What does clean smell like?

I initially just wanted to write about my "no poo" journey and homemade deodorant, but then that got me thinking, what does clean smell like?  When I first started researching "no poo" I read a few places about your hair smelling like hair.  Hmm, what does hair actually smell like I wondered? My hair has always smelled like whatever shampoo and conditioner I used.  Now my reasons for trying this whole "no poo" thing are more of just trying something different than anything, that and this is cheaper and faster.  But I guess if I'm honest I do like taking little steps toward eliminating chemicals from my family's day to day life.

I think it started back when we decided to cloth diaper Allison. Trying to do our part in not filling the landfills, not putting the chemical filled disposables on her, and knowing that we were planning on more kids the economical side was a big pull too.  After that, I guess we got sucked in! (haha, just kidding) But in using a midwife and starting to talk to people in those circles you have the opportunity to see a whole new world. (are you picturing yourself on a magic carpet ride? I am.  Love that movie) Our Chiropractor was a huge catalyst (shout out!!) in helping us to change our way of thinking and eventually many of our methods.

But back to the point. What does clean smell like? When I started to look at cloth diapers and how to wash them one of the biggest things you read is how you want your detergent to be "free and clear." No dyes, no perfumes, no additives.  I remember washing some diapers and smelling them.  They didn't smell like anything, and I had read that if they don't stink, then that's good.  Weird. I mean clean has to smell like something right? Just watch a Pine Sol commercial right?

So over the last few years I have started to try and be more natural in my cleaning methods, vinegar is starting to become my clean smell, and in our medications.  The way I see it, when God created the earth, at some point, maybe after the fall of Adam and Eve, he created things in the earth to help us.  I mean back in the Bible days I'm pretty sure they didn't have all the drugs and anti biotics we do now.  But I think there were things all over in nature that produced the same if not better results.  And I'm guessing if they worked back then, they probably still work now.  i.e. Baltic Amber (you may have seen Caleb sporting his super cool necklace, there is actually a reason he wears it, you can read more HERE) Colloidal Silver, (see THIS previous post), garlic, and a bazillion other things.

And back to the point again, (geez even my blog is ADD, I guess since I'm writing it that makes sense) What does clean smell like?  I've heard for a long time that deodorants and anti-perspirants have aluminum in them and being that it is applied every day it really is bad for you.  (more reading HERE) So I decided to try a home-made deodorant that I have heard from many works really well.  I tried it today for the first time but I'm really interested in what my husband thinks.  (him being the stinky one and all :]  ) It's hard to find a deodorant now days that doesn't have some sort of scent.  Even the "fresh" scent has a perfume-y smell to it.  You can't hardly find unscented.  Hair products are the same thing, they are all scented.  Now don't get me wrong, not all scents are bad.  There are many essential oils and natural products that have scents that can be pleasant and not harmful.  But let me get to the point (it's about time right?) in today's society we think clean needs to smell like something.  Could it be that clean doesn't have a smell? I'm beginning to believe that just might be the case.  Clean is so refreshing and......not smelling.  After the clean you can always do things to smell pretty, or like I said some smells are fine, but what is producing that smell? Is it a natural ingredient or is it some chemical that is artificially produced to re-create a scent?

I've also started to realize that if you make your own stuff (cleaning products, natural remedies, etc) it really can be much cheaper than the "normal" store products.  I know you can buy natural products at the stores and they tend to be more expensive than the "normal" products.  But if my hair regimen continues I'm approximating I'll spend about $15 on hair products a year.  That's right, a year.  A box of baking soda and apple cider vinegar is all I use and only a tablespoon or so at a time once a week or so. (and that might go down depending on how my hair oils continues to adjust over the next few weeks) I'm currently going on 3 weeks not using traditional shampoo or conditioner and it's going great.  (now to be honest one of the reasons I chose to do this is that I knew I could go back at any point and I already had the ingredients to get started) But it's going great and I don't have any plans at this point to go back.  Want to join me?

oh and if you are curious about making your own deodorant I used THIS recipe.