Homemade Natural Deodorant
In this post I’m going to teach you how to make a DIY natural deodorant that actually WORKS! It’s really easy to make, not requiring you to melt a single thing or work with hot liquids.
Things are about to get a little personal here. We’re keepin’ it real today.
Let’s talk body stink for a minute.
As a mom of three little kiddos, AND being pregnant with number four, I sweat without even trying. And then there are times I actually try to sweat, like, you know, with exercise and such. And then I sweat even while I’m sleeping (maybe it’s the sweatshirt, sweatpants, fuzzy blanket, socks, and quilt…maybe).
I’m a mess.
I used to use a pretty top-notch anti-perspirant to keep things under control, but then I found out about some potential negative side effects from using aluminum based deodorants.
My beautiful sister in law first brought my attention to it back in college (she’s married to my husband’s twin, and we were roommates in college. We’re adorable like that).
She had cancer as a kid, and was very aware of some of the possible links between the aluminum found in the majority of deodorants and cancer, so she didn’t use the normal stuff. I had never even known there was another option!
So my journey to figure out a natural deodorant that worked for me began.
AND it’s been a reallllllllly long one!
Seriously.
(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but you will not be charged a penny extra! And mama, I never recommend products I don’t love or believe in. I so appreciate your support)
I have been looking and experimenting for the best natural deodorant for over 10 years now.
Some of the store-bought natural deodorants would work for a few days, but then would just seem to lose their potency.
Others never worked, but I was just hoping it was my body adjusting to the natural deodorant…but it was never my body adjusting. They just sucked.
So I started making my own. I used one I made with great success for about 2 weeks before my armpits actually started breaking out in a rash. My husband has been a trooper and has tried to switch to natural products with me, and he even broke out in a rash from it. His skin isn’t sensitive like mine, either.
Not. Good.
I finally found a store-bought natural option that really worked great for me, this Thai salt spray deodorant, but I just hated spending that much money on salt water (like, a whole $5 haha okay, I’m a cheapskate…or shall we say, frugal. Yes, that. Frugal sounds so much better).
DIY skincare is totally my thing, and I desperately wanted to be able to home-make something that worked.
Obviously you know the end of this story, because, well, I’m writing a recipe of a homemade natural deodorant right now. SO I FOUND THE ANSWER to all my sweaty, stinky, wanna-home-make problems!
This homemade natural deodorant is almost TOO easy. It seriously only has 2 main ingredients plus essential oils. Toss is in a jar (these are my favorite) Shake, shake. Boom.
Need a baking soda free deodorant? Check out this simple 2-ingredient deodorant HERE.
The only kinda weird thing about it is that this natural deodorant is powder. I’ve never used a powder before, so it was a mental adjustment. You will want to apply it with a big makeup brush (Elf sells really inexpensive brushes that are perfect for this) before you get dressed. This powder doesn’t turn your shirt pits white after you apply, but the powder can be a touch messy if you’re trying to work around clothing.
While I’m moisturizing my body in the morning, I just put my moisturizer under my armpits as well. Then I apply the powder deodorant on top, making sure I cover the area well.
Is it just me?
When I went “glamping” with my sister last weekend, she needed to borrow some of my natural deodorant (it’s ok, I borrowed her toothpaste. We all need each other). It was great to test this out on someone else’s skin before sharing this natural deodorant recipe with all of you!
I got a text that night after we had parted ways that she NEEDED this recipe for the DIY deodorant! She couldn’t believe how well it worked for her!
Um, enter ecstatic dance here!
I love it when things I’m excited about work for other people, too.
So if you want a healthier de-stinkifying option, but just haven’t found your natural deodorant soul-mate yet, give this natural deodorant a try!
And you might have everything you need in your cabinet already!
Homemade Natural Deodorant
What You Need
Small jar
Powder Brush
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
10-15 drops tea tree essential oil
10-15 drops lavender essential oil
Directions
- Combine baking soda, arrowroot powder, and essential oils to a small jar and tighten lid
- Shake thoroughly
- That’s literally all you do
Note: shake before each use and apply powder all over armpit with an inexpensive powder brush. I also recommend applying it after a lotion like this one.
Want more homemade, natural products? Check out this post on a DIY natural sunscreen that has a bug-repellent bonus!
I’d love to know if you have found a DIY deodorant that works for you! Leave your comments below!
Can you use something other than lavender oil? Not a big fan of it
Absolutely. I just recommend an antibacterial type essential oil that isn’t too harsh for skin (probably avoid peppermint/clove/cinnamon type). Orange, lemongrass, sage, etc, should work well. Or double the tea tree. 🙂
Try patchouli. It also will fight odor.
Can you omit the EO’s altogether? Due to some liver issues I cannot use any essential oils at all. Right now I am using a mix of Coconut Oil, Shea butter and Arrowroot powder…it’s just eh. But it could be because there aren’t any EO’s in it.
What a great question. Thank you.
You could absolutely try omitting the essential oils. I would think that if you just put some coconut oil on first and then the powder, it would be more effective. Coconut oil has that anti-bacterial property you’d be missing from not adding the EOs. If you can tolerate it, adding about 1/4-1/2 tsp of ground cloves might also be effective.
I’ve been battling with finding a right deodorant, most off the shelf ones I use cause me boils, I hope this works. 🤞
I couldn’t find lavender oil so I used lemon oil, I hope that suffices too????
Sarah, Ouch! I have very sensitive skin, and this has not irritated mine. I hope it works well for you and provides some relief!
Omg!!!!like the 10th leper I have to come back to say thank you🙏 so I’ve used it for a few days now and no itching, no boils, it lasts for a very very long time. And I feel with the lemon oil it also deals with darkening underarms other deodorants cause. I’m so glad I found this. Thank you for sharing. God bless you🙏
Sarah, this had me doing a happy dance! I’m so glad it worked for you!! Praise God. Thank you for letting me know <3 It made my day.
I’m going to try this !!
I’ve gone through this with my hard working husband. Let’s just say he’s VERY hardworking. 🤭 I did find a recipe that required melting oil, etc. that absolutely stopped the odor, but recently have found that using Patchouli oil neat, works well also. The key is using a quality oil like Young Living. We are smelling good!
Oh great recommendation about Patchouli! Thanks, Barb!
This looks amazing, but I have super sensitive pit skin, and cannot use baking soda. Is there a powder substitute that I could use?
The baking soda free deo recipe you have a link to is liquid.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Jen! I have not found another powder that works like baking soda. Baking soda helps neutralize odors and I was unsuccessful finding an alternative that actually helped with the stink. I’m sorry. You could try mixing baking soda with more starch to see if that doesn’t bother your skin?
I definitely had to switch to the liquid version to help with my sensitive skin. I can use the baking soda version for short term, but not continually like I was or I pay for it
Awesome I did this recipe as a Soap Maker I like doing all my stuff natural and I have tried other powder for the body which are good. But this one as a deodorant works good especially when I go to bed I live in the tropical Island of Puerto Rico it can get pretty hot at night this time of year. Great thanks
I made this and have been using it ever since. I absolutely love it! It works wonderfully. And it’s such a good feeling to be using something that doesn’t have all those additives in it. Thank you so much for this recipe.
I will try it. I make mine with milk of magnesia and a few drops of lavender essential oils. I make it in a small jar, it is a little messy but well wort it!. Just rub a small dab onto your armpits and then rinse off fingers. It thickens after a few days so I try to make it before the last bit runs out.
I am hooked! I have been using this for several weeks now, and it absolutely works! I thought that I would have to “cake” it on to work, but nope. I add a little water to my skin, and dust the whole area, and it just works. I used tea tree oil, but will try lavender for the next batch. Also, I bought a cheap short, fat brush (Kubota) that fits into the jar which is helpful. I am a person who does need deodorant. I have always been prone to sweating, and odor follows. I have used the “salt-water” version for years, and I have had no problems, but this is frugal, and easy to find. I didn’t do well adding a little lotion. My skin is prone to candida infections, and the first time that I tried with the lotion, it happened to me, but it works well with just a little bit of water on my skin. Thank you!
This is fantastic to hear! I’m amazed with how well natural recipes can truly work. Thank you for taking the time to comment on how it’s working for you. Very helpful to have your insights and tips, too!
This recipe works great for me! My armpits have always been super sensitive, so I used less baking soda. No irritation! I also used Rose essential oil, which is usually strong, but mixed in this recipe, it’s less perfume-y and has a nice, light scent.
Cassie, Thanks for taking the time to comment and give this great tip! I have’t used rose essential oil before, but it sounds marvelous for this.