Natural Perspiration Powder
2.2 oz / 65g
We have 4 choices for you- Check the drop down menu! Note: comes in a little ziplock plastic baggie
 
We are thrilled to finally be bringing this one of a kind recipe to you. It took us a long time to find an original recipe that we didn't have to modify too much and that also worked.  We settled on powder from 1902. We took out the french chalk and burnt alum and replaced them with Calamine and a small amount of baking soda. Our goal was to stay as historically correct as possible while giving you a product that actually works and is healthy and natural. Sometimes finding those recipes isn't as easy as we would like, especially with wanting to keep out things like Aluminum and all the ickies that are found in most deodorants today. We think you will greatly enjoy this natural powdered perspiration powder. 
 
A little deodorant history: 
It wasn't until the 19th century when the love of soap and emersion bathing became en vogue. At this time, people started looking for a solution to the problem of wanting to keep themselves smelling nice with a relatively dry underarm. The Victorian era is really the first time we started to see the idea of making powders or specific ointments for use with this problem. Before this time, some information and receipts are available but they are rare. By the beginning of the Edwardian era, we start to see more written on the subject of perspiring. The idea of trying to figure out what was causing the smell and how to fight it was an ongoing problem and many chemists were trying to find a solution. In 1888, the first commercial deodorant, Mum, was developed and patented by a U.S. inventor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1903, Everdry was the first commercial antiperspirant on the market. By 1950 the first roll on appeared. In my research of historical deodorant recipes, what I mostly found in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries were recipes for powdered deodorants. The name "deodorant" wasn't really used and the word "perspiration" was favored instead. After we see a gradual uptick in the public using powders, some chemists, apothecaries, and pharmacies came out with liquid, creams, and eventually sticks, roll-on and in the 1950's aerosol deodorants. We plan to continue this adventure and eventually get out some historical cream and sick deodorants as well. 
 
What will this powder do?
We tested this on many willing participants. The general consensus is that it does a pretty good job of masking any foul order caused by bacteria. In addition as with the name Perspiration Powder, we found that for most of our test audience- it kept them pretty dry. I won't say this is an antiperspirant, but it does have some ability to keep you dry. Everyone's results will vary so you will just have to test it out. The powder is pretty soft- you may have a few bits that aren't ground as finely as modern powders would. 
 
We included the original information found with the recipe:
" The positive comfort to be derived from one jar of our perspiration powder will give you an exhilarating sense of freshness, sweetness, and purity of person." 
 
I find historical advertisements like this amusing. You can always tell what the theme of the century was and what traits were most desirable and sought after. The Victorians, and beginning of the Edwardian eras had the ideals of purity of persons and wanted women to be demure with a well-balanced sweetness of character. So the thought that - by using this perspiration powder you would smell better and stay fresher which would allow you to become the ideal woman of the time, is amusing but says a lot about historical advertising targets.  Deodorants were first marketed to women.. and then slowly the men started using them. 
 
Original Directions For Use:
See that the skin is clean and cool. Take a small amount of powder and apply to the underarms or to any area of the skin that needs protection from perspiration, chapping, or prickly heat. 
 
Why this works: 
 
Calamine- is a historic name for an ore of zinc. Calamine lotion has been used as far back as 1500 BC. It is also said to be named after Cadmus, who taught the Greeks to use it.  It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Ingredients for being one of the most effective and safe medicines. Calamine lotion is used as an antipruritic to reduce itching caused by sunburn, insect bites and minor rashes. Zinc oxide is a mild antiseptic and an astringent so it helps the healing process. Historically - In the Pharmaceutical Journal of 1880, a pharmacist wrote in regarding their thoughts in combining a prescription with calamine lotion for its healing properties. In 1899 it was reported that 23,710 tons of  Calamine or Zinc Ore were mined that year. In the 1902 chemical news, they were working with experimenting with Calamine powder to see if it worked for other things, not just in the pharmacy. On March 3rd, 1906 a pharmacist wrote into the Pharmaceutical Journal complaining about the difficulty dispensing a lotion that included calamine as one of the ingredients. It has been around a long time. which is why we felt comfortable using it as a substitute in this recipe and still staying with the historical aspect of what was being used for skin ailments pharmacists at that time.
 
 Baking Soda -which is ancient (FYI -one of the first versions of powdered baking soda was invented in 1843). You can even help lighten your dark underarms with it. It is excellent at absorbing sweat and keeps armpits dry for a long time. It also has mild anti-odor properties. Baking soda can extinguish a fire, make a volcano or other science experiment, clean your house, unclog a drain, soften your laundry, neutralize the ph of chemicals, treat heartburn, relieve itching from poisonous plants, bug bites, extract a sliver, brush your teeth, wash your hair, prevent body order -  With that said... some people can get rashes while using it. Ours has less than 2 grams per jar and we have tested it on many very sensitive underarms. We realize some may want to test it out first.  If you would like to purchase a sample to test, they are $2.00 each.  Baking soda has gotten a bad rap lately, but mostly it's because either the recipe wasn't formulated correctly, or the person has extremely sensitive underarm skin. It's amazing for odors and sweat and we feel that you will fall in love with this powdered deodorant. 
 
Boric Acid ( it sounds scary, but it's not)  and Baking Soda ( Sodium Bicarbonate) have anti-microbial properties and kill odor-causing bacteria and smell. Boric Acid is derived from boron, which is used as a natural anti-fungal treatment. It has even been used in eyewashes to cleanse and fight irritation. 
 
Corn Starch- has been used to absorb, and even treat rashes and minor irritations for the underarm. 
 
Witch Hazel - which comes from the twigs of the North American Witch Hazel shrub (Hamamelis virginiana) can prohibit odor-causing bacteria because it lowers your skin's pH, making it hard for bacteria to survive. It has antibacterial properties and is a superb astringent, removing excess oil and moisture and constricting tissue to which it is applied.  Witch Hazel is excellent for sensitive skin!!
 
Organic Lemon and Bergamot EO- lemon helps lower the PH of the skin which prevents odor and bacteria. Bergamot like lemon is a natural deodorizer. Both of these lovely organic oils have antiseptic, antibiotic and disinfectant properties. Win-Win!