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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 natural cold and flu remedies like ginger lemon honey tea, elderberry syrup, diy 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.
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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.
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 300+ reviews so far, this is a recipe you must try.
Best Homemade Deodorant
Jen HansardIngredients
- 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.
Recipe 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.
Hello,
I made this recipe and really like it! It is simple to make and its consistency is amazing! I am however finding it difficult to spread on my skin on my armpit and it tends to create lumps rather than spreading evenly and being absorbed in the skin. Is that normal? Can we do anything about it?
Hey Agnes,
It might be because it is too solid. Coconut oil is more solid depending on the temperature that you are in. What works for me is if I leave it in my bathroom and put it on after I take a hot shower. It is more melted and glides on much better that way.
Hope that helps!
I am so happy I found this recipe! I was surprised at how easy it was to make and how effective it is. I used lavender oil which smells really strong in the jar and when I apply it, but throughout the day there’s just no smell on my skin at all, which I really like! I’m even making a batch to give to my mom and sister. My only question/concern is that I have dark/discolored underarms which I’m really embarrassed and self conscious about. I don’t shave anymore (I tweeze) so I think the chemicals in the store bought deodorants I’d been using for 2 decades might have been the cause. Do you know if this deodorant will affect or help with this? I’ve only been using it for a few days so I do notice it stinging a little bit. Thank you so much!
Hey Monica,
Thank you for sharing that with us! I am sorry that your skin has been discolored over time. Unfortunately I do not know if it will help with your situation but it should not discolor your skin like your other deodorant has before. If you continue to have the stinging feeling you can always try to make it again with less baking soda and that might help with that.
Hope that helps!
This recipe is amazing! It actually works!
I tried this on a whim because I ran out of my store bought deodorant. I happened to have all the ingredients at home but swapped the grapefruit oil for tea tree and lavender. Cleaning the glass jar properly with hot water probably took longer than mixing the ingredients together. I live in the UK and it’s fairly cold in the morning. I still find the consistency pretty good because I just take out a little with a spoon and soften it in my warm hand. It leaves faint marks on dark clothes due to the arrowroot powder (I presume), but that’s no problem at all! Absolute love it and it works! Brilliant!!
Hey Cornelia,
Thank you for sharing and letting us know how much you love this deodorant recipe! It really is THE BEST and I make sure to always have some on hand.
Hi, I live in Indonesia where it’s quite humid and warm all the time. I just want to share, I made it 30gr with 3tbsp cornstarch, 3/4tsp baking soda and 1tbsp coconut oil. I think it’s important to put in any liquid ingredients gradually considering the humidity and general temperature of where we live. Just to make sure that we get the texture we aim. I’ve tried to apply it, there was a small sensation but nothings really disturbing. My only question is, I still feel the texture a bit powdery, just a little bit. Is it normal or it should be completely creamy?
Hey Adhika,
The texture should be a little gritty. However, you could always add less baking soda or more coconut oil to make it more creamy.
Hope that helps!
Hi there,
Is it ok if I use liquid extra virgin coconut oil (cold pressed & unrefined)? Because that’s what I have in my kitchen, or must it be solid coconut oil? 🙂 Thanks
Hey There!
Most all coconut oil becomes solid in the cold which is important so your deodorant isn’t watery. You want it to be pasty and solid so it goes on nice and thick like regular deodorant.
Hope that helps!