Did you know you can make your own wonderful deodorant with just a few completely natural ingredients? This recipe is awesome! It is frugal and very effective! Aaron & I have been using it for over a year now, and it has worked wonders. It smells wonderful, but very faint, so the hubby does not mind! We have tried all natural brands without much success, until we tried this! It is especially important for women to take thought to the harmful aluminum materials in deodorant as it has been linked to breast cancer, being that the armpits are so close to the chest.
Ingredients:
5-6 Tbsp Coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder. Then slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon until it maintains the substance you desire. It should be about the same texture as the store bought kind, solid but able to be applied easily. You can either scoop this into your old dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. After applying the product, you can just rub the remains into your hands as a lotion! This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.
Read here and here for more wonderful uses of coconut oil!
For the best price around on organic quality coconut oil, check out Mountain Rose Herbs. Delicious for so many uses!
Hello,
I am very excited about finding your site as I too am ready to get rid of the chemicals in my life and go with a more natural lifestyle.
I did want to say that the link in your post is not working. Here is a new one if you would like to update the post: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search….
Also, the coconut oil that you use is it the refined or unrefined?
@pril
Raleigh, North Cackalacka
We use unrefined. I updated the links above! Thanks!
Is arrowroot powder the same as arrowroot “starch” or arrowroot “flour”?
Hi, Lindsay. I tried your deodorant and loved it for a couple of days. But then I broke out in a rash. I tried decreasing the baking soda, but still got a rash. I see here that you talked about getting your baking soda through a natural food co-op and adding shea butter. Could you tell me more about the quantities you used and where you got your baking soda?
Thanks so much!!
Blessings,
Heather
This works GREAT! thanks a lot.
isn't it the aluminum in the deodorant that is bad for the body? i know aluminum is linked to Alzheimer's too.
I'm pretty sure I've figured out the clumpy, flaky problem. If you have chunks in your deodorant that don't spread well or seem to want to melt, they are crystals of coconut oil. Saturated fats like coconut oil and cocoa butter form crystals when they solidify. You can often see the crystals through the side of a clear jar of coconut oil. If you mix the baking powder/starch with solid coconut oil, the crystals get broken up into tiny pieces, and you get a smooth mixture, like the sugar crystals in fudge. If you melt the coconut oil, it forms something more like rock candy with larger crystals. These will melt eventually if you warm them in your hands but they are very annoying. To avoid them, either mix up your deodorant with solid coconut oil, or if you melt it, stir it frequently while it is cooling. Both of these strategies also leave you with a softer product, which is desirable if you are scooping it out of a jar. When I melted the coconut oil and let it cool in the jar, I had to pry it out with a fingernail. Adding more starch would also interfere with the crystal formation.
I love this deodorant, but I'm also in the crowd that gets an itchy rash. Lindsay, have you posted your revised version?
this deodorant is THE BEST! may i post it on my blog with a link to yours? (it's too good not to share!)
After reading your recipe I made some for my husband and I. I practically had to beg him to try it… but after he did, he loved it! We recently ran out and he had to go back to his normal antiperspirant, and he couldn't stand the way his body reacted to it. So I ran out and got more coconut oil so we are set for the next few months. Thank you so much!
I read this post a long time ago and figured it would not be *that* effective. Not that I thought you were being dishonest, I just assumed maybe you did not sweat much or always smelled like roses (which you might, I don't know!)
Anyway. I was wrong. This is the BEST deodorant i have EVER used. I love it! You're a genius. Im not sure how well it will travel during the summer..but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
I've made this twice now. The first with the original recipe the second with the modified (1/2 of the baking soda and shea butter). I'm still breaking out.
Maybe I should try it without the teatree oil, and see if that makes a difference. I really want to find something that doesn't make me break out because this works so well.
Thanks for this recipe. I had been using plain baking soda for years but occasionally got a rash. I just finished my first batch of this which lasted for months, so I came back to this page to look up the recipe (pretty easy to remember though!) I started to get a rash again but I think it may be because I was towards the bottom of the container and it seemed to be a bit grainier. I also recommend apple cider vinegar to help with this as someone recently mentioned.
the deodorant causing breast cancer has been proven to be a myth. Thanks for the recipe, though.
I made some the other day – great! I’d tried a similar blend a few months ago, which inc. a bit of neem oil, & I added a few drops of that. I keep a little container in my swim bag, & one in the bathroom. For folks who notice irritation from the baking soda, try rinsing with cider vinegar before bed – the acid can really soothe the skin, & balance the Ph, the soda is basic.
I keep some vinegar in my swim bag as well, & rinse my suit with some to cut the chlorine; as well as using some on my hair. So simple!
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! I am looking forward to trying it!
I live in Houston Texas and like to spend time outdoors. After trying many natural deodorants, this is the ONLY one that really works. It is impressive that this simple recipe is so effective. Thank you Lindsay!
It’s only march, and my deodorant is practically liquid at room temperature already. And I found if I put it in the refrigerator it’s completely solid. Any suggestions?
Try pulling it out of the fridge 15-30 min before applying.
Thanks for the recipe! I made it today and put all the ingredients in my mini food processor and it worked very well, it made a nice smooth paste. I wish i would have read the comments about the baking soda though, because i’ve used baking soda alone in the past and got a rash after a while. i guess i’ll use it and see.
Thanks for a great deodorant recipe . i will make it today and then again comment . Thanks
thanks for sharing this recipe! do you have any for homemade shampoo?
Yes! Here is my homemade shampoo recipe.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
Is there any difference between coconut oil that you buy for skin/hair and what you buy for cooking? I have part of a bottle of Fiji Organic Coconut Oil, but I’m not sure if it’s enough to make this. Would I be able to use my virgin coconut cooking oil for the rest?
There is only a difference in nutritional content. You can definitely use them interchangeably, although the skin type (aka expeller pressed is not ideal for eating). I honestly use just virgin cold-pressed coconut oil (preferable for cooking because of higher nutrient content) for everything.
I’ve heard some people say that they weren’t having good results with similar deodorant recipes, but had better results when they switched over to virgin (or extra virgin) coconut oil. So you might actually have better results but of course different bodies respond to different things. As Lindsay said, there will be slightly different compositions due to the different refining processes. Really though it makes sense for things with slightly different compositions to react slightly differently to your skin as well as the bacteria on your skin.
It’s definitely okay to use, but you may find it works slightly differently.
What a nice website. I linked to here from a post on goneraw.com about natural deodorant. I am going to try it! Thank you.
I was browsing through your website and found the whole food cookbooks. I’m going to have to check those out too. I have a lot of raw food uncookbooks, but the only real food cookbook I have is by Jurea L. Dawson – (More) Real Food Recipes. It’s great! It think the recipes are also “properly” food combined. I love the sister, sister couscous loaf.
I’ll be browsing through your website…
Great posting, thanks a lot!
Has anyone tried olive oil…maybe dont smell too nice , but its easier to keep on hand?!
It would not be as effective and does not solidify so more difficult to apply.
..Thank you so much with your help, i had found my product for my investigatory t that project but what kind of coconut oil did you use, how come it looks like a lotion and not an oil,pls. clarify thnks!
Coconut oil is solid at room temperature (or temperatures above 76 degrees)…so that is why it is not liquid unless you melt it. I use virgin cold pressed organic coconut oil myself.
Hi!
While googling different deoderant recipes, I came across your You Tube instructions of making deoderant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar0BF6hMuGE&feature=related
Also found this one (not you though ; ) ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_gMrVzxZ_4&feature=related
Is there a reason you don’t melt your coconut oil? Seems to me it would make for easier mixing?
Thanks!,
JenE
When you melt coconut oil, you will have too use a lot more cornstarch/arrowroot powder etc to get it thick enough. AS you can see, she used 1 cup of arrowroot to 1/4 cup coconut oil. With more thickener, you have less effective deodorant as well and can have more problems with the leftover film on your clothes, as she mentioned. More coconut oil in proportion to the other ingredients will keep your skin more moist as well. Also, I have found when you melt coconut oil and then allow it to solidify again it will be a harder substance to apply because you had to add more thickener in the first step. Does that make sense? Melting it definitely makes for easier mixing but will effect the texture in the long run. I don’t mind a little workout for the arm to get the perfect texture that most resembles deodorant from the store.
Great info!! Thank you very much : ).
Jen
Hi Lindsay – just interrupting this post! I made this recipe recently and used liquid CO (as it’s summer here in Australia and I hadn’t kept any in the fridge). I have found that the texture of the finished product is still quite gritty from the baking soda. Would it be due to using liquid CO and therefore not enough? I did notice I used way less than your recipe to get what looked like the right texture. However, it still works brilliantly, and I love your suggestion in your video of peppermint and tea tree oil – it smells so refreshing.
Thanks heaps, Jane
I’ve been using this for a while now, and the texture is not like sandpaper at all. I am wondering where that poster gets her CO from. Maybe it is the source, or maybe not enough CO in the recipe.
I LOVE the scent of Patchouli, and I add about 5-6 drops of it to mine, and it gives just a slight scent, and I love, love, love it.
I’ve been using this for over a month now and I love it! I added a few drops of lavender oil because it smells nice and is a bit antibacterial itself so I think it helps it to work better. I think next time I want to put it into a deodorant container so I can just swipe it on, but it really doesn’t bother me that much to just use my fingers, lol.
I’m trying to get away from as many chemicals as I can in my personal care, so far I’m poo-free (baking soda and vinegar on my hair for months now) and using only natural deodorant. I bathe with baking soda as well- so no body wash or soap (although I wouldn’t be adverse to some nice all natural soap!) the main thing I am having a hard time letting go of is make up. I like to wear a little bit every now and then and I think the worst thing is the stay-put type lipstick I prefer. I hate having lipstick that wears away and gets smeared all over anything. I need to find a nice natural stain that really sticks…
I too am going all natural with all personal items and household cleaners, etc. I am replacing what I have as they run out. I am very happy to try these recipes for deoderant. I have been using Dr. Bronners natural soap to replace my body soap and shampoo, to clean clothes and dishes, etc. I am interested in a makeup line called 100% Pure. They advertise all pure ingredients based on fruits and vegetables. I am not sure of the “staying power”, but I am interested in the thought of using fruits and veggies on my face! Any thoughts?
I just bought some cosmetics from 100% Pure, and I LOVE them! I bought the mascara (black), blush stick (grapefruit), and 2 lip glosses (cherry and strawberry). The blush is the best color I’ve ever found for my fair skin. The other colors were just gorgeous–so rich, yet so natural looking. I tried mineral makeup, but found that it often didn’t fit with my skin tone. So many are orange-y, which makes me look washed out. 100% Pure colors look great on me. I teach dance full-time, and for the most part the makeup stays. It’s not perfect, but neither was my toxin-laden Clinique makeup. I’d say they hold just about the same. I had a hard time getting the mascara off, but that’s also because I can’t seem to find a great alternative to my petroleum-based eye makeup remover. Honeybee Gardens makes a really nice mascara that washes off very easily–but you need a lot of coats to get the same effect as with the 100% Pure. I will definitely be buying more cosmetics from them!
Could you please share more info on how you use the baking soda and vinegar for shampoo? Do you mix it beforehand or apply them separately? Does it generate any lather?
I have been using baking soda as an exfoliant for my face and lips. I use mostly mineral makeup for a base and bronzer. I also switched to a natural mascara brand (Honey Bee Truly Natural) and it does not irritate my eyes like normal mascara.
I am using Lush soap as body soap. Their soap is very moisturizing and a little on the expensive side, but it’s better than the store stuff. I accidentally got it in my mouth and it didn’t taste..bad, it was actually kinda sweet. I guess that was due to the fruits in the soap. I am also using baking soda and vinegar instead of shampoo. What I do is mix the baking soda with enough water to make a paste and apply to the roots of my hair and massage. It will not create a lather, mb the 1st uses since it will get rid of ALL shampoo residue, but it does clean effectively. Your hair won’t get as oily and you can diminish the amount of times you have to wash your hair. As for the vinegar, I use apple cider vinegar diluted with regular water…to me it’s like a conditioner because it leaves your hair super soft and shiny…I need to go buy ACV and am just using the baking soda by itself. Next on my list is this homemade deodorant.
I went out and bought the ingredients today and made the deoderant this evening! I’m so excited about it! It smells heavenly and can’t wait to start using it each morning…thank you!!!
I am impressed with this blog, I must say. I will try this mixture and see what happens. I have just started using baking soda in my hair instead of shampoo and it is working great. I use regular vinigar for a rinse and it also works well. I now only wash my hair once a week instead of every day as before. I am in the process of getting rid of using chemicals as much as possible and cutting household costs. So for me this will be another great thing to try. Thank you so much for your info. I also agree with another commenter about you writing a book I think it would be a great idea.
Due to the consistency (I guess from the temperature in my apartment, it’s a play-doh-like) I’m having trouble applying this deodorant. I use my fingers because it’s too pliable to put in an old deodorant container. My problem is that when I apply it it’s very chunky and I can’t get it to smooth out under my arm (I stirred it well and the coconut oil I used was liquid, I made sure there were no clumps of the powder left in it). I’ve tried warming it to soften it and apply it as a paste too, and that didn’t help. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone have a solution?
I would recommend you put the mixture in the fridge between uses.
Thank you so much Lindsay! I’ve tried many natural deodorants on the market, and none have worked for me. This works wonderfully!!
I’m going to try this recipe as I also have nail fungi and the anti-bacterial quality of the cocoanut oil should help. I’ve been putting white vinegar in an empty roll top and it works fine. Smell goes after a couple of minutes and the vinegar acts as a barrier and stops bacteria which causes the odour.
Keep up the nice work! Look forward to reading more from you in the future. I think it will be also nice if you add “send to email” tool so people can forward the articles to their friends easily.
I tried this recipe because of my extremely sensitive skin. All other deodorants give me a terrible rash, even Tom’s of Maine. This recipe doesn’t bother my skin at all! I love it for that alone. I added a little lemon oil and lavendar oil for extra fragrance. It works great.
I made an all natural deodorant similar to this, I used a little shea butter for moisturizing (coconut oil can be drying), and a little candelilla wax to make it harder (you could also substitute carnauba wax or beeswax, but the beeswax would NOT be vegan.) I melt it in the microwave and pour into a used commercial deodorant tube, and it works FINE! I also added a bit of fragrance or essential oils to give it a slight scent, I have one called Milk & Honey, which to me smells more like a bath product than the real thing, but it was perfect for deodorant! I have used tea tree oil too for its antibacterial properties, which the coconut oil has also.
I also found that after a couple of months using this recipe, I lost my problem body odor that I could not get rid of, even with the expensive clinical deodorants! but I did have the stain problem, but I read in another site that colored clothes could be washed with ammonia and whites pretreat with hairspray, then wash with hot bleach water and soap!
As for the rashes, I read that baking soda can be an irritant, so maybe lower the amount of that and add more cornstarch, and waiting at least 1 hour after shaving before applying the deodorant might help.
I get my coconut oil from soaperschoice.com, best price I have found. (I also make my own soap!) Their extra virgin organic is $27.30/gallon plus shipping, which to NJ was $7.51. The organic (not extra virgin) is only $15.47/gallon, and if you don’t care about it being organic, its only $12.95/gallon!
As to the aluminum in baking soda, I researched, and the wikipedia and enotes articles do not mention aluminum at all! I searched for the word in both, and it was not found! The chemical makeup of baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is NaCO3. Na is sodium, C is carbon, O is oxygen (e molcules). Where is the aluminum?????
And, when you’re at it can you take a picture of the finished product? Thx.
I started using this about 6 weeks ago, it works great! I took it with me to Thanksgiving and let the women in my family try it. They all love it! My mom has been telling her friends about it.
One day, I forgot to put some on and was pretty stinky by 10:00. I just applied it when I was back home around 12, and the stink was gone for the rest of the day. It not only prevents stink, it deodorizes body odor. Very impressed!!
Can we add essential oil in to the mix too?
What about adding a few drops of essential oil if you want it to be more scented/provide some extra anti-bacterial benefits?? Has anyone tried this or would it work??
If you read through the comments you will find many people who have added various essential oils with great success.
Oh. Thanks!
I love coconut oil! My family thinks I use it on and for everything. I had not realized that anyone else was using it for deoderant but I had recently been using it. I love it! Something that I have noticed is since it soaks into your body the fungus on my toes is 99% healed since using it for deoderant! Awesome!
I love my natural deodorant! I used shea butter and cocoa butter instead of coconut(its what i had around.) Just a remind for those of us who shave. I started developing a rash as well and noticed if i waited an hour or two after shaving to apply my deodorant i stopped getting a rash. Hope this helps. Thank-you so much for the recipe!
I am SO excited! I have been searching for a natural aluminum-free deodorant (believe me, I’ve tried everything!) This is it! Granted, you might not want to put a black shirt on right after you apply, but it keeps the odor away. It IS a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, though. I find that I still sweat when I use it. Doesn’t me really bother me though. I’ve had to reapply after a long day’s work sometimes. It could be the oil that I used as well – I only had apricot kernel oil on hand, so I used that. It doesn’t have a scent, so I’m curious to try it with the coconut oil instead. Thank you for the great and inexpensive recipe!
I’m sure this posting will be nothing new (because so many rave about your recipe) but I wanted to add my two cents. I started using your deodorant recipe about three months ago. Before that, I struggled and spent money to find a deodorant without aluminum that worked and was beginning to think that it was impossible! Then I just randomly searched for recipes for deodorant online and your journal popped up. Needless to say, I’m now a believer that natural deodorant is the way to go! It works like a charm. I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting it!
Lindsay – What do you think about the Crystal Body Deodorant Stone? We have used it for about 15 years. I don’t think it has the harmful aluminum materials. Do you know?
I did find this page that offered the ingredients and it appears to be perfectly safe.
Thank you!
I made this on Monday and my husband and son are using it without any trouble but I have developed itchy armpits and noticed a rash last night. I’ve been ingesting the oil in smoothies and baked goods, even stirred into my coffee so I don’t think it’s an allergy to the oil. Any ideas?
Others have had similar experiences. Read through the comments above for suggestions. I have found cutting back on baking soda and adding shea butter is the best solution.
Andrea & Lindsay,
I used your deodorant for a couple of months and loved it! I made enough for my husband and I, however, he loves his crystal stick and didn’t want to switch. When I ran out I grabbed his unused jar. Unfortunately, I too broke out into a huge rash. I will try it with less baking soda and shea butter. I am so sad I developed this allergy because for a while I really loved it!
Its the baking soda for sure (used to use baking soda alone and would get a bad reaction to it). don’t think its an allergy–its just a reaction to the soda–definately try decreasing baking soda like others suggested.
I’ve been wearing this deodorant for 3 days now and it works so well! I even had a dream last night that I was smelling my underarms to make sure it is still working. Ha! Such an easy recipe and so frugal! I’m trying to convince my husband that it works so he will give it a try. The coconut smell wears off eventually so hopefully he won’t mind it. Thank you for sharing another great recipe!
I discovered this website while searching for homemade deoderant and absolutely love it! You should publish a christian book with all of this information in it!
I’m so glad I found this recipe and blog. I’ve been using the natural deodorant for a few weeks now and LOVE IT! I have no smell and my under arms are so smooth. I’ll never go back to any other deodorant.
Can’t believe how effective this simple recipe is. My husband and I have been looking for a good natural deodorant for awhile, but have been disappointed with their effectiveness and price. I made a batch of this up and BAM no more stink, for pennies! Thanks so much!