Mostly Hippie

My name is Flowering Meadow, It is groovy of you to join me today. Am I a flower child? No, but according to Quizly, I'm 70% Hippie. Are my parental units hippies? No. Is my name really Flowering Meadow? Well, this is the literal meaning of my real name. My Prince Charming says I have a bit of a hippie inside of me. I think I would prefer boho to hippie as a qualifier tag. Hippie has more of a political message, they embrace peace and love. But "bohemians are free-spirited and artistic" (Source). Yep, I definitely lean more boho (Picture Source).

I have been making my own cleaning and personal hygiene products for 5 years now. In 2018, a holistic doctor diagnosed the cause of a rash on my arm as an allergic reaction to people's perfumes. If I was reacting to the chemicals in people's perfumes, it led me to question the chemicals in my daily products. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list on your favorite brands? I began doing research into making my own products, from lotions to soaps, using natural ingredients.

There are many good reasons to start making your own products from scratch. One of the main reasons is that by reducing the chemicals used in your house, you make your home a more healthy environment. Your family and pets will not be impacted by harmful chemicals. Making your products is also usually less expensive. It is also better for the environment. Those chemicals will not go down your drains into the public sewers or septic tanks. These sewers drain into wastewater treatment plants. These chemicals damage the bacterial environment of your septic tanks and your local wastewater treatment plant (Source; Source; Source).

In terms of personal hygiene products, the first store-bought product I ditched was deodorant. Most deodorants have aluminum in the ingredients. These deodorants work by temporarily plugging your sweat glands, preventing you from sweating and masking the scent of your sweat. These deodorants also may cause the armpit area in your clothes to turn yellow (Source). Your body was designed to sweat for thermoregulation and as a natural way to release toxins from your body (Source). Your sweat is naturally odorless and colorless. The bad odor of your sweat is caused by bacteria on your skin reacting to your sweat. Making your own deodorant allows your body to function as it is designed. I live in a tropical, hot, and humid climate. My husband and friends can testify that my DIY deodorant works and I don't smell, even in 100+ weather sweating all day.

It is also fun to pretend you are a mad scientist when you make your products. Embrace your mad scientist with some of my favorite recipes. These recipes can be doubled or halved depending on the containers you use. Some of them do not have to be exact recipes, let your boho side free and let your heart decide. For example, for 1:1 ratio recipes, I will just eyeball my measurements, meaning I do not use measurement tools (Picture Source).

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For the home:

All-purpose cleaner (Source) In a spray bottle, add

• ½ cup white distilled vinegar

• ½ cup water

Shake before using.

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DIY Fabreeze (Source) In a spray bottle, add

• 1 tablespoon baking soda

• 1 cup hot tap water

• Essential oils (optional)

Shake before using

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Foaming, Liquid Hand Soap (Source) In a refillable foaming hand soap dispenser, add

• ½ to 1 inch of castile liquid soap

• Fill the container with water to about an inch from the top. Shake before using.

Personal Hygiene:

Deodorant (Powder) (Source) In a small container, add

• ¼ cup baking soda

• ¼ cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch

Rub a small amount into your armpit area every morning

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Dry shampoo (Source) Use baby powder or corn starch instead of your dry shampoo for oil absorption. Apply it at night directly to your greasy areas and gently rub in. There is no white powder visible in the morning on my dark hair.

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Detoxifying Face Mask (Source) This can also be used on your armpits to detox from using aluminum products. In a ceramic or glass bowl (do not use metal utensils), mix

• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay

• Just enough water or apple cider vinegar to create a paste. (Start small!)

• Apply to your face or armpits

• Let dry. It will take about 10-15 minutes.

• Rinse with warm water.

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The Bohemian Life and making your own products is not for everyone. These recipes are fun to make and all the ingredients are probably already in your home. Let your inner mad scientist free. What are some of your favorite DIY products for the home or hygiene? Did you give these recipes a try? Share your favorite recipes, thoughts, and comments below, or send a fan letter. Don't forget to subscribe to Castle in the Air to be on the shortlist for the next blog to drop! Until next time, this is the Boho Mad Scientist signing off.