I’m a bit of a skeptic when it comes to pre-made, convenience products. Put simply: I don’t believe that a giant corporation has my best interest at heart. And, yes, I could go into all the reasons I hold this belief, or even argue that it is pointless to even try to make something better, because everything is hopeless and made by those giant conglomerates. But that’s not what I do. I believe that every tiny step taken towards reclaiming our health, and towards removing dependence on those corporate giants, helps. It helps us to feel better, not only physically, but mentally. Knowing that there is something you can do, is a powerful feeling. It also feels pretty good to save money, and have a modicum of control over what goes into or on your body. I acknowledge that the ingredients used in making these recipes are indeed purchased from a grocery store, or specialty store. There is no perfect solution here, just a little bit better than not doing anything at all.
All that said, this is a simple, fun, and easy DIY. You will most likely have everything you need at home already, or can easily source the few extra ingredients you might need. It should take less than 30 minutes to make. I am giving you two recipes to try, one with baking soda and one without. I have used and like both.
Supply List
These are the basic supplies you will need to make your own deodorant:
- Stick type deodorant applicators. This is a great way to reuse your empty ones. You will need to clean them out beforehand. You can also purchase new ones at places like Amazon. You will need three for this DIY.
- Tea Tree Oil.
- Beeswax. Pellets are the easiest to work with.
Now we get to the individual supplies for each different recipe. I have a recipe that uses baking soda, and one that does not. If you are uncertain if baking soda will irritate your skin, give it a try, because it really does help with odor control a little more than the one without.
When I first started making and using my own deodorant, I found that I was sensitive to the baking soda. My personal opinion is that I had a lot of other health issues going on at the same time and simply couldn’t handle one more irritant on my skin. Today, I use the one with baking soda in it with no issues. You know yourself best, so choose what you are comfortable using.
Supplies for the Baking Soda Free Deodorant
- Olive Oil
- Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils
- Double boiler or makeshift water bath
Supplies for the Baking Soda Included Deodorant
- Shea Butter
- Coconut Oil (Not fractionated)
- Arrowroot powder
- Other essential oils of choice
- 3 deodorant sticks
- Double boiler or makeshift water bath
Let’s Get to It!
I am going to give you step-by-step instructions for the deodorant with baking soda included, since it is the one I use. (The steps for the deodorant without baking soda will be very similar.)
This is a picture of the ingredients I used in my most recent batch. My husband also uses this deodorant, so I thought I would go with a more woods, masculine scent this time.
Step One: Prepare your double boiler. I use a glass pyrex cup in side of a pot. I like to put a folded towel in the bottom for stability. In the picture below, you can see my setup.
Since the pyrex sits down in the pot, instead of on top, I don’t fill the pot all the way with water. Instead the water comes part way up the sides of the pyrex. I also don’t boil the water, but I allow it to come to a good simmer.
Step 2: Heat up your water and add your beeswax pellets to the pyrex. I like to use 3 tablespoons of beeswax. Stir occassionally using a heat-proof rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Once the beeswax is melted, which can take a while, add 1 tablespoon of shea butter and 5 tablespoons of coconut oil. Stir until all is melted and combined.
Step 3: Remove from heat. I always use a pot holder to take the pyrex out of the water, and then set it on top of a dry kitchen towel. Now you will add 1/4 cup of arrowroot powder and 1/4 cup of baking soda to the melted oils and wax. Stir until well combined, with no lumps. A wire whisk can be helpful with this. Your deodorant should look similar to the photo above.
Step 4: Add the Essential Oils. I use 15 drops of Tea Tree Oil. From here you can choose to add different oils to make it smell the way you would like. Always do a patch test of new essential oils before adding them to your deodorant. A simple way to do a patch test is to take a tablespoon of a carrier oil, like olive or coconut, and add a couple of drops of your essential oil to it. Then rub it onto your skin in a small area, like your wrist and see if after a few hours you have a reaction. For this particular batch, I used 10 drops of fir, 10 drops of cedarwood, and only 2 drops of cinnamon. I did not want the cinnamon to burn our pits.
Step 5: Make sure your empty deodorant sticks are clean and the little ‘lift’ piece that pushes the deodorant up is all the way down to the bottom of the stick. Pour the deodorant mixture into each stick, filling to the top without over-flowing. Take your time and pour slowly. Once all sticks are filled, allow them to cool and harden before putting the caps on. I like to place them in the refrigerator to harden.
And there you have it! A simple deodorant that not only did you make, but you know every single ingredient, and it smells the way you like!
But, what if you can’t use baking soda? Fear not! While not quite as effective at preventing odor, you can make a deodorant that will still get the job done. One way would be to use the above recipe and simply omit the baking soda and double the arrowroot powder. Or, I have another recipe that I used for quite a while, until I was able to tolerate baking soda. The steps will be very similar to what I’ve laid out above.
Deodorant Without Baking Soda
Using the same double boiler method above melt 3 tablespoons beeswax pellets. Once the wax is melted, add 3/4 cup of olive oil. Stir and heat until combined. Remove from heat and add 15 drops tea tree oil, 15 drops lavender oil, and 15 drops essential oil of choice. Stir to combine. Pour into empty deodorant sticks and allow to harden before capping.
As you can see, this deodorant relies more on the actions and scents of the essential oil to deal with odor.
Final Thoughts
If you are switching from a conventional deodorant to a natural ingredient deodorant, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The natural deodorants feel different. They are oily, and more moisturizing to your skin.
2. It really only takes one or two quick swipes to put enough on your armpit. It is tempting to use more, especially if you were in the habit of really applying a lot of your old deodorant. If you apply too thickly, you can wind up with oily stains on your clothing. Minimal application is key!
3. They do not block sweat like an antiperspirant, so plan accordingly.
4. It may take some time for your body to adjust to the new deodorant, but it will.
5. If you experience any burning sensation, or rashes in your arm pits after using the natural deodorant, stop using it.
6. Natural deodorants will begin to melt if it is extremely hot inside, or where ever your deodorant is stored. Just like coconut oil begins to liquefy on a hot summer day, so will your deodorant. I suggest keeping them refrigerated if heat will be an issue.
7. While I have never had a deodorant go ‘bad’, it is possible since it is made from natural ingredients. I would use your best judgement if you stumble across an old stick. Maybe look for visual mold, and an ‘off’ or rotten smell when opened. When in doubt, throw it out.
I would love to hear if you made either one of these deodorants, or if you have any questions. Let me know using the comments below.
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