HOMEMADE DEODORANT IS SIMPLE TO MAKE WITH JUST A FEW INGREDIENTS. A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE TO STORE-BOUGHT DEODORANT, FREE OF HARSH CHEMICALS.

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WHY MAKE HOMEMADE DEODORANT?

dried leaves and flowers with essential oil bottle and deodorant

After learning about the ingredients in store-bought deodorants, I found myself quickly searching a natural alternative. Many common personal care and household items contain a significant amount of chemicals, often times aren’t even aware of them. I talk more about this topic in this post: Ditching and Switching.

The biggest areas of concern with deodorants are ingredients that may cause cancer or hormone disruption. Sounds pretty rough, right?

Diethanolamine is commonly found in deodorants, and is linked to cancer. phthalates, aluminum and synthetic fragrances are also harmful ingredients found in this common product. Synthetic fragrances and phthalates are hormone disruptors (among other things) and have the potential for causing other mayhem in our bodies.

HOMEMADE DEODORANT IS SAFER FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

closeup image of homemade deodorant with dried flowers around it

Many people have sensitive underarms, and I definitely fall into this category. It seemed as though every deodorant on the market caused mayhem on my underarm skin. This was the turning point when I decided to go for the all natural deodorants!

I started making homemade deodorant years ago, about the same time as I started with homemade laundry detergent. There is a detox period that your armpits will go through, and it’s not that bad! We’ll discuss that more below. Out of convenience I did fall off the homemade deodorant bandwagon for a short time. That quickly ended after a bad skin reaction, and I was right back to homemade deodorant again!

For sensitive skin, be cautious about the essential oils you choose to scent your deodorant with. For example, tea tree can burn (especially if you’ve just shaved your underarms).

SWITCHING FROM CONVENTIONAL TO HOMEMADE DEODORANT

homemade deodorant stick next to essential oils and dried flowers

For folks ready to make the switch to a natural or homemade deodorant, there may be a bit of a transitional period. Antiperspirants often contain aluminum, which works by essentially clogging our pits.

When we make the transition to natural deodorant, over time the ingredients from antiperspirants will leave our underarms. Let’s call this the “detox period”.

Expect to be a little bit stinky while your body goes through this detox period. Essentially, our bodies have to release all of the aluminum that has been keeping us from sweating.

Our bodies are amazing, and this detox period should last about a month or less. Pretty incredible, especially if you have used store bought deodorants for years!

HOW DOES HOMEMADE DEODORANT WORK?

homemade deodorant made with mango butter next to essential oils

Homemade deodorant works quite well to help eliminate odor, but will not completely stop us from sweating. Because, you know, our bodies are supposed to sweat.

All kidding aside, homemade deodorant works well after our bodies adjust.

TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE HOMEMADE DEODORANT

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bowl of arrowroot powder for homemade deodorant

For this recipe, you’ll want to use equal parts of baking soda, arrowroot starch, coconut oil and mango or shea butter.
Baking Soda: used to help absorb moisture and kills odor-causing bacteria.
Arrowroot Starch: much like baking soda, arrowroot powder is also used to absorb moisture. Some folks prefer to use cornstarch here, but arrowroot powder is better for sensitive skin.
Coconut Oil: another natural anti-bacterial to help combat odors! Plus, coconut oil has many benefits for our skin.
Mango Butter (or Shea Butter): I prefer mango butter over shea butter, but either can be used in this recipe. If you do have sensitive skin or allergies, it’s important to speak with your doctor before applying anything to your skin.
Essential Oils: use about 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils in this recipe. As mentioned earlier, avoid harsh oils such as tea tree if you have very sensitive skin
Medium Saucepan (to make a double boiler)
Glass bowl
Mixing Spoon
Deodorant Containers: these are the containers that I use and re-use!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE DEODORANT

pouring homemade deodorant ingredients into deodorant container with a funnel

Please note, if you are interested in making homemade deodorant and do not have mango butter just substitute shea butter in the same quantity. The rest of the process is the same.

Make a double boiler by placing the saucepan of water onto the stove and putting a heat-safe bowl over top of it. Bring the water to a rolling boil.

Drop all of the ingredients into the bowl and mix occasionally. Be careful when adding the dry ingredients (they can “poof” everywhere) and expect this to be cooking for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the ingredients have fully melted, add in the essential oils of your choosing. For the recipe pictured here, I used grapefruit, citrus fresh and peppermint.

Allow the hot mixture to cool for several minutes, then carefully pour into homemade deodorant containers. Place in the refrigerator for several hours to allow the mixture to set.

Much like other homemade skincare products, homemade deodorant will melt slightly when warmed up. If the weather is very warm, it may be best to keep extra deodorant stored in the refrigerator instead of in the bathroom closet.

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

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