Easy Homemade Natural Deodorant

It’s not that I think the ingredients in store-bought deodorants and antiperspirants are necessarily bad.  It’s just that there are a lot of them, and some of them are weird and mysterious and really hard to pronounce. 

And do you know how antiperspirants actually work?  The aluminum in antiperspirants effectively plugs up your sweat glands so sweat can’t reach the surface of your skin

To me, that’s a little creepy. 

Does that mean plugging up your sweat glands is somehow dangerous or potentially unhealthy?  Not necessarily.  Some researchers have suggested a tie between the aluminum in antiperspirants and increased breast cancer risk, but the evidence has really been inconclusive. 

But I still think it’s creepy. 

So several years ago I decided to start making my own deodorant.  I didn’t find the perfect formula right away, but through some trial and error I eventually stumbled across a recipe I liked, I did a little tweaking, and I’ve been using it for years since.

Aside from a mix of essential oils, (lavender being the most abundant one,) the ingredients are few and easy to come by.  And the oil mixture can be varied according to your own preferences where scent and antibacterial benefit are concerned.  

You’ll need an 8-ounce jar or plastic container with a lid.  I actually save the jars from my concentrated beef stock because I find they are the perfect size for this.

You need some coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, and 20 or so drops of essential oils.

Warm the coconut oil just enough to melt it.  In a medium size bowl mix the coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, and essential oils into a smooth, thin paste.  Pour the paste into your container and allow it to cool to solidify.  

That’s it!  Could it be much simpler?  I know exactly what’s in my deodorant and I can even pronounce all the ingredients!  And my homemade deodorant works wonderfully for me.  

**Some things to keep in mind…

*The biggest drawback for me in the beginning was the fact I have to apply this stuff with my fingers — about 1/4 teaspoon under each arm.  It’s just coconut oil — once you get used to it, it’s really not so bad, but that was weird to me in the beginning.  And NO… this recipe will not work in a stick deodorant container.  Coconut oil has a low melting point, so even a slight rise in temperature can turn it to liquid.  

*This deodorant doesn’t travel well for the same reason.  I’ve tried taking it on trips before and it melted, the ingredients separated inside the jar, and then it solidified again, but with an uneven consistency.  Having dealt with that a time or two, I now use a stick of name-brand natural deodorant when I travel.  

*Feel free to adjust the types of essential oils you use, but I do recommend oils like lavender and tea tree.

*Give your body time to adjust to a homemade deodorant before determining if it works for you or not.  I had read this, but didn’t really believe it until I decided to try this deodorant for a couple of weeks before I made a decision on it.  By the end of that time I could seriously tell a difference in how it worked for me!  And while this isn’t one of my prouder distinguishments, I can tell you I sweat worse than most men!   This works as well for me as any store-bought deodorant I’ve ever purchased.  

*The baking soda is important for neutralizing odors, but it can irritate skin.  If you experience any skin irritation, try reducing the amount of baking soda while increasing the amount of cornstarch in equal proportions.  

*Depending on the temperature of your home, this deodorant can take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours to solidify properly.  If the consistency isn’t right by that point — a thick, but spreadable paste — you can warm it again and add more cornstarch to thicken or coconut oil to thin.  Tweak it to find what works best!