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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 love this recipe. Is it possible to switch out coconut oil and use beef tallow? Would it change the deodorant properties of body odor?
Why would you want to put an animal that was murdered onto your skin? The whole idea of a vegan recipe is that it is all plant based ingredients without the cruelty.
Because people eat meat, and as long as the animal wasn’t wasted, and everyone was used, it’s perfectly fine. Just because it doesn’t fit your agenda, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Valerie, yes, tallow is fine.
Is there any substitute for the baking soda? I get horrible rashes with anything with baking soda.
I heard cornstarch might be a good alternative. Give it some research tho first
Do you have a deodorant recipe for the guys in our lives? I know the deodorant recipe is the same. Just different essential oils for a manly smell.
Hi Jan! You’re right, the mens would be the same. Yet, you could use other essential oils like bergamot or sandalwood!
Why does the instructions state a cook time. I don’t see any cool time listed.
Good catch— it was just how the recipe cards write it out. I updated it to just say prep and total time. You don’t need to cook anything here, just warm the coconut oil before mixing into the other ingredients to help it turn into a paste. If you live in a very warm climate, you can set in the fridge to harden for a few hours and then leave on countertop. If you live in a cold climate, just set on countertop and use right away.
Baking soda can be very irritating to your skin since it is alkaline and skin is acidic.. Leaving it on or using everyday can cause rashes, skin breakdown, and redness and sore pits.
Hello. I found your site as a happy accident while searching for natural deodorant recipes. I have not made it yet. Before I do, I have a question. I have been so sensitive for the last few months and I am worried about adding the essential oils. Could this be made without it? If so, is there anything that I need to do differently?
I am so excited to try this!
Thanks, Annette
Hi Annette. You can leave out the essential oils and just follow the recipe as is.You might need to add a little bit more melted coconut oil to get everything to mix nicely into a smooth paste. That’s the key! Glad you’re here and hope my deodorant works for you too!
Hi,
I need to share my experience. So I made my batch of natural deodorant as per your recipe and it was perfect.
Than I made next batch, however, it was rough and grainy, and I realised I used different soda bikarbonate (they differ in size of granuls, from 75 micron to 100 or more).
Than I made third batch, with small twist, just added a tiny bit of E vitamin and zinc ricinoleat (less than 1%). The consistency is different, and I feel and see arrowroot on my armpits even though I mixed all ingredients until smooth. I guess I used too much of arrowroot powder – though it`s just guessing. It could be beking soda – anybody?
So nhere is batch 4, which is made the SAME way as my first super great batch, however the consistency is not as creamy as first one. Soooo, my question is, is it only me or anybody else making same deodorant but it keeps getting a bit different despite ingredients and quantites being the same???
Hey Meli. It sounds like a science experiment over there! Here’s the exact ingredient I use every time and get great results. Arm and Hammer pure baking soda. Terrasoul arrowroot powder. Nutiva coconut oil. I would make sure to mix it well. I wonder if the air temperature is more the issue— are you melting the coconut oil first? You could try that to help everything meld together nicely.
Can you make it more into a solid if you add more arrowroot powder? I would like to do that if possible
I’ve been playing with this myself. The best results I’ve had making it more solid (and put into a roller container) is adding some beeswax and shea butter (which have a higher melting point than coconut oil). You just need to make sure the wax is completely melted before you mix it into the deoderant. When the temps get cooler (60s in the house), you can use the original recipe in a roller container. Yet anything around 70 degrees and it’s mush.
I live in a very hot climate and am struggling to keep the deodorant from melting. Any idea what I can add to stop that ? Or would it be just less oil ?
Thank you for the recipe I love it. Just moving to tropical area has made is less stable.
It does get tricky. When I traveled to Guatemala, I stored it in a zip lock bag and cut a little hole in the corner to squeeze it out. It was melted enough to do that! You could try less oil or even add in some beeswax and shea butter (melt it first) because they have a lower melt point than coconut oil.
Absolutely love it! Works.great.
Woooooot! Glad you love it too!
I am finding it is still powdery with 5 tbsp of coconut oil … is this the consistency it should be? I was thinking it should all stick together.
Had to add another tbsp to do so.
It can be a little finicky based on the temperature in your house. If you melt the coconut oil first and mix quickly, I do find that I use less oil. Yet in the winter and when things solidify quicker I use a little more coconut oil to get it creamy.
Thanks for this recipe. Quick question about the arrowroot. I see arrowroot starch and arrowroot flour at reasonable prices but the arrowroot powder is super expensive and I can’t buy just a small quantity. Does it have to be arrowroot powder or will the others work? Do you have a link to what you use? Thanks
Arrow powder, flour, starch is all the same thing! You’re okay to use either or. 🙂 have fun making it, I found this recipe when I ran out of my Normal deo and haven’t been back to the store for men’s old spice since.
You sounds just like me! I’m trying to work on an essential oils blend that reminds me of Old Spice— I do love that scent!
You can use arrowroot starch/flour interchangeably for this. This is the arrowroot flour I’m using for my next batch.