Deodorants.

Preparations: 

Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 00:30:29 MST
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Michael Moore <hrbmoore.RT66.COM>
Subject: Re: underarm and body deoderant

> Does anyone here know how to or has made clear stick or a non-greasy dry cream underarm or body deodorant that can be scented, using natural substances?

I used to make and sell muslin draw-string bags filled with powdered herbs...you could pat it under your arms, groin, feet, prehensile fore-thorax Aa'sc=FA=F9h^ta (ooops...wrong lifeform).

It was a mixture of two parts powdered Sandalwood (Santalum album), 1 part
powdered White Oak Bark (Quercus alba) and one part powdered Lovage Root
(Levisticum). It needs to be FINELY powdered, and I usually would re-process the combined mixture it in a blender, grain mill or vita-mix until the powder was a little warm or lightly pan-roast it in a clean iron pan. Like making a good Masala, the heat or friction "sets" the resins and oils into a gestalt that has a more robust effect and subtler scent.

The Sandalwood, besides smelling good, is moderately anti-microbial, and a mild stimulus to local circulation (a feeble rubifacient) the oak bark is, of course, highly astringent, and the Lovage has a subtle butterscotch-celery scent, and still has some of the faint folkloric "Love-Charm" echoes of Britain before the Guys From The East took over (starting way back with Julius and Suetonius Caesarii, and continued by the Guys In Habits)

Michael Moore (hrbmoore.rt66.com)
http://www.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE/HomePage.html
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Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 20:46:52 -0800
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Susan Battle <sbattle.AGORA.RDROP.COM>
Subject: Re: deodorants

> Okay, I've been getting alot of great recipes for underarm and body deodorant mix (in powder form). Now, lets say we want to take our powder recipe and turn it into a clear stick or crystal salt(mineral salt stick) stick, what ingredients would we need to accomplish this and how would we add them? Preferably as natural as possible ingredients if possible. Also, it would be great to make it so that after it goes on easy onto the body, it would dry so that it isn't sticky or greasy, leaving the activating ingredients spread out onto the surface of the skin and some inside the skin.

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but I will soon. It's from David Webb's book, Potpurri, colognes and soaps. I bought it because I've been making soap, but several of the other recipes look interesting.

Stick Deodorant

3 oz. unscented talcum powder
2 oz. cornstarch
1 oz. baking soda
1 oz. liquid chorophyll
2 oz. alcohol
2oz. distilled water
8 oz. beeswax or paraffin

Mix all ingredients but wax and liquid chorophyll in a bowl and stir thoroughly.
Heat wax in a pan over a pot of boiling water-handle with EXTREME caution.
As the wax melts, remove from heat. Add the other ingredients and blend them in well. If the wax becomes too thick to become workable, heat again cautiously, and continue.
As the mixture begins to cool, but before it hardens, add the liquid chlorophyll and the fragrance. (I guess you add what you want for fragrance.)
Pour into molds. (Small juice glasses or the cardboard in toilet paper rolls)
Let set.
When set, remove from molds. Store in a closed container, otherwise they might shrivel. (Like a zip-lock bag). If you want a push-up stick, leave in toilet paper roll and simply push up from bottom.

I've read that talcum powder is not good for you, so when I try it I'll just substitute more cornstarch or maybe some baking soda.

Susan
sbattle.agora.rdrop.com


Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 08:42:33 -0500
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Karyn Siegel Maier <HerbalMuse.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: underarm and body deoderant

In a message dated 95-12-04 20:03:32 EST, you write:

>Does anyone here know how to or has made clear stick or a non-greasy dry cream underarm or body deodorant that can be scented, using natural substances?

I can tell you how to make a deodorant cream:

½ oz. cocoa butter
½ oz. beeswax
1 tbs. glycerine
1 tbs. rosewater

The cocoa butter and beeswax are slowly melted in a double boiler. Remove from heat and add the glycerine and rosewater. Now add several drops (let your nose as your guide) of one or more of the following esssential oils with deodorizing action: calendula, sage, rosemary, coriander, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, lemon. Herbal creams tend separate a bit, so it may need a stir before use.

As for the stick form...hmm. If you look at the ingredients of natural stick deodorants, you'll find paraffin listed there. You could try melting paraffin and stearin together (sounds like making a candle, but essenially, you are!) with a bit of cocoa butter (or you could use a small amount of oil, such as almond, or jojoba.) Add some talc, and herbal oils, and mold just like you would a candle, or bar of soap. I guess you'll have to be inventive when storing/applying it. I mean unless you can fashion a container similar to the ones stick deodorants are sold in, it could get messy. Here's an idea: try pouring this mixture into an empty container and use it as your mold (spray or wipe the inside with an oil first, to help the stick pull away from the sides of the container...otherwise you'll probably get too much resistance when trying to push the stick up as it's being used.)

Another ingredient listed as "active" is aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex. I've no idea what this is, but I suspect it acts as an anti-perspirant rather than a deodorant. I'll also bet you can get it from a pharmacy.

If you try making the stick form, let us know how it turns out!


Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 17:12:51 PST
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Edward Bennett <ebennett.DHV.CSUDH.EDU>
Subject: Re: underarm and body deoderant

Hello all,

Well, lots of people have listed talc powder as an ingredient in a body and underarm stick/cream. One person has listed that the read somewhere that talc can be bad and irritating to people. I do not know that this is true or not fully, I do know that some people have a reaction to talc so don't use products containing it. Does anyone know of a natural product that would be a good substitute for talc powder?

Thankyou,

Edward Bennett


From: ANDREW STRASFOGEL <astrasfo.WWP.WO.BLM.GOV>

>Does anyone know of a natural product that would be a good substitute for talc powder?

We used to use cornstarch rather than talc to prevent diaper rash on our baby.


From: Dawn Finney <finney.INDY.RADIOLOGY.UIOWA.EDU>

> Does anyone know of a natural product that would be a good substitute for talc powder?

Baking soda. (also has anti-odor properties)

Dawn Finney


From: "C. Pierce" <ctpierce.PRESSENTER.COM>

>Baking soda. (also has anti-odor properties)

Arrow Root Powder works well or cornstarch.


From: Marilynne Durrett-Johnson <Mjbdj.AOL.COM>

>Does anyone know of a natural product that would be a good substitute for talc powder?

Have you tried powdered arrowroot? I've made a body powder of 1 c. powdered arrowroot, 1 c. corn starch and ¼ c. baking soda. Sift together with your favorite fragrance. My family loves it.

Melle