When Life Gives You Lemons.....or Limes

One day I was watching Dr. Oz. It was one of those days when I didn't change the channel and the TV was watching me. Dr. Oz had people talk about different solutions that you wouldn't think of. Well, someone was demonstrated how she uses lemons as a deodorant. Well, that definitely caught my attention. I have been wanting to use a natural deodorant. I tried one years ago and it didn't work and I started smelling musty. So I didn't try again until earlier this year. I bought a different brand. Didn't like it either. I did try it again when I ran out of deodorant but I just did not feel fresh and clean at all.

So why did I want to switch from your average deodorants that you get in the stores? For one, toxins in many deodorants have been linked to breast cancer. That and I have gotten to where I don't trust materials used in many products we buy and eat. Now I won't act like I am all natural with everything, because I haven't. But I am taking baby steps into the more natural as a part of my simple living.

Now onto to the lemon lady on Dr. Oz. She grabbed a whole lemon, sliced it in half and rubbed the cut lemon in her arm pits. It was that simple. So what did I do next? Researched. This whole lemon thing was all over the web and on many sites as natural alternatives for deodorant. The lemon juice is acidic and can kill order-causing bacteria. I never ever ever ever thought about that. So what next? Try it. I am the type that once I learn about something and research it, I am ready to try it. But I only had extra limes in the house at the time. I searched to see if a lime would have the same effect. The answer was yes.

My concern was if my underarms would be sticky and would I smell like a lemon. Well, I didn't see anything about smelling like a walking lemon, but I did come across a post that said it was not sticky. I still had to find out for myself. And I also did more research on other home recipes for deodorant. Several times I cam across a recipe that consisted of baking soda, arrowroot or cornstarch, and coconut oil. It was a sign because I was considering putting on coconut oil first to moisturize then rub the lemon on. But why not add the baking soda as well......since I had it. Baking soda also combats odor.

The next morning I did a mix of baking soda and coconut oil until it became like a paste. I squeezed the juice of one lime into a small bottle then added the juice to the paste. I can't even tell you how much of each item I used but I would guess about  a tablespoon of baking soda and maybe a tablespoon of coconut oil. Then I used maybe a teaspoon of lime juice. The acidity of the juice and baking soda caused the mixture to fizz. Call me weird, but I got excited....lol. This mixture made a small amount, but that is all I needed just to see if I liked it.

After I showered, it was time to use my concoction. Instead of using my deodorant mix under both arms, I rubbed some under one arm and rubbed just lime juice under the other. Well, good news....once the juice dried, it was NOT sticky....wooooohooooo!!!! Then the test. I did laundry and took my nephew outside to ride his bike. We also just sat outside and it was an 80 degree day. I did some sweating, but I'm not sure if I had an odor. When I did my own sniff test, I did not smell funky. But that may have been psychological because I wanted to believe it worked...lol.

For real though, I believe it worked. I tried to get people in my family to do a sniff test, but no one would cooperate. Well, my nephew did but he is only 4 and he said I stink....correction he said I stank then ran off laughing. But basically, when I was funky before when using regular deodorant when it wore off, I could smell the funk. With my mixture and the juice, I did not smell stinky under either pits. As far as which I like more, I think I like the mixture more than just the juice. Not that the lime juice didn't do it's job. But maybe the baking soda gave me some extra protection.

So now added to my simple living is my homemade deodorant. And I love it!!!