8 Ways to Make DIY Deodorant at Home

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Although you may associate “homemade deodorant” with hippie communes and health food co-ops, the truth is that a diverse array of people are looking to make the switch to natural products, and deodorant is no exception.  

There are many reasons why you may want to make deodorant at home, including concerns over conventional ingredients, sensitivities to certain chemicals or fragrances, cost, and environmental impact.

By making your own DIY deodorant, you can control what goes into it—and, more importantly, what doesn’t. 

Whether you want to make your deodorant as a paste, powder, or spray version, unscented or loaded with essential oils, or free of baking soda or not, we’ve got you covered with 8 easy homemade deodorant options, most of which are made with simple household ingredients.

Why Should You Make Homemade Deodorant?

A big fear of making your own deodorant is that it won’t quite do its job at deodorizing. While homemade deodorant is not an antiperspirant—as it does not contain sweat-blocking ingredients like aluminum—they do help to absorb moisture naturally and control odor. 

Some reasons that people are looking for homemade or natural deodorant options and skipping out on the Speedsticks include concerns about:

  • Aluminum: The long-term health effects of aluminum in deodorant are not agreed upon, but many people choose to avoid aluminum compounds (which are antiperspirants that clog your sweat glands to prevent sweating). 
  • Phthalates: These are endocrine-disrupting compounds that may interfere with healthy hormone production and reproduction. 
  • Parabens: Some deodorant brands may use parabens, which are preservative compounds that are also endocrine-disrupting chemicals. 
  • Synthetic fragrances: Many regular deodorants use synthetic or artificial fragrances (you can probably guess the scent isn’t natural when you’re buying something called “mountain breeze” or “cool thunderstorm”). DIY deodorants are either unscented or use essential oils for fragrance. 
  • Environmental impact: Buying those little plastic tubes month after month for your entire life can be a significant amount of single-use plastic packaging. 
  • Cost: Homemade deodorants often come out to be less expensive in the long run than storebought deodorant, as you don’t use much of the ingredients at one time. 
  • Skin irritation: People with sensitive skin often need to avoid conventional personal care products, especially those with fragrances or alcohol.

8 Natural Homemade Deodorant Recipes

Beeswax Deodorant recipe

1. Beeswax Deodorant

Beeswax makes a firmer textured deodorant, similar to a typical stick deodorant. You can use beeswax pellets or bars, but pellets will be easier to measure out. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp beeswax pellets
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp shea butter
  • 1 Tbsp baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp arrowroot powder (can substitute cornstarch)
  • 10–15 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional; leave out for unscented)

Instructions:

  • Melt the beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter in a double boiler. A double boiler is a large pot filled with hot or boiling water and a smaller pot on top that fits inside to trap the steam from below (without getting the ingredients wet). 
  • Remove from heat and mix in baking soda and arrowroot powder.
  • Add essential oils and stir.

Pour into a container or mold and let cool before using.

Coconut Oil Deodorant recipe

2. Coconut Oil Deodorant

This is your most basic homemade deodorant, which solidifies from the coconut oil but is not as firm as beeswax deodorant. Coconut oil also has natural antibacterial properties, which can help to reduce odor-causing bacteria and body odor. 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted or liquid 
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 10-15 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional; leave out for unscented)

Instructions:

  • Mix baking soda and arrowroot powder/cornstarch in a bowl.
  • Add melted coconut oil and mix until smooth.
  • Stir in essential oils of your choice.
  • Store in a small jar or an empty deodorant container.
Shea Butter Deodorant recipe

3. Shea Butter Deodorant

This is very similar to coconut oil deodorant but uses shea butter instead. Shea butter is known to be very moisturizing, which can protect the delicate skin of your underarms if you are prone to dryness.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp shea butter
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 10-15 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional; leave out for unscented)

Instructions:

  • Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
  • Once melted, remove from heat and stir in baking soda and arrowroot powder.
  • Add essential oils and mix well.
  • Pour into a jar or deodorant stick mold and let it set.
Baking Soda-Free Deodorant recipe for Sensitive Skin

4. Baking Soda-Free Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

Baking soda is commonly used in homemade deodorants because it balances pH levels, inhibits odor-causing bacteria, and helps with smell. However, some people find it very irritating on their skin. 

In this natural deodorant recipe, magnesium hydroxide powder produces similar effects without the irritation and dryness of baking soda. 

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 3 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch 
  • 2 Tbsp magnesium hydroxide powder (instead of baking soda)
  • 10 drops of essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

  • Mix coconut oil, arrowroot powder or cornstarch, and magnesium hydroxide powder until smooth.
  • Stir in essential oils if desired.
  • Store in a jar or container.
Spray Deodorant recipe with witch hazel, essential oils, and baking soda

5. Spray Deodorant

If you prefer a spray deodorant to a stick or paste, you can mix witch hazel, water, baking soda, and essential oils in a spray bottle. Witch hazel is an astringent that is cooling, refreshing, and cleansing. 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup witch hazel (liquid)
  • 1/4 cup distilled water
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 10–15 drops of essential oil (optional; lavender and tea tree oil go well with witch hazel)

Instructions:

  • Dissolve baking soda in water.
  • Add witch hazel and essential oils.
  • Pour into a small spray bottle and shake before each use.
Aloe Vera Gel Deodorant recipe

6. Aloe Vera Gel Deodorant

Aloe vera is also great for sensitive skin, as it is calming and anti-inflammatory. This deodorant is more of a gel, and may take some time to fully dry on your underarms. 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
  • 2 Tbsp witch hazel (liquid)
  • 1 tsp baking soda or magnesium hydroxide (if sensitive to baking soda)
  • 10 drops essential oil (optional; lavender or tea tree oil work well here)

Instructions:

  • Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
  • Transfer to a small jar.
  • Store in the fridge. 
Powder Deodorant Recipe

7. Powder Deodorant

You can make a powdered deodorant that can be dryly applied with a powder brush or a powder shaker. It uses kaolin clay or bentonite clay, which absorb moisture, may kill odor-causing bacteria, and may help to open pores to draw out sweat and toxins. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder
  • 2 Tbsp baking soda (or substitute with magnesium hydroxide if sensitive to baking soda)
  • 1 Tbsp kaolin clay or bentonite clay

Instructions:

  • Mix the arrowroot powder, baking soda, and clay in a bowl.
  • Store in a jar or powder container. Apply using a powder puff or brush.

8. Glycolic Acid

Lastly, some people are using glycolic acid as a deodorant substitute. However, this one is not always as natural as the rest. Glycolic acid is a skincare product known as an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that can be naturally derived from plants like beets or sugarcane, but many products are synthetically derived. 

It’s thought that glycolic acid works as a deodorant because it reduces the skin’s pH (like baking soda), killing off odor-causing bacteria. Another benefit of using glycolic acid is that it may reduce underarm discoloration. This is also one of its functions on the skin—reducing hyperpigmentation. 

To use as deodorant, simply apply glycolic acid on a cotton round and dab your underarms (or wherever you need it). Some products on the market incorporate glycolic acid into them, like these glycolic acid deodorant wipes, roll-on deodorants, and deodorant sprays

However, like baking soda, glycolic acid may also cause skin irritation and redness. If you do get irritated, reduce your usage to 2–3 times per week and lower the concentration. According to dermatologists, the maximum concentration should be 8–10%, and lower if you are sensitive.

DIY Deodorant FAQs

Is homemade deodorant better?

Making your own deodorant has many benefits, including a lessened environmental impact, lower cost in the long run, no endocrine-disrupting or potentially harmful chemicals, no aluminum, and the ability to control what goes into it. It will not work as well as conventional antiperspirant deodorants, which require aluminum compounds to block sweat glands and prevent sweat. However, they can absorb moisture and control odor.

What ingredients make natural deodorant work?

Baking soda is typically used in homemade or natural deodorants to balance pH levels, inhibit odor-causing bacteria, and control smell. Essential oils also are used to help with odor, and solid fat (like coconut oil, beeswax, or shea butter) are used to moisturize and soothe skin and hold the other ingredients together.

How can I make my armpits smell good without deodorant?

Showering often and washing your armpits thoroughly with soap (and drying them thoroughly) is the first step. You can also spritz your underarms with apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, or an alcohol-based perfume or cologne. Plus, natural deodorant ingredients like coconut oil, essential oils, shea butter, beeswax, baking soda, and aloe vera can all help your underarms to smell better without using deodorant.

Is baking soda in deodorant irritating?

Yes, some people with sensitive skin find that baking soda is highly irritating, as it raises the skin’s pH, which can cause dryness and irritation. However, natural deodorant tends to use baking soda. Magnesium hydroxide powder is a good substitute.



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