So, I tried my hand at some all-natural deodorant. I have to say . . this stuff smells great! I mean, if you whip up a batch of this stuff, you'll be sniffing the bottle continuously. And, honestly, you may have to quit using it because you'll be constantly fighting the urge to sniff your delightfully scented pits in public. ;)

Now, before you rush out and gather up all the ingredients, let's be sure we know what this is and what it isn't.

What it is= an amazingly scented deodorant that gets the job done (I'm not sure I'd rely on it if I were planning to have tea with the Dowager Countess after running a 5K, though).

What it isn't= an anti-perspirant. So, if not pitting out your dress shirt during a big meeting is important to you (as it is to my husband), perhaps you ought to hold out for a different recipe.

So, ready to proceed?

Here's what you need:

4 Tbs. olive oil (not EVOO)

1 Tbs. beeswax

1/8 tsp. tea tree oil

1/8 tsp. rosemary essential oil

1/8 tsp. lavender essential oil

empty, clean stick-typed deodorant applicator

Combine olive oil and wax over a water bath and heat the water to a gentle simmer. Stir until the wax melts. Remove from heat and add in the tea tree, lavender, and rosemary oils.

Roll your applicator down to its lowest position. Add just enough hot oil to cover the platform and wait a moment while it cools slightly (some applicators have tiny holes in them -- this step will block the holes). Add the rest of the mixture. Let it cool and solidify overnight before capping. Apply just like you would a store-bought stick. Then sniff, sniff, sniff those pits a la Mary Katherine Gallagher. ;)