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.
Thanks so much for this very informative post. I have actually been using your recipe for about a month and I am thrilled with the results. Before now, every once in awhile, I would get it into my head to try out another natural deoderant, knowing that I did not want the aluminum in the regular antiperspirants. However, each one failed me and I kept giving up. For the first time, I have something that actually works! I am very excited. I am glad you posted the tip about adding beeswax, since I was wondering how to keep my deoderant from completely liquifying in the summer. Storing it in the fridge is also, of course, a good idea. It is a very slight inconvenience, but worth it to avoid aluminum. I hope lots of your readers will give this a try.
I have been using this for about a year and it is AMAZING!!! Thank you for posting this recipe. I never smell like when I used the natural commercial products;)
Love it! Thanks!
I am so incredibly excited to try this! Thanks so much for putting up the video – I really like to be able to see what it looks like as it comes together.
And you did a great job – my 2.5yo son even sat through the video with me!
I am wondering if I’ll have to scale back on the baking soda, though, because I seem to be a little sensitive to it. We make our own toothpaste (hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, tea tree oil and peppermint oil!) and my lips and gums seem to get irritated and dried out if I am not careful with the soda. I have incredibly sensitive skin anyway, so yeah – I’ll be trying it out and adjusting as necessary, I suppose!
Thanks again!
Okay. I admit it: I’m a sceptic. But I would really like to find an inexpensive, natural deoderant. I’m down to the last scrapings of my current anti-persperant so I’m going to try this recipe. I really hope it works as well for me as it seems to have worked for you and so many other commenters!
Great video and fantastic job! Appreciate the recipe.
So happy to see this follow up posting. We (DH and I) are ready to take the plunge and give this a try. By the way, love Mountain Rose. Ordered from them and love their service and product.
Wonderful! MUST try this!
Awesome video, Lindsay! I’ll be making this today
Did you used to have shea butter in this recipe as well? I tried one with shea butter and coconut oil and it was too greasy.
No, that is an optional ingredient.
Thanks for the video! I am going to try this as soon as my deodourant runs out. I have tried several of the “green” alternative and never been very happy with any of them. This looks great, and will be sooo much more frugal too.
Thanks cath
Does anyone know anything about potassium alum? I’ve done a bit of research and it doesn’t seem to be an aluminum product (or at least not one that can be absorbed into the skin). My husband and I use “Crystal” roll-on deodorant (which contains potassium alum, but not aluminum chlorohydrate) with great results. I have been unable to find a price on coconut oil that fits into the budget, so we’re still going the way of store-bought deodorants. Who has the least expensive coconut oil available online? I have yet to find an affordable product in the Rochester (NY) area.
Mountain Rose Herbs has the best coconut oil prices online that beats anything I can even find locally or through our organic co-op, both for refined and unrefined. It looks like they’re out of stock right now on unrefined, but hopefully not for long.
I’m on my second day with this deoderant and I love it! I was using the mineral stone, but still would stink later in the day, but with this I still smell fresh all day long and don’t have sweaty pits either, I’m very impressed. I did not scent it and can smell the coconut a bit but it’s not bad. Was pretty easy to make too, though I think next time I’ll try it in the food processor or melting it down first as I keep our house cool in the winter and the coconut oil is very hard.
Lindsay, I found this recipe on your blog about a year ago and have been using the deoderant ever since! My armpits used to get very inflamed and sometimes infected after shaving and were even worse when I had to put deoderant on because of bad body odor and lots of sweating….since I started using this it helps sooth my armpits after shaving instead of irritating, I no longer have body odor 98% of the time (it was previously just masked by the fragrance in the deoderant) and I sweat less.
Thank you SOOO much for posting this! it has seriously changed my life! I love it!
I just wanted to chime in and say that I’ve been using this deodorant for over 6 months now, and LOVE it! (I shared it with my family, and they are all hooked as well!) In my opinion, it works BETTER than any conventional type I have ever tried! I also just wanted to add, that I too am a heavy sweater, and found that I sweat *less* when using this all-natural recipe! Thank you again Lindsay for sharing this recipe!
Thanks for this recipe! I have used it for about a year and absolutely love it. Even living in the desert during the summer, I had no smell issues. I was so impressed that I made it for the other moms in my playgroup. Thanks again!
You are cute, cute, cute. I too have been using this deodorant for a while, like 6 months and am still on my first batch. I added lemon grass essential oil, which I love. I was wondering what tea tree oil you use as mine smells horrible and I would never dream of using it for a pleasant smell. Thanks.
Just ordered and received a number of plastic jars for lotion…..maybe I will work this recipe into the mix!
I’ve been using your recipe to make my husband’s deodorant for quite some time now. Thank you.:) How do you get your coconut oil into the glass jar???
I melt it down over low heat in a large pan and then transfer to the glass jar, or I just scoop it out of the large 5 gallon container and smoosh it into the jar.
Thank you.:)
I am so excited to have found your blog! This is so awesome! Thanks for sharing!!
I have been using this recipe for about 6 months. I love it. It keeps the smell away, and more importantly I don’t get that funky deodorant mixed with sweat smell anymore. I use refined coconut oil from the grocery store and standard cornstarch, although I am going to look into arrowroot powder now that I’ve read the explanation. I use an old deodorant container. Goes on nicely. Thanks Lindsay!
I make a coconut deoderant and have been using it for maybe 2 yrs. I no longer have to rotate my natural deoderants, and feel that my persperation has decreased now that my lymph nods are not being compromised. I love it! Many people can use coconut oil alone. However, coconut oil DOES STAIN clothes!!! My husband cannot use it, as he has hairy armpits. While it absorbs quickly into the skin, oils do not absorb into hair resulting in almost ruining a large amount of dress shirts/ clothes. Thankfully I have no problem with it!
Hi Lindsay,
I agree with everyone that you did a fantastic job being on camera =) And the video is very helpful!
I have been using a “natural” deodorant that I purchased from the health food store for several years now. It only has to be applied weekly and I have even gone as long as a month. I thought it was my answer, but after seeing your post today, I looked up the ingredients and I am disappointed. (so thank you for posting!) They use talc and petrolatum. I don’t know how I missed that before.
The last several months I have been using a less expensive one which does not have the petrolatum, but it still uses talc. Talc must clog up the sweat glands or something =)
Anyway, both deodorants have two ingredients which they claim is the reason their deodorant is so effective at killing the bacteria that cause the odor. I would like to get your opinion on these ingredients, which are: calendula extract and arnica extract.
Both deodorants also have a zinc oxide base. Do you know anything about that?
I will do some research myself, but just curious if you know anything off-hand about why these two ingredients work so well.
I’m definitely going to try this. A friend of mine swears by it, and I can tell ya, I’ve never smelled any foul odors from her! It also looks pretty economical to make – which appeals to the cheapskate in me. Yay for tutorials!
Thanks for this video; I’ve made this before, but it’s great to have a visual reference as well! I now know what I did wrong, lol! I also have to add that you have a beautiful kitchen!
OOOhhhh-I can’t wait to try this. It will have to wait until I’m in the land of the available though.
We’ll be in the area on furlough in May though so I imagine I will do some stocking up those items!
Sounds really simple and effective! Also, I think you did a GREAT job on the video!
Great video! Can anyone comment on deodorant stones/crystals? I’ve used one for a little over a year and it works, but I’ve always been skeptical of what they are made out of…?
I have been using this for about a year now and really like it. I did have to make a revision as it turns out I am allergic to both arrowroot powder and cornstarch. I use tapioca starch (powder) instead and it works beautifully. I also add a few drops of tee tree oil and lavender essential oil. Thank you Lindsay for a great recipe!
GREAT job on the video! You didn’t seem nervous at all!! My hubby and I have been using this deo for probably over 6 months now and we LOVE it! We both noticed a little irritation a couple days after we started using it. So before we put the deo on we rub a little of the coconut oil on our pits first, and now we don’t have any irritation at all. Also, I noticed a big difference in using the arrowroot instead of the corn starch… there were would be random times when my pits would burn when we were using the corn starch, but now since switching to the arrowroot I haven’t had any burning. The deo is FABULOUS! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
Thanks Linds!
Great video Lindsay! More please! Blessings, Kelly
Fun! You did great! I agree, it was wonderful to hear your voice and “see” you in action. Loved hearing Titus in the background, too.
I need to buckle down and try this recipe TODAY. It’s been on my list…so thanks for reposting and updating.
Great video, I just melt my coconut oil and add in the other ingredients and I was wondering if there is a reason why you don’t do that?
It’s another step that I believe is unnecessary.
Well it sure does save a lot of time it seems like.
I also just warm the coconut oil until it is a liquid. I find it much easier and quicker to mix. For the colder months in the northeast, pouring it into a paper cup works well. It will become a solid then I just rip the cup as I need.
I have loved the ease and cost effectiveness! My husband does get a rash from it but I haven’t determined if it’s the baking soda or coconut oil that’s the cause.
Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas!
Love the tutorial!! I have been wanting to try this and watching you do it helps so much!! Keep ‘em coming!
I made this deodorant yesterday night but without the essential oils ( didn’t think of it at the time) and it does have a “grainy” feel to it, but it smells pleasant. This morning my husband was getting ready to go to work and although I was still half asleep he mumbled something like “I’m not sure about this,” but I’m pretty sure this deodorant will work because of all the baking soda. I would just like to mention how bad the store deodorants are. I still have some of my old deodorant which is by Nature’s Gate Organics. It works O.K. for me, but not for my husband. So he is using old spice. One of his favorite shirts that he has needs to be washed separately. It is new so I washed it about 3 times and every time the shirt smells like his deodorant. This is not normal. If the smell does not wash off, what is the deodorant doing to his body? His deodorant is greenish-bluish and his armpits are starting to turn that color. This is what made me try your deodorant. Thank you Lindsay for your video, you are totally the camera girl. I could imagine you as a host of a health show or a cooking show. You have the looks and you have the language skills. Keep it up.
SO awesome!! Thank you!
P.S. you were SUPER cute in the video!
I loved the video tutorial and I hope you consider doing more in the future! I’ve used this deodorant for several months now and I love it.
You didn’t look nervous at all! So you hid it well
Great job!
I love the video
No seriously, it’s so nice to hear the voice to your blog!
You’re an awesome video star!
Thank you for showing how you made it! I might try it, but for now I am quite happy with applying just baking soda to my armpits…
My husband and I have been using this form of deodorant for about one year now with excellent results! My husband is allergic to the aluminium in most store bought deodorants. . . his armpits were turning colors! I am so thankful that I found this recipe on your blog. It has been great and we love it!
I loved seeing you on camera! Great work!
I have a question. Maybe I missed this but…is there a way to apply this deodorant without scooping it out with fingers requiring a hand washing and possibly under fingernail scrubbing?
Try the old deodorant dispenser. You really don’t have to wash your hands afterwards. Just rub it into your hands!
I was skeptical about this recipe at first. But, after trying some natural ones from the store that didn’t work I gave this a try and it works great! Thank you for the recipe.
This stuff is awesome! I have passed this recipe along to over ten people who know use it daily! I have been using it for 10 months and will never go back to my old stuff!
How fun! I loved “meeting” you! Thanks for the post.
Your video was great! Hope to see more of theses
Now I am off to make some homemade deodorant.
I am going to do this TODAY – thank you for re-posting this and making the information so accessible!
BTW your video was great – it was fun to ‘meet you’ virtually. I loved how you didn’t apologize for the baby noises in the backround! LOL
This is my favorite blog!!!
We’ve been using this recipe for a few months now. It works great! Even my husband likes it — he has never liked regular deoderants. He is a youth pastor and one application in the morning will take him through a busy day of staff meeting, youth group prep and evening youth group (including vigorous games of dodgeball/ultimate frisbee/broomball/floor hockey) and he still smells good when he comes home! Old Spice didn’t work nearly as well! We put it in an old deoderant dispenser for easier application.
Well done video. I enjoyed it and am ready to make my own deodorant now. Thanks for being brave and getting in front of the camera!
i’m going to try this. i’ve found that my body has adjusted to using arm and hammer’s natural deoderant, and i no longer sweat as much as before. (at one time, i even used a prescription deoderant, and i’m very sensitive to odor.)
my sister was just diagnosed with breast cancer, so aluminum is an even bigger concern for me.
thanks for the updated information.
Thanks for this. Right now I am using plain baking soda. It’s a little messier to apply, but it works well at eliminating odors.
I also use plain ‘ol baking soda and do not smell at all. Remarkable. I do, however, notice slight yellowing at armpits of white t.shirts – may need to wash them more frequently.
I’ve been using this deodorant for a couple of months and have found it brilliant. Would highly recommend it. I added a few drops of lavender essential oil and love to gentle fragrance. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Amy