Healthy Home
Conventional deodorant contains aluminum. Learn how to make your own natural, aluminum-free homemade deodorant with this frugal recipe!
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)!
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.
Natural Homemade Deodorant Stick
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 online at The Bulk Herb Store, Vitacost, or your local grocery store. If you’re new to Vitacost, you can get $5 off your first purchase of $30 or more when you click through my referral link.
How to:
1. Melt beeswax in a double boiler (I just put a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water).
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.
3. Remove from heat and add cornstarch and baking soda. Stir until lumps are gone and the texture is smooth.
4. Add essential oils and stir until well mixed.
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.
For other homemade skincare products, check out these tutorials!
DIY Lavender, Calendula, & Chamomile Soothing Hard Lotion Bars
DIY Natural Sunscreen
DIY Oatmeal Lavender Bath Teas
Homemade Coconut Oil Stick
Lavender Sugar Scrub
Do you use a natural deodorant? Have you ever tried making your own homemade deodorant?
Lexie is a follower of Jesus, the wife of the very talented Stephen McNeill, and a stay-at-home mother of two exquisite girls. 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.
All images by Lexie Naturals
Shannon Wallace
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.
Renee R.
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!
Lexie
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!
N
Has cocoa butter been used instead of Shea? Shea butter is hard to find at the stores by me. Do you know of any major retailers that carry the kind of Shea butter I need for this deodorant?
Thanks!
Sarah m
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.
Lexie
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!
Elsie
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?
Jen
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).
Kelli
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.
Erin
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! 🙂
Lexie
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!
Christy
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.
Lexie
I really can’t recommend this but everyone is different. The baking soda really absorbs the sweat and stink. But you can try it and see!
Erin M
Hi!
I don’t know if this will help you, but I make thieves oil at home, which is super anti-bacterial (and easy to make!) and has a lot of great health benefits. I also have a hard time with baking soda (I get patchy red rashy under my pits, but only sometimes…) and therefore use the base of the deodorant with arrowroot, but skip the baking soda (unless its for my hubby and then he only gets a pinch of baking soda) and for my “essential oils” or non stinky super powers, use the home made thieves. It took a little while for my body to adjust, but it works. I do smell a little spicy, like Christmas, but I rather like the smell. It’s an option.
Good luck!
Erin
We have made homemade thieves before as well–love it!
Erin M
Yay for thieves oil!
amy j
I had the same problem! Glad you shed about this because the deodorant works great but just like you after about 2 weeks of use my underarms first broke out in rash then got so dry they turned dark brown and I’ve had to drench in coconut oil to re hydrate :/
Dillon
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
Erin
I haven’t, but maybe Lexie has?
Lexie
I’ve never used it personally, but I do think it would work just the same. Let us know!
Carli
Hi, I was wondering if it matters what kind of shae butter you used? I see there is unrefined and refined shae butter
Lexie
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.
Marisa
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!
Lexie
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!
Linda Deal
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.
Lexie
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!
Melissa
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.
Erin
You are so welcome! I’m thankful that Lexie shared it!
Erin
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.
Lexie
Did you make the recipe as is without changing anything? I find that I never stink when I wear this.. even if I sweat. The essential oils combined with the baking soda really do the trick here. Your body just may be different. 🙁
Erin
I don’t stink either 🙁
Erin M
Thanks for the info. I actually put thieves in mine and while I sweat (which I am used to), I no longer stink, too. (happy dance)
Thanks for posting this!
Erin
I am guessing my body is just slow to make changes.
My overall detox lasted around 6 months. (I KNOW RIGHT!) However, totally worth the wait. It’s been 10 months– I am stink free and Praise Jesus, I sweat less. Didn’t think that was possible, but here I am– far less sweat than I have ever experienced (even when working out) and stink free.
btw I used arrowroot instead of cornstarch and left out the wax for a more “lotion like” deodorant the second time around. Can’t decide if I like the stick or the jar better. Either way, this is AMAZING!!! XX
Lexie
Very exciting! I’m glad you stuck it out! 🙂
Yvette
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!
Erin
Yay!
Charlisa
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!
Lexie Naturals
I would use another carrier oil like avocado, sesame, jojoba, etc. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Sonia Smith
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
heidi
I get mt containers either from the natural food store in town or from mountain rose herbs website.
Kristy
I also am excited to try this and would really like to know where you get your deodorant containers from… Thanks
Jen
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 !!!
Jen
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!
Dee
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;))
Lexie Naturals
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. 🙂
Nicholle C.
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?
Erin
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!
Lexie
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.
Rose
I would really like to know where you get your deodorant containers from. I can’t find clear ones anywhere! Thanks
Erin M
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!
Jade
Would it work to substitute shea butter for the coconut oil? Thanks!
Erin
I don’t think so. :/
Lexie
No. You need some carrier oil in there. It doesn’t have to be coconut though.
Erin M
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!
Erin
Amen!!! Yay!!! I loooove Lexie’s recipe! So glad you finally got something to work!!
Lexie
You just don’t know how happy this makes me! I’m doing a happy dance too! 🙂
Erin M
High fives, all around ladies!
Beth
Does this come out hard enough to hold its shape as a bar or does it need the roll up tube? I was hoping to just make bars in a mini loaf tin.
Erin
You could probably do that…or keep it in a jar.
Lexie
You could probably use it that way, it may melt slightly during summer months though and be a little messy.
Bronwyn
Has anyone else had issues with this recipe? If I use it for more than about a week at a time, my armpits break out. They get really sore and itchy with a rash. I can’t figure out which ingredient I could be allergic to since they are all natural.
Bronwyn
I am referring to the homemade recipe, not to Lexie’s deodorant.
Leah
I react to backing soda after a week or two of use
The Crunchy Urbanite
Works like a charm…. only one issue: the ingredients are great, but most of these deodorant recipes online are all created by women, and being applied directly to skin. As a guy, I’ve found the DIY deodorant stick doesn’t glide very well through the — (ehem) — “terrain.” Any thoughts on how to tweak the recipe to hold its form in mid-swipe? (I’ve been using the jar-and-dab routine, but miss the convenience of a stick.)
Lexie
Hi! Thanks for trying the deodorant. You can always add a little more coconut oil to make it glide a little better. You could even add some olive oil or avocado oil to make it glide more. 🙂 Hope that helps. Come back and let us know.
Shanti
You could always clear the terrain! ☺ hair holds bacteria, so it would even help your deodorant work better, not to mention last longer, if there weren’t a lot of hair present for it to have to contend with. ☺Just a suggestion.
RaabUSMC
Can I sub in some Palm Kernel Oil (102 degree melting point) in this DIY Deodorant to assist with the melting in room temperature concern? Also would a conditioning/silky emulsifying wax be subbed? Oh and one more addition, Pink Himalayan Salt, for increased absorption and anti-bacterial properties? If so, should it be completely dissolved in the liquids or finely ground in a spice grinder and mixed in shortly before the pour? Thanks
Kerry
I was wondering if I could used something else to replace the cornstarch?? ( we try to avoid GMO products )
Donna C.
There is organic cornstarch available. Would you use that?
Lexie
We use organic non-gmo cornstarch in our deodorant. You could also use arrowroot powder. 🙂
Mandy
WOW! I can’t believe it’s really THAT simple to make your own deodorant! I’m definitely going to try this…and be the weirdo in the family that gives it as gifts for Christmas. LOL! 😀
Lexie
Hope you like it!
Tenns @ New Mama Diaries
This looks like an awesome recipe! I’m definitely looking into natural deodorants, so I’ll be keeping this one in mind for sure. Thanks so much for sharing!
Lexie
Thanks so much! Hope you like it!
Alicia @ Scribal Mom
Hi! Just wondering where you purchased your deodorant containers? They look like a good size. Thanks for the recipe!
Lexie
You can purchase them on etsy or several places online. You can also go buy a cheap tube of deodorant and clean it out! Hope you like it!
Lauree Kramer
Hi, Thanks for the recipe! I made up my first batch this afternoon and really like the consistency. I actually ordered some containers on amazon and they came with the extra piece so that the deodorant comes out through the slits. They fit really tight (though you can pry them off eventually) so no worries that the deodorant falls out. They were a little pricey but since I can reuse them, I won’t be buying them very often. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009XKCL50/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Lauree Kramer
Okay, so it hardened up more over night and now won’t come up through the slots, which isn’t really a bad thing. I had ordered the more expensive containers based off the comment that it could fall out if you roll it up to far so was expecting it to be softer. I think it’s like any deodorant though, if you roll it up to far it will fall out.
Ellen
I always go for Lavilin. Been using it for a long while and couldn’t imagine my life without it!
Holly
made this today, wow my pits are smooth !
Erin
Yay!
Lexie
So glad!
Erin Heidrick
So this is my 3rd time making this recipe and I love it! Well, while making it this time I put Baking Powder in instead of the baking soda on accident, of course. I would hate to waste it all, is it still usable? I don’t really seem to have sensitive skin and I did use aluminum free baking powder any idea if it’s a good idea to use it still? Thank you!!
Erin
I’m so sorry…I have no idea. 🙁 If it doesn’t work, I would just add some more baking soda to it. You might be able to use it to clean/polish something?
Lexie
It should work! The baking powder won’t be as strong as the baking soda because it has added ingredients. Have you tried it? Let us know!
Cindy
I want to try a homemade deodorant. But, I’m a little concerned that TTO and I believe lavender are hormone disrupters. I have a strong family history of hormone receptive breast cancer, so I fear using something like that in such close proximity. Thoughts? Can I leave the oils out and it still be effective?
Erin
Hi Cindy! You can absolutely leave the oils out! They are just for scent!
Lexie
Hi, Cindy! As Erin said, you can leave them out. TTO and Lavender do help with eliminating stink, but it should still work without it. It just may not be QUITE as effective! Let us know!
Andrea
Can I replace the cornstarch with something else? I am avoiding GMOs.
Lexie
We use organic GMO-free cornstarch in our recipe! You can also use arrowroot powder.
Beth Cranford
Thank you! I’ve been wanting to try making deodorant but I didn’t want to have to try 100 recipes before finding one that works. Besides aluminum being bad for everyone, I’m allergic to it, so I can’t even decide to take the risk and use it!
I’m going to try this and I hope it will be a good alternative to commercial deodorants for my growing children as well.
Lexie
Beth,
Please come back and let us know how it works for you! 🙂
Angelica
Hello! I made this deodorant almost two weeks ago. I love it and my husband too!! I feel very fortunate I found your website. The smell is great! The texture is perfect! And it works!! 🙂
I’m just a little sad that I have noticed like grease stains on my clothes (right under my armpits)..:(
The other day, I wore a white T-shirt and to my surprise, I could see a yellowish stain right on it- under my armpit. 🙁
Is there anything I could change on the recipe that might cause the stains-and still be effective?
We both-my husband and me-want to keep on using it! It’s awesome!! 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and your time with us!! 🙂
Lexie
Angelica,
I’m so glad you like the deodorant. You can soak the shirt and rub a soap bar on the stain. I have used several brands of castile on mine. We also just created a laundry bar that gets every bit of any stain or dark spot out! I cleaned about 10 shirts that I thought were ruined!
Carrie
I want to be able to make and use so many of these natural alternatives but I am allergic to coconut and it seems they all call for coconut oil. Is there anything that would be an acceptable substitute?
Lexie
Babassu oil would work!
Susan
I would love to try this recipe. I have been using homemade deodorant for several months now, along with Primal Pit, and am very pleased as I have a bad perspiration problem. I was not aware of baking soda containing aluminum. Does it say in the ingredients whether it contains aluminum or not? I don’t have tubes to put this in, so I will have to make them into bars (I made lotion bars with similar ingredients and they were nice and hard). Also, my skin does not like baking soda and turns red. I have been using baking soda for many months now, and underneath my arms are big brown spots now. I imagine they are permanent too. I don’t have an answer for this problem either. But I will look and see if aluminum is in the baking soda and will get another brand if I can find one without aluminum.
Lexie
It will say it in the ingredients. Also, you might try not using so much baking soda. You can also exfoliate under your arms. The darkening should lighten up.
Shelby
Would i be able to sub infused (with calendula) olive oil for some of the coconut oil in the recipe? Would i need to adjust the beeswax amount?
Lexie
You can infuse the coconut oil with calendula. That would be nice! I’m not sure how much more beeswax you’d need to add if you used olive oil. Come back and let us know if you tried this! Sorry the response is so late.
Candi
Hi, this looks like a great recipe. I started making my own facial products along with soap and laundry detergent. I wanted to give this a try. I do not think my significant other would like to smell like lavender. Is there a way I can just use lemon essential oil to replace other EO’s. Or is your combination of lavender and tea tree used for antimicrobial? Cant wait to try, thanks. I am thinking to wait until after the Summer months. Not sure if I want to chance the detox phase during Summer time. 🙂
Erin
I think you can use any essential oils you want!
Lexie
The Tea Tree/Lavender does work together to help you not stink, but you could use most other essential oils that are skin safe.
Nicole W
This is so great! Thank you for sharing this! Ive been thinking about making my own deodorant! How long did you say these normally last?
-Nicole
www.weavingourwebb.com
Lexie
Thanks for reading! I’m really not sure how long they last because my husband I share about 3 different tubes. haha. I will try to figure this out. It does last longer than a normal tube because you only need 1-4 swipes.
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Michelle
This sounds great and I am considering trying this for the 1st time, but I’m wondering if this will stain my clothes or leave a residue of any kind?
Lexie
Michelle,
I’ve noticed that with some of my clothes it does leave a dark spot. But I can easily get it out with my laundry bar (you could use any stain remover bar). 🙂 The little extra effort of rubbing arm pits on my shirts is totally worth it to me! You can get our laundry bar on our website, or you can buy other brands (like dr. bronners) at a local store. http://lexienaturals.com
Quinn
Hi there! I was wondering if there was anything I could use in place of the beeswax? I’m vegan and consider beeswax an animal product. Any help would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
Lexie
Hi there! Yes, you can use any other soy wax or carnauba wax.
Quinn
Thank you so much! 🙂
Zai H
Hey, I have a question. My brother is 7 years old and his armpits started to smell. I’ve been searching for natural deodorants but I wondered how safe those really are. I stumbled upon your deodorant and so far, its one the best I’ve found. Do you think it will be okay for a 7 year old to wear this deodorant?
thank you!
Erin
Absolutely! It is completely safe!
mindy
So I loved this deoderant until I got a horrible, painful rash …I read is the baking soda. .so I’m not giving up, but next time doing less baking soda. ..
Julie
I just finished making this and can’t wait to try it. I tried ginger-lime as the scent. Maybe something more floral and girly next go ’round. It was a little messy but very easy to make. Anyhow, for those of you looking for supplies, here is a link to a site I have used in the past. I find their products to be pretty affordable from oils, to waves and packaging.
http://www.camdengrey.com/CTGY/
Tara
Cool! What EO’s would you recommend using? Will give this a shot. Also, ever heard of Lavilin? I’ve been hearing from a lot of people it is a great all-natural product.
SisJane
I just made a batch of this deodorant- I was so exited and wanted for it to be perfect,,, but , there is small problem- it does NOT glide smoothly!
What have I done wrong?
When I apply it it leaves the crumbs of deodorant behind that I have to blend in in to the arm pit with my fingers… I just need a ,, secret,, – what shall I do to make it glide smoothly? I obeyed your recipe completely , using the arrowroot… It just seems it is too soft I guess… Can not wait for your reply!
Thank you!
Marisa
I have this same problem!! I really want the stick recipe to work, but in the end, I revert to putting it on with my fingers. 🙁 Any advice, anyone??
Erin
Are you using enough wax?
Tenoka
For those of you who get rashes under your arms from the homemade deodorant. You probably need to detox your underarms first and then try using the deodorant again:
•1 tablespoon bentonite clay
•1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
•1-2 teaspoons of water (to get right consistency)
Instructions
1.Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl (do not use metal!) with a wooden or non-metal spoon until about the consistency of sour cream.
2.Spread in an even layer over the armpits and allow to sit for 5-20 minutes. I suggest starting slowly and working up to a longer period of time once you see how your body adjust. If it hurts at all, remove immediately.
3.This may cause some redness as it will increase blood-flow to the area, but it will go away quickly.
4.Wash off in the shower or with a warm, wet washcloth.
5.Repeat daily or as needed until under-arm odor goes away and natural deodorant is non-irritating.
Tenoka
p.s. I got this from:
http://wellnessmama.com/25432/detox-your-armpits/
Alvin Huynh
Hello,
I have tried this recipe and it is great when I make a small batch (1 or 2 full-sized deodorants). But when I tried to make a larger batch (15+ full-sized deodorants), many of them became grainy in texture, no matter how much I tried to stir to keep the consistency even. The result is that the first half of my batch has a good texture and glides smoothly while the second half is drier and grainier. I assume it is because the oils had floated to the top so the first half contained them while the second half of the batch did not.
Can you please offer some advice on how to make these in large quantities? How can we ensure consistency?
Thanks
Jaime P.
I like making and using homemade deodorant but I find it just doesn’t agree with me. The baking soda causes itching, a painful rash, and discoloration but leaving it out makes my deodorant as ineffective as store bought “natural” ones that just mix their scent with your b.o. and make you smell even worse than using no deodorant at all! I like using those salt rock deodorants because they actually work for me, but I seem to have developed a reaction to them and they cause me itching, discoloration, and rashes as well. Boo.
I know some people will say “oh that’s just detox” but there’s no scientific evidence of such a thing and my body developing a horrible reaction to a product is a sign that it is not good or right for me. Lately all I use is Dove brand because it doesn’t cause irritation and it’s actually gotten rid of the discoloration that plagued me off and on even before I tried sticking to natural and homemade deodorant (caused by shaving too closely with dull razors and wearing drying deodorants/antiperspirants in my youth). I’m willing to try making a few formulations that include a lot more moisturizers, such as shea butter, but the fact is baking soda is abrasive and also a necessary ingredient, at least for me. I’ve also heard that using magnesium oil as a deodorant works well, and I’ve heard that magnesium chloride is less irritating than the salts used in salt rock deodorant, so I’ll also give that a try.
The rash I’m getting is from how abrasive the baking soda is (I sometimes use it as an exfoliater, it’s very effective and can make you bleed if you’re not gentle with it) or from how dry and salty (and thus scratchy) my pits are made by the crystals, not from any “detox” reaction. Putting bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar in my pits would just further irritate and dry them out, so I wouldn’t recommend “detox” as an answer to anyone and everyone having a reaction to this or other formulas. I wouldn’t recommend using vinegar undiluted on skin as it is an acid and doesn’t have the same ph as skin.
Chris
I would to say that this article was awesome. I tested it for an active 2 weeks. That means running right after work, training in Taekwondo, hiking, biking etc.
After all the training my clothes were soaked but no smell. The wife thought I was just playing in the water instead of working out. Thanks again for sharing this diy.
Erin
Awesome! So glad to hear this!
Kila
I have tried it and absolutely LOVE IT!!! My first batch lasted over 4 months, I believe.
Even my husband said that when I used to use the store bought deodorant, at the end of the day I’d have some kind of not so great smell. Nowadays I get none at all!!! I definitely don’t plan to buy a deodorant ever again!
Thank you sooo much for sharing.
Meaghan
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ve tried other natural remedies, which have not worked for me. At all. I tend to sweat more than average, and this deodorant has held up even through volleyball practice!! This is a life saver. Thank you!!
Erin
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Yay! My husband uses this one too!
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