Homemade DeodorantWhy would I want to make homemade deodorant? Because I can.
A few months ago, I noticed (and was a little concerned) on the back of my deodorant “Ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease” and started researching. Basically, deodorants/antiperspirants contain aluminum (Aluminum Zirconium Tetracholohydrx GLY) which can’t be relieved from your body if you have bad kidneys. I don’t have bad kidneys, but what the heck?
Also, since I am an ingredient reader, I also continued to read the ingredients. The only active ingredient is Aluminum Zirconium Tetracholohydrx GLY at 17.8%. That means that 82.2% of everything in my deodorant was inactive. Why?
I could create some great smelling, equally-working something I was sure! After a quick Google, most simple homemade deodorants are made with coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and tea tree essential oil.
This is the recipe I used:
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oilMelt in microwave.
Add in equal amounts cornstarch and baking soda until a spreadable consistency.
Coconut oil is an easy carrier oil, the cornstarch is a perspiration absorber and the baking soda neutralizes odor.
Coconut oil melts at 76 degrees. I figured if I was mixing in the cornstarch and baking soda while the CO was hot and melted, it shouldn’t get any softer as the weather heats up–it didn’t. It doesn’t go on as smoothly as a store-bought deodorant, sometimes clumpy. I had to apply it with my fingertips out of a jar instead of a deodorant applicator.
As a deodorant and antiperspirant, it worked great, though! Even through the hot part of the summer, this worked for both stink and sweating. BUT, with the heat (and the new deodorant I think), I was having a rash, especially after shaving. Might as well go back to the aluminum! I Googled some more. Many of the sites with this recipe noted that some may break into a rash…caused from the baking soda.
But I had a light-bulb moment when I made my lip balm. The beeswax would give a smooth, firm consistency with the shea butter and sweet almond oil being wonderful oils for your skin!
How to make Soft & Silky Homemade Deodorant:
Melt 1/2 ounce beeswax in a double boiler or in the microwave. I melt mine in the microwave, stirring every minute for 2 minutes, then every 30 seconds.
Add in 1.4 ounces shea butter, 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil, and 1/8 teaspoon vitamin E oil. I just stirred these in–the shea butter melted on its own in the hot beeswax.
Add 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or bentonite clay (these work as the antiperspirant) and only 1 tablespoon baking soda (odor neutralizer). It shouldn’t be as harsh with 1/2 the amount of baking soda.
Finish it off with 7 drops tea tree oil (great anti-bacterial) and 20 drops of other essential oil if you’d like. I used eucalyptus and orange oils.
Mix it all together.
While it’s still warm and pourable, pour into your container. I just re-used a deodorant applicator. You could use a jar and smooth it on with your fingers if you’d like.
Let it cool and firm up.
I love this–it goes on smoothly and my new homemade deodorant/antiperspirant still works great combating the stink and sweat! And the cost? A mere 80 cents or so.
Here's the full recipe and printable!
Soft & Silky Homemade Deodorant
- Time:
- Yield:
- 2.5 ounces
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce Beeswax
- 1.4 ounces Shea Butter
- 2 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
- 1/8 tsp (1 capsule) Vitamin E Oil
- 2 Tbsp Arrowroot Powder, Cornstarch or Bentonite Clay
- 1 Tbsp Baking Soda
- 7 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 20 drops Essential Oil, optional
Preparation Instructions
- Melt beeswax in microwave or in double boiler.
- Add in shea butter, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E oil.
- Add arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or bentonite clay and baking soda.
- Add tea tree oil and other essential oil if you'd like.
- Mix it all together.
- While it's still warm and pourable, pour into your container.
- Let cool to firm up.
Hi Cindy – I wanted to tell you that I love your website. I have been doing much the same thing and starting my own blog. I made the deodorant yesterday and it turned out well. I had to make a couple of substitutions, but I loved it – especially since what I have been using has aluminum in it… Thanks for your site. I too am in the process of taking control of what we use and what it has in it.
Wow! Words escape me, but wow, what a wonderful website. A CITR link introduced us. Y’all have changed my dreams into reality. Maxine is not the only person I “wannabe” when I grow up (next week, perhaps?)
I love what you do, but would you be willing to share where the ingredients are purchased for your products?
Thank you again for sharing your experiences.
Thank you, Cindy
I would love to share where I get my oils. They’re in bulk, but most of them come from soaperschoice.com. Check it out!
I’ll have to try the second recipe you have listed…like some, both my mom & I developed a rash from the baking soda in a variation of the first recipe. But maybe with the small amount in the other recipe my body will tolerate it better.
Hi Cindy,
What a great idea!
I’d like to try your second recipe. Wanted to clarify the amount of shea butter though. Is it 1/4 oz or 1.4 oz? The printable is different than your post. Also, the baking soda is missing off the printable.
Thanks for posting.
Ack! Thank you, farmkat
I fixed the printable now.
Cindy, you are heroic! I’m speechless… Can I come live with you and be your student/slave/assistant?
I am new to homemade health/beauty products. I was wondering what the sweet almond oil does and if coconut oil could be substituted. Thanks for the recipe!
I plant stevia in my garden and would love to know what we can do in skincare applications. For now, we drink the green tea as it is.
I love to have Shea Butter. You can use it on your skin to moisturize it. the best thing about it is that it is 100% organic and natural. ;*;’,
With appreciation
http://www.healthmedicinelab.com“>
Hello
Thanks for the recipe! I was wondering if you think or know if not using the Tea Tree Oil would make a huge difference? I’m 4 months pregnant and have read to stay away from TTO and some other essential oils during pregnancy. Thank you!
No, you do NOT have to use TTO. TTO is a natural antibacterial, that’s why I use it. But if you can’t, you can’t. That is what is so nice about making things for yourself…you can do what you want!!!!!
YES!! I am so glad I did some more research and stumbled upon this page.
About a year ago, or so, I had tried using just baking soda. My grandmother told me it’s what they used in her day and she’s always given me great natural alternatives to just about everything. It burned like the dickens!! Accompanied by a rash. Being persistent in my search for a natural alternative, I recently found a recipe consisting of Baking Soda, Cornstarch, Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil. I figured maybe my reaction had to do with the fact that I used the baking soda alone and perhaps it would be better with ingredients that helped sooth. I made it a week ago and ended up having the same reaction. I was so bummed. I really like the scent and the idea that I found natural, homemade deodorant.
I’m a stubborn gal and didn’t give up. I thought that I’d try one more thing. I applied some of my sweet almond oil before getting out of the shower, hoping to sort of “coat” my armpits as this is a tender area, and then apply the homemade deodorant about 20 minutes out of the shower. Once again, I was pretty bummed. Although the reaction wasn’t as bad, it was there non-the-less and it was enough to make me realize I need to find another solution. Having kept in mind that both the almond oil and coconut oil are soothing, what else could I do? I had read somewhere that using Arrowroot powder can possibly be less harsh than cornstarch, but that didn’t seem to solve the problem in my mind as it’s the baking soda that seems to be my problem. More oils, less powders? Isn’t baking soda the active ingredient in all these recipes? If so, then I would have to figure out a way to use it, successfully, or go back to harsh, non-natural deodorants. Boo!! Hiss!!
Then today, I found your recipe. It all seems to make sense. I’ll be running out today to purchase the ingredients I don’t have and give this another try. I remain hopeful. Thank you for sharing your experience and recipe.
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