Up until about a year ago, I was pretty darn frustrated by the host of weird and in most cases toxic ingredients in commercial deodorants. And though I’ve tried just about every natural deodorant I could lay my hands on, none of them were very effective or practical. Most of the natural choices sport such a long list of polyunsaturated oils, they’ve frankly lost my attention. If I wouldn’t put most of those oils in my body, why would I choose to absorb it daily through my skin? Homemade deodorant to the rescue.
You know what I love? Simple, luxurious, nutritious body products. I adore products that are a wise pleasure to rub into my skin…to make a part of my body.
About a year ago I began experimenting in my own kitchen and guess what!??! I perfected a recipe for a natural and nourishing all day homemade deodorant that works. Seriously, my friend even gave it her 10-mile run test and…no stink! Here's to your fresh-scented health!
Homemade deodorant ingredients
- ¼ cup baking soda*
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder – get arrowroot here
- 2 T. cocoa butter – get cocoa butter here
- 1 T. coconut oil – get coconut oil in bulk here
- 1 T. sweet almond or olive oil – get organic almond oil here
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil (or for a more masculine scent I love cedar essential oil instead)
- 3 drops tea tree oil – get organic tea tree oil here
*If you have very sensitive skin, try substituting arrowroot for the baking soda or for a portion of the baking soda. Please note that this will lower the effectiveness of the deodorant. Also, don't worry about aluminum in baking soda – it's a myth. Baking powder may contain aluminum, but not baking soda.
Homemade deodorant method
- Gently melt the cocoa butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil on low heat. As soon as fat elements are melted, remove pan from heat.
- Add essential oils to melted fats and set aside.
- Add dry ingredients to a separate bowl and use a whisk to combine.
- Add liquid oils to dry ingredients and use whisk to completely combine.
- Do not wait to pack your jars. Pour deodorant into jars while it is a thick, liquefied paste.
- Place your filled jars in the refrigerator to set. The result (kept at room temperature) should be a moisture-rich paste.
STORAGE TIPS:
This deodorant can be stored in a room temperature environment. However, if your home regularly rises above 85F, you should store your deodorant in a cooler place as it might separate.
“How to Make Homemade Deodorant” was generously contributed by Monica Ford of Real Food Devotee. Monica's delicious recipes will make your mouth water and your tummy purr. If you’re lucky enough to live in Los Angeles, Real Food Devotee can make your life easier by delivering nutrient dense goodies directly to your door.
Now that you know how to make homemade deodorant, will you give it a try?
Unfortunately, none of the links above, work! Love the recipe!
Hi Meredith, thanks for letting me know – I have fixed the links!
Can I substitute the cocoa butter for beeswax?
Hi Maderetha, thanks for the question. This will probably change the consistency quite considerably but if you try it let us know how it turns out.
I’ve been making my own for a while with arrowroot, baking soda and coconut oil, but I get lazy and I’ve found the coconut oil alone works just as well as the mixture. And apple cider vinegar works just as well as coconut oil.
I just made a huge batch of deodorant. You can see the recipe I use here:
http://www.oliviacleansgreen.com/2012/11/diy-natural-deodorant-cream.html
I’ll have to try yours next summer. I love grapefruit and I bet the cocoa butter would help keep it solid in warmer months. Also arrowroot seems so much safer than corn. I use organic, but still. Those GMOs are sneaky! Thanks!
How do you apply this deodorant?
Hi @Ruth
Thanks for your question!
You only need a pea size bit or less rubbed into each armpit. I think we’re all different but, I use a pea size amount and split it between my two pits:)
Thanks for the recipe.
I have been using Milk of Magnesia for about 6 months now and love it. I get the store brand from CVS because it does not contain bleach. Just apply underarm with a cotton ball or something similar. Peoples choice sells this in a deodorant bottle ready to use also.
Just thought I would share.
I guess I’m the odd one as I’ve tried the homemade recipes and milk of magnesia and expensive store bought natural versions and they never work. As soon as I start to sweat, it’s all over and I have stinky bo. It’s so gross and I feel so self conscious. I want something like this to work so badly too. I’ll have to try this recipe as the one I used before didnt have the butter on it, and grapefruit would be nice. Should I add like a teaspoon of essential oil to hep cover my stink? I haven’t tried that yet.
Jenny, I have found that how I smell is directly related to what I’m eating. If I’m eating unhealthy foods especially I get a very strong scent. When I stopped using deodorant I also noticed that it took a while to get the chemicals out of my system to give me my smell. Just remember that natural isn’t a bad smell usually 🙂
can you substitute shea butter for the cocoa butter?
How many of what sized jars does this recipe make?
I’m interested in knowing this as well. What size of jars are recommended and how many jars does this recipe make??
I’m looking for a good lotion to use as a face cream and body lotion. I would like pure vergin cold press olive oil as my base with a vanilla scent
Thank fo any help
Would this recipe work to put on an empty deodorant stick?
Pamela,
If you want to put it in an empty deodorant stick, I would recommend using some beeswax to harden it a bit more. Try it that way and let us know how it goes!
Great sounding recipe! I’ve been looking for a great deoderant and this one looks like it’s going to be the one that I try:) I have all of the ingredients except for the cocoa butter . I do have Shea butter though, would that be an ok substitute for this recipe?
Thanks so much!
I’d like to try this but doesn’t it leave an oil stain on your clothes? anyone have experience with different fabrics and this question?
Thanks!
I have the same question as a few previous posters – can I use shea butter instead of cocoa butter?
Any recipe for a powdered version of deodorant?
Same question here as other people. Can I use shea butter instead of cocoa butter?
Thank you for your time ( :
YES she said YES you can…
Dawn-Holistic Squid
2 hrs ·WI ·
Question for you… In your awesome deodorant recipe can Can I use shea butter instead of cocoa butter? Thank you
Holistic Squid Yes!
If your looking for the comment and your on Facebook it’s on there, I asked it and it’s on Wed. June 4th 2014 for the comment.
Just wanted everyone to know because I had the same question and she is very helpful ( :
I have an intolerance to coconut. What could I use to substitute the coconut oil?
Hi Elisabeth – I haven’t tried it without the coconut oil, but if you try it another way be sure to let us know how it works. 🙂
What about using sandalwood oil instead of the grapefruit essential oil? Where I live (Africa) its hard to get specific things sometimes!
Hi Neema, thanks for your question. Sure, why not? It is up to you what you would like for it to smell like and we’d love to hear how it turns out.
Has anyone tried it with arrowroot powder? How much less effective is it? I have a sensitivity to baking soda, but I don’t see a point trying this if it isn’t very effective.
This recipe is fantastic, I wanted to try something a little less chemically(store bought) and found this recipe, it’s amazing! Works way better than Toms natural lavender. I like to use lavender instead of grapefruit, but both are nice. it lasts a while too! Thanks for providing the recipe and making it so easy to follow! Julie