The Smelly Kids.

I'm so very glad this is the first post since husband has made our weblog public (well, public-er). Because it's about our armpits.

Since I was 6 (yeah, 6. Oh, genetics) I have tried just about every deodorant and deodorant alternative ever invented. Nothing has ever been deemed foolproof and plenty have just straight up failed. Since I suddenly give a damn about poisoning my body, the past couple of years I have been experimenting with those natural deodorants...Most didn't work and one burnt my skin like acid. Which was way fun. Then Mike noticed that one of his shirts had been dyed hot pink by his deodorant and he started to get nervous too.

So when I found this homemade deodorant recipe from angrychicken (with whom I am obsessed) I figured what the hell...can't hurt to try.

All it really took was cornstarch, baking soda (which I had on hand), shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil and the essential oil of my choice (I chose Clove Bud--because it's "motivating").

(Don't you think I maybe have a future career in gelcap photography?)

...A woman I work with told me that she thinks I have great time management skills, since I have time to make my own deodorant. A) she obviously doesn't know me that well B) I was supposed to be doing something more important and C) this seriously took me 5 minutes of actual work. I microwaved, stirred and refrigerated. That's it.

I chose poorly as far as my receptacle. I would pick a wider, shallower jar next time. We really have to dig at this one.

But yeah, we just use about a pea sized amount, as recommended by the originator, on each side and, seriously, we've been using it for about 4 weeks now and one application leaves us both stink-free all day long. In the desert, no less. We still sweat, obviously, but that's kind of an important bodily function. And I sweat like a freak regardless, so I don't really notice a difference.

I should have added a whole lot more Clove Bud oil, though, since the cocoa butter is REALLY cocoa-ey and we just kind of smell like chocolate all of the time. Sweaty, sweaty chocolate.

p.s. we're aware that our page design clashes. we're also, for the moment, having trouble caring. :)