Deodorant Stone
 

Does anyone use a deodorant stone?

I bought one the other day, tried it out this morning before work. (I packed my usual deodorant just in case...)

I want to hear thoughts from anyone that has tried it or use it all the time?

http://store.thecrystal.com/shared/S...t=products.asp

If you've never heard of it, its basically a giant salt crystal, they claim the salt kills the odor causing bacteria, you will sweat but it won't smell. They claim the 5oz stone (about $7-$10) will last an entire year. If it works it would be a great money saver. And easy to put away 5yrs worth of deodorant that wont go bad for when TSHTF

EDIT: Another link to another type
http://www.natural-deodorant-stone.com/index.htm
I bought a white stone that they talk about, they claim theirs is better....who knows?

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I got the Crystal Body one last August, it is still going strong. Works for me.
http://www.vitacost.com/Crystal-Body...-Stick-for-Men

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

What kind of special salt is it? When you sweat, it is salt water. So with that logic, no one would stink.

?????

Must be something else in it.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

all i've used for 5 or so years.

doesn't have the pore blockers which i worry keep what needs to get/come out , in.

works good enough for me & my wife uses it some of the time.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I have found the deodorant crystal to be far superior to the chemical-laced antiperspirants at the drugstore (not equal - superior), and much cheaper. I have been using the same stone for over three years and I think it only cost me $10 or so.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Alum, aluminum potassium sulfate. Effective, but it gives me a rash.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

My wife and I have used it as a way of getting away from regular anti-persperent. There have been some indications that the main ingredient in them (some type of aluminum - would have to look it up again) may be a trigger for altimers disease.

:coolbeer:

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

They are made of potassium alum or potassium sulfate, mostly. They may have other mineral impurities, but the potassium alum is the main ingredient. You can buy alum bars from shaving supply stores too. It stops little shaving nicks from bleeding much more completely and more quickly than styptic pencils.

If you have an Indian store nearby, check to see if they have "phatkari". This is potassium alum. It's usually cheap in an Indian store.

Some deodorant stones are made of ammonium alum. They work the same way as potassium alum as a deodorant. I'm not sure if it is also a styptic.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

One of the drawbacks I hate with standard deodorants is the stains it gradually leaves on shirts under the armpits.

Does this alternative cause the same problem or not?

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

My wife and I switched to using the salt crystal last year. We started with the one that is just a block that you hold. I dropped and shattered my mine. Then we shared. Then I dropped and shattered her's. Now we just got the one that comes in a plastic holder and it is much more convenient.

I have had a little bit of rash, but I got over it. It is much cheeper.

As far as working better than anti-persperant - I don't think it works better, but it works pretty good. The real reason we switched was not having the chemicals.

We like them and I would recommend them. We get them at Vitamin Cottage.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

This was in my email this morning, I thought you all would find it interesting. More at the link
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...eodorants.aspx

Stop Using 'Natural' Deodorants Until You Read This
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
February 16 2010 | 112,428 views

deodorantSome of the most popular natural deodorants are the "crystal" deodorant stones and sprays. But most people don't know that these crystal deodorant products contain aluminum.

The crystal deodorant stones are made from alum. The most widely used form of alum used in the personal care industry is potassium alum. The full chemical name of potassium alum is potassium aluminum sulfate.

The reason that most people try to avoid aluminum in deodorant is because of its possible link to Alzheimer's disease. There is some strong evidence of a link -- for instance, in 1988 a truck driver accidentally dumped 20 tons of aluminum sulfate in to a town's drinking water.

Now, over 20 years later, they are finding a higher incidence of Alzheimer�s in the people of this town.

Incidentally, the article linked below notes that, �many doctors such as popular web guru and natural health expert Dr. Mercola suggest avoiding aluminum as much as possible.�

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

You are right MKS. These deodorant stones are sulfates of aluminum.

Those of you who are using the deodorant stones / crystals, is it in order to avoid aluminum?

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

finally, something I can share some research on....

it is ammonium alum... sometimes. there are two alum compounds used and I don't recall the other at the moment. they just call them mineral salts on the packaging so you don't realize it is basically pickling salt. I personally bought pounds of the powder and just make my own solution. the hard crystal is good to have for travel, but expensive and fragile.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Well the crystal body deodorant addresses this on their faq page:
http://www.thecrystal.com/crystal_insights.cfm#Alum

I'm no chemist, so I can't confirm or dispute their statements. I mainly started using it cuz I'm a cheap SOB and it lasts forever.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Supposedly the yellow armpit stains on shirts are not from deodorant but from sebum from your sweat glands. That's if I remember
correctly from the Maxim article from years ago.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I use a "natural salt crystal" deodorant and have for several years. Just get it wet and wipe it on. At the end of the day my t-shirt armpit's are still odorless. Excellent stuff and safe to use.

HOWEVER... I found out that if I reapply it without showering first it will irritate my skin and I get a red rash. There are lots of different brands -- I've never bothered trying to figure out which is best.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

When I was a kid, the old timers got me into putting small chunks of alum in my pants pockets to help keep from getting gaulded, or monkey butt they used to call it, when we were bailing hay and straw. It worked pretty good. It helped to only wear boxers under your bibed overalls or work pants. Or no underpants at all was better. Anything with alum in it will help keep you drier. It'll make your mouth pucker up worse than any lemon, too. But that's another story.

I used a deoderant stone a long time ago and I think I'll switch back to it.

Good thread!

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

The great thing about a deodorant stone is that when you've finished with it, it is just chock full of minerals and proteins and can be used as a soup stone.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I have on my list to make some colloidial silver ...put it in a spray bottle and try it as a deoderant...hand wash...disinfectant..spray for deer hunting clothes...etc

has anyone tried anything like that yet??

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Tried CS as deodorant, did not work very well.
I think the problem is the delivery; spray does not stick to the skin like typical deodorant, it just runs down.

Milk of magnesia works surprisingly well. I extract it from dead sea salt, but I think if one were to leave the top off of a bottle from the store it would thicken to a paste that keeps the smell away.

I used the stone before and it worked OK,
nothing natural is going to as good as anti-antiperspirants,
compare them to a deodorant instead.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I have been using one for over seven years. For me one application is enough for the day. Some people might like to reapply the salt stone after eight hours.
I live in Phoenix Arizona, so I have a good understanding of sweat.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

btw the stone is available at walgreens- at least here.

re not working as well as anti-perspirants i got used to keeping an extra t-shirt & stone @ work for very long days. i was concerned that blocking a normal body function like swaeting at a lymph node in a big no no.also the aluminum causing alzeimers i have read is not true; who knows though these days... i haven't researched it.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I use the THAI crystal, it works ok. You have to use it every day for it to work. It's cheap and it lasts a long time. I still use commercial stuff if going on a date or any occasion where I sweat more than usual.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Works great as a deodorant.Spray it on, also soak socks in it , let dry, and wear for 3-5 days no smell,but they get "crusty".

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Yep, Alum is what taxidermists use to draw the moisture out of a hide they are tanning.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

I use the thai crystal, too. I'd be pretty devistated to find out it contains alum. I just looked it up. Potassium alum. Damnit.


At least I still have my home-made toothpaste. Looks like I have to find a way to do home-made deodorant as well. There don't seem to be a lot of great solutions. This is unfortunate as the Thai Crystal works really really well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_alum

Wikipedia does not have anything bad to say about it. I wonder.........

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

Baking Soda...Sodium bicarbonate.

It works like a charm.

Baking soda eliminates odors, including body odors.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

crap ignorance was bliss there...you had to ruin it...;)

maybe ill go back to old spice..

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

This from Dr. Mercola this morning:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...eodorants.aspx

Stop Using 'Natural' Deodorants Until You Read This
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
February 16 2010 | 220,887 views

Some of the most popular natural deodorants are the "crystal" deodorant stones and sprays. But most people don't know that these crystal deodorant products contain aluminum.
The crystal deodorant stones are made from alum. The most widely used form of alum used in the personal care industry is potassium alum. The full chemical name of potassium alum is potassium aluminum sulfate.
The reason that most people try to avoid aluminum in deodorant is because of its possible link to Alzheimer's disease. There is some strong evidence of a link -- for instance, in 1988 a truck driver accidentally dumped 20 tons of aluminum sulfate in to a town's drinking water.
Now, over 20 years later, they are finding a higher incidence of Alzheimer�s in the people of this town.
Incidentally, the article linked below notes that, �many doctors such as popular web guru and natural health expert Dr. Mercola suggest avoiding aluminum as much as possible.�


Sources:
http://media.mercola.com/Themes/merc...ges/bullet.gif Bubble and Bee January 21, 2010


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Let�s get this straight. Even though aluminum is widely distributed in the earth�s crust, it is NOT needed in ANY amounts in your body. All evidence to date points to aluminum as a poison that serves no beneficial role in your body and should be avoided.
Aluminum is widely recognized as a neurotoxin, which has been found in increased concentrations in the brains of people with Alzheimer�s disease.
Unfortunately, if you use antiperspirants or some deodorants, you are most likely exposing yourself to aluminum.
Aluminum salts can account for 25 percent of the volume of some antiperspirants.
A review of the common sources of aluminum exposure for humans found that antiperspirant use can significantly increase the amount of aluminum absorbed by your body. According to the review, after a single underarm application of antiperspirant, about .012 percent of the aluminum may be absorbed.
Multiply this by one or more times a day for a lifetime and you can have a massive exposure to aluminum -- a poison that is not meant to be in your body.
Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores that release sweat under your arms -- with the active ingredient being aluminum. Not only does this block one of your body�s routes for detoxification (releasing toxins via your underarm sweat), but it raises concerns about where these heavy metals are going once you roll them (or spray them) on.
In some cases, it is clear that they may be wreaking havoc directly on your brain. In 1988, for instance, a truck driver accidentally poured 20 tons of aluminum sulphate into a tank containing drinking water.
Some 20,000 people in the village of Camelford were exposed to the chemical for several weeks, and then went on to develop a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer�s disease, along with showing the presence of high levels of aluminum in their tissues.

Deodorants and Antiperspirants Linked to Cancer

Alzheimer�s disease is not the only reason to ditch your aluminum-containing antiperspirant and deodorant, as this heavy metal has also been linked to cancer.
A 2006 study found that aluminum salts can mimic the hormone estrogen, and chemicals that imitate that hormone are known to increase breast cancer risk. Animal studies have also found that aluminum can cause cancer.
Given that antiperspirants are used on your armpits, the aluminum salt concentration is highest near your breast tissue. Further, when women shave under their arms it can result in a higher aluminum-salt absorption rate due to the damaged skin.
In a 2007 study published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, researchers tested breast samples from 17 breast-cancer patients who had undergone mastectomies. The women who used antiperspirants had deposits of aluminum in their outer breast tissue. Concentrations of aluminum were higher in the tissue closest to the underarm than in the central breast.
Aluminum is not normally found in the human body, so this study was a pretty clear sign that the metal was being absorbed from antiperspirant sprays and roll-ons.
It�s worth mentioning that deodorants are not the same thing as antiperspirants. Deodorants may actually be less problematic than antiperspirants, as they work by neutralizing the smell of your sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria, but do not prevent sweating.
However, many deodorants also contain aluminum, along with chemicals called parabens, which have also been linked to breast cancer. So, you�re clearly better off avoiding both antiperspirants and deodorants.

Supposedly �Safe� Crystal Alum Antiperspirants

�Crystal� deodorant stones are a popular natural deodorant alternative, often used by health-conscious shoppers looking to avoid the aluminum and other chemicals common in most antiperspirants and deodorants.
However, if you�re looking to avoid aluminum, crystal deodorants may not be your best choice.
While many claim to be aluminum-free, they are referring to aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum hydroxybromide or aluminum zirconium.
These types of aluminum are widely used in antiperspirants and deodorants. The aluminum is taken into sweat ducts in the top layer of your skin where they act as a plug, stopping the flow of sweat to your skin�s surface.
There is evidence, however, that this aluminum is absorbed into your body where it may cause serious damage.
The aluminum in crystal deodorant stones is a different type of compound known as an alum, the most common form being potassium alum, also known as potassium aluminum sulfate.
Potassium Alum or Ammonium Alum are natural mineral salts made up of molecules that are too large to be absorbed by your skin. They form a protective layer on your skin that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria. These deodorants are recommended by many cancer treatment centers.
But while this may be a better alternative to most antiperspirants and deodorants on the market, it is not completely aluminum-free.
I�ll share with you my top tips for staying odor-free naturally shortly, but first I want to explain why I stopped using any antiperspirants or deodorants over 25 years ago � and suggest you also do the same.

Final Recommendation:

Please note that this recommendation is for antiperspirants only, not deodorants. Many confuse the two. Nearly all antiperspirants use aluminum or alum-based salts to achieve their sweat reduction effect.
It is an absolute no brainer for you and your family to avoid all conventional aluminum-based antiperspirants. The evidence is very clear that these are absorbed and will contribute to aluminum in your body.
Regarding purportedly safe �alum� based antiperspirants found in most health food stores, the companies that produce these claim that the mineral salts are too large to be absorbed and thus provide no danger. However, we have been unable to uncover any solid evidence that supports this claim so it would seem prudent to avoid using them.
While these crystals are probably better than using a conventional antiperspirant, they are clearly not aluminum-free and it still poses a possible Alzheimer's risk and contributes to background toxicity in your body.
It would seem best to exercise the precautionary principle at this time and avoid these crystal-based alum antiperspirants.
Personally, I have not used antiperspirants for over 30 years, once I realized that they were actually causing the stains in the underarm area of my shirts and that wasn�t due to my own sweat. That was a major clue to me to avoid them.
All I do is use simple soap and water and that seems to work well enough that my friends and relatives do not tell me I have any offensive body odor. I typically will wash under my arms in the morning and after I workout.
This approach has served me well for over three decades, however if you find you need a more aggressive approach, then try a pinch of baking soda mixed into water as an effective all-day deodorant.
Additionally, there are many non-aluminum or alum-based alternatives in your local health food store that would likely serve your needs, but I would encourage you to at least TRY going without before making your mind up.
Remember you will need to check the label not only for �aluminum� but also for potassium alum or potash alum, as the full chemical name of potassium alum is potassium aluminum sulfate.

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

How about large sodium chloride or potassium chloride crystals?

Re: Deodorant Stone
 

http://www.mit.edu/~rei/deodorant.html


This site has excellant modifications on the recipe, such as mixing with a one to one ratio of corn starch, or adding essential oils in small amounts:
http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/...king-soda.html


Baking Soda!
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