I looked down at that last bit of bright blue antiperspirant while I gripped the pungent stick’s iconic red case. There were itching rashes under my arms to match and my white shirts were turning yellow. I was smelly and tired of spending money on the over-fragranced deodorants that left me uncomfortable and didn’t hold up to a day of heavy adventuring. There had to be a cheaper, natural solution. Little did I know; natural homemade deodorant would be more effective and super easy to make.
The result of this recipe is a natural homemade deodorant paste that spreads easily when applied under the arms. You can apply it with a wooden applicator like a popsicle stick, or just use your fingers to gently rub on about a pea-size amount.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can make as much, or as little as you want.
The measurements listed here will fill a BALL 4oz canning jar.
Ingredients
- Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot powder: 1/2 cup (4 fl oz)
- Unrefined Coconut oil: warmed 5 Tbsp (75ml)
- Essential oils: Approximately 20 drops (10 cedar and 10 lavender)
- For this recipe, I used cedar and lavender. You can also try rosemary, grapefruit, spruce, or your own blend of scents.
- Baking soda: 1/3 cup (78ml)
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
Instructions
- Mix the arrowroot powder and the baking soda together
- Add the coconut and essential oils. The coconut oil should be slightly above room temperature. You can sit it in a bath of hot water for 10 minutes, or just put it in a sunny window.
- Stir ingredients well and adjust scent intensity how you prefer.
- Scoop the deodorant into a clean and dry air-tight jar for storage.
Notes
This homemade natural (vegan!) deodorant will store up to 6 months in an airtight BALL canning jar.
You can use cornstarch instead of arrowroot powder. However, I prefer the non-gmo option of Bob’s Red Mill arrowroot powder. I got mine from Whole Foods, but it is easy to find in the baking aisle of most supermarkets.
Store at room temperature. If the deodorant becomes too solid, warm the jar in hot water or bring the sealed jar into the shower with you. The mixture will be the perfect consistency by the end of your shower ballad tribute to Whitney Houston.
This is not an antiperspirant; you will still sweat! But this stuff keeps me smelling good and feeling good all day long; so I can enjoy one of Dick’s Bloody Marys without wondering if it’s the Worcestershire sauce or my B.O.
I like to use less baking soda for my sensitive skin. Feel free to add more, and experiment with your own ratios.
