How to Make Natural Deodorant

Today, I tackle a subject that no one really wants to talk about: body odor.
More importantly, I will tackle it naturally. Chances are, you’ve probably experienced body odor at some point. I am posting this because it was a touchy subject for me for a long time, and I’m hoping my (embarrassing) plight might be able to help you!

Why Natural Deodorant?

Eating a good diet and drinking enough water can really cut down the odor, but sometimes you need something else. Sure, the conventional deodorant antiperspirants work great, if you don’t mind infusing your armpits with aluminum and other additives!
For those of us who have sought a more natural option, you may have noticed that the pickings are rather slim. There are a lot of natural deodorants out there, it’s just that, well… most of them don’t work well. I say this from experience, as a woman who has been pregnant multiple times in the last few years (pregnancy increases sweat) and worked out through the pregnancies.

So what to do?

Sweat like a horse or slather on the aluminum? Is there no other option?
Fortunately, there is!
Unfortunately, it takes more time than going to the store, but it lasts a lot longer and is a whole lot healthier! In my pursuit of healthy armpits, I finally stumbled upon a natural homemade deodorant recipe that works and is still natural. This is after trying every natural variation I could find (which didn’t work or caused a rash) and after several very failed attempts at making it.
I did find in the process that pure baking soda or plain coconut oil work pretty well, so if you aren’t into making your own, maybe try that. Some people get a rash from baking soda, so test this on a small area of skin first.

How to Make Natural Homemade Deodorant

Both of the recipes below work really well. I prefer the softness of the first recipe, but if you don’t have shea butter lying around, the second recipe works just as well and has fewer ingredients. You can customize your deodorant to your scent preferences with essential oils, if desired or omit them for an unscented version.
If you’d like a slightly stronger deodorant recipe with a manly scent, see my DIY Men’s Deodorant recipe.

Homemade Deodorant with Shea Butter

Shea Butter Deodorant Ingredients

• 3 T Coconut Oil
• 3 T Baking Soda
• 2 T Shea Butter
• 2 T Arrowroot (optional) or organic cornstarch
• Essential Oils (optional)

Shea Butter Deodorant Instructions

1. Melt shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler over medium heat until barely melted. UPDATE: Combine in a quart size glass mason jar with a lid instead and place this in a small saucepan of water until melted. This will save your bowl and you can just designate this jar for these type of projects and not even need to wash it out… This can also be done in the microwave if you have one.
2. Remove from heat and add baking soda and arrowroot (If you don’t have arrowroot, use more baking soda or just omit)
3. Mix well
4. Add essential oils and pour into a glass container for storage. It does not need to be stored in the fridge.
5. If you prefer, you can let it cool completely and put into an old deodorant stick for easier use, though it may melt in the summer!

NOTE: It may take several hours to completely harden and this process can be sped up by putting in the fridge for a few minutes.
If you don’t have all those ingredients around, or don’t want to wash a double boiler, this recipe is faster and easier:

Coconut Oil Homemade Deodorant Recipe

Coconut Oil Deodorant Ingredients

• 6 T coconut oil
• 1/4 cup (4 T) baking soda
• 1/4 cup (4 T) arrowroot or organic cornstarch
• essential oils (optional)

Coconut Oil Deodorant Instructions

1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot together in a medium sized bowl.
2. Mash in coconut oil with a fork until well mixed.
3. Add oils if desired.
4. Store in small glass jar or old deodorant container for easy use.

Why Use Natural Deodorant?

I started this pursuit to avoid nasty additives in regular deodorant, but I’m a lifelong convert because it works!
No, really! I was the girl who rejoiced when Secret Clinical Strength came out before prom one year. I’ve had to use regular deodorant a few times since I started the natural, and it doesn’t work as well. Although not an antiperspirant,  it does seem to absorb a lot of wetness.
After a few weeks of using natural, I noticed an unexpected side effect… I wasn’t sweating as much to begin with. Months later, and I notice this even more!
I urge you to try making your own deodorant. Even if you aren’t daunted by the ingredients in your own deo, wouldn’t you feel better knowing you weren’t putting anything on your skin that you couldn’t eat (not that you would want to eat shea butter!) If you do try it, let me know the outcome!

Troubleshooting and FAQs

After years of using this recipe and hundreds of comments from readers who have tried these recipes. If you have any trouble with making these natural homemade deodorant recipes, this may help:
Q. This homemade deodorant is giving me a rash… Did I do something wrong?
A. Some people react negatively to the baking soda and develop a rash or underarm discoloring. If this happens to you, I’d suggest stopping using the natural deodorant until you are able to resolve the issue. Many people cut the baking soda amount in half and notice that the irritation goes away. Also, make sure that you aren’t reacting to any essential oils you use in your homemade deodorant.
A simple clay-based armpit detox can help pull out some of the chemicals from past deodorant use that may store in the underarm and lead to a rash.
Acid-Based Deodorant: Other readers have noticed that if they react to a baking soda based deodorant, an acid-based deodorant works better. Suggestions that seemed to have worked include using diluted lemon juice or apple cider vinegar alone or with essential oils.
Spray Deodorant: A magnesium-based spray deodorant can also be helpful, especially for those who react to coconut oil or shea butter. This is also a lighter option that dried more quickly.
Q. I’m allergic to coconut oil… can I make this recipe without it?
A. Absolutely!
You can use half as much of a liquid oil like almond, jajoba or avocado oil in place of the coconut oil, especially in the shea butter recipe. This will create a thinner recipe. If you want a formula closer to an actual deodorant bar but without the coconut oil, use this recipe but use 1/4 cup almond (or other liquid oil) in place of the coconut oil.
Q. Can I put this in a regular deodorant container?
A. Yes, though it will work better with the first recipe that contains shea butter. To make an even firmer bar, increase the shea butter to 1/4 cup.  I also recommend letting either recipe firm up in the fridge before attempting to use if you are putting in deodorant containers.
Q. This seems to be staining my clothes… How do I fix this?
A. I’ve personally never had trouble with this, but it seems that this can be a result of using too much of the mixture at one time or not letting it absorb into skin before putting on clothing. I use a tiny amount (not much is needed) and wait 3-5 minutes before putting on a shirt to avoid any staining issues.
Q. This stings if I apply right after shaving… how do I prevent this?
A. The baking soda or magnesium will sting after shaving. Usually, waiting a few minutes will solve the problem.
Ever made your own deodorant? How did it go? Share below!

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