Chef's Beauty Secrets: Natural Deodorant

What started as a desperate prayer in a hot kitchen turned into one of my best selling products. It is possible to make your own deodorant that WORKS!

Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to fresh, natural confidence! I cannot believe it’s been around 11 years since I made my first batch of deodorant. I remember being in culinary school, juggling classes and a second internship, trying to stay “fresh” in those hot kitchens. Secret was too harsh, Dove had too much buildup, and nothing else seemed to work.

At that point, I prayed to God about everything. He was the one who told me to use arrowroot starch and coconut oil to make a natural deodorant mix. He revealed that the underarms contain lymph nodes—key players in detoxifying the body—and warned me not to poison them with what was available at the time. He had already told me to use olive oil as a body oil, so I trusted His guidance.

Now, it’s not that I didn’t believe the voice of the Holy Spirit, but one thing I’m going to do is research. I studied what He said and found that it confirmed every detail. So, I went to Whole Foods, got the ingredients, and started experimenting—tweaking the mix and writing down my process while praying and researching essential oils for scent and skin benefits.

I never intended to sell it. After a few weeks of wearing it, I told my mom, and she started using it too. It literally began pulling gunk out of our bodies. Word spread, and I couldn’t keep up with the demand. That’s how the Tea Tree + Lime and London Fog deodorants became two of the first products I launched under Salubria (now BAF Beauty). Today, I have a full line of organic, plant-based deodorants (and soaps, oils) loved by customers nationwide.

I say this with gratitude, knowing that God’s wisdom is the foundation of these sticks. He always answers His children—even in the smallest of issues. And His answers are always more than you could think or imagine.

Let’s Talk About Sweat (Because No One Really Wants To)

Be real; no one really likes to discuss their sweat-life. Nonetheless, when we sweat, an amazing process is going on within our bodies. Sweat glands release water (and small amounts of salt and fat) to keep us cool during exercise, heat, or stress. There are two main types of sweat glands:

• Eccrine glands: Found all over the body, releasing mostly water and about 1% salt.

• Apocrine glands: Located in areas with heavier hair growth, like underarms and scalp, releasing a mix of water, fat proteins, and other compounds.

Sweat itself is virtually odorless. The smell comes from bacteria and impurities on the skin reacting and being evaporated along with the sweat. Cool, right? (Pun definitely intended.)

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The Problem with Traditional Antiperspirant Deodorants

Most traditional antiperspirants contain aluminum-based compounds that "plug" sweat ducts, keeping you dry until you wash it off. The issue? Aluminum compounds sit deep within the underarms, where lymph nodes play a crucial role in immune health. Some studies have linked these compounds to various cancers and Alzheimer's disease.

While these studies are debated, many of us in the natural and holistic world would rather avoid the risk altogether. Natural alternatives mean sidestepping these potential dangers—no waiting for more studies to be concluded.

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Tackling Sweat the Natural Way: Meet My Deodorant

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