try this, but where can you buy this salt crystal? Hi Tammy! Yes, I used to use anti-perspirant too and it was hard to adjust. I use a natural deodorant. I do sweat some, as is only natural , but my body has been adapting more and more to these natural ingredients.Suppressing sweat entirely just isn't healthy or natural. I recently posted on this very topic here: http://christine-mary.blogspot.com/2007/05/being-good-stewards-of-our-bodies-in.html  Mama Lieveheersbeestje Dear Tammy, mama lieveheersbeestje. I had seen those salt crystal deodorants for a while, and I just recently started using one. It works better than any other natural deodorant that I have tried, especially since I don't care for scents. You can find them at health food stores if you are looking for them new. I read recently in "The People's Pharmacy" column in my newspaper that rubbing alcohol works as a deodorant. I shower at night, and I don't like to put deodorant/antiperspirant after my shower. I tried the rubbing alcohol thing, and it works wonderfully! It doesn't sting after shaving, either. I then usually use a little powder, too, then go to bed. Admittedly, I still wear commercial deodorant/antiperspirant during the day, but at least it's no longer on all the time. Maybe I'll try weaning off of it, but I really don't like feeling moist during the day. -Ewokgirl I was using alcohol and it worked great, but then I read where you can get poisioning from it if used regularly. I am now using straight vinegar. It works just as good if you can get past the vinegar smell for about 5 minutes. Deodorants allow you to sweat, but hide any smell. Anti-perspirants suppress the sweating altogether. In general, unless you are menstruating or stressed out, your underarm sweat will not stink. I haven't used any deodorants or antiperspirants for years, but I do use a salt crystal during menstruation. What to do? I tried using an all natural deodorant not too long ago, though not the crystal. Since I live down in the south, I can sweat quite a bit. I didn't mind the sweat, but really hated that my clothing would get all wet. So embarrassing! Sleeveless wasn't always appropriate to wear. Would I still have this problem with the crystal? I definitely want to go with something natural. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't potassium alum salt contain aluminum? How is that better for you than the aluminum-based commercial deodorants? Does it not absorb into the skin for some reason? Here's a website that explains the Alum/Aluminum relationship in a very straightforward manner. Just skip down to the question "Does it contain aluminum? Is Alum an abbreviation for Aluminum?" Link: http://www.thecrystal.com/faq.cfm It's systematic name is potassium aluminium sulfate. So I guess there must be aluminium in it. Here are some sources: http://webmineral.com/data/Potassium-alum.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_alum  First, let me admit to not understanding all about these minerals and elements... I read the first page you linked to, but not much really made sense to me... I mean, I "understood" but it didn't mean much to me. ;) The wikipedia page you linked to, I have read in the past, and I guess I get confused when it says "Potassium alum or potash alum is the potassium double sulfate of aluminium." (So is it a sulfate of aluminum, or does it contain aluminum? Or are those two questions the same thing?!) I remember reading a much longer, detailed article about potassium alum, and I somehow came to the conclusion that it wasn't the same thing as putting aluminum under my arms... I can't remember what the website was though. :| However, another thing that had me puzzled was the fact that aluminum is used as an anti-perspirant, and this salt crystal definitely doesn't function as an anti-perspirant. Also, the aluminum used in anti-perspirant/deodorants isn't potassium aluminum sulfate. I looked at one deodorant we have right now, and it contains "aluminum zirconium". Wikipedia actually has more information about this on their anti-perspirant page, which lists "...Aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum-zirconium compounds, most notably Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly and Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex gly..." Which, now that I notice it, there's a link to a page about ammonuim alum, which they say can be used as a natural deodorant, and discusses the aluminum content... so, do I use potassium alum, or ammonium alum?! Since my crystals were from a garage sale, I guess I don't know. Maybe I should just try the coconut oil someone mentioned above! ;) Hi Tammy, p.s. that math question thing is clever... :-) Sylvi Fae Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees has no aluminum at all. A few others as well. That natural deodorant with Potassium alum is thought to be safer because the aluminum is naturally ocurring, has bigger ions, and is not thought to be able to absorb into the skin as well. The other aluminum stuff in regular anti-perspirant deodorant is synthetic, and altered into smaller particles. I'm not sure about this claim, but I've researched it, and have read this same information in several places across the net. Here's one article at a sustainable living site which explains the difference. for the sweating, sprinkle with baking soda. This doesn't prevent the natural process of sweating - but the baking soda absorbs it so your clothes don't get soaked. I use the crystal deo too -- usually right after I bath (which is at night), then I put on Tom's of Maine in the morning. I has worked well, but I have found something that totally stamped all stench and sweat out. I'm serious: BAKING SODA. I now keep a little container of baking soda in the bathroom and wipe that on in the mornings. It keeps me dry and fresh-smelling all day long. Try it! It's great. My sister had a BIG problem with B.O. that she never could seem to control. She uses baking soda now too in combination with her natural deo and is very pleased with the results. And how inexpensive! Who doesn't have baking soda in the house?? Later, Until I read this post, I never even imagined there could exist an alternative to deodorant. I was very tempted to try the crystal recommended by Tammy, but didn't want to spend some 6€ on something I wasn't sure would work for me. So thank you all very much for your comments :) Aline, wow! I'm glad you found something that's working so well for you! :) Also, I know I never responded to the question about underarm wetness... I'll do a separate post about that sometime soon. :D I have really sensitive skin and even the hypoallergenic stuff didn't work. I was always itch, itch, itching. The natural stuff is great. I used some allumn salts but it just didn't work for me. Tom's of Main, though more expensive and doesn't last as long, works great for me. No more bumps and itching for me. :D I never post, but I have to chime in this time! I just started using the all natural crystal salt roll-on, and it works! My brother, who has been through all types, put me on to it. This will not keep you from sweating, but it will keep you from stinking. Some tips: It only works as well as you scrub under your arms before applying. Start with a squeaky clean slate. Its all natural, double up until you know how much you need. Use more on active days, hot days, day at the gym etc. The sprays and roll ons aren't cheap. Use them to start. I'm buying the crystal next. Here's another way to combat under arm odor....use hydrogen peroxide. It never stings, and keeps odors down great. You can deodorize stinky feet in it too. For really bad stinky feet, we use 1 tbp boric acid to a gallon of warm water. Soak the feet for 15 minutes and towel dry. Repeat every week. If you have any old fashioned pharmacies close by, you might find some Domborro powder. It works great for stinky feet, itchy rashes and poison ivy (soothing, but not curing). When I used to ride my horse bareback without a bareback pad, and I would get a rash from my horse on the inside of my calves and thighs. Domborro took care it. It has worked in my family for dew poisoning, athelete's foot, ring worm, jock itch, and heat rash. It also worked on the dogs when they got some hot spots one year. Nothing else had worked for them, and since I had need of some for me, so I just went ahead and put some on them too.....worked like a charm. Just getting hard to find now. I have used the crystals too, and was happy with them. But they are hard to find too. Dry up ugly pimples!! I had a blind head on my chin, and make-up made it worse, I dabbed a lil peroxide on it, and voila! The next day it's pretty much dried up. Hi, I've been using a salt crystal for years and have found that it just feels better on my skin than anything else one can rub on. Anyway, on to my question: I lost my grip and it fell into the sink breaking it into several large pieces and lots of small fragments. I wet the pieces and reassembled the crystal and put it back in it's dish to dry. It held together for a couple of uses then returned to large pieces. I've been using the largest piece since, but don't want to throw out the rest, yet. Is there a way to mend or regrow a new crystal from the wreckage? I really don't know of any way to glue a broken deodorant crystal back together, though I wish I did, because I broke one in the past, and ended up using the halves, which wasn't nearly so nice (nor as smooth!) as what it was before I dropped it... :( Which deodorant does your husband use that works for him but does not contain aluminum? Thanks! Joshua's been using Adidas deodorant that we got free-after-rebate at Rite Aid. It is NOT all-natural, but it is aluminum-free... I think what is strange is that the crystals are advertised as "natural mineral salts" and "aluminum-chlorohydrate-free"... some don't even list ingredients, other than "natural mineral salts". I had todo some digging just to find out what exactly a "deodorant crystal" was made of! Here's what one site says about the aluminum content:
"Crystal deodorants are made from a natural mineral salt called generally termed alum , which does contain a natural aluminium salt. Alum is not the same as aluminium, and our products do not contain compounds such as aluminium chlorohydrate or aluminium zirconium compounds found in most anti-perspirants. These amazing mineral salts work effectively to prevent body odour by forming an invisible topical surface film which kills and prevents odour causing bacteria." (from http://www.bodycrystal.com.au/faq.htm) Another page says this: "Aluminum compound, such as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, which is very soluble, is used as an antiperspirant, that compound is readily absorbed, Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free or radical aluminum (AI+++). This passes freely across cell membranes, and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow. It is this concentration of aluminum that has been the source of concern in the medical community and has prompted the research being done on ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE and BREAST CANCER victims, Potassium alum molecules have a negative ionic charge, making it unable to pass through the cell wall. THEY ARE NOT ABSORBED. This is why we recommend the use of Deodorant stones they are safe to use and will not cause high levels of ALUMINUM in your systems. ALUM and ALUMINUM are two different substances, with distinct chemical signatures. They posses different chemical properties which create different chemical attributes." (from http://www.kombuchapower.com /deodorant_stone.htm) See also this page: http://www.cylahigley.co.uk/html/fact_sheet.html I was at Rite-Aid today, filling some rx. And I was in the deodorant aisle. I saw a brand called Crystal (it looked liquid). And I remember you, Tammy, mentioning crystal. But I realize now it was a solid substance, and not a brand of deodorant. Oddly enough this was aluminum free! I bought some. It was a tad expensive at $5.99. The liquid crystal deodorants are, I believe, watered-down (melted/dissolved?) versions of the solid salt crystal! Think of salt water versus a salt block. I believe the active ingredients are the same, though! :) For those of us that have dropped their crystal. Yes you can mend it although it may be time consuming. To get a rounded shape use a rounded container. something like a popsicle container would work. As for a note on safety of alum - it has been used now for hundreds of years as deodorant, food preservative and even adjuvants in vaccines so I would think its pretty safe. I just "happened" across your blog by way of another blog - I can't remember who's though, LOL - Anyhow - to try and put the "alum = aluminum" question at ease in your mind - true, alum is a direct dirivative of aluminum, but (1) not the same type found in conventional anti-perspirants (2) the molecule size, because of the inclusion with other minerals, inhibits the absorbtion into the skin because of it's size - meaning - it's perfectly safe. An analogy to help clarify things - Imagine, if you will, chloride (bleach) will kill you if you drink it and sodium, directly on your skin, will burn you up, but when you combine the two - you get sodium-chloride (table salt) which is necessary and good for you (to ingest). Also - take into account hydrogen is a terribly explosive element and oxygen [by itself] in high concentrations will burn you because it is, directly, an oxydizer, but together they make water; a life sustaining substance. The same applies to the "Crystal" deoderant stick. Obviously not life sustaining or even GOOD for you, but point to be made - when two molecules join together it makes a completely different compound that does not resemble the individual molecules at all. Hope this helps! By the way - am I over analyzing the math question thing? What is that all about? Thanks for sharing a little more of the scientific side. :) I think what was also confusing to me is that the companies selling the deodorant crystals aren't usually upfront about what the "natural mineral salts" really are... and they are marketed as containing "no harmful aluminum" which I think can be mistakenly understood as "NO aluminum"... or maybe I just ask too many questions? :) The math question is to prevent spam comments. :) I have been using the rock crystal too. I did drop mine. It broke. I took it to the blender. I made a bottle of salt water of it. I put a palm full in my hand in the morning and rub it under each armpit. That seems to really do the trick. I agree that there was a "adjustment" period. I am very pleased. Recently I read that I was using conventional stick deodorants improperly--like everyone. ..That I should have applied the stick at night, wake, wash and not reapply, but trust it was "absorbed in my skin to work all day. While all that made me think of going back, the lack of deodorant stains on my shirts and Ts made me appreciate that salt method better. I wonder if this would work with Epsom Salt just as well. Anyone have an idea? Anyhow, thank you, Tammy, for starting this whole conversation. It was helpful. Post new comment |
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It's all in the name of informing you, if you wish to investigate, that there are natural and inexpensive alternatives to commercial deodorant, and you don't have to stink! :)
Oh, I TOTALLY think your body adjusts! I was just thinking about this. My face used to be really oily (and then really dry after washing it) so I always used products for oily skin. Well, when I quit using products (I started using baking soda and occasionally honey for face washing...see, body care regimes can involve kitchen ingredients so they are very fitting for your blog!;-D) my face at first felt oily a lot and then *drastically* improved. Now I can basically wash my face with pure water and it's fine: no oil problems at all. I have recently gone shampoo free...again, adjustment period but now my hair does not need to be washed as often. I haven't tried a deodorant crystal but I should...because I will admit to something: after Jacinta was born my life got really chaotic and most days I was lucky to get cleaned up and dressed. I didn't crack open my bag that contains deodorant, lotion, anything. Surprisingly I found that I sweat less without deodorant than I do with it. Personally I also think my sweat changes depending on my diet...but, um, I suddenly feel gross and self conscious discussing my sweat on the internet.:-o ;-)
Ruth