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I’ve used countless store-bought natural deodorants, and they always leave me stinky and sweaty. In 2011, I decided to make my own homemade deodorant recipe. After a few tweaks, I have created the best natural diy recipe that smells great, works wonders and I’ve used for 13 years now. I’ve shared this recipe with thousands of others— and I can’t wait for you to join my diy deodorant party.
Table of Contents
Why I Use Natural Deodorant
Making your own deodorant saves money, is healthier for your body, and actually stops sweating and body odor. Seriously, jump on this bandwagon ASAP!
In 2011, I went on a journey and started making homemade granola bars, natural cold and flu remedies like ginger lemon honey tea, elderberry syrup, homemade lip scrubs, and even went 10 days without shampoo (I don’t recommend that last one).
It was during this time that I began questioning all the things I was putting in and on my body.
Most store-bought deodorants contain chemicals like parabens and aluminum, which I wanted to avoid. Why use those when you can create the best natural deodorants with safer, more effective active ingredients? Even newer products with labels like organic deodorant often include ambiguous ingredients like “fragrance.”
To me, that’s reason enough to ditch commercial deodorants and make my own. I’ve been using the same recipe for over 13 years now, and I absolutely love it and use it every day. The only thing I change up is the essential oils I use, depending on what scent I feel like that season.
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The Best Natural Deodorant Recipe
No joke—you can put this deodorant on at 5AM, run a few miles, blend the world’s Best Green Smoothie, throw on some work clothes, work an 8-hour shift and come home smelling good.
At first, my husband and I were baffled by how well this DIY deodorant worked. We would smell each other’s armpits just to brag. Then we decided to push the boundaries and slathered it on before a long day of helping friends move. We sweated all day and still came home smelling good!
It’s important to note that this is not an antiperspirant deodorant. We are meant to sweat, it’s natural. The harmful chemicals in conventional deodorants to stop the body’s natural need to sweat is not something I want to use (and you prob don’t either).
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need four ingredients to make your own all-natural deodorant. Chances are you probably have at least half of them already. You can buy arrowroot powder in the baking section of most natural food stores or online.
- Baking soda: Absorbs moisture to keep you dry and helps neutralize odor (feel free to use less if you’ve got sensitive skin and notice irritation in your underarm area). Opt for aluminum-free baking soda, as it’s gentler and free from unnecessary additives.
- Non-GMO arrowroot powder: A better choice than traditional cornstarch, arrowroot powder helps absorb moisture to keep you dry. You can easily find it in health food stores or online.
- Organic unrefined coconut oil: Provides a moisturizing base and has natural antibacterial properties that help combat odor-causing bacteria. You can find this in most grocery or health food stores.
- Essential oils: Grapefruit oil, tea tree oil, spruce oil, and sweet orange oil are my favorites for their refreshing scents and antibacterial properties. They add fragrance while also helping to fight odor naturally.
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How to Make Homemade Deodorant
This DIY deodorant recipe is super quick to whip up with just four ingredients. If you’ve ever wondered how to make deodorant at home, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Just follow these 4 simple steps:
- Mix the arrowroot powder and baking soda together. I use my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer.
- Add the coconut oil and your favorite essential oils, like grapefruit or tea tree, to the mixture. You can adjust the consistency by adding more coconut oil if needed.
- Pour into a small glass jar (I like pint-size mason jar) and store at room temperature. Homemade deodorant will last up to two years in an airtight container.
- Use a popsicle stick to get the deodorant out of the container and transfer to your finger. Make sure you use enough under your arms to keep you “sure” all day long. A pea-size amount is usually good.
Application Tip
If you’d prefer to have it in a traditional “stick form,” melt 1 tbsp of beeswax and 1 tbsp of shea butter right into the recipe. Pour into a reusable deodorant containers and store in refrigerator until solid.
Tips for Switching to Natural Deodorant
- When you initially make the switch, you may experience an itchy rash, red bumps, or increased sweat and odor when transitioning to a homemade deodorant. Don’t let this stop you!
- Drinking plenty of water and dry brushing are two awesome ways to assist your body as it adjusts away from the chemical-laden deodorants you used to use. My #1 recommendation (drumroll, please!) is to detox your armpits. Sounds weird, I know! But it’ll help speed up your body’s adjustment period to this natural homemade deodorant.
- In addition to detoxing your armpits, you may also want to consider detoxing your whole body. All the processed foods we eat contain chemicals that end up affecting the way we smell when we sweat. Try out a 21-Day Cleanse to get started on a whole-body detox.
- These cleanses are super easy to follow and use only whole, plant-based foods (no expensive supplements!) to gently clear your body of unwanted toxins.
Common Questions
Making your own deodorant at home is easy with just a few simple ingredients like baking soda, arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and essential oils. It’s a natural, effective way to stay fresh without any harsh chemicals. Once you gather your ingredients, you’ll be able to whip up a batch quickly and enjoy the benefits of homemade, toxin-free deodorant.
To extend the effectiveness of homemade deodorant, apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin. Storing it in a cool, dry place will prevent melting or spoilage, while absorbent ingredients like arrowroot powder can help increase its longevity by controlling moisture and odor.
Yes, coconut oil is a key ingredient in my homemade deodorant recipe. Its natural antibacterial properties help fight odor while keeping your skin moisturized.
Leave a rating and review to let me know how this diy deodorant recipe works for you! As you can tell by the over 250+ reviews so far, this is a recipe you must try.
Best Homemade Deodorant
Ingredients
- ½ cup baking soda use 1/4 cup if have sensitive skin
- ½ cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- 5 tablespoon coconut oil, unrefined melted or softened
- 20 drop essential oil grapefruit, tea tree oil, etc
Instructions
- Mix baking soda and arrowroot together.
- Add the coconut oil and essential oils. Mix well.
- Pour into a clean, air-tight jar and store at room temperature.
- Use a popsicle stick to get the deodorant out of the container and transfer to your finger. Use a pea-sized amount to apply under your arms.
Notes
- Consistency: This deodorant changes consistency depending on the temperature. In cold climates, it can be pretty hard to get out. If that’s the case for you, I recommend storing it by the shower and allowing the steam to warm it before applying. If you live in a warm climate and the deodorant is too liquidy, store it in a cool cupboard to thicken it up.
- Technique: For the past couple of years, I stopped using the popsicle stick and actually just use my fingers and dip them in the jar.
I see what Wayne’s issue may be, and I wonder if it is because neither the ingredient list nor the instructions say anything about melting the coconut oil. It makes a huge difference! I had the same result Wayne did until I scrolled through the comments and found that one person asked if you melt the coconut oil first. I would suggested adding (melted) to the coconut ingredient list and then providing instruction on how best to melt it. I am excited to try this for the first time!
Sounds good, Helen. Thank you for the feedback!
Only on day 3 but LOVING this deodorant so far. Thank you for making a recipe that’s so easy to throw together!
I’ve been gradually making the transition to plastic-free health & beauty products. I exhausted every local option for a zero-waste deodorant and picked one out online but having something shipped across the country (or from another country) didn’t feel right. I tried your recipe because the ingredients are so readily accessible I figured it would be a pretty low-risk experiment. Bonus- I have access to arrowroot & baking soda in bulk!!
I skipped the detox for now because I haven’t found the bentonite clay locally. Hopefully this will work out okay. *fingers crossed* I’ve been using A&H deodorant for many years so the baking soda shouldn’t be a problem for me.
Before making the switch a few days ago, the pits of my T’s were drenched on a regular basis, as though my previous deodorant wasn’t working anymore – the worse I’ve ever experienced. The past few days have been 70-80 degrees, I did a high intensity strength training session yesterday and 4.5 mile run today. I stayed completely dry yesterday and had very minor sweat spots running but ZERO smell both days.
My husband has agreed to the occasional sniff check such a good sport) and says there’s a nice light coconut smell and that’s it! I added lavender EO since I had some around which he can’t smell but that’s perfect for me, I prefer little to no scent. Once his last stick of deodorant runs out I’ll be making his & her batches!
Looking forward to seeing how it performs long term!
That’s awesome, Kate! Hope it continues to work great for you! 😀
Are the 1/2 cup measurements for both of the dry ingredients correct? 1 cup dry to 5 tbl “wet”?
Should that maybe be 1/2 *tsp* each dry ingredient? I’m mixing this by hand so maybe it takes a lot longer to incorporate but I can’t see this ever becoming “pourable” and seems like this is going to leave big white marks under my pits…
Hey Becky. Yes, the measurements in the ingredient list are correct. You’d be surprised at how well 5 tablespoons (roughly 1/3 cup) of wet ingredients mixes with 1 cup of dry ingredients. The final product should be kind of a paste-like texture. So you don’t want to use too much of the coconut oil, otherwise it will be too runny. I’ve been using this for years and it doesn’t leave white marks. 🙂
It clumps up when putting on pits, like regular deodorant. But I’m not a fan of that. I used gel deodorant for years because of that, before trying your recipe. Is there any way to make this less clumpy and still have the same effects?
Elizabeth, you could add a little more coconut oil and that will help the mixture have more of a creamy texture that shouldn’t clump up.
I did it in May and it works amazing so far! ❤ I used tapioca starch instead and lavander esential oil. My friends heard all about this masterpiece
Thank you for sharing your recipe and believing in alternative ways!
Hugs from the Netherlands
Hi Luana! Thank you so much for stopping by to leave a review and rating! (I love this recipe also and have been using it for years.) Where in the Netherlands do you live? A few years ago, I visited Amsterdam and took a train down through Nijmegen to Venray. Your country is so beautiful! Sending hugs back to you, we love our international community! <3
The amount of the powdered ingredients are like, hilariously off.
Hi Wayne, did you make this and have trouble mixing everything together? I’ve made this recipe many times and have never had a problem with the ratio of dry ingredients to wet. Curious why you say the amounts are off.
So far I have just made it, however I had only refined coconut oil on me. I used that and I’m pretty sure it will still work. Hope this goes well! Thanks for the recipe!!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hi 🙂 thank you for sharing. Do you have any alternatives to coconut oil?
I made this amazing recipe and at the beginning worked fantastic until I started getting this big and very painful pimples / cyst in my underarms.
Any advice on how to avoid this?
Many thanks!
Carmen, you may have a sensitivity to the baking soda. What you’re describing sounds like what others (me included) who have sensitive skin have had happen after using this. I’d recommend decreasing the amount of baking soda and also detoxing your armpits. Those things worked great for me. If you search “detox armpits,” there is lots of info on how and why to do it. Hope you can get it sorted out! 🙂
Best homemade deodorant recipe ever! It’s so easy to make and works just like regular deodorant and even makes my skin really smooth. I like just using my hands to apply it and wash them right after and the coconut oil makes them so smooth and moisturized. It’s also ridiculously cheap to make, like 50 cents a batch and it lasts a long time. I just ran out of my first batch and it lasted me six months! Officially my deodorant forever more.
Awesome, Lauren! You seriously just listed all the reasons I love this so much. I started making it years ago and I never looked back! So long, store-bought deodorant! 😀
Have you got a recipe where the deodorant is not too hard or too liquid so I can put in a roll on? Thanks
Hey Sylvie, I’m not sure this recipe can be made to put into a roll on. I think you’d have to increase the amount of coconut oil by so much it might not allow for the other ingredients to work as well.
Just wanted to say I’ve been making this for years and love it! It works great.
Amazing. It’s my first home made beauty product and it works a treat and I smell like cake in the mornings! I’ve shared it with a friend who is a yoga instructor and she’s fresh as a daisy after her classes now. 100% would recommend to a friend ❤️
That’s awesome, Sophie! Thanks for the feedback + review. 🙂
You state that arrowroot is better than cornstarch, but I cannot find why. I kinda want to know since arrowroot is difficult to obtain, and wonder if I should put the effort into it.
Hey Esther. Arrowroot powder is great at absorbing moisture. In addition, corn is often an allergen and although you’re not eating this recipe, it’s possible it could irritate your skin. There are many options for arrowroot powder on Amazon so if you decide to buy some, it shouldn’t be that difficult to acquire.
So, I’m a dude that sweats pretty bad at times, especially during the summer in the South. At the end of a long day I can be pretty ripe. I’ve bounced around trying natural deodorants-all the popular brands-for the better parts of seven years so I feel like I know quite a bit about them and what works for me. Let me cut to the chase, it’s only been three days but so far this is better than anything I have ever used. While I reserve the right to change my mind, I don’t think that is going to happen. My biggest concern is that my body will “adapt” to this blend and it might become ineffective. Has anyone had this issue or am I working for nothing? I do realize that this is like worrying about a marriage falling apart after the first date.
Hey Robaire! First of all, your analogy made me laugh. But you’re right! Let’s not worry about something that might not even happen. 🙂
I’ve been using this deodorant for nearly seven years and it always makes me happy to see that someone else has discovered it and loves it as much as I do. Especially “dudes” 😉 because I think there is a misconception that DIY or homemade toiletries are for women only. Not true!! So, my thoughts on your question- I don’t think your body will adapt to this, I feel like that doesn’t generally happen with things that are made from simple and natural ingredients. But, I could be wrong and of course, everyone’s body/body chemistry is different. I haven’t felt like that’s happened with me but I can’t speak for anyone else. Even if it were to happen, though, I don’t think you need to worry because you can use different essential oils and I believe that would be enough to change it up for your body. Jen’s recipe calls for grapefruit EO but there are many other EOs with antibacterial properties, such as eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, tea tree oil, bergamot, and lemongrass (to name the more well-known ones that would work in a deodorant). I really like the slightly sweet and clean scent of grapefruit, so I almost always make mine with that, but I have also used a combo of peppermint and lavender. The EOs you use are really a personal preference thing (but def choose ones with anti-bac properties) so you can make a deodorant that feels like it really suits you. And, you can use one or a combination of 2-3 so there really are countless versions of this deodorant you can make to keep things interesting and prevent your body from getting too used to one type.
Lastly, from one “sweater” to another, I want to suggest detoxing your armpits. I know it sounds weird but I swear by it. I use a combo of bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and a little water. Search “how to detox your armpits” and you’ll find a bunch of helpful info on the how and the why.
Please come back after you’ve used it a while to let us know if it’s still working as well as it is the first week!
I’m back a week later and have been trying to push this deodorant to the limit because it hasn’t failed me yet. I put it on Friday morning and didn’t shower on Saturday morning (I had some yard work to do). I worked outside for four hours in the heat of the day during the summer in the Deep South (on Day 2) and when I went to take a shower, my pits still didn’t stink. I seriously couldn’t believe it. I mean, I definitely smelled bad, but not my pits. I will definitely be sharing this with my friends. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
On another note, I used some of the arrowroot flour in my gluten free waffle recipe and it was a game changer. The texture of the waffles were much more like white flour (2 parts gluten free all-purpose flour, 1 part coconut flour, and 1 part arrowroot flour).
Hey Robaire, thanks for coming back to give us an update! This is an awesome testimonial and I’m so glad it’s still working so well for you. Yard work in the Deep South sounds like the perfect testing grounds for any deodorant.
And thanks for the tip on the waffle recipe, who would have guessed arrowroot flour would make such a difference. I love when one product can be so versatile!
For some reason, the page locked up and it showed four stars. I definitely clicked five so something must have happened when I went to reset the page.
That’s ok, thank you so much for rating it!
Hi what are the quantities in grams please?
Hi Ewa! Here you go:
116g baking soda (you can use less when starting out if it irritates your skin)
64g arrowroot powder
68.3g unrefined organic coconut oil
20 drops of essential oil of your choice (Jen uses grapefruit EO. Other EOs with antibacterial properties are eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, tea tree oil, bergamot, and lemongrass)
The baking soda burns my skin. I’m too sensitive for any amount of it. If your skin is like this don’t even bother on wasting your ingredients to make this. Everyone is different, this wasn’t for me. I wish it didn’t burn as much even though I used 1/4 baking soda and the rest Arrowroot.
Hi Claudia. I’m so sorry to hear the baking soda burnt your skin. That happened to me at first and I found that after I detoxed my armpits (using a bentonite clay + ACV mask), my sensitive skin was not bothered by the baking soda. If you have super sensitive skin and just can’t get rid of the burning and rash, you could try alternatives to baking soda or a deodorant recipe that does not include baking soda.
This was life changing! Ok, I have only worn it for 24 hours, but it’s AMAZING so far! I even did some work outside and it’s 100 degrees outside, and hours later no smell! I used cornstarch. I didn’t have grapefruit oil. I used 2-3 drops of tea tree oil (I don’t really care for the smell of it but wanted it for antifungal properties), about 12 drops of lavender oil, and 5-6 drops of sweet orange oil. It only took a few minutes to make. Thank you so much for this recipe! I’ve tried Native deodorant and Lume, and they don’t last 6 hours.
Hi Pamela! So glad this is working so well for you! I think lavender, tea tree, and orange sounds like a great combo. 🙂
I wanted to add an update from my experience. I tried this for a good 3 weeks and it was amazing. Then I broke out into a rash and it hurt. I stopped using it until it healed. I then used 1/2 the amount of baking soda (it didn’t work as well as the full amount but still pretty good) and within a week, the crazy painful rash came back today. I am very sad that I cannot use this anymore. It was amazing while it lasted. I am still giving this 5 stars because it works so well. I will need to search for another option without baking soda.
Oh no, Pamela, I’m so sorry to hear this. Are you definitely sure it’s the baking soda and not the essential oils you’re using? Also, are you using cornstarch or arrowroot powder? Are you applying the deodorant immediately after you shave? That always gives me a little bit of a rash so I wait an hour or two before applying. A last suggestion would be to detox your armpits. I make a mask using bentonite clay, ACV, and a little bit of water and I apply it to my armpits for ~20 minutes. I wonder if that would help?
Definitely giving this a try with lemongrass essential oil. Thank you for the recipe. Been wanting to do this for a long time now.
I love it with grapefruit EO but I bet lemongrass would also be wonderful. It’s super simple to make, I whipped up a new batch the other day in five minutes.
Can you use fractionated coconut oil instead of the coconut oil
I don’t think so because fractionated coconut oil is always in a liquid state and you need the type of coconut oil that is solid at temperatures under 76ºF.
This sounds really moisturicing too! I’ve recently switched to a natural brand of deodorant, but have been interested in making my own if I could. I may have to try this one out!
Hey Rimmy! You def need to try this out. I’ve been using it for ~7 years and I’ll never go back to store-bought deodorant. And you’re right, it is moisturizing!