How to make your own deodorant – this recipe is all natural and very easy to follow!
Okay, so I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this may be the most life-changing thing you ever read on this blog. Or maybe it won’t be, because maybe you already know this, but…you can MAKE your own deodorant. And it works. Really well.
I have tried sooooo many different all natural deodorants over the years: Tom’s, JASON, Origins, more Tom’s…the list goes on. And they would work for a while, and then stop working. Or it would work just great for normal situations, and then I would have a solo performance or some stressful situation, and it would so NOT work. Yuck.
One day I asked my friend what deodorant she used, and she said, I actually started making my own last month, and I love it. Now, I had heard about people mixing coconut oil and baking soda together and using that, but she was using an actual recipe and putting it in actual deodorant tubes.
For some reason this sounded a lot more civilized to me, so I order my tubes, and headed to Whole Foods to get my ingredients. There are a lot of recipes for deodorant on the web, and I read through quite a few before deciding to go with this one, with a couple of slight modifications.
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons shea butter
3 Tablespoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder
2 Tablespoons cocoa butter
2 vitamin E oil gel caps (puncture and squeeze out the oil)
7 drops of lavender essential oil
Step by Step Instructions
- Place the shea butter and the cocoa butter in a glass bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds until melted.
- Stir in the arrowroot powder and baking soda. Add the oils and stir again.
- Use a small measuring cup or small ladle to pour into a deodorant tube. This recipe will almost overfill the one tube, be careful! Let it solidify at room temperature, or if it’s a hot day, in the refrigerator.
Once solid, you can use it! I am amazed at how well this deodorant works for me. I have been using it for about six weeks and it’s amazing. Now if it’s hot outside, I do still sweat, but there is no odor whatsoever. I’ve even road tested it in a couple of stressful situations and it works very well! I chose to use arrowroot instead of cornstarch because I had read that for some reason it works better than corn starch, plus we do still avoid corn most of the time, so I had a bag of arrowroot on hand.
Anyway, I’m so happy with how this turned out, and it makes me want to make more of my own body products! How great is it to know exactly what you are putting on your body because you made it yourself! Lip balm is next on the list, then maybe lotion. Do you make any of your own bath and body products? Or, have you found a natural deodorant that works for you?
Claire B
I have made my own hypoallergenic deodorant for a couple of years. I simply mix baking powder with a good lotion like Aveeno moisturizing lotion in a small empty vaseline jar (or jar of similar size) and mix.
When it begins to dry out add a small bit of water and mix again to make it more fluid. This should be the consistency of a light-airy cream.
Start at approximately a 1/2 jar of baking powder, then start mixing in the lotion, and voila- no itching anymore and very good coverage for bad smells!
Patricia
You didn’t include an ingredient to help kill bacteria or to keep mold from forming in it like tea tree oil. So, how long is this good for until it has to be discarded?
Lisa
I’ve been making my own deodorant too for several years but, a much simpler formula. Do u have problems with it melting? I was going to add some beeswax to mine for that reason but afraid it would change it too much & make it less effective. Yes we sweat or perspire! LOL ppl don’t realize the chemicals in reg store bought is toxic & prevents this by clogging pores, so it takes adjustment. This is natural for your body to release toxins and also smells derived from bacteria on skin being covered by fragrance. Honestly some days in able to shower & just use Coconut oil! Good for you! ?
Jessi
I made this deodorant and I’m extremely happy with it! It is chalkier or grittier than I’m used to but I don’t mind that. It is better than the Trader Joes brand & Lafe’s brand I was using. However, I have one concern, does the baking soda plug your pores like an antiperspirant would? I ask this because I find the deodorant works so well! I’m worried it’s too good to be true! Thanks in advance :)
Kelly
Glad you like it! I don’t know for sure, but I have seen baking soda in recipes for masks to unclog pores, so I’m guessing not?
stella
I made a batch of this deodorant about 2 months ago. I like it as far as how it works, but it is too hard (I followed the recipe exactly as written) and I have a real hard time using it. I scrape pieces off with a toothpick then use a cosmetic sponge to dig in to it to get some product on it to apply under arm. Which ingredient could I add if I remelted to soften it up some? Of coarse I don’t want it to soften to whereI have to refrigerate it. Thank you for your reply
Kelly
I really don’t know what would have gone wrong here. Could the cocoa butter have been extra dry? If you remelted it, I would maybe add just a LITTLE bit of coconut oil. But not much, because you don’t want it to be too melty at room temperature. I’m sorry you had this issue!
Kelsey
Can you use cacao butter instead of cocoa butter?
teaspoonsf
I never even thought about making my own deodorant! I found that Tom’s doesn’t work that well for me, so I have been looking for another brand…but I think making it myself might be the better answer!
Jenn
Hi, where did you find the labels you used here? I’ve been looking for something like this. Thanks!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen
Beautiful! I’m such an addict when it comes to making my own stuff so I totally get this. The recipe I used last time needs some tweaking, so I’m going to try something like this next time. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley
Wow, I need to try this! I love making stuff on my own instead of buying it! Pinning so I can make it one day when my kids all decide to take a nap, lol!
I’d love to have you link this up at my link party if you get a chance : )
http://cherishedbliss.com/2013/09/moonlight-mason-jars-21.html
Meeling
Very cool! I’ve used Tom’s before with not good success at all. Chasing little 3 year olds around at work, we tend to get a little sweaty so I need something that actually works. Will definitely give this a go! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
Wow! I am so fascinated by this!!! I have wanted to make some of my own lip balm before too… So cool!!! :)
Kelly
Yes, I think lip balm would be so fun for Christmas gifts. I think I’m going to try that this year!
Kristen
This is amazing and I’m going to have to try it for sure. I also really, really want to learn how to make cold-process soap, but like Beth said, I’m waiting on that for a less busy time to actually try it.
Kelly
It would be awesome to make cold process soap…I think that is a lot more involved than this though. I’ll have to leave that to the experts for now!
Dee
This is very interesting! I would also consider making my own but wanted to ask if it left any oily residue or staining on your clothing?
Kelly
No, I haven’t noticed any stains or residue at all. I usually wear cotton shirts, I don’t know if it would do anything to more delicate fabric or not.
Jessica
I love this idea! I’ve been making my own shampoo for a while and deodorant is one of those products with so many unnecessary chemicals in it that it would be worth trying at the very least. Thanks for posting this!
Kelly
Jessica, you should share your shampoo recipe!
Beth Goad
I love that it can go in a tube! The make your own versions I’ve always seen before just seemed to messy to me, but this I would be willing to try :)
For now, I’ll stick with TOM’s and pin this for a season that’s less chaotic and I can actually fathom gathering all the ingredients and making it!
Kelly
Oh for sure! You just worry about holding that sweet baby right now! :)