How to make natural deodorant (2024)

Finding the right natural deodorant for you can be a battle. You need to find one that works for you smell-wise and one that doesn't have any potentially irritating ingredients. The good news is there are many natural options on the market that are as effective as the chemical stuff.

Why natural over typical antiperspirant deodorant?

Typical deodorant is chalked full of chemicals, hormone disruptors, aluminum, parabens, phthalates, fragrance and preservatives. Since our skin is our largest organ, anything that is put on the skin is absorbed into our bodies.

Natural deodorants replace irritants and chemicals with shea butter, coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder, cocoa butter, and vitamin E.

Create your own natural deodorant using the formula below. Just remember while following this recipe does not promise to stop sweat (it's not an antiperspirant – which blocks ducts that release it using chemicals), it does work to keep body odor at bay.

DIY: Natural Deodorant

What You'll Need:

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch (or arrowroot powder for sensitive skin)
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon essential oil (choose your favorite scent)

What to Do:

  1. If the coconut oil is in a solid state, put it in a microwave-safe container and microwave it for 10-second intervals (until it is fully melted).
  2. Mix in essential oil.
  3. Add cornstarch and baking soda and mix until smooth.
  4. Transfer to a jar and apply with your hands or an empty deodorant tube for mess free application.

*It may be best to refrigerate your deodorant since coconut oil has a low melting point

Related articles

How to make natural deodorant (2)

Ditch the razor for the laser! The benefits of laser hair removal

Say goodbye to the daily hassle of shaving, waxing or tweezing and hello to smooth, hair-free skin! Laser hair removal at Gundersen is easy, safe, and effective at removing unwanted

How to make natural deodorant (3)

BOTOX® Cosmetics: A gold standard for smoothing wrinkles

Looking to improve the look of frown lines, crow's feet and forehead lines? BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments at Gundersen can help!

How to make natural deodorant (4)

Body sculpting with plastic surgery: Liposuction and tummy tucks

Gundersen’s board-certified plastic surgeons perform precision liposuction and tummy tucks to target and refine your natural shape.

How to make natural deodorant (5)

Top 10 plastic surgery procedures to enhance your natural beauty

Gundersen's plastic and reconstructive surgeons offer a comprehensive range of plastic surgery procedures for the breasts, body and face in the safety of our respected medical center in La Crosse

See more articles

How to make natural deodorant (2024)

FAQs

How to make natural deodorant work? ›

Instructions:
  1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot.
  2. Mash in coconut oil until blended. Add essential oils, if desired.
  3. Place the mixture in an empty glass jar.
  4. To use, just warm a small amount between your fingers until it turns into liquid. Apply to your armpits.

What is 2 ingredient DIY deodorant? ›

It's only two ingredients that are found in your kitchen: coconut oil and baking soda.

What makes a good natural deodorant? ›

In a natural deodorant, look for: Antibacterial ingredients: baking soda, coconut oil, hops extract and essential oils with antibacterial qualities (tea tree oil, lemongrass and rosemary are a few) Sweat-absorbing ingredients: baking soda, arrowroot powder, cornstarch, kaolin clay and activated charcoal.

Is there a natural deodorant that actually works? ›

For Staying Dry: Glossier Deodorant

Why We Love It: The first deodorant from beauty powerhouse, Glossier, is refillable and aluminum-free. Available in four scents, the formula uses a blend of naturally sourced ingredients to keep you dry and odor-free.

Why do I still smell after using natural deodorant? ›

You should expect your armpits to smell a little pungent for the first couple of weeks. This is because your sweat glands are purging and getting rid of all of the built-up bacteria and chemicals that have been trapped whilst you've been using antiperspirants.

How to make deodorant more effective? ›

Key Takeaways
  1. Deodorant is most effective when applied to clean, dry skin.
  2. It is better to apply deodorant at night, before bed, when your body is less likely to sweat.
  3. You can use most deodorants anywhere you tend to sweat, not just the underarms.

How long does homemade deodorant last? ›

Q. How long does homemade deodorant last? A. Because there's no water in the recipe I've found it lasts for 6-12 months.

What is the key ingredient in deodorant? ›

Aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirkonium tetrachlorohydrate glycine complex are the most frequently used active ingredients in commercial antitranspirants today. Aluminium chloride and propantheline bromide, the anticholinergic substance, are important alternatives although less common.

What is the best detox for armpits? ›

Most armpit detoxes use a homemade mask of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Some also include water to dilute the vinegar. Others use equal parts bentonite clay and coconut oil for a more soothing, hydrating mix that still has some antibacterial properties, thanks to the coconut oil.

What shouldn't be in your deodorant? ›

To make your shopping easier, we've put together a list of six ingredients to avoid in deodorants, according to EWG.
  • Aluminum compounds and salt. Aluminum compounds are commonly found in pharmaceutical and beauty products. ...
  • Talc. ...
  • Parabens. ...
  • Propylene Glycol. ...
  • Triclosan. ...
  • Phthalates.

How do I make homemade deodorant? ›

Instructions
  1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in the microwave or on a double boiler at medium heat.
  2. Mix the arrowroot powder and the baking soda in a bowl.
  3. Add the melted oils/butters to your powders.
  4. Mix well until there are no clumps left.
  5. Add your essential oil/s and mix well.
  6. Pour into your container.

How can I make my armpits smell good without deodorant? ›

Check out these “forgot deodorant” hacks:
  1. Hand Sanitizer. Yes, you can totally use hand sanitizer as deodorant – and best of all, it's easy enough to find. ...
  2. Alcohol Swabs or Wipes. ...
  3. Antibacterial Hand Wipes. ...
  4. Hand Soap & Water. ...
  5. Witch Hazel. ...
  6. Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
  7. Lemon Juice. ...
  8. Baking Soda & Cornstarch.

Why is my natural deodorant not working? ›

Your body is too used to relying on the aluminium “plugs” in your sweat glands to stop it from sweating. It has forgotten how to do it properly which makes it hard for natural deodorants to work effectively. Your body needs some time to get back into the swing of things. Think of it as a detox period.

How to stop stinking with natural deodorant? ›

Always Apply to Clean Armpits

If you begin to detect an odor throughout the day, wash your armpits again with soap and water—or at least give them a wipe-down with some apple cider vinegar—before reapplying your natural deodorant.

Why do I still sweat with natural deodorant? ›

Natural deodorants typically contain ingredients that can help absorb moisture, but these ingredients aren't as effective as the products in antiperspirant that actually plug the pores creating the sweat. But this isn't a bad thing! Sweat is natural. Plus, you may not sweat as much as you think.

How long does it take for natural deodorant to work? ›

By the third week, the body odor will start to die down but you may notice more sweating than usual. This is your body doing a final sweat purge. You're almost at the finish line! Around week 4, your underarms are sweating less and smelling better.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 5816

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.