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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.
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.
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.
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 seasonal 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 200+ 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 tbsp coconut oil melted or softened
- 20 drops 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.
Equipment
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.
Best best deodorant!! Not counting on getting a shop bought one …..ever! Tried it with tea tree oil. And now doing it with orange essential oil. Latest smells nicer to me. Probably tea tree oil better for hot days….
It takes 2 min to make. Absolutely love it. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe
Love to hear it, Chrystel!
This was amazingly quick and easy to make and is so so affordable. Our bureau batch had lasted over 6 months for me and my husband. We both did get a rash when first using it, but after a week it went away. I think our skin needed of get use to it.
Thank you so much, we are never looking back!
That’s awesome, Ava! And thanks for including your experience with getting a rash. Many folks experience that at first and some are hesitant to keep using it because they wonder if it will eventually go away or not. Your information helps others, so thank you!
I have been using this recipe for 2 weeks now. Although I used less baking soda I still got a nasty rash in my armpits. So I heated it up and added some fractionated coconut oil (as it was also extremely dry, not like a paste as it’s supposed to). I then added a little more arrowroot and grapefruit EO. The rash has since calmed down (the deodorant is still quite effective, although not as much as “un-tweaked” version), however i have now noticed that my armpits are going dark, like really dark! Is this just because the rash has healed and turned into a mild version of a “scab”, or has anyone else experienced this before?
Thank you for an awesome recipe, personally it’s still taking some getting used to, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of making and using it.
Did you use any photosensitizing essential oils by any chance? These include most of the citrus oils and angelica root.
Hi.
I used Grapefruit EO as directed in the recipe. Perhaps I should try with another one. Do you have any specific recommendations?
I honestly don’t think this is the cause unless you are walking around in direct sunlight with your arms up in the air. Even then, such a small amount of EO is used in each application, again, I doubt this is the cause.
Hey Sheila! I used to get a rash when I applied the deodorant immediately after shaving. Could that have been a cause? I’d give it a little time for your body to get used to a more natural approach, as well as expel the unnatural ingredients that most store-bought deodorants have in them (and I’m betting the darkness will eventually fade). Another thing I do, especially when I first started using this deodorant, was to use a bentonite clay mask on my underarms about once a week.
Also, I’ve read (and personally experienced) that baking soda can help reduce dark discoloration under the arms. So def give it a few more months and see if you notice a difference.
Thank you for taking the time to leave an extensive reply. The rash has gotten worse over the last few days. I usually wax my armpits, so the shaving hasn’t been an issue on that account. It almost feels like it’s caused by chafing, but I’ve never had that issue with store bought natural deodorants.
I will try the bentonite mask, and see if that helps.
For now I’ve purchased a crystal deodorant, until the rash calms down, because I can’t bear putting the deodorant on my skin right now.
I have heard the same thing about baking soda, which is why I was so surprised. It’s very odd
Hey Sheila. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of it! Don’t give up. 🙂
Excellent recipe, I had been buying natural deodorant for a year but then thought I could make my own and found your recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it. I even convinced my partner to change and he has been using the same deodorant forever!
So glad you found this recipe, Paula! I think you and your partner are going to love it!
Hi, I made the recipe and when I used it, it immediately started stinging and turning red. I think it may be the baking soda. Is there an ingredient that can substitute the baking soda?
Hey Addison, try using half the amount of baking soda and make sure to use arrowroot powder, not cornstarch and see if that helps. 🙂
I’m Cathy, I have a history of being allergic to store bought deodorants and am in search for a “do it yourself” D.O. I’ve been using just straight up baby powder, but it’s not an all day thing. It does keep all my colored cloths white tho, lol. I’m wondering if this would work for me and my girls as all of us have this issue. Having your put glan swell like that isn’t right. We are good as long as we don’t use store bought.
Also, if we try this.. can I use cinnamon oils during winter months
Hi Cathy! I’m so sorry to hear about your allergies. I think this recipe may work for you but you really won’t know until you give it a try. If you have sensitive skin (and it sounds like you do), use less baking soda to begin with and be sure to use arrowroot powder (not cornstarch). I have sensitive skin as well so I’m making these suggestions from experience. I also think you could cut this recipe by a quarter and make just a small amount in order to give it a try and see if it bothers your skin or not. If you quarter this recipe, the measurements will be:
-1/8 cup baking soda (or less, like I stated above)
-1/8 cup arrowroot powder (not cornstarch)
-3 3/4 teaspoons unrefined organic coconut oil
-5 drops grapefruit essential oil
Something else I think you may benefit from is detoxing your armpits. I make a mask using bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and water. You can search “detox armpits” online for more information.
As far as using cinnamon essential oil– cinnamon EO is actually one of the strongest antibacterial essential oils. Important things to remember:
1. *Always* dilute it with a carrier oil (in this case, that would be the coconut oil).
2. It’s possible for sensitive people to experience allergic reactions when cinnamon oil is applied topically. This might show up as skin irritation, such as itching and rashes. Make sure to do a skin test on a small patch of skin first.
3. Cinnamon EO has such a powerful scent, I would use fewer drops than the recipe calls for. Start small (like 1 or 2 drops in the recipe I quartered for you above) and slowly add more if needed.
And because you mentioned it, I’ll tell you this deodorant doesn’t stain my clothes, which is another huge plus.
Good luck and let us know how it goes! 🙂
Hello,
Does the essential oil serve a purpose other than for a pleasant scent? I would prefer not to add it if it doesn’t help with body odor? Please let me know
Thank you
Hi Samantha! Grapefruit EO has antibacterial properties. If you prefer another scent, you will want to use another EO that has 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). Out of all these options, I think grapefruit has the most subtle scent.
Thank you so much for the healthy deodorant recipe. It has worked fantastic. It is the only one I will use.
You’re welcome, Steven! I love this deodorant recipe also.
Hey! I made this recipe today, but because in my country Arrowroot powder is so rare, I used cornstarch, which works the same. Thank you so much for the explanations and the ingredients! I have used it twice, each for 6 hours. It’s 33 Celcius in my country and I did not smell at all! The coconut oil sometimes melts when I use it although it does not bother me as much. Should I use beeswax to thicken it? Thanks! The ingredients in store-bought deos are so harmful, and my family has a history of endometriosis and breast cancer. Glad I found this site!
Amy, I’m so glad you found it, also! I think you can add a little beeswax to thicken it. I’d add a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency. 🙂
It’s doing wonders for me and my youngest who reached puberty. I couldn’t tolerate the smell of our armpits and had to do something about it.
There’s no complaints anymore, she plays sports freely and with pride. I’ll pass this recipe to other people /generations to come. Thanl you
Awesome, Charlotte! 🙂
Hello!
I’ve just made my second batch and I have to say how much I love it! My first batch was a little cakey but I found if I applied it with damp fingers it worked perfectly! I used Rosemary and Lavender Oil in it and it smells like a Spa PLUS it kills ALL BO smell! I NEVER smell bad wearing this! It’s amazing! I added more coconut oil this time to make it creamier. It’s an awesome recipe, thank you!
So glad you like it, Alexandra!
Hello,
I made a jar of this deodorant sometime may and been using it since and it’s great! I don’t smell at all in the day but I have noticed by the end of the day I do start to smell strongly of something. It’s not a BO or sweaty smell but some other kind of smell that I can’t describe. It’s not mega unpleasant but it’s not amazing either. Do you know what could be causing that? I wash under my arms every day before putting on new deo so it can’t be a build up of old deo. Have you experienced this?
Thanks
Hey Nat! This is a deodorant, not an anti-perspirant so by the end of the day, it’s probably due to a small buildup of sweat and bacteria that you remove each day when you shower. The smell is not as strong as it may have been in the past because the use of natural products is helping your body regulate itself, i.e., less sweat and bacteria. Hard to believe that most store-bought deodorants actually cause us to sweat + stink more but it’s true. I totally know what you mean and have experienced it myself (I’ve been making and using this deodorant for years) but it’s really not something to worry about.
You’ve only been using this for a few months so give it time and I think you’ll notice the smell less and less as your body adjusts itself. I can’t promise it will ever go away completely–that’s pretty unlikely–but it should decrease over time. (And take your local climate into consideration, also. Where I am, the winters are cold and dry so I don’t usually smell so bad at the end of the day. The summers are hot and humid so that’s a different story. 😉 )
The consistency was good but when I rub it in my armpit it get clumpy and powdery?
Try using a little less at first. You can also add a bit more melted coconut oil to your mixture, which may help with the clumpy-ness.
Hi! I’m super happy with the deodorant and my husband too. We don’t smell anymore . I only have one question because I’m starting to get brown spots in my armpits, is this normal? I never had it before. My husband didn’t get any brown spots. What should I do?
Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Atenea! So glad you and your husband love the deodorant. 🙂
Have you tried exfoliating your armpits? That will help remove excess dead skin and bacteria trapped in the armpit area (which may be the cause of the brown spots). If you clean your armpits by rubbing them with a soapy washcloth, they are already being exfoliated and you don’t necessarily need to use an exfoliating scrub. And if it’s at all possible, you could also go au naturel–without any deodorant–for at least a few days (longer would be even better). That may help a lot.
I found that as my armpits detoxed from not using aluminium based deodorant, they started to stink. I thought the deodorant wasn’t working, but a quick Google showed this was normal and expected.
I put a clay face mask on my pits, as suggested which sorted it out for a few days, and repeated it, but I only had a small tube of face mask and the transition phase is supposed to last between 4 and 8 weeks, so with my next batch of deodorant, I swapped out half the bicarb of soda for some kaolin clay. This does the job of detoxing and deodorising in one!
That’s a great idea, thanks Danielle!
I had breast cancer so was looking for a good alternative to regular deodorants and found this recipe. I worried it wouldn’t work because where we live the temperature gets up to 122 F. I don’t mind sweating but I didn’t want the odor. This recipe totally works! It is amazing and I am so glad I found it.
Congrats on being a survivor, Beth and I’m really glad you found this, also!