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In the DIY world of home health and beauty products, deodorant seems to be the the most feared replacement. Stinking is NOT OKAY in our culture, right?
But aluminum crammed in your pores cannot be good for you, and it seems in recent years that store-bought deodorant is becoming less and less effective anyway. This deodorant uses a natural moisture absorber (cornstarch), a natural deodorizer (baking soda), and a natural anti-bacteria/fungal oil (tea tree oil) to keep any stink from developing in the first place.
So, here’s what I suggest….make this stuff ahead and use it on SATURDAY, or a sick day, or any day you aren’t going to see anyone special, so you’ll feel secure and not look like a nut obsessively sniffing your underarms all day. Once you get over the stink phobia, let your body get used to it, and you’ll never go back.
1. Put 1/4 cup each of baking soda and cornstarch** in a bowl with 10+ drops tea tree oil. (I like 20 drops, but I’m a tea tree oil nut. I hear lavender oil will work as well.)
2. This deodorant can be used as a powder, but if you want a stick, go to the shortening section of the store and buy this solid-at-room-temperature-awesome stuff:
3. Stir 2+ TBSP in until it’s the consistency you like.
4. Smash into empty deodorant container. (Will be a bit sturdier once it sets a day or so.)
When applying this deodorant, use a lighter hand than you would with normal stick deodorant, especially the first couple of days or it’ll drop little balls on your bathroom rug.
Used correctly, this stuff is invisible and lasts for ages, as it works with a very light layer. You should not be able to SEE it once applied.
**If you have especially sensitive skin, increase the amount of cornstarch to 6T and decrease the baking soda to 2T.
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Standard baking soda has aluminum in it, so you need to make sure you get baking soda without aluminum.
i tried this recipe. it’s wonderful. i’ve tried 4 different brands of “natural” deodorant from the health food store and this one has been far superior.
This looks great, I can’t wait to try it! I’m allergic to the store bought brands, so hopefully this will work for me
I just started using this two days ago and so far I don’t smell! This stuff is awesome and I will be making my deodorant from now on. Thanks!
By the way, baking soda doesn’t have aluminum in it. Baking powder does. Companies just use the confusion between baking soda and baking powder to market baking soda as “aluminum-free” so they can charge more for it.
I LOVE THIS STUFF! Been using it for a couple of months and will never go back to store bought deodorant! Thank you so much!
I have been sprinkling powder under my arms for some time now (bicarbonate of soda mixed with cornflour ((Australian names for baking soda and cornstarch)) and a little zinc powder) but I just could not convince my 14 yr old daughter to give it a go. I have managed to graduate her onto stick deodorant rather than spray…so this looks like a recipe that might actually work!! Thank you very much.
hopefully it works!
Is there a way to substitute EVOO as the liquid agent and crushed lavender instead of lavender oil? If it is possible, would you still need the coconut oil? This recipe looks like a terrific substitute for the store-bought ones that sometimes do contain ingredients that are irritating to susceptible persons.
EVOO isn’t solid at room temperature. Crushed lavender would be fine if it didn’t irritate your skin.
This article is great. Fiancee uses baby powder right now because he can’t stand regular deodorants. It works some but still ends up stinky at end of the day.
I’m going to see if this works for him. He likes tea tree oil scent so hopefully it will. As for applying the powder easily- get a cheap fine weave sock and fill it up. Swing sock on area to be powdered and some will poof out. It’s the same as the chalk bag rock climbers use to keep their hands dry.
I have been using this deodorant recipe for about a year now, and it’s awesome. Thank you so much for posting this.
I have substituted cedar essential oil for the tea tree, and it still works great. Also, I use extra virgin coconut oil since it has not been refined, bleached or deodorized. It adds a great smell to the deodorant. I store my deodorant in the fridge so it stays nice and hard.
None of the natural, health-food store type deodorants ever worked for me. I would stink after about two hours. This recipe works wonders!
Hurray, can’t wait to try this. For some reason, this year I have started to try to go sustainable?? I’ve been canning, freezing, making lavender cold processed bar soap, dishwasher detergent, and last but not least…laundry detergent. It has all been very successful, and I am having a blast doing it. I feel like as though I am doing something good for my family as well.
So now its onward an upward to replace my Smooth Powder, flawless touch Secret with Olay, ha.
Hi, mind if i chime in on the olive oil question? I made this deodorant as a powder the same week it was posted. After about a week of constantly vacuuming the bathroom, (it got everywhere when i used a powder puff,) I decided it was time to try it as a stick deodorant. Of course, wouldn’t you know, my local market had just recently stopped carrying coconut oil. So I decided instead of the coconut oil I would try two different alternatives, first, coco butter (pure , I had to shave and melt it a bit), and second, ev olive oil. I was very light handed with both, just enough to hold the powders together. The olive oil batch took about two weeks to set up decent. I actually just made my third batch with the oil. I stopped looking for coconut oil ages ago so I never did try that. Just thought my experience would help someone.
I made this and waited for the weekend to try it. Well I put it to the test. I mowed with a push mower. NO STINK!!!! Slightly damp, but I was sweating everywhere else. LOVE THI STUFF! Thank you!
My husband’s underarms look like he cooked them with a blow torch!
We think it’s his deoderant. He’s going to try the home made stuff from this site.
FYI – be careful with the tea tree oil – I found out the hard way that my skin can’t tolerate that. Thanks for your comments!
This sounds awesome, I really need to try this!
I just found out, however, the other day, that apparently my boyfriend doesn’t use deodorant. Ever. We’ve been together for 2 1/2 years, and he never stinks… is that weird?
Margali,
Baby powder feeds yeast and has been linked to Ovarian cancer if I am not mistaken. Also bad for lungs if you inhale it. Better off using cornstarch.
The suggestion that baking SODA might contain aluminum is completely wrong.
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate – NaHCO3.
Now, baking POWDER may contain sodium aluminum sulfate – NaAl(SO4)2.
But baking powder and baking soda are two different things.
Stick to the recipe, use the SODA.
Don’t confuse baking soda with baking powder, and no aluminum will be involved in the making of this deodorant.
really great suggestion for making your own deodorant. Helps to keep costs down in the long run, and most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen cabinet. As soon as me and my wife saw this post, we got the rest of the ingredients that we didnt have and got to work the next day! Now, my question is, is the mixture supposed to liquefy after mixing it and putting it in the deodorant holder, or is it supposed to stay dry? Waiting for your feedback!
MarriedInNYC
married inNYC–It doesn’t liquefy unless the room temperature is pretty hot. I keep mine in the refrigerator during the summer. Very refreshing! Hope you have a good experience with your new deo.
As per the comment on 9 July, baking powder has aluminum. Baking soda is just bicarbonate of soda, thus it has none.
I made this up and I love it! This is the first time in 35 years that my underarms have been truly happy and irritation free. I used Queen Helene’s Cocoa Butter – a solid stick of cocoa butter. It sure gives the deodorant a nice smell.
To the people who are saying that baking soda doesn’t contain aluminum – I understand that the compound sodium bicarbonate itself doesn’t contain aluminum, but couldn’t it have been contaminated during processing?
Anyway, this recipe sounds awesome! I added lemon essential oil, and it smells so good I almost want to eat it (but not quite
). Also, all essential oils are antiseptic, so any scent should have the same effect.
Can you put your favorite cologne in home made deodorant?
Joe, I wonder if the alcohol in the cologne wouldn’t evaporate and take the scent with it? Clove oil would smell nice, though.
Finally tried this (was waiting to finish my normal stuff so I would have something to put it in). WOW. No smell. No sweat. I don’t need a lot of deodorant as I eat really healthily and don’t run marathons regularly, but this does the trick.
Thank you soooooo much! I’m now almost to the point where nothing horrible (or unidentified) is going on/in my body. Thank you!
I’m SO happy I found your website. I’m a very slightly experienced soapmaker..but I LOVE the simplicity of your recipes! I can’t wait to start making my own soap/lotion bar/deodorants!
I was wondering though, is it possible to make several different scented deordorants, like you can buy off the shelf?
Hi Hope. I’m glad you found us, too!
You can scent each batch to your own specifications, according to the type of essential oils you add to the mix. Have fun blending your own signature scent.
Hi,
I’d love to try the stick deodorant, I have a question before I begin. If I use either tea tree oil or lavender oil, they are both liquid form. . . why do I need to add in the “solid-at-room-temperature” coconut oil? Do you mean the essential oil doesn’t make this turn solid and that I need to use the coconut oil to “set” it? If I have to use something to set it, I might try the solid coco butter. Thank you.
This recipe is fantastic!!! It has been 4 days and I don’t stink, and I am never going back. I used the sensitive skin version with more cornstarch than baking soda and about 15 drops of tea tree. Sooo happy I found this. Thank you, Thank you!
Joyce H–Right, the eo doesn’t make it solid. You need the solid oil for that. Good luck!
I used this for 2 days and have a painful rash on my armpits. (I have this problem with many brands of deodorant, not sure why…) I’m going to try again with the sensitive version and a different essential oil… Not giving up yet!
Does this also work as an anti-perspirant? the fact that I get ugly sweat stains whenever I don’t use a “clinical strength” anti-perspirant is, unfortunately, the only reason I use them (and some of them don’t even work!!)…
I’m hoping it’s not to do with how I eat, because it’s virtually impossible to do that right now due to my living in a dorm where we’re allowed absolutely no cooking apliances except for a kettle. Once I have my kitchen next year, I hope to be able to not only eat better, but to make many of things on this site..
I have tried the natural deodorants found in the natural food stores and they didn’t work as effectively as this mix. I would have to reapply throughout the day, especially in the summer. The store bought brands didn’t work either. I LOVE this stuff! I didn’t use enough coconut oil so I’m going to adjust the recipe but it is fantastic! I cannot wait to try some of your other recipes. Thank you so much for sharing. I love your website!
I have been making my own Olive Oil soap for about 12 years now (& selling it at the local Farmer’s market). I use it on my body, as a shampoo and to shave with. When I found out about aluminium in deodorants, I started using a commercial one with baking soda, but it is quite expensive. So….after using Google, I now know how to make my own eco-friendly (and user-friendly) deodorant! My next challenge is get my teenage kids to try it too!
it looks easy to do deodorant by myself, but i do not know where to buy the coconut oil.
thanks for sharing this useful infornation.
I have used this for months, it was the best I have ever used. But for some reason the last few weeks I have been reacting to it. It burns my arms for hours. I had to stop useing it. Am I doing something wrong? does anyone knoy why it would start doing that all of a sudden?
Like James, I made this and used it – and LOVED it – for about a month and a half. At which point my underarms started to burn and turned very, very red. I stopped using the deodorant immediately, and after 3-4 nights of using neosporin under my arms, they are finally starting to heal. My guess is that it is either the baking soda or the tea tree oil (I used tea tree and lavender, but not excessive amounts). I also substituted arrowroot starch for the cornstarch. I’m debating now whether or not to modify the recipe or look for a different one altogether
To the poster who liked the idea of clove oil – be very careful with that, if you decide to do it! Clove (along with cinnamon, eucalyptus, and some others – easy to find which on google) are VERY irritating to skin, even diluted. Also, part of the reason that the tea tree oil works so well is that it is antifungal and antibacterial. It helps kill the stuff that makes you stink
Like Jen we had the same issue with this recipe also. I then found another one that was the same except for the ADDITION of vit. e oil. Since I have been making it with that we have had no issues in the past few years. (I do use the tea tree oil and lavender too.)
Glad to see that I am not the only one! Satchell, how much vit. e oil do I need to use? Also, where do I get it? Jen, I did not know about tea tree oil as an anti bacterial/ antifungal. Good to know! Thanks so much for the responses!
YAY! Love this deo! and blog too
I made a couple batches, customizing the second and it works great, I’ve always had a hard time finding a good deo and this does the job. Thanks for sharing.
in reply to keith pittman’s comment about aluminum in baking soda.
i believe you’re thinking of baking powder, which usually has aluminum added.
this is different from baking soda, which is a natural ingredient from the earth.
Love this stuff. I use the extra sensitive version (6T cornstarch, 2T baking soda) w/20 drops TT oil. My husband has had the most eye-watering odor, no matter what brand of deodorant he uses. In addition, he’s had a yeast infection on his underarms since last summer. I’ve had him on this since Sept, and no longer does he have sweat stains on his clothing, he doesn’t emit any odor, and the yeast infection is clearing up.
Keith – Baking Soda is SODIUM BICARBONATE. There is NO aluminum in there at all. You are thinking of Baking POWDER – a totally different ingredient.
Jenny,
I think the essential oil is used only for a scent. Try making and using this without the scented oil.
I was wondering about something. I am making this deodorant for the first time and I know that if Coconut oil is left out when its hot that it will turn to liquid form… If it does can you add Emulsifying wax to it to keep it hardened… I know that when I homemade my lotions and lip balms They become super runny if I don’t add E-wax. Would it be okay to use this?
I wonder how long will this last with daily use? I plan on making this deodorant and it’s going to be my first time. The last deodorant I used was not really helpful and I want to have some changes.
I finally made this
I have always had problems with irritation under my arms with regular store bought deoderants and having the all natural ones not work (controlling odor). This is the best stuff ever!!! I will never use anything else and I am not stinky anymore. I do keep mine in the fridge because it does get a little softer if its room temperature and can break apart. It is the best ever!! Thanks!
I have been using a similar recipe for about a year or two now, but I use the oil and powder separately. I apply the oil, then the powder. I tried just the powder first, but it seemed to help when I added coconut oil. I store the oil in a water-tight glass container, and the powder in another container with a puff applicator. This way, I can take them camping in the summer, and I don’t have to worry about the coconut oil melting all over the place. Am now considering making a stick to keep in the fridge as well though =)
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is supposedly antibacterial. This is why it helps with odor. (Body odor is caused by bacteria that feeds off of sweat.) Plus, it helps the powder stick to skin. I don’t know how antibacterial olive oil is, but it does have an scent that I personally wouldn’t want to smell like. If someone is just looking for an oil in general, safflower oil is fairly odorless. However, like olive oil it doesn’t harden at room temperature. I don’t think either one would work well for the stick design.
if you like/ don’t mind the licorice scent, anise is an AMAZING deodorizer. you don’t even need much of it just maybe 5-10 drops to get the effect, and it can be mixed with other oils. I am Very allergic to chemical fragrances and am really hoping i can get my husband to use this stuff. Personally i use nothing or a fragrance free cotton deo from trader joes, but will try this too
The odour from your armpits and other warm places is caused by bacteria not by sweat. If you wash or shower every morning, you will not smell because the bacteria doesn’t have time to form.
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