Formulating with Deodorizing Minerals (+ Our New Persimmon Bar!)
Meet the Persimmon + Mineral Deodorant Bar
This new bar genuinely surprised me, and after a decade of formulating, that doesn’t happen often. It’s what happens when you take cold process soapmaking and supercharge it with targeted deodorizing chemistry. Meet our new Persimmon + Mineral Deodorant Bar.
The Ingredient I Couldn’t Shake: Persimmon Tannin
Persimmon tannin is a traditional Japanese ingredient that’s been used for centuries to manage body odour. Specifically, it targets a compound called 2-nonenal or the molecule behind what people sometimes call “old person smell” or mature skin odour. Unlike regular sweat, 2-nonenal doesn’t wash away easily with standard soap because it’s not very water-soluble.
I’d wanted to play with it for years in my shop in Grand Valley, Ontario, but couldn’t source a reliable cosmetic-grade version in Canada. It sat on the back burner of soapy dreams. Then my pharmacist friend Lauren brought it up during a chat, and the formulation nerd in me went right back down the rabbit hole. I finally tracked down a cosmetic-grade batch, got it into the studio, and got to work.
The Brain Twist: Making It Inclusive
The original plan was simple: a gentle, targeted bar for mature skin concerns. But if you know me, you know my brain doesn’t stop there. Why limit this to one demographic? Odour is odour and we all deal with it.
What if I took the star minerals from our natural deodorant line (magnesium hydroxide and zinc ricinoleate) and packed them into a cold process soap bar? Could I build a deodorizing bar that works for everyone? Spoiler: oh yeah, we can.
The Day I Forgot My Deodorant (And It Was Fine?!)
I made the first test batch, cured it, and took it to the shower. That morning, in true busy-mom-and-business-owner fashion, I completely forgot to put on deodorant.
I didn’t realize until late afternoon. I braced for the worst and nothing. I barely noticed I’d skipped it.
I figured it was a fluke, so I tried it again the next day. Same result. I kept the streak going for a month, barely reaching for my regular deodorant because this single bar of soap was carrying the load.
How the Triple-Action Chemistry Works
This isn’t magic; it’s just good ingredient synergy (ok but it feeeeeels like magic, right?). The formula works through three complementary mechanisms:
Persimmon Tannin: Binds to specific odour compounds like 2-nonenal, neutralizing them before they can lift off your skin.
Magnesium Hydroxide: Helps balance the skin’s surface pH, creating an environment that’s naturally less hospitable to odour-causing bacteria.
Zinc Ricinoleate: Acts like a molecular sponge, absorbing leftover odour molecules before they hit the air.
Quick tip: I’m not saying to throw away your daily deodorant entirely BUT pairing this bar with your usual routine? You’ve got an unbeatable layer of long-lasting freshness. Pits, body, feet!
The Lavish Earth Persimmon + Mineral Deodorant Bar is officially cured, wrapped, and available here!
A Note From the Formulator : If you’re a fellow soapmaker wanting to experiment with deodorizing minerals in cold process recipes, my best advice is to keep usage rates low.
Deodorant sticks can handle massive amounts of powder (like 15%+ in some cases). True saponified soap behaves completely differently. Dump too much mineral into your batch and you’ll end up with a chalky brick instead of a bar.
If you want to try this yourself: add magnesium hydroxide at 0.5% and zinc ricinoleate at 0.5% of total oil weight. Melt your zinc pearls with your oils, then blend the magnesium hydroxide powder thoroughly into the cooled oils before adding lye (good dispersion matters here).
— Andrea, Formulator + Founder, Lavish Earth