How to Make Deodorant at Home [All-Natural Recipes]

In recent years, there’s been a growing awareness of the harmful ingredients found in store-bought deodorants. Studies have confirmed that some of these harsh chemicals can be the cause of Ph imbalance, inflammation and even some types of cancer.

Such awareness brought a shift on the market and now there are many all-natural deodorant brands to choose from. However, homemade deodorant is still the safest, and oftentimes the most budget-friendly solution to combat body odor or armpit sweat. By making deodorant at home, you can modify the ingredients to meet your needs, and have peace of mind knowing exactly what’s going into the formula.

Today, we’ll show you how to make natural deodorant with our two easy homemade deodorant recipes!

how to make natural deodorant

HOMEMADE DEODORANT RECIPES

Homemade deodorant is simple to make and only requires a handful of ingredients. There are several recipes you can try at home, depending on your skin type and particular needs.

COCONUT HOMEMADE DEODORANT

There’s a reason why almost all homemade deodorant recipes contain coconut oil. This ingredient contains fatty acids that successfully eliminate bacteria, yeast and fungi that cause icky sweat odors.

  • 1/3 cup coconut oil base – Don’t skimp, otherwise, your deodorant will be crumbly and difficult to apply.
  • 1/4 cup absorbent powder or starch, such as arrowroot powder or charcoal powder — more on this below.
  • 1/4 cup baking soda – If you have sensitive skin, you can substitute a portion of the baking soda with the other powder you’re using.
  • 15 to 20 drops of essential oil of your choice – Lavender, tea tree or grapefruit essential oils work great. Make sure to use 100% pure oils only.
  • 1/3 cup shea butter – Optional, but highly recommended. Shea butter helps with scent and application.

CHARCOAL DEODORANT RECIPE

Due to its toxic-binding properties, activated charcoal is the magic ingredient of many homemade deodorant recipes. Studies have shown that charcoal is a powerful odor eliminator that absorbs sweat and detoxifies your skin.

  • 1/4 cup shea butter – Natural moisturizer with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • 1/3 cup arrowroot powder – To thicken the deodorant.
  • 1-1 ½ tbsp baking soda – Don’t confuse it with baking powder!
  • 20-25 drops of essential oil – Use ylang-ylang, patchouli, cedarwood or any other essential oil you prefer. You can also mix them.
  • 1/2 tsp activated charcoal powder – The mixture should have a light gray color. Add more or less charcoal powder to reach your desired results.

Read more: Is Charcoal Deodorant Any Good?

HOW TO MAKE DEODORANT: 5 SIMPLE STEPS

Here’s how to make deodorant using the ingredients above:

  1. Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add the oil to the dry ingredients. Using a hand or stand mixer, combine the ingredients until smooth. If you’re using shea butter, melt it and add it along with the oil.
  3. Add the essential oil(s) and mix well. Note that pure essential oils are very potent so if you prefer to keep the scent to a minimum, use fewer drops.
  4. Pour the mixture into an airtight glass jar and let it sit for 1 hour. If you’re in a warm environment, consider refrigerating the mixture so the coconut oil doesn’t melt.
  5. Apply a pea-sized amount to each underarm with a beauty spatula or popsicle stick. Use your fingers to rub thoroughly over your underarms.

Important: Since homemade deodorants are 100% natural, the consistency will change along with the external temperature. So keep your DIY natural deodorant in a cool, dry place to prevent melting.

To soften the deodorant, bring it with you to the shower and let the steam do the work, or leave it out on a warmer surface while you’re doing your morning routine.

HOW TO CHOOSE HOMEMADE DEODORANT INGREDIENTS

Every homemade deodorant recipe requires a few essential ingredients to maintain the right texture and effectiveness. These include:

OIL

Your natural deodorant recipe needs a solid base that adds moisture and holds the dry ingredients together.

Coconut oil is the most popular choice for DIY natural deodorant — it’s incredibly moisturizing and has antibacterial properties. Its melting point is 77°F (25°C), so if you live in a warmer climate, you may want to use a different oil base.

Almond oil is another great choice, as it’s also effective at killing germs and moisturizing skin. However, it’ll stay liquid at room temperature. So if you’re using almond oil as your base, your deodorant will be in liquid form.

POWDER OR STARCH

Add a powder or starch to absorb wetness and kill odor-causing bacteria.

Here are some popular options for homemade deodorant powders:

  • Baking soda: Absorbent and helpful for killing odor-causing bacteria
  • Arrowroot powder: Effective at absorbing moisture
  • Activated charcoal powder: Detoxifies bacteria and impurities from your pores
  • Cornstarch: Unscented and highly absorbent
  • Tapioca starch: An absorbent alternative to baking soda

Most natural deodorant recipes, including the coconut deodorant recipe we share above, call for baking soda as one of the main ingredients. Baking soda works well in natural deodorants because it’s useful against odor and sweat. However, it can be harsh on sensitive skin. Proceed with caution and start with a smaller amount of baking soda if you’re unsure about how much to use.

Pro-tip: When choosing powders or starches, feel free to experiment with different combinations to find a formula that’s kind to your skin. For example, you can mix arrowroot powder and activated charcoal powder to ward off bacteria and keep you dry.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Adding a few drops of essential oils to your homemade deodorant offers antibacterial benefits and a fresh fragrance. A pleasant aroma is a must for your natural deodorant recipe, as the other ingredients alone may not be as effective at combating odor.

The best essential oils to use in your homemade deodorant are:

  • Lavender oil – soothing and nourishing.
  • Tea tree oil – antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory.
  • Grapefruit oil – antioxidant and smoothing.
  • Lemongrass oil – astringent and antibacterial.
  • Eucalyptus oil – refreshing and cleansing.
  • Rosemary oil – bacteria-killer and fresh scent.
  • Sage oil – odor-eliminating and soothing.
  • Cedarwood oil – antimicrobial with a woody scent.
  • Bergamot oil – disinfectant, deodorizer and smells citrusy.

MOISTURIZER

If you want your natural deodorant to be moisturizing, add shea butter or cocoa butter to the mix. These natural moisturizers smell pleasant and leave your skin feeling incredibly soft and nourished.

WAX (OPTIONAL)

If you don’t mind cream deodorant, you can skip this step. But if you prefer the traditional, firm texture of store-bought deodorant, you can add wax to thicken the consistency.

Use one of the following natural products for a smoother, glossier texture:

  • Candelilla wax: This wax is best for homemade and natural deodorant. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of candelilla wax to your oil and butter mixture. Experiment until you achieve your preferred consistency. Less wax will result in softer deodorant while more wax will solidify the consistency.
  • Beeswax: Gently melt a small amount of beeswax (about 1/4 ounce) before adding oil and butter. Whisk to combine the liquids before adding to your dry ingredients. Keep in mind that beeswax softens quickly and can leave a residue on your skin or clothing, so it’s not the best choice for natural deodorant wax.

Learn more: Natural Deodorant Labels Explained

SWITCHING TO HOMEMADE DEODORANT

When switching to a natural deodorant, you might find that the new product doesn't work well initially. Don’t be shocked — this is normal.

There will be an adjustment period as your body acclimates to the natural ingredients. It can take a couple of weeks to a month for a complete transition.

To speed up this process and ease your transition, consider doing an armpit detox to clear pores and remove the buildup of synthetic ingredients and chemicals.

As you adapt to homemade deodorant, you might also feel like you’re sweating more than before. That’s because you’re no longer using aluminum-based antiperspirants that plug your sweat ducts; you’re simply using organic ingredients to fight odor and moisture.

Read more: 8 Deodorant Alternatives

NATURAL ALL THE WAY

To keep armpit sweat at bay, pair your natural deodorant with a reliable sweat proof undershirt.

Thompson Tee’s patented sweat proof undershirts for men and women are a perfect match for natural deodorants. These undershirts feature non-toxic Hydro-Shield technology that completely absorbs underarm sweat to prevent wet marks and yellow stains.

If you’re looking to double down on B.O. defense, you can also try Thompson Tee’s anti-odor undershirts, infused with revolutionary Odor Shield™ technology to keep you smelling fresh all day long.

Try Thompson Tee today risk-free!

Sweat Proof Undershirts