DIY Natural Deodorant – Natural Homemade Deodorant That Actually Works!

This DIY natural deodorant is super easy to make…and it actually works! With just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, you can make your own natural homemade deodorant that’s far more healthy than commercial deodorants. This recipe is good for sensitive skin, and it even works for men!

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My beauty product stash isn’t perfect by any means, but I have been trying to slowly incorporate more healthy products so I can get away from the nasty, chemical-laden commercial stuff.

One of my most recent transitions was deodorant!

Honestly, I never thought I’d be that person making her own deodorant, but here I am, proudly tossing my trusty Secret to the curb and embracing a DIY natural deodorant that I know is healthier for my body.

I’ve been wanting to try natural homemade deodorant for a while, so I finally made a batch in December and haven’t looked back since. I even got Josh on board a few weeks ago, and he CONSTANTLY tells me how much he loves it: “This stuff really works!” and “I can’t believe how long this stuff lasts!”

If that’s not a convincing testimony, then I don’t know what is!

Anyway, if you’d like to try natural homemade deodorant for yourself, then I highly recommend this recipe! It’s much milder than a lot of DIY deodorant recipes I see floating around, so it should be fine even if you have sensitive skin like me.

What is the best natural homemade deodorant?

There are all sorts of homemade deodorant recipes out there. I’ve seen some that are simple, some that are complex, some that are creams, some that are hard enough to use in a twist-up deodorant container, and some that are a liquid spray.

I’m sure these recipes have their merits, but I haven’t personally tried them. Actually, the first natural homemade deodorant I ever made worked perfectly for me, so I’m going to stick with what works!

In my opinion, this simple deodorant recipe is the best, but you can definitely do a quick search on Pinterest to find other recipes to try.

How long does homemade deodorant last?

I made a four-ounce batch two months ago, and I’ve only used about a fourth of it since then. Based on that, I figure one batch will last a good six months or so with daily application. Since a pea-sized amount is all you need, a four-ounce batch will last quite a while.

Luckily, the ingredients in this recipe have a really long shelf life. Coconut oil and arrowroot powder can last about two years, and baking soda can last about a year, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it going bad before you use it all.

How to make your own natural homemade deodorant that really works

Note: I first learned how to make this natural deodorant from Meghan Livingstone. I really like her basic recipe, so I just customize it with my favorite essential oils.

Supplies Needed:

• 4-ounce jar with a tightly fitting lid (preferably a dark colored glass jar if you plan to use essential oils)
• Small bowl
• Tablespoon

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 4 Tbsp. arrowroot powder
• 2 Tbsp. baking soda
• 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. I like to use grapefruit essential oil in my deodorant because it smells citrusy, but I use cypress essential oil in Josh’s deodorant for a manlier scent.

Directions:

Melt the coconut oil in a small bowl. Add the arrowroot powder, baking soda, and essential oil and mix well. Pour into your deodorant jar.

Your deodorant should harden in an hour or so, but if you want to speed up the process, you can always pop it in the refrigerator.

How to use natural deodorant

As I mentioned earlier, you only need to use a pea-sized amount of this deodorant. Men might need a little more to cover their entire underarm area, but you really don’t need to use a lot of product to get good results.

In fact, it’s better to not use an excessive amount otherwise you risk getting your clothes oily. A pea-sized amount is plenty to get the deodorizing benefits without an oily residue.

Simply scoop out a small amount of deodorant, rub it between your fingers to melt it a little bit, and then apply it to your underarms. You should be good to go for the whole day, but if you think you smell a little funky later in the day, you can definitely apply more.

I will say that you’ll get best results when you apply your deodorant to clean skin. It seems to work best at preventing odors instead of masking odors that are already there, so if you stink, just take a shower or wash your underarms over the sink and then apply a fresh layer of deodorant.

DIY Deodorant FAQ

I’ve heard baking soda can irritate your underarms. Will this deodorant irritate my skin?

Baking soda can be irritating, and that’s exactly why I prefer this recipe over the others I’ve seen. It only uses about half the amount of baking soda that other recipes call for. Neither Josh nor I have ever had any irritation with this recipe, but you can definitely decrease the amount of baking soda if you find that it’s too strong for your skin.

Is this deodorant good for sensitive skin?

I have super sensitive skin and this recipe works just fine for me. No irritation whatsoever! I can even apply it immediately after shaving without any burning or redness. If you find that this recipe is too strong for your sensitive skin, try reducing the amount of baking soda and/or wait a little while after you shave before you apply it.

Will this deodorant work for men too?

Yep! Josh raves about this deodorant all the time. Even when he sweats A LOT, either from working out or being stressed at work, he doesn’t stink at all. And he can sometimes go two days with just a single application! I think that’s pretty impressive.

I’ve heard that it can take a while for your underarms to adjust to natural deodorants. Will I stink during the transition?

When I first started researching natural homemade deodorant, I noticed that a lot of people talked about a transition phase. Apparently, some people say that it takes about a week for their bodies to get used to the natural stuff so they stink a little more during the transition period.

Personally, I didn’t experience the dreaded transition funk, so you might not experience it either.

However, if you do feel a little funkier than usual, don’t get discouraged! It should go away in a few days as your body gets used to this natural deodorant, but see the next paragraph if you want to speed up the process.

I’ve heard that you have to detox your armpits before switching to natural deodorants. How do I do that?

If you’ve been using traditional deodorants your whole life, then your underarms have some serious detoxing to do. That’s why you might smell a little on the funky side as your body gets used to natural deodorant.

Since I didn’t have any funky issues, I didn’t worry about detoxing. However, if you find that this deodorant just isn’t working for you, then you may need to give your underarms a little boost with an armpit detox.

You can start by exfoliating your underarms with an easy sugar scrub made with one part oil (olive, jojoba, grapeseed, sweet almond, etc.) and two parts sugar. Massage in a circular motion to get rid of dead skin cells and prep the skin for a detoxing mask.

You can make an easy mask out of one tablespoon bentonite clay and 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons water to get a spreadable consistency. Apply to your underarms and leave it on for about 10 minutes before you wipe it away with a warm, wet washcloth.

Detoxing your underarms may help you speed up the transition phase, so definitely give it a try if you’re having trouble adjusting to natural deodorant.

And if you’re curious, you can read more about armpit detoxing here.

Will this deodorant keep me from sweating?

Nope, but that’s the point! Our bodies are supposed to sweat, and plugging up our pores with antiperspirant just isn’t healthy. But even though you will sweat, the arrowroot powder and baking soda do a great job of absorbing some of the moisture.

Believe it or not, I actually find that I sweat less now that I use natural deodorant. And this is coming from the girl who’s been dealing with hyperhidrosis her whole life! I used to be a hardcore Secret Clinical Strength deodorant user, but now I don’t seem to sweat nearly as much as I used to.

Can I put this deodorant in a twist-up deodorant container?

I wouldn’t recommend it unless you live in a cool area or plan to keep your deodorant in the refrigerator. Since this recipe uses coconut oil, it will get soft and melty around 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The arrowroot powder and baking soda will keep it from turning completely liquid, but you can expect it to get softer as the weather heats up. For that reason, I prefer keeping my deodorant in a jar with a lid.

Final Thoughts on This DIY Deodorant

Making your own natural homemade deodorant really isn’t that hard. All it takes is a few simple ingredients to have a healthier product than anything you could buy in a store. And the best part is that it really works! I love it, and I won’t be going back to commercial deodorants any time soon.

Be sure to give this recipe a try, and when you do, let me know how you like it! I hope you don’t have to deal with any transition funkiness, but if you do, just reference the tips I mentioned earlier so you can get past it as quickly as possible.

Other DIY Beauty Product Articles You May Enjoy

• DIY Face Cleanser – Natural Foaming Face Wash for All Skin Types
• Simple 3-Ingredient Face Oil Recipe
• DIY Natural Chocolate Citrus Face Scrub
• DIY Natural Baking Soda Face Scrub for a Polished Glow
• DIY Natural Face Mask with Clay and Oatmeal
• The Natural Skin Care Routine That Gives Me Glowing Skin Every Day

What about you? Have you tried making your own natural homemade deodorant before?

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DIY NATURAL DEODORANT – NATURAL HOMEMADE DEODORANT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!