How to Make an Easy Homemade All-Natural Deodorant | Without Baking Soda

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In the last few years, I have noticed more and more people are embracing natural alternatives to commercial products, especially when it comes to personal care items like deodorants. Many store-bought deodorants contain potentially harmful ingredients like aluminum, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can pose risks to both our bodies and the environment. 

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Why Choose an All-Natural Deodorant?

Before diving into the world of homemade deodorants, it’s essential to understand why choosing an all-natural option benefits your health and well-being over using traditional deodorants.

No Toxic Chemicals

Conventional deodorants often contain harsh chemicals like aluminum, which blocks sweat glands, and parabens, which act as preservatives, and (synthetic) fragrances, which often are hormone disruptors. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and may disrupt hormonal balance or cause skin irritation.

Gentle on the Skin

Natural deodorants are typically made from gentle ingredients that soothe and nourish the skin, making them suitable for sensitive skin types. If you make your own deodorant you can even choose which natural ingredients you want to use. This way you know exactly what you put into your deodorant and on your skin!

Let’s Talk About Body Odor

Body odor is natural and common, nowadays almost everyone seems to be using heavily perfumed deodorants, body lotions, crèmes, perfume, and whatnot, so I totally get it if you’re hesitant about using a non-perfumed deodorant.

What Exactly Causes Body Odor? 

Body odor is caused by the interaction of bacteria on our skin with the sweat produced by our sweat ducts. While it is a completely normal bodily process, it can sometimes be a source of embarrassment or discomfort, it was for me for many, many years! The intensity of body odor varies from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as genetics, diet, hygiene practices, and overall health. 

Maintaining good personal hygiene can help control body odor. Don’t get tempted to use antiperspirants or even antitranspirant deodorants. You are only making your body odor worse! Sweat consists mostly of water, but also of waste products of the chemical processes in your body like electrolytes, urea, ammonia, and lactic acid. Because these waste products interact with bacteria on your skin, you have a body odor. 

What Will You Notice When You Stop Using Perfumed Products

When you start using less and less perfumed products and eventually start using this deodorant you might notice your armpits need an adjustment period. I would highly recommend detoxing your armpits if you notice any weird and unpleasant smells. 

Tom and I noticed we smelled really bad (like old, very ripe onions, or even cat litter!) and repeatedly detoxed our armpits after starting to use only our own natural deodorant. With every detox session, we noticed the smell was getting less and less persistent.

Why Perform an Armpit Detox?

The goal of an armpit detox is to remove toxins, bacteria, and buildup from the skin in the underarm region. I truly believe that it can help reduce body odor, improve the effectiveness of natural deodorants, and promote healthier skin.

Check my article about how to perform an armpit detox here!

Additionally, wearing breathable clothing made of natural fibers and staying hydrated can also contribute to reducing body odor. Understanding and openly discussing body odor can help normalize this natural occurrence and promote self-confidence and comfort in social situations.

Ingredients You Can Use

Not all ingredients are used in my basic recipe for homemade all-natural deodorant. I encourage you to twist and tweak my recipe until you have your own optimized deodorant, here below you see an ingredient list. All these ingredients are a great option to incorporate in your homemade deodorant.

Coconut Oil

Known for its moisturizing and antibacterial properties, coconut oil helps combat odor-causing bacteria while keeping your skin hydrated. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature but it melts easily when exposed to the temperature of your skin.

You can use it while cooking or, as we do here, in your homemade cosmetics like deodorant. It is non-comedogenic which means it will not clog your pores and cause acne.

I recommend using only organic virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil to ensure you are only getting the best product for your deodorant.

Shea Butter

This ingredient offers nourishing benefits to the skin and helps maintain a smooth, creamy texture in your deodorant. It is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, is rich in vitamins A and E, and is highly unlikely to clog pores due to its non-comedogenic characteristics.

Your shea butter will only have these benefits when you use an unrefined, high-quality, organic shea butter.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural thickener and stabilizer. When melted and mixed with other ingredients, it helps give the deodorant a smooth and creamy texture. It prevents the deodorant from being too runny or liquid, making it easier to apply and ensuring it stays in place on your skin.

The addition of beeswax can improve the deodorant’s performance by helping it adhere to the skin better. This means the deodorant stays in place and continues to offer odor protection even during physical activities or hot weather when you might sweat more.

Beeswax contains natural emollient properties that help moisturize and protect the skin. When applied to your underarms, it creates a thin, breathable barrier that helps reduce friction and irritation.

Cocoa Butter

Natural cocoa butter has a pleasant, mild chocolate-like aroma. While the scent is not overpowering, it adds a subtle and delightful fragrance to your homemade deodorant. 

Like beeswax, cocoa butter is also a natural emollient that contributes to the creamy texture of the deodorant. It forms a protective layer on the skin, acting as a barrier against external elements and potential irritants. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with sensitive skin, as it helps reduce skin irritation and redness.

Cocoa butter is a stable fat that has a longer shelf life than some other natural oils. Its presence in the homemade deodorant can help extend the product’s freshness and effectiveness.

Remember that cocoa butter, like any other ingredient, may not be suitable for everyone. If you have allergies to cocoa or any other cocoa-related ingredients, it’s best to avoid using cocoa butter in your deodorant.

Arrowroot Powder

Acts as an absorbent, helping to keep your underarms dry and comfortable. It also has a fine and smooth texture, so it will make it easier to apply and blend into your own deodorant recipes.

Arrowroot powder is also an absorber of odors. Adding it to your natural deodorant will contribute to the overall deodorizing effect of your deodorant.

Baking Soda

Just like arrowroot powder, baking soda also has a known odor-neutralizing effect. It also absorbs moisture and has antimicrobial properties. 

All these characteristics make baking soda exceptionally sufficient to add to your homemade deodorant but be warned! Baking soda can be irritating on your skin, so always do a patch test first on a small piece of skin to ensure you don’t react to the baking soda.

Update January 2025: Our skin started to get irritated after using this deodorant with baking soda so we skipped this ingredient entirely and only used arrowroot powder! Because I don’t want you to get irritated armpits as well I removed this ingredient entirely out of this recipe. If you still want to add baking soda, use 2-3 tbsp baking soda and 2 tbsp arrowroot.

​Cornstarch

As an alternative to arrowroot powder, cornstarch also acts as an absorbent in the deodorant. You can swap these two ingredients for each other without really noticing it, in my experience.

Because cornstarch is almost in everybody’s kitchen cabinet you can say that cornstarch is the more convenient option because it is readily available.

Why I don’t use essential oils, ever

Searching for natural DIY cosmetics on Google will almost always find recipes that include essential oils. It is claimed that essential oils add a delightful fragrance and benefit your skin, mood, health, etc. You won’t find essential oils in my recipes and here’s why.

Essential oils are chemically treated plant or flower materials in a super-concentrated form. By chemically treated I also mean distillation or extracting. In the plant, the oils are in harmony with all the other substances. Without all the other substances, essential oils will have a stronger effect on your skin, cells, mood, hormones, and such.

The effects of essential oils vary from irritating, and sensitizing to even carcinogenic and disrupting your hormones! Because most essential oils, and combinations of essential oils in DIY recipes of cosmetics, are not properly tested I simply don’t add them to my homemade cosmetics. That way I skip the downsides of these oils altogether.

If I still wanted to add a scent to my natural homemade deodorant, I would simply add some crushed flower buds, like lavender, to my cosmetics. Because I don’t use any fragrances in my day-to-day life, I don’t mind not using any fragrance, you will eventually regain some of your smell and every fragrance will be so powerful you don’t want to use it anymore, trust me!

Supplies

• Glass bowl
• Saucepan
• Tablespoon or measuring-spoons
• Glass container, small glass jar, deodorant stick

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp shea butter
• 4-5 tbsp arrowroot powder
• Optional: 2 tbsp beeswax (Tip: check your local beekeeper)

How to make this natural DIY deodorant

Before you start: Ensure that the deodorant container and utensils you will be using for this DIY project are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. This step is vital to prevent any contamination in your homemade deodorant.

In a small saucepan, pour some water and place it on the stove over low heat. Put a heat-resistant bowl, I have a glass bowl I only use for making deodorant or soap, on top of the saucepan.

Add coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter, and add to the heat-resistant bowl. Let them melt slowly until they form a smooth liquid consistency.

Once the coconut oil and shea butter have melted, add arrowroot powder to the bowl. If you prefer, you can use cornstarch instead of arrowroot powder. Stir the mixture thoroughly until all the ingredients are well combined.

Carefully transfer the liquid deodorant mixture into the clean containers. For convenience, you can use an empty deodorant stick, a small glass jar (brown glass), or even repurposed lip balm tubes. Allow the deodorant to cool and solidify completely before use. I like to put it overnight in the fridge so it will cool down fast.

Tips

• After the deodorant is completely solidified your homemade all-natural deodorant is ready for use. Apply a small amount to each underarm daily, and you’ll be amazed at how well it works.
• If you find the deodorant too soft, store it in the refrigerator for a slightly firmer texture, or add one tablespoon of beeswax extra. If it’s too hard, keep it at room temperature or add a touch more coconut oil during the preparation.
• Some people may experience a transition period when switching to natural deodorants, where your body adjusts to the new product. During this time, you may sweat more or notice some odor. This is entirely normal and should resolve within a few days to a couple of weeks. If it doesn’t you can detox your armpits.
• Before using the deodorant regularly, perform a patch test on a small area of your skin to ensure you have no adverse reactions to the ingredients.
• Since this deodorant does not contain preservatives, it should be used within three to six months. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• You can also add Magnesium Hydroxide powder to substitute baking soda.