 |
Guest Post by Lexie McNeill of Lexie Naturals
I’ve been using aluminum free natural deodorant since I was a teenager. My dermatologist recommended it for several different reasons, and I have never looked back. To see why I use aluminum free deodorant check out this post.
I have tried the crystal stick that you must wet before using, vegetable based deodorants, and a popular brand that can be purchased at your local store. After years of using the above with little to no success and thinking about the benefits of homemade anything, I decided to make my own. It has been such a fun and easy experience (not to mention very frugal)!
Photo by Lexie Naturals
I started with this recipe and really loved it, but my mom and sister refused to use it since it must be applied with your fingers or kept in the fridge. So, I set out to find a recipe that works like the typical deodorant bar. After searching the web, getting testers to give feedback, and doing my own tweaking, I finally came up with a recipe that actually works and goes on smoothly.
Here are step by step directions for creating your own aluminum/paraben free deodorant stick. This makes enough for 2-3 average sized deodorant sticks. You can half this recipe, but I find it’s easier to make a larger batch.
You will need:
2 heaping Tbsp. beeswax pellets (pellets are easier to measure)
1 Tbsp. shea butter
5 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/4 cup cornstarch (or arrowroot powder for very sensitive skin)
1/4 cup aluminum free baking soda
10-15 drops tea tree essential oil
10-15 drops lavender essential oil
10-15 drops of other essential oils (optional; used for scenting purposes)
2-3 new or used deodorant tubes (cleaned and twisted all the way back down)
NOTE: You can purchase everything you need for this recipe at Mountain Rose Herbs, Vitacost, or your local grocery store.
How to:
Photo by Lexie Naturals
1. Melt beeswax in a double broiler (I just put a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water).
Photo by Lexie Naturals
2. Add shea butter and coconut oil and heat until just melted. Stir occasionally. I like to use a wooden stick to stir because the beeswax will stick to a spoon and make it hard to clean.
Photo by Lexie Naturals
3. Remove from heat and add cornstarch and baking soda. Stir until lumps are gone and the texture is smooth.
Photo by Lexie Naturals
4. Add essential oils and stir until well mixed.
Photo by Lexie Naturals
5. Pour into old deodorant tubes and let sit a few hours before adding the tops. You will want to fill them until they seem to almost overflow because they will fall down a good bit once cooled. You can also fill them half way and let them sit 5 minutes before filling the rest of the way. This will ensure you get them as full as possible.
Tips: When I have extra deodorant I simply pour it out onto parchment paper and either apply it with my fingers or reheat it with my next batch because I don’t like to waste anything. Wipe out your bowl with a paper towel (this is one of the only times I use paper towels). If you get the bowl wet the water will just slide off the beeswax and make it very difficult to clean.
Here are some things you need to know about natural deodorant if you’ve never used it before:
- Don’t over apply. You only need to lightly coat your underarms. Over applying will actually make it not work as well. Two to four swipes is ideal.
- Only twist up as much as you need. It will be slightly softer than store-bought deodorant, and may fall off if you twist it up too much.
- Some people experience a week or two of detoxing once switching over to a natural product. While none of my testers experienced this, it is still possible. You need to give the deodorant a good 2-3 weeks use before deciding if it works for you or not.
- This deodorant will stay solid at room temperature; however, if you live in an area with extreme heat you can put the stick in the refrigerator to harden it up a bit.
- This is a deodorant only, and it will not keep you from sweating (though it does do a good job of absorbing most of it, and certainly keeps you from stinking).
Don’t have time to make your own? You can view all of my natural skin care products (including this deodorant) here and purchase all products here.
*I have included affiliate links in this post.
Lexie is a follower of Jesus, the wife of the very talented Stephen McNeill, and a stay-at-home mother of two exquisite girls (ages 4 and 18 months). Her passions include spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, and teaching. In an effort to live more naturally and frugally, she began making and selling her own skin care products. She loves sharing these passions with others and helping other families catch the vision of living a more natural lifestyle. Her blog can be found here, and her facebook page can be found here.
Please visit my sponsors:
Sweet Little Blessings: Meeting all your cloth diapering needs–with FREE shipping on all order over $40!
Plan to Eat: Meal planning made simple.
The Glass Baby Bottle: Eco-friendly, Toxin Free Essentials for Babies & Toddlers & Kids
I’m linking up with: The Better Mom, Growing Home, Deep Roots at Home, Time-Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Fellowship Friday, The Prairie Homestead, Simple Lives Thursdays, Heavenly Homemakers, Works for me Wednesday, Frugally Sustainable, Frugal Friday
|
Thank you for sharing! I was just thinking this morning that I should have ordered some of her deodorant when you blogged about it a couple of weeks ago.
Shannon Wallace recently posted..Happy Birthday, Evan!!!
Hello, I was wondering if you needed to have the shea butter in there? Is it mostly to keep the skin moisturized? I’m wanting to make this today — I’m excited!
Shea butter has wonderful benefits for the skin and that’s why I originally added it. But then I realized it was the key to making the deodorant slide on easily. All the testers preferred the deodorant with the Shea butter. But to answer your question, it’s not necessary for the effectiveness of the deodorant. You may want to add castor oil or something else that will make it smooth.
Hope you like it!
Lexie recently posted..Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil Review and GIVEAWAY!
Is there an EO I can use besides lavender? I’m not a huge fan and I would love to make some that the boys in the family will use.
You can use any essential oil that you want. Tea tree an lavender have antibiotic properties though so it may not e as effective if you don’t use them. Lavender is actually a pretty earthy/manly scent!
Lexie recently posted..Healthy Living eBook Bundle Sale ($300 value for only $29)
Looks like a good recipe! I use the one from Passionate Homemaking, but this looks great for a stick. What kind of beeswax do you use? It looks white in the picture, not like the yellow from MRH. I tried to make a stick deodorant with beeswax in the past, but either the wax or my essential oil seemed to be discoloring my clothes and leaving a coating that didn’t wash out well. Have you experienced this at all?
Elsie recently posted..Cold-Weather Comfort Menu
Thank you so much for posting the recipe! I tried making body butter and love the idea of controlling what goes into the personal care products we use. I hope to try making some other homemade personal care products as soon as I can (and as soon as I have tubes to put them in from our store-bought naturals that we currently use).
Jen recently posted..Homemade Tamales – Vegetarian Style
Hi! I made this deodorant for my husband and myself and it works GREAT! However, after about a week or 2 of using the deodorant I have a pretty bad rash. Do you think I could decrease the baking soda to about 1/8 cup and increase the arrowroot powder to 3/8 of a cup or could I remove the baking soda all together and just increase the arrowroot powder to 1/2 cup? I am also going to decrease the EOs that I use as well to see if that helps. I appreciate your help or any other ideas you have for sensitive skin! Thanks.
Hi Kelli! I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! I’m so glad this worked for you–but I hate to hear about the rash! I would take out the essential oils and experiment with the baking soda and arrowroot like you suggested. This is another homemade deo recipe: http://creatingnaturally.com/homemade-moisturizing-deodorant-that-works-and-goes-on-smoothly-make-it-yourself-monday/ I haven’t personally tried it, but it says moisturizing! Hope this helps!
Hi, Kelli! You can reduce the baking soda and substitute cornstarch altogether with arrowroot. I have a customer with very sensitive skin and I use arrowroot powder and also DOUBLE the coconut oil. I hope you get it right for your skin!
Hi Lexi – how do you think it would turn out to subsitute ALL of the baking soda with arrowroot powder? My husband and I get terrible reactions to any deodorant we have tried with baking soda in it, all of which were completely frangrance free and without essential oils. I am on a serious quest to find something that works for us. Miessence caused my husband’s pits to get horribly red and burned and Solay caused me to burn and flake.
I have never tried this, but I know of it and was wondering if you tried emulsifying wax in place of beeswax?
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/wax/wax.html
I haven’t, but maybe Lexie has?
I’ve never used it personally, but I do think it would work just the same. Let us know!
Lexie recently posted..Introducing Lexie:Naturals Sale of the Week (And Some Other Cool Stuff)
Hi, I was wondering if it matters what kind of shae butter you used? I see there is unrefined and refined shae butter
Hi, Carli! I prefer unrefined simply because it’s in a more pure state. However, it can sometimes be a bit grainy, so some people prefer refined. Just make sure it isn’t bleached during the refining process and it will still be ok.
Lexie recently posted..Soap Nut Review and Giveaway (from The Laundry Ladies)
Has anyone had a problem with the amount of essential oils in this recipe? I buy Young Living from a friend and after feeling sick ever since I used the deodorant she said the oils I used caused me to be thrown into a cleanse. Just a word of caution, I am going to greatly reduce or eliminate the oils. I love everything else about it though!
Marisa, I’m so sorry. My essential oils may not be as high of a quality as yours. Don’t throw your deodorant out though, just reheat it and add more of the other ingredients without adding more essential oils. I would heat the beeswax and shea butter, then the coconut oil, then the first deodorant you made, then the powdered ingredients. Hope that helps!
Lexie recently posted..Soap Nut Review and Giveaway (from The Laundry Ladies)
Hello, Lexie.
I found your deodorant recipe a few days ago. Today I finally got the ingredients gathered up and gave it a try. It feels and smells nice. I can’t wait until morning to give it a try. I bought four travel size deodorants from the store and cleaned them out to use. They don’t hold very much, so I emptied the deodorant tube I’ve been using and filled it, too. Still had enough left for another large tube. Next time I make some, I’ll break down and buy new ones from an internet store. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Linda Deal recently posted..ALOE AND CLOVER SOAP
Linda, I’m so glad you found it. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!
Once you get the deodorant tubes you can just keep refilling them. And small ones are great for traveling!
Lexie recently posted..Soap Nut Review and Giveaway (from The Laundry Ladies)
ahh this is fantastic! Thank you so much for this recipe and all the rest of your blog that has provided me with great info.
You are so welcome! I’m thankful that Lexie shared it!
Hi!
I need some help with this. I made it, used it…and I am a stinky girl. Having never used anti-perspirant, I was hoping the detox wouldn’t be an issue. I have been swiping my hubby’s deodorant and smelling like a man, but I wanted something that was mine. Since I make most of my other home care products, I thought– deodorant would be awesome! You mentioned it could take 2-3 weeks. Have you or anyone you know experienced the stinky detox? Are there things I can do to help it? I just want to be a natural, home made, non stinky girl. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. I’m not giving up, but I have a feeling I’m going to be less than social until the odor goes away.
I just made this for the first time, but used cocoa butter because I didnt have shea butter…it came out awesome! I love it!
Yay!
Great recipe, but I am unable to use coconut of any kind internally or externally. Could I substitute cocoa butter for the coconut oil? I realize the coconut oil will soften on contact with skin for a smoother application, what are your thoughts? Thanks!
I would use another carrier oil like avocado, sesame, jojoba, etc.
Hope you enjoy!
Lexie Naturals recently posted..Homemade Dishwasher Detergent… and Bathroom Cleaner
Im excited about making this. May I ask, where do you get your empty deodorant containers from (the clear ones). To convince my family to start using natural deodorant, presentation means alot. Thanks
I also am excited to try this and would really like to know where you get your deodorant containers from… Thanks
Thanks so much! I was excited to try this, and ran out and bought what I needed. When I got home and opened my bee pollen ( first time I have bought it) it is yellow and orange. Yours looks white. Now I am nervous that it will stain. Has anyone made it with pollen this colour ? Thanks !!!
Never mind! I bought bee pollen pellets – not wax!!! oh dear…..guess I was so excited I didn’t read things carefully!! Now I am on a mission to find beeswax!
I just made a batch…it sets up beautifully as promised. It is for my preteen daughter, so I wanted to make sure it was safe enough for her young skin. As a result, I used only 2TBSP of baking soda and filled the rest of the 1/4 cup with arrowroot (in addition to the required arrowroot). I have applied it myself and it has a perfect smooth application. I am noticing of course that it is not an anti-perspirant and will have to get used to that. Until then, at least I’m not stinky sweaty:))) thank you and God bless you for sharing your knowledge;))
Oh good! You will notice that you will stop sweating as much in a couple of weeks. My mom is a heavy sweater and she stopped sweating about 2 weeks (in the summer) after using this deodorant.
Lexie Naturals recently posted..Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert eBook, a Party and Sale/Giveaway Info
I just got my first tube of Lexie’s deodorant to start using tomorrow, but am curious about this detox I’ve heard mentioned a few times – what is it? It sounds like you have bad B.O. for a while until the chemicals in your body from the old store-bought deodorant work out of your system – is that right? About how long does this usually last?
I personally didn’t have the detox, but it may have been because I was already using a natural deodorant. I don’t think it will last longer than a week. It shouldn’t be BO as much as sweating, but every body is different. My hubby actually uses Lexie’s Deo now, too and loves it! I think that is a huge feat–to get your hubby to use it!! Good luck!
You may not experience a detox. None of my original testers did. One did sweat for 2 weeks but then she stopped sweating as much, and still buys the deodorant to this day. A detox is basically your body getting used to not having the chemicals from traditional deodorant. So, you may sweat or notice slight odor (but possibly not). And if you do, you should notice it go away soon! Give it two weeks if you are having any problems.
I would really like to know where you get your deodorant containers from. I can’t find clear ones anywhere! Thanks
Hi Rose–
This site used to have the “natural” ones, but I only see the white ones today– unless you don’t mind the push up or twist up tubes. I really love the twist and push up ones. http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/DeodorantTubes-c-197.html
You can also try brambleberry.com or etsy or containerandpackaging.com. I haven’t tried mountain rose herbs, but they have a lot of that kind of stuff as well. Hope this helps!
Would it work to substitute shea butter for the coconut oil? Thanks!
I don’t think so. :/
No. You need some carrier oil in there. It doesn’t have to be coconut though.
It’s working! I can’t believe the amount of detox I went through. Months. Literally, months. Girl’s gotta be persistent! I actually switched over to using thieves oil in olive oil to counteract the smell because nothing worked. I guess I had been using regular deodorant (not even antiperspirant) for so long that my body really needed a massive cleansing. After countless weeks of stepping down to less and less ingredients in my homemade deo, I started using this one last week. And it works SO WELL! Can I get an amen! I’m doing my own happy dance every time I raise my arms in 105 degree heat and there is no smell. Yay!
Amen!!! Yay!!! I loooove Lexie’s recipe! So glad you finally got something to work!!