Cooking is not necessarily my favorite past time, but I love making different herbal and aromatherapy concoctions. Here is a wonderful substitute for talcum powder that I have been making for years.
As a testimony to just how well it works, I have a little story to share: I have a very dear friend who is as opposite to me as possible in the area of health and nutrition. She eats solely for taste, not for health, and seeks the advice (and medication) of her doctor when it catches up to her (well, and sometimes my advice too). We frequently joke about our differences and she has lovingly labeled me as her “herbal wacko friend”.
It just so happens that her husband had a very severe reaction to the antibiotics he was on, which took the form of a very ugly, inflamed, itchy rash on his arm. I passed along some of my dusting powder to relieve his symptoms (before we knew what was wrong), and they were hooked because of how well it worked. They named it “Bonnie’s voodoo powder,” and her son now uses it too. Once you try it, I promise you’ll never want to use regular talcum powder again.
I, as I have already said, have used it for years on myself, my hubby and my children. It definitely came in handy when my cuties were babies and had diaper rash and I was concerned about the chemicals and talc in baby powder!
It is so easy to make. Here is the recipe:
- 8 parts Bentonite Clay
- 8 parts Arrowroot Powder
- 1 part slippery elm powder (marshmallow root powder can be substituted)
- 1 part comfrey root powder
- Lavender essential oil
Step 1: Assemble your ingredients and tools (note the recipe written on my mixing jar). I make a large amount, which lasts a long time. By having it on my jar I don’t have to hunt down my recipe every time I make it.

Step 2: Start measuring ingredients.

Step 3: Shake them together.

Step 4: Add your essential oil. I use about 30 drops of lavender oil and 20 of sweet orange in my mason jar mixture. I love using lavender because of it’s skin healing properties, but you can use any of your favorite essential oils.

Step 5: Shake jar well again, and voila! Your dusting powder is done, and that is all there is to it. I use little plastic containers with shake tops or old spice jars to package mine in, and it works great! Here is the finished product.

Try it yourself, and let me know how you like it!
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I am new to these things, Really like the recipe. But what does part mean? how much is that? Tablespoon or tsp . Thank you.
I can’t wait to make this! I bet it smells and feels wonderful. I don’t wear deodorant, and, while my b.o. is not nearly as bad as it used to be, I find that powder helps keep it down soooo much. I have been using gold bond medicated. So happy to find this recipe!
where can I get those ingredients??? I am not at all acquainted with this type of thing.
THANKS
Hi Dianne, I am so sorry for the delayed reply. Just saw this in my queue. I would look at a local health food store. You can also look online through herbal retailers like Frontier. Let me know if you can’t find them, ok?
Fun! I have all the ingredients except slippery elm. I love making these concoctions, too – so nice to have “luxury” items that really heal!
Next time I see you, I’ll share some slippery elm with you (remind me, though). You’ll love it!