That is for sure! So much of the "glide" issue depends on your climate, and often, the season of the year. I make mine a little softer in winter because the ones that work perfectly in summer are too draggy for me when it becomes very cold.
Breaking down deodorant
- Thread starter Gaisy59
- Start date
Help Support Soapmaking Forum:
Ok so i just made an interim deo because i used up my last one. I had hoped my deconstructed one would have worked but it didn’t. Anyhoo i only used 4% Candelilla wax and it almost tore my pits off 
. I have to use my hairdryer to warm it up to glide it on. What the heck!
Babassu. 40%
Mg. 27%
Caprylic. 21%
Candelilla 4%
Cetyl. 4%
Kokum. 2%
Fragrance. 2%
Now is it the wax or is another product causing the drag?
. I have to use my hairdryer to warm it up to glide it on. What the heck!Babassu. 40%
Mg. 27%
Caprylic. 21%
Candelilla 4%
Cetyl. 4%
Kokum. 2%
Fragrance. 2%
Now is it the wax or is another product causing the drag?
It could be the wax. It could also be the arrowroot powder. I no longer include arrowroot in my recipe, since there is enough powder with the Mag Hydrox - but I left it in the sample recipe since that was listed in the ingredients of the one you were trying to dupe.
I also find that babassu oil can vary greatly in how liquid or solid it is. It is one of the challenges I find working with babassu!
I also find that babassu oil can vary greatly in how liquid or solid it is. It is one of the challenges I find working with babassu!
Last edited:
Ah ok. I don’t really want to decrease the wax as the amount is small enough. I can decrease the Mg a bit and the babassu and maybe increase the caprylic as that is an emollient.
At this point, it sounds like you are moving away from trying to recreate the deodorant that your daughter liked. If that's the case, and you are starting over from scratch, my recommendation would be substantially different than the one I first posted - since that was based on the ingredient list that you shared for that commercial deo. My current recipe is pretty close to this:
Oil Phase:
30% fractionated coconut oil (caprylic)
12% babassu
6% cera bellina wax
6% stearyl or cetyl alcohol
6% mango butter
3% zinc ricinoleate
1% Vitamin E (optional)
Powder Phase
30% magnesium hydroxide
4% guar gum or xanthan gum
Cool Down Phase
2% Essential Oils (optional)
Oil Phase:
30% fractionated coconut oil (caprylic)
12% babassu
6% cera bellina wax
6% stearyl or cetyl alcohol
6% mango butter
3% zinc ricinoleate
1% Vitamin E (optional)
Powder Phase
30% magnesium hydroxide
4% guar gum or xanthan gum
Cool Down Phase
2% Essential Oils (optional)
Wow you took babassu down to 12%! Do you remember when the deo thread first started? Irish Lass had 60/40 Mg/babassu lol. Why did you decrease babassu so much? I am down to 25% Mg as i find that any higher my pits burn.
If you don’t mind i would love to try your recipe. I will just adjust for my skin issues.
And yes i am going back to my original deo but adding in some of the list from my daughter’s favorite. I think if i can find a good mix for her she will like it just as much.
I do remember that crazy thread - it's what got me started on the deo-making journey! But with the addition of zinc ricinoleate, we definitely don't need 40% mag or 60% babassu! Also, I don't like using a paste with my fingers; I want something firm enough for a tube, but not so firm that it hurts my skin to apply it.
Also, for me, with the ratio of powders, waxes, butter, and fatty alcohols in my current recipe, I don't need as much babassu - which is quite expensive.
I would like to reduce the Mag Hydroxide a bit, not because it burns me, but because.... it's expensive. Are you seeing a theme here?
So, I've been tinkering with replacing some of the Mag Hydroxide with a cheaper powder, such as arrowroot powder. Yes, I may end up going back to using it after all that!
Also, for me, with the ratio of powders, waxes, butter, and fatty alcohols in my current recipe, I don't need as much babassu - which is quite expensive.
I would like to reduce the Mag Hydroxide a bit, not because it burns me, but because.... it's expensive. Are you seeing a theme here?
So, I've been tinkering with replacing some of the Mag Hydroxide with a cheaper powder, such as arrowroot powder. Yes, I may end up going back to using it after all that!
Lmao yes i see your theme. Yes that thread is what got me started as well. And i did wonder about the zinc ric being added along with the Mg and you could be onto something here…maybe with the zinc and less Mg i won’t get that burnI do remember that crazy thread - it's what got me started on the deo-making journey! But with the addition of zinc ricinoleate, we definitely don't need 40% mag or 60% babassu! Also, I don't like using a paste with my fingers; I want something firm enough for a tube, but not so firm that it hurts my skin to apply it.
Also, for me, with the ratio of powders, waxes, butter, and fatty alcohols in my current recipe, I don't need as much babassu - which is quite expensive.
I would like to reduce the Mag Hydroxide a bit, not because it burns me, but because.... it's expensive. Are you seeing a theme here?
So, I've been tinkering with replacing some of the Mag Hydroxide with a cheaper powder, such as arrowroot powder. Yes, I may end up going back to using it after all that!
.ANNND yes i don’t like a paste either which is why i have been formulating for tubes. I have broken at least five tubes getting my deo down to a glide lol. One of my first recipes was without arrowroot and then i added arrowroot and i am back to none. I personally can’t tell the difference with or without.
Ok i will give your recommendations a whirl. Will keep you posted.
Yeah, I don't feel like the arrowroot contributes to the deodorizing qualities. However, since I like the feel and glide of my current ratios, but I want to reduce the MH to save money, I need to replace it with a filler powder to keep that same texture.
Understood
I guess I should have noted that if you need to reduce the MagH from 30% to 25%, you could replace that 5% with arrowroot. You could also replace the gum with arrowroot if you don’t have it, I’m not sure it does much for the recipe.
Good luck, and I’m interested to hear how it goes for you!
Good luck, and I’m interested to hear how it goes for you!
