Republished from March 21, 2008. Updated to include FAQ’s, photo, and video tutorial.
Did you know that nearly all commercial deodorants contain aluminum salts, usually aluminum chlorohydrate? Manufacturers like aluminum because it effectively suppresses perspiration but the metal has a dark side once it makes its way into our body. Aluminum toxicity It has been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other health issues. 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 breast tissue extends up into the armpits.
Most commercial deodorants also contain parabens, which act as preservatives and stabilizers, but which like aluminum can be absorbed into the skin. Parabens mimic estrogen, and though the amounts we absorb on a daily basis might be small, over time, the accumulation can be significant.
Did you know you can make your own wonderful effective deodorant with just a few completely natural ingredients? This recipe is awesome! It’s even edible! It is frugal and very effective! Aaron & I have been using it for over two years now, and it has worked wonders. It smells wonderful, but very faint. For years I tried every natural alternative on the market without much success. It has been successfully tried by hundreds of readers! Coconut oil is an all natural oil that has wonderful anti-bacterial and immune boosting qualities. It can effectively nourish and moisturize the skin. This recipe is also very frugal, costing less than a dollar per batch.
Ingredients:
6-8 Tbsp Coconut oil (solid state)
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch (arrowroot is preferred)
Directions:
- Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder.
- Slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon or hand blender until it maintains a firm but pliable texture. It should be about the same texture as commercial deodorant, solid but able to be applied easily. If it is too wet, add further arrowroot powder/cornstarch to thicken.
- You can either scoop this recipe into your old deodorant dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. Makes about 1 cup. This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.
For a picture tutorial placing this recipe in an old deodorant container, visit here.
Check out my video tutorial for a visual guide through this recipe. Excuse my nervousness….yes, this is the first time I have gotten behind the camera for this site!
Frequently Asked Questions
Since the original publication of this post, I have received numerous repeated questions. I have compiled them all here.
1. I am having issues with an itchy rash under my armpits. Any solutions?
Baking soda can be an irritant for some people. Try decreasing the baking soda by 1 Tbsp and replacing with more cornstarch/arrowroot powder. Itchiness can also often be related to applying this too soon after shaving. Wait an hour or two after shaving to apply. Add 1/4 cup shea butter or cocoa butter to the recipe for its healing benefits is another alternative. You also can try using arrowroot powder as it is more natural on the skin or make sure to choose a talc-free cornstarch. The final option is to apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel/juice to your skin for its healing benefits before applying the deodorant. It will help cool, refresh, and prevent irritations to the skin.
2. Can you use any other oils for this recipe?
It is possible to use other oils on this recipe, such as sweet apricot oil, but we do not recommend other oils simply because they are not as effective as coconut oil with its anti-bacterial benefits. Apricot or olive oil also remain liquid in form, and thus make this messy to apply. Coconut oil remains solid under 76 degrees, so it is perfect for deodorant. You can use palm oil as it is another natural oil that is solid at room temperature, but again not as effective as coconut oil.
3. Will this deodorant stain my clothes?
Not likely or not any more than a standard deodorant or antiperspirant. I have only noticed slight staining on white garments, but this can be avoided by soaking with soap after wearing and before washing. Dishwashing soap and hot water are very effective stain removers.
4. What kind of coconut oil can I use? Is there a recommended brand?
It is recommended to use a high quality coconut oil purchased from a health food store, if possible. I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs coconut oil for its superior quality and benefits. Other recommended brands include Nutiva, Tropical Traditions, and Wilderness Family Naturals. You can also use refined coconut oil, as that version is suitable for the skin but not recommended for consumption. Refined coconut oil will be cheaper in price.
5. Can I add essential oils to this recipe?
Yes, feel free to add various essential oils for the added scent, but beware that essential oils can cause irritations. Start with making a small batch to make sure you do not react. Tea tree oil is an excellent oil to add for its pleasant scent (men and women alike enjoy it), and it has great antibacterial qualities.
6. Is there any solution for preventing this from melting? (Note: coconut oil melts at 76 degrees).
If you live in a particularly warm climate, add a little melted candelilla wax or beeswax to the mixture. Store in your fridge, if necessary. For summer travel, I recommend storing in a cooler. Remove from cooler or refrigerator 10 minutes before use to allow it to soften slightly for application.
7. What’s the benefit of using arrowroot powder over cornstarch?
Standard commercial cornstarch contains talc, which debate continues over its safety for use in body products. Arrowroot is a more natural thickening agent alternative. I use arrowroot powder as an alternative to cornstarch in all my cooking. You can also purchase talc-free cornstarch at your local health food store. Arrowroot powder is available through your local health food store, Whole Foods, Azure Standard, or Bob’s Red Mill.
8. I am allergic to coconut oil, is there any alternatives?
I have heard people experiencing success by replacing coconut oil with equal quantities of shea butter and cocoa butter. You can also use palm oil because it remains solid like coconut oil. Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil for the antibacterial properties.
9. I am heavy sweater? Is this an antiperspirant?
No, this is not an antiperspirant, so you will sweat but it will definitely be decreased quantities. Sweating is a natural bodily process that is necessary for health in removing toxins from your body. I am definitely a heavy sweater myself, but this deodorant works to remove the smells like nothing else I have ever tried. I do recommend multiple applications if you are doing strenuous work or exercise for it to be effective.
Learn more about the benefits of coconut oil and all its wonderful uses here.
To read all the reviews on this recipe, check out the original post here.
I have been using this recipe for 2 years and while it works amazingly well, it leaves my my shirts stained. I have been going through shirts like crazy bc of staining and I don’t know what to do? Any ideas of how to pretreat my underarms before washing? I really don’t want to use regular deodorant, but I ruin shirts like crazy with this stuff. Does anyone else have this same problem?
Have you tried any stain remover? We just use a natural stain remover but haven’t had any problems. The environment may be the difference since we are in the NW.
I just (1/3/2012) saw your video showing how to make deodorant. You suggested using tea tree oil. PLEASE DON’T USE TEA TREE OIL! Tea tree oil is estrogenic which means that it produces estrogen in the body. Most breast cancers are “estrogen-receptor positive” therefore one should especially not be using it in the underarm, breast, lymph node area (lavender is also estrogenic). I’ve lost three friends in the last four years to breast cancer, ages 53, 45 and 37 years old. I had breast cancer in 2005–breast cancer is at epidemic proportions. Using tea tree oil defeats the purpose of using a natural product to avoid the chemicals that could cause cancer. I repeat: DO NOT USE TREE OIL.
Hello, Do you have studies proving this about tea tree oil? Or are you speaking of the one study of 3 boys who lived in the same environmental area and used hair products with tea tree oil and lavender? That study is extremely flawed if that is the one you are referring to.
I’m sorry if this is a repeat question. There are too many comments for me to have time to read through them all. I was wondering if certified organic cornstarch would still have talc in it. I’ve been using organic cornstarch for a while in order to avoid GMO’s. I also thought you should specify to use an aluminum free baking soda or else you still won’t get the complete benefit of avoiding the aluminum that is in commerical deodorants. Thanks for sharing this. I saw it a while ago and had a friend who tired it and likes it and I finally got around to making it myself today. I’m hoping it works well!
I used this recipe for about a year, but got frustrated with how it was too oily on my skin. It’s didn’t seem to absorb so it rubbed off on my clothes. By the end of the day I would have dark spots on my knit shirts. I was somewhat okay with this until it stained a button down dress shirt. I was wondering if anyone has altered it so it is not as oily (i.e. with beeswax, another kind of butter, etc). I tried adding some shea butter, cocoa butter and beeswax but I stunk so bad that even my sweater or sweatshirt over my knit shirt stunk. UGH!
Hello, I have not tried your recipe yet but I have been looking for a cheap non-toxic deodorizer for the last several months. Everything I have tried just doesn’t seem to work very well. I did notice though that if I used straight coconut oil as a lotion along with my spray deodorant the smell was noticeably reduced than just using the deodorant by itself. I’m looking forward to trying your version. Thanks for posting this!
OMG! Thank you for this. I just tried it out and I cannot believe how well this works. I am just amazed. Thank you thank you!
Oh..and the eo’s I use both for scent & antibacterial, but it sounds like it works fine w/o, too. Anything that concentrated should be used very sparingly and it’s a wonder you weren’t on fire dabbing it on full strength.
By small scoop, i’m guessing between 1/2 -3/4 teaspoon. I think the rubbing part is what actually irritated my skin the most…so I just have soft/buffed hands instead, now. My skin is so sensitive, I can’t wear shirts that are tight around the arms, but I haven’t had any staining…I just put my makeup on before my shirt. The only thing I have noticed is a little white on very dark sleeveless shirts that has come out every time in the wash…similar to storebought deodorants, but not as much- If it’s a special occasion top/dressa container of alvera rollon deodorant around. It has only one somewhat questionabe ingredient and I only use it once in a while, which sure beats the daily aluminum.
HTH
Hey, Jamie..
Isn’t this stuff awesome? Seriousy doesn’t allow any odor! I have super sensitive skin and it gave me a horrible rash, too, after a couple weeks. Here’s what helped me:
1. I used another kind for a day or two while I healed a bit.
2. I shave 1st thing when I get in the shower and wait 5 minutes after getting out of the shower before applying to give my skin a littlle time to recover.
3. I melt a small scoop between my palms and lightly pat it on…no smearing or rubbing, which is abraisive w/ the bs.
I used equal parts bs//coconut oil//arrowroot and a very few drops teatree/peppermint eo’s…I haven’t changed the recipe…just the appllication…and I have no probs whatsoever now.
So I have already done 1. – switched back to my old store bought deo for the last 3 days (and tried to go deo-less some of the time) in order to help my arms heal.
Already do/did 2. since I generally wait at least 2 hours if not over night between shaving and applying homemade deo.
Haven’t done 3, and wondering about how well/fast the coconut oil sinks into your skin just patting it on. I admit I have been rubbing it in quite well, thinking I was doing myself a favor so as to leave less residue on my clothing, but in reality perhaps making things worse on myself. So if you just pat it on lightly, does it leave any kind of grease stains on your underarms of your shirts? I have shirts that fit pretty snug under my arms, so I was fearing grease stains from the coconut oil. Do you not find that to be the case? Also, can you give me an idea of how much you mean by “smalls scoop”?
One last thing – do you think the TTO or pepperment are particular helpful in the preventing of rashes, or you just have them for the smell and antibacterial nature? I ask because I’ve already broken out in under arm rash due to TTO, although it was in a much higher saturation at that point – but I admit to being very reluctant to trying it again after 3 months of misery under my arms from that time. So can I just leave those oils out or are they likely very helpful?
Thanks!
Jamie
Jamie,
Yes, you could use the deodorant without the essential oils. But before you do, I might recommend trying the peppermint alone or “cutting” the essential oils before use. To cut, you would take a few drops of your essential oils and mix with about 1-2 cups of cutting oil (such as almond or olive but the least scent the better usually). There are other sites you could check for more details on how to do this. It is done regular for massages and aromatherapy. Then add the drops of the cut oil to your homemade deodorant. Keep in mind though that one of the reasons TTO is used in this is because of its antimicrobial properties. Several oils have that property (including peppermint) but TTO is one of the few that includes antifungal properties. This helps to preserve your deodorant…so if the deodorant might be sitting on the shelf awhile, you might want to include some essential oil as a precaution.
Okay, so I have some fabulous news and not so fabulous news.
I am one of those seriously hefty, seriously STINKY sweaters, and this homemade stuff has knocked the stink RIGHT OUT OF MY PITS!! Seriously nothing has ever worked this amazing before (including swabbing my pits with Tea Tree Oil, which I have done before, but ended up with a skin rash because of it and had to abandon it). I literally became giddy with excitement when it was time to put on my deo in the morning and would smell my underarms all throughout the day, just to enjoy the stink-free coconut smell.
So, the bad news. I most definitely did start to develop an under arm rash after using this for 2 weeks. I was so upset that my miracle deo was giving me a rash, that I didn’t acknowledge that fact for a good several days. Unfortunately it was true. I was even waiting until the following morning after shaving to apply it, lest it give me rash. So, in reading your paragraph about what to do for the itchy red rash, you mention I think just using arrowroot and coconut oil, instead of adding baking soda – is that right? (Sorry I was slightly confused by that.) I don’t have shea butter or cocoa butter around right now, so the quickest fix for me would just be using arrowroot and coconut oil if you thought that would be less likely to offend my skin’s very clearly, sensitive sensibilities, but still be deodorizing – (is it still deodorizing, btw, without the baking soda?)
Any additional help you can give me even beyond your paragraph of suggestions would be awesome! (Mostly because I don’t have either one of those extra “butters” on hand, and I’m so desperate to use this deodorant again since my regular deo can’t hold a candle to this stuff.)
Also, admittedly I don’t get a shower every day (hey, what Mom does?) and so there were times when this stuff didn’t get washed off daily. Do you think if I washed my underarms every night before bed to remove the BS, that might help? I’d like to think I could wear my deo 24/7 but perhaps 16 hours out of 24 is better than nothing.
Sorry for the book! Thanks!
Also – maybe I’m putting too much on??? Can you give me an idea how much you put on? like 1/8tsp on each underarm? Less, more?
First I must share with you, my last name is Odor. With that out of the way:).
I was a little skeptical at first about the whole “home-made” deodorant. I am a pretty hefty sweater (I blame it on my dad’s genes:) ), and the only thing that ever helped with that was the clinical strength deodorants, but those are so expensive. So I thought I’d give this a try. AND IT WORKS! I made half a batch just to see and I don’t think we’ll ever go back to regular deodorant. There definitely is still some sweating (as you said, it’s not an anti-persperant) but the sweating is not as bad as before, especially considering it doesn’t smell! And I love that it is un-scented. I typically equate the “fresh scent” of my deodorant with b.o. because when you’re sweating is when you smell your deodorant most.
Anyway, I love this and am so excited to start making other household products!
I like Shalom’s idea. I would like to know the answer too. It sounds like it would be worth trying. How would you clean out all of the old gunk so you had a very clean container to start with?
It’s not easy to get commercial deoderant containers clean, believe me! In fact, it was so difficult that I realized just how much of this stuff must be left on our armpits after even the most through shower! I’m too grossed out to use the commercial stuff now, and would rather do without entirely!
Anyway, the way I was finally able to get a sparkling clean container was by boiling a kettle full of water and pouring it in the container. I let it sit for a minute, then dumped it and filled it again. After a few times, I let it cool enough to handle then attacked it with dish soap. Voila! Clean as a whistle.
i am so excited to try this!! i am a gross, smelly sweater and i’ve tried salt blocks for deodorant and other natural things but they didn’t help at all, so i use the anti-perspirant with the most aluminum… i know, ugh. that said, i’m really excited to make this and see how it works. i think the coconut oil and tea tree will really help with the BO smell. i’ve been using antibacterial body wash for years, (seriously, i need to) but i’m going to try making some modified body wash using dr bronners, coconut oil and tea tree oil, inspired by you! i hope it goes well!
thanks for this blog.
For several years I have been using hydrogen peroxide + aluminum-free baking soda as a deodorant. I keep separate containers of each in the bathroom. The hp is in the store bottle. The baking soda is transferred into a small glass jar. Just rub on a splash of the hp, then rub on a pinch of the soda. Works great – besides being nontoxic, it is much more effective than commercial preparations!
Oh my, I have been wanting to replace my normal deo for a while. I tried a roll on natural/aluminium free kind, but it definately didn’t work for more than 12 hours for a sweater like me. Plus overnight_no way. I finally made the recipe you posted and WOW! I LOVE it! I travel alot with our ministry and with three little ones I don’t often get a chance to reapply deo throughout the day- this worked like a charm. I put it on Sunday Am, we were gone all day long with three different services, I sweated profusely(it’s JUNE!) when we got home at 11:00pm, NO SMell whwatsoever. I even went the night without reapplying and still, no smell in the morning. The stuff is amazing. The only time I had a little problem, was when I had just shave and Applied it a little too quickly. I keep mine in the fridge so it won’t melt and usually dab it one for a second or two to soften it up, but skipped it and just put it on quickly. I did chafe a little that day, but the next day I was a bit more careful and no problems since. Thank you so much for posting the recipe! (Sorry to get so long winded!)
I like the idea of adding a touch of honey to this. I think that instead of an essential oil, I will put in a few drops of real vanilla extract that I made. I will try some with and without honey. That should be heavenly, and maybe help keep the bugs away too?!
Hi there,
I am beyond excited to try this recipe this week, and if I love it (which I know I will), I’d like to store it in shallow, non-plastic, leak-proof containers (I’m thinking a big one for home, a little for my purse, and little ones to give to au naturel friends!) I’m finding it very difficult to find this kind of thing in glass, but I found these:
http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=55
which seem to be made of tin. Should I be concerned at all about anything leaching into the deodorant? (I’m thinking more about something being harmful to me more than making the deodorant ineffective.)
Thank you to anyone for any feedback!
Laura
I have been using this recipe for quite some time now and LOVE it. It has diminished my sweating and I don’t ever get a metallic smell anymore, plus it washes off nicely, unless store-bought deoderant. As we get closer to summer though, I’m noticing oil marks on my shirts during the day. It doesn’t stain, but it looks terrible! It’s so embarassing. Is there anything I can do?
I have that problem too, but I don’t know what to do about it. If it gets really bad, I just go and change my shirt. Sorry that I can’t help you better!
What about garment shields, also called dress shields and underarm sweat pads? I’ve seen them at fabric stores, and *of course* Amazon sells them.
Finally got around to making this, thanks so much for the great tutorial! I added Lemon and Tea Tree oils to the mix and the scent is so fresh!
I’ll be sharing this with my readers on facebook and twitter.
Thankyou so much for this recipe. I’ve seen natural deodarants going for as much as $18 and they all have this “gooey texture”. I love the smell of tea tree and consistency of this diy deodarant. I live in the SW and it was warm when I made it so I used minimal oil and extra organic cornstarch. Works better than the way more expensive stuff.
Thanks so much for this! I have have used this recipe for about 3 weeks total and it work great! It’s gotten up into the 90′s here and I’ve had no smell yet! I have supper sensitive skin so this is the recipe that I use: (this makes enough to fill 1/2 of a empty deodorant dispenser)
1/8 C + 1 T. cornstarch
)
1 T. Soda
3 “fingers” shea butter (just dip your finger in and what comes up is a “finger
1/8 C. coconut oil
1 T. beeswax beads
I mix up everything but the beeswax, then put it all in a glass measuring cup along with the beeswax. Heat at 30 second intervals until it is smooth. Poor into a empty deodorant dispenser. (buy cheep deodorant , take out all the deodorant out, then use)
I just wanted to let you know that we couldn’t find coconut oil anywhere locally and I was so eager to try this, I used olive oil. I had no idea if it would work or be too oily but it has been absolutely amazing. I have tried every kind of natural deodorant I could find over the years and have found that they just don’t work. This one is amazing, even working better than the commercial brands.
I’m excited to try to coconut oil when I can get my hands on some!
Thank you so much!
Hi Lindsay! Love this recipe. I will be making it for the second time and wanted to try your alternative of less baking soda and adding shea butter. Is the shea butter extra or does it replace some of the coconut oil? Thanks!!
Either way works.
My husband and I travel regularly to Haiti and are wondering how much beeswax you would recommend adding to keep it solid.
Also, I cannot thank you enough for posting this recipe. I have spent years trying to find a deodorant that works for me, so you can imagine my joy and relief when I came across this, tried it and loved it! My husband loves it so much that he’s using it, too :]
Very excited to try this!!!!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I recently have been asked to go “mild to fragrance-free” at work – this was the perfect solution for me. It still smells nice to me (because I’m so close to me…lol), but isn’t overpowering to everyone else like my store-bought version was.
i tried it today and it worked perfectly. I love it i will never use anything else. great tip.
I just made this recipe and I have a tip to make it super quick and easy to mix. Use a hand-held pastry blender like you would use to make pie crust. My mixture combines super quickly and required a lot less CO with the pastry blender.
Great recipe that I have been using. Honey is a great anti-bacterial and my boyfriend asked if I would put some in the next batch. I did and it works great. When we sweat now…the mixture mixed with the sweat has a faint smell like a tropical pineapple drink…what a pleasant surprise.
Let me clarify…be sure the honey is RAW. RAW honey (not processed honey) is what has the anti-bacterial power.
When the weather is warmer would it work in a roll on dispenser or would the powdered ingredients not work well with the dispensor?
Try persimmon and pomegranate for an added scent.