Beat Body Odor Naturally: DIY Soothing Pit Scrub

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We already, as my pal Liz put it, “hopped on the TMI train” when I talked a bit about my hunt for handmade lingerie, so I thought why not just keep heading down the track and talk about another personal topic: body odor. All aboard!

Let’s face it, you guys: natural deodorant is just not as effective as the toxic stuff. Sure, ingredients like triclosan are great for keeping odor-causing bacteria at bay, but I just don’t think they’re worth it for the damaging effects they have on the environment. I’ve used natural deodorant for years, and lately I’ve just plain old gotten sick of feeling like I’m stinky half the time. I even considered switching back to something full of mystery ingredients, until I randomly discovered a trick that seems to be working well for me.

After a particularly sweaty run, I was in the shower and decided to grab some salt scrub for my pits. Honestly, I just wanted something super abrasive and scrubby…like maybe I could punish the stink away? The scrub actually wasn’t uncomfortable to use on my pits at all (though I wouldn’t do this right after shaving), and it actually worked!

I don’t know why this works, but it totally does. Maybe the salt changes my pits’ pH. Maybe the oil moisturizes so my body doesn’t compensate for dry skin with more sweat. Whatever it is, my natural deodorants actually last for the whole day  if I use this scrub in my morning shower! Here’s how you can make your own…

Soothing Pit Scrub

Ingredients

• scant 1/2c epsom salt or sea salt
• scant 1/2c table salt
• 10 drops of essential oil – your choice! I went with a lavender and rosemary blend, but you can mix up whatever scents you want! Just make sure you have around 10 drops total.
• 2-3T carrier oil – I used olive oil, but you could use something else like grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil. Just choose something neutral.

Directions

1. Combine all of your ingredients in a medium sized bowl, then spoon into your container of choice. I used a 1/2 pint Mason jar, but you can use whatever container you have handy, as long as it has a closure that seals it up.
2. In the shower, wash your pits with soap as usual, rinse, then put about a tablespoon or two of this scrub on your fingertips. Massage into your pits, then rinse as usual.

That’s it! Normally, I feel like my natural deodorants fail my by the early to mid-afternoon, but when I use this scrub in my morning shower, I make it the whole day without any body odor problems! Yay!

So, spill it, you guys! Do you use natural deodorant? Have you found one that works well for you or a technique that helps keep the body odor away?

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