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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.
hi there! I’m so ready to try this. I have several EO’s to choose from. Was there a reason you recommend grapefruit? Does it help with perspiration? odor? I can’t wait to try!
Hey Alana. We just enjoy that scent the most. 🙂
Can you use extracts instead of essential oils for scent/flavoring (ie. Lemon Extract, Mint Extract)?
I don’t see why not, Ashley. 🙂
I just made this and it looks powdery – I packed it down into my jar and put it in the refrigerator, hoping it will firm up. When you use the coconut oil, should it be in solid or liquid form? Thank you!
Hey Stephanie.
It should be in liquid form. So you can mix in the oils and then pour into your container. 🙂
Thank you. I just made it again, this time with liquid coconut oil. But when I mixed it all together (with hand held mixer), it just became a bunch of little lumps. I couldn’t “pour” the mixture into the jar, rather I had to push all the little lumps into the jar with a spoon. What am I doing wrong?
Hey Stephanie.
If it is in pure liquid form, not sure why there sure why there are still lumps. Are you pre-heating it?
Yes I am pre-heating it but I let it cool. Is this wrong? Maybe I need to add more oil?
Hi – thanks for your amazing ideas, energy and website! I have a question re the deodorant – does the coconut oil leave a mark on your clothes? Marks from oils can be impossible to get out. I’m looking forward to the 30 day challenge starting today! Thanks again.
Hi Jo,
The oil gets absorbed pretty quickly and I’ve never had it mark my clothes. If you’re concerned about it, just wait a couple of minutes before you put your clothes on. 🙂
I love this recipe 🙂
Fabulous, Kanmani!
I have been observing my natural odour since i have become plant based/vegan and what i’ve noticed is that i dont smell as much. Obviously, when exerting myself I sweat more and produce an odour and will certainly put this lovely concoction to the test.
Thanks. 🙂
Keep in touch and let us know how it works for you. 🙂
Hi,
I too live in a hot humid climate and wear a lot of tank tops, so I was wondering if this solution will absorb into the skin and be invisible? … And on another topic, I’m day 4 drinking smoothies and I already notice that I crave sweets less. I feel great!!
Hey Cheralyn.
Thanks for reaching out to us. Yes, it should be invisible once applied and dried. Happy to hear you are loving green smoothies! Cheers!
I find that natural deodorant works really well ONLY if I combine it with a natural cleansing method such as rhassoul clay. Regular soaps kill all of the bacteria on your body, and that includes friendly ammonia-eating bacteria, which also help combat BO.
Happy to hear you found a great deodorant to combat your BO. 🙂 Thanks for the tips.
i live in a very hot and humid climate – i’m afraid the coconut oil will be just that – oil – i.e., not congealed like when you get it out of the fridge – which is where i normally store mine so that it doesn’t go rancid. so, what do you reckon – will it be like a runny liquid or will it be like a paste?
Hey Tanvi! Yes. I suggest putting it in the fridge. You don’t want runny liquid deodorant. 🙂
We made this and the toothpaste. After a few days, my mom and dad both have what they call “armpit rot” that itches. It works but has anyone else gotten a rash?
Hey Michelle. There should not be an itch with this. I would stop using it right away. There might be something that you mom and dad’s skin is sensitive to. Did it make your skin itch too?
my husband and I have both gotten a rash under our arms as well. Is there a certain ingredient that does this? I don’t want to go back to normal deodorant because none of it works, but I’m not sure what else to do.
Michelle and Emily, sometimes when people first start using a homemade deodorant, they experience a rash in their armpits from the baking soda. You can 1. decrease the amount of baking soda until your body gets used to a more natural method and 2. detox your armpits with a mask of bentonite clay, ACV and water. Doing both of these should help greatly.
I make a very similar recipe and I LOVE it! I’ve tried a number of “natural” deodorants, and this recipe works much better than anything I’ve tried (I think I even like it more than “conventional” deodorants that I used to use). I do two things slightly different in my recipe. I use a few drops of tea tree oil, for added antibacterial properties, and I use cornstarch instead of arrowroot. Seeing as cornstarch is easier to find, is there any reason you wouldn’t recommend using it?
One other note that folks might want to be aware of… if you live in a warm climate, the coconut oil melts when it gets too warm and the entire deodorant gets soupy! Now that I have it in a jar it’s not a big deal, but when I first made it I packed it into an old deodorant container and when it melted it leaked all over the place.
I believe the reason cornstarch isn’t used is because starch converts to sugar. Bacteria feeds off of sugar, so I assume the use of cornstarch would make the product not as effective.
Great insight Sophie! I personally avoid cornstarch because corn is a common allergy and can actually irritate people. Yet there are recipes that use cornstarch— I just find arrow root powder to be higher quality and yield amazing results when it comes to BO. 🙂
Hello,
Amazing recipe! I used white clay kaolin instead of arrowroot and it works. Now it is too hot in Spain and this works much better tan commercial deodorants.
Many, many thanks.
🙂
Can I substitute Xanthan Gum for Arrowroot?
We’re not big fans of xanthan gum, Molly, but please do what works best for you!
is the coconut oil made or bought?
We buy it, Kaye! Look for organic, unrefined, and cold-pressed!
Does it leave grease stains on clothes?
It shouldn’t!
What should the consistency be of the final product? I tried to make this and it’s still powdery when I expected it to be more paste-like.
Hmm… It should be more paste-like, you’re right. Tough to say why without being there to see what you did 🙁