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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.
I use a mixture of lemon juice, water, salt and tea tree oil in a little spray bottle. Doesn’t sound quite as efficient as this does, but I’m guessing adding any of the ingredients I use to this mixture would work wonders. (Also sage- I use tea tree, sage and grapefruit combined for scent, but only the tea tree when I’m feeling lazy and doing the basics.)
Hi Jason,
I love hearing how others are staying fresh – thanks for sharing!
This is a great recipe. Just want to let you know it will actually make enough for two 125 mL containers, not one like it says. Is this the type of recipe that can be halved without any other changes to the amount of ingredients? Thanks!
Hi Jessica,
Thank you so much for your review! And yes, you can definitely halve this recipe!
I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong? I switched to deodorant only over a year ago, and within the last 2 weeks I’ve recently started making my own based on the recipe above. Because I know I have skin sensitivity issues to baking soda, I halved the baking soda ratio in the recipe, and offset it with the same amount of arrowroot powder. But the problem is is that whenever I put the deodorant on, and rub it into my armpits, the product tends to “ball up”, or to not completely absorbs/disintegrate, regardless of how little I put on. Did I do something wrong? I’ve even gone so far as seeing it kind of flake off (while I’m working out) and falling on our dark floors. Help! 🙂
Hi Sophie,
Is the deodorant is flaking, you may need to add additional coconut oil so it absorbs into your skin. I’d melt some coconut oil and mix it in and see if that helps!
Hi, excuse my ignorance but what is the ‘c.’ in the deodorant recipe? Ex. 1/2 c. arrowroot powder…
Hi Jackie,
No ignorance! It represents a cup. So you’ll use 1/2 cup of arrowroot powder and 1/2 cup of baking soda.
Can you use this without baking soda? It doesn’t irritate my skin unless I just shaved and don’t have time to wait before applying. If so, do you use extra arrowroot powder?
Yes, you can use extra arrowroot powder or you can substitute the baking soda with betonite clay.
Betonite clay or the powder form? Thanks!
This sounds really neat..however, since it is an oil, does this leave stains on your clothes or soak through your clothes?
Thank you,
Jennifer
Just use a little bit and it absorbs right into your skin. If you use too much, which I’ve been known to do when I’m trying to cover up my BO and have no time for a shower (true fact) there’s def more of a chance of oil getting on my clothes if it’s a hot sweaty day. But it’s been years since I’ve had to worry about that– you learn by trial and error what’s the right amount for you. But the truth is, this stuff works!
Hi. I just read this and Shi haven’t tried it yet. Decades back I made something with sage and arrowroot, no coconut oil – this sounds much better. I want to make a comment tho sime of the readers, using cornstarch can lead to fungal growth, peppermint can be irritating to the skin. If you don’t like the grapefruit essential oil, try lavender, or even a pulverized herb.
I am excited to try this.
Thanks for sharing, Mary!
This deodorant is amazing and I won’t ever go back to store bought ones now.
Years ago I used to apply bicarb to my armpits because it got rid of the b.o. smell (and I was doing a lot of sport – so I stank some days!). I think I stopped doing it because it was bit too harsh on the sensitive skin (especially after shaving!).
I had no doubts about how well this recipe would work, and I have even given small samples away to family and friends for them to try.
One trick I have certainly found is warming up the deodorant. If the weather is cold you can do 1 of 2 things to get the deodorant to a workable paste:
1) sit your jar in some warm/hot water for a minute or two to melt the coconut oil, then scoop out what you need and rub it in.
2) use something small and pointy (like the end of tweezers) to break up the deodorant into smaller clumps (or powdery-ness), then get what you need onto your fingertips and stick them under your armpits for about 10 seconds or so – this warms up the coconut oil. Spread it out for even coverage.
I only have to apply this deodorant once a day, which is one of the things I love about how well the natural ingredients work. Even after a gym workout I don’t stink!
Thanks for sharing the awesome recipe SGS!!
<3
Great tips! Thanks for sharing, Belle!
Your picture looks creamy! With just 5 tbsp coconut oil mine ended up still basically a powder — albeit a powder I could mash together. Did you melt it before adding it in order to get the creamy consistency? Is it okay to add more of the oil? Bit by bit so as not to overdo it? I’m using mine, but making a mess in the sink with each application! But it’s keeping me from sweating and smelling, so I’m grateful! Thanks for the recipe and the tips!
Hi Faith,
Thank you so much for reaching out! As you know, coconut oil can vary greatly based on the environment. Jen is in sunny Florida so her coconut oil is often creamy + more liquidly, than if you were using coconut in colder temperatures. You can definitely try melting the coconut oil prior to mixing your ingredients or adding additional coconut oil until you reach the consistency that’s best for you!
Hope this helps!
Cheers 🙂
I can’t wait to try this! Do you warm up the coconut oil to liquid form before mixing it with the other ingredients?
Hi Cheryl,
You can definitely warm your continue oil to make blending easier, than allow to cool in the container of your choice!
Cheers 🙂
Hi. That deodorant sounds great. I want to try it but i dont undestand the measures. Could you “translate” them
Thanks
Hi Belen,
Outside of the US? We’ve got you covered! Check out our Rawkstar Conversion Guide here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/app
Yes, I’m out. Thank you!!!
Hi there
I’m also confused about the measures. Is the “1/2 c.” Half a cup? And should it be measured as “spice” when I search through the converter? Thanks a lot and looking forward to try!
Hi Nikola,
Yes, use our spice conversions when converting arrowroot powder and baking soda to weight measurements.
Cheers 🙂
You know you can just use baking soda? Just use about a teaspoon of the powder for both armpits, rub it into armpit in morning. Do it again if necessary in afternoon. Easy.
Hi Ingrid!
Thanks for reaching out + for sharing :). This deodorant recipe happens to work best for me, but if baking soda if your personal go-to, that’s awesome, too!
Cheers!
I have tried this recipe for my deodorant but I ended up with raw red spots under my pits so I discontinued use. So would the trick be to not use the baking soda? I use coconut oil on my body every day so I don’t think that’s the problem. It has to be the baking soda or arrowroot powder. Also, what’s in it that keeps your armpits dry? I hate when I feel wet underneath. Right now, I am using a natural deodorant but it doesn’t work great when I get too hot and start to sweat, my pits are the first thing that gets wet.
Hey Shantoya! I am thinking it’s the baking soda that’s giving you a hard time. But you def want this in there since it’s what really helps with the BO smell. Maybe decrease the amount that’s in it and see if that helps.
I suggest NOT putting it on right after you shave your armpits (since that can cause irritation until your body adjusts to it). I know this has caused irritation when I first started using it, but I’m 4 years in now and I never get irritated and it STILL works for me. I truly love this stuff!
I store it in a clean used deodorant container. works great and keeps solid.
Hi Dixie!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to give that a try :).
I store in a clean used deodorant bottle. Works great, keeps it solid
I’ve been using a similar deodorant for about 2 years and love it, an added bonus is no more yellowed pits on my white t-shirts! My recipe is more like 1 part cornstarch to 1 part coconut oil (slightly melted) with a little baking soda and a mix of essential oils (lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, lemon, and bergamot which is a great deodorant). It smells soooo good! I like to be able to scoop it out easily so if it ends up too solid I add more coconut oil. I initially tried 1/2 baking soda, 1/2 cornstarch but it was very irritating after shaving, and my 2 daughters both reacted to the baking soda which included painful raw red spots for a few weeks. It works just as well for us without or with very little baking soda. Everyone’s different so don’t give up if your first recipe isn’t perfect for you, adjust it and stick with it, you and your health will be glad you did!
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out + share your experience using homemade deodorant. We love hearing what works for our community!
Cheers!