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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.
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)