randomMay 1, 2008 10:37 am
Baking soda as deodorant is very, very itchy. It wasn’t itchy initially but it is now. And has been for the past 3 days. I think I’m going to stop using baking soda on my pits.
This is surprising because I have tough skin. My husband says my skin is as tough as leather, but while that makes me proud…it doesn’t sound nice. In other words I have never had to worry about things irritating my skin.
Until now.
Update: I am no Fake plastic fish or Environwoman, but I do want to stop the plastic entering my home. Crazy mumma also experienced itching with baking soda and created her own roll on recipe. The ingredients all come with some sort of plastic however (the tee trea oil has a plastic cap for example).
Have you tried one of those deodorant stones? (P.S. How long does it take most people to go through deodorant? Because I swear I use one thing of deodorant that lasts me maybe a year and a half.)
Comment by arduous — May 1, 2008 @ 11:45 am
I’ve used the stone. It doesn’t work on me. I stink to the high heavens. I couldn’t say how long a stick lasts…I’d guess 1/year
Comment by Beany — May 1, 2008 @ 11:52 am
I buy tom’s maine deodorant for my husband (it has baking soda in it). He says that it makes him itch too. Wonder why.
Comment by CindyW — May 1, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
Cindy: I looked to see if I could find anything regarding baking soda causing itchiness and found that baking soda was often recommended to sooth itching.
I’ve been showering every day this week and applying baking soda…so I wonder if this is the reason: frequency.
Comment by Beany — May 1, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Are you using just straight baking soda? In Better Basics for the Home it suggests cutting it 50/50 with corn starch.
Comment by organicneedle — May 1, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
I am using straight baking soda. I’ll mix it with corn starch and see how it works out. I’ll post about it in a month.
Comment by Beany — May 2, 2008 @ 6:11 am
I’m going to try to move to a more natural deodorant option…
Comment by SavingDiva — May 5, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
I’m sorry it’s making you itch. Question: Do you put it on dry or wet? I read another recipe recommending mixing with a little water and putting it on as a paste. But I just put mine on dry with a powder puff, with dry pits to begin with (I dry them well with a towel and do my hair and other stuff before putting on the baking soda, so they are dry beforehand.) And also, I have added a few drops of tea tree oil to mine. Yes, it has a tiny plastic cap. But I think this little bottle will probably last until I die. How often do I use tea tree oil? Not often.
The deodorant stone never worked for me either. Plus, they come in a plastic bag.
Comment by Beth aka Fake Plastic Fish — May 5, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
Beth: I’ve applied baking soda both dry and wet. I’ve been trying out organicneedle’s suggestion of mixing it with corn starch. The itching has decreased…but I’d like it to go away. I’m going to try to go without any deo this weekend and try again next week.
Comment by Beany — May 6, 2008 @ 5:31 am