Homemade Deodorant Recipe with Essential Oils

When giving your home a toxin-free makeover, don’t forget about your personal care products! My Homemade Deodorant Recipe uses essential oils to deodorize, detoxify, and keep you smelling fresh all day. Unlike many store-bought all-natural deodorants, this recipe will moisturize your underarms without irritation. This deodorant should be a staple in every natural living guru’s bathroom.

4 Chemicals to Avoid in Deodorant

Sweat is scentless until it meshes with your skin’s bacteria. Deodorants fight against “bad” bacteria on the skin to neutralize your body’s odor. Unfortunately, this process is done through chemicals that can hurt your body. Here are a few of the top offenders.

1. Triclosan: This antibacterial chemical is one of the most popular ingredients in drugstore deodorants. It fights off fungi that create strong odors. Sadly it does more harm than good. Studies have shown that triclosan can affect your endocrine system. (1) Your endocrine system is the hub for hormones, fertility, sleep, and mood. If this delicate system gets thrown off, your body is in for a shock!
2. Phthalates: This toxin is a preservative that gives deodorant lasting power. It also affects your endocrine system, much like triclosan. Phthalates aren’t just an endocrine disrupter; they can also cause women to hit puberty early. (2) Women aren’t the only ones at risk, though! Phthalates have been linked to lowered sperm count in men. (3)
3. Parabens: Parabens are preservatives that are in most store-bought beauty products. Recent studies have shown that people with breast cancer have higher parabens levels in their system. This leads researchers to believe that this toxin is carcinogenic. (4)
4. Synthetic Fragrance: Synthetic fragrance is what gives deodorant its scent. It’s easy to conclude that these chemicals aren’t good for you when you look at the research, but the extent of their damage isn’t known thanks to the “Fair Packaging and Label Act.” (5) This act prevents companies from having to disclose information that’s considered a “trade secret.” So you never know exactly what you’re getting when you purchase a scented product.

Say No to Anti-Perspirants

Most deodorants double as antiperspirants. An antiperspirant is just what it sounds like: a product that uses specific chemicals to stop your body from sweating. This concept is backward because sweating is good for your body. When you break a sweat, you’re regulating your body temperature and releasing toxins. (6) It’s like a mini-detox!

Besides trapping toxins, antiperspirants often use alumni um to stop sweat from reaching the surface. Studies have shown high breast cancer cases in the upper portion of the breast, near where you would apply antiperspirants. (7) It doesn’t take a scientist to realize this is more than just a coincidence.

Antiperspirants are simply a bandaid. They don’t help the root issue of underarm odor, bacteria on the skin. Sweat on its own doesn’t cause body odor!. The resolution to body odor is not less sweat; it’s detoxing the body. We can easily do this with all-natural ingredients.

Safe Deodorizing Ingredients

How does a homemade, non-toxic deodorant work to improve body odor? The answer lies in the ingredients! Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need.

Raw Organic Coconut Oil: Coconut oil doesn’t just moisturize the tender underarm area. It’s also a powerhouse ingredient with the ability to kill harmful bacteria. (8) When you decrease bacteria and fungi, you’re going to see a decline in body odor!

Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter is an intense moisturizer that smells heavenly! It helps create a perfectly creamy deodorant bar! Cocoa butter helps counteract the effects of aging and can reverse skin damage. (9)

Shea Butter: Shea butter is one of my favorite moisturizers! It’s anti-inflammatory and can help reduce eczema. The underarm area is easily irritated from shaving. Shea butter can soothe current rashes and prevent future infections. (10)

Baking Soda: This inexpensive grocery item is an excellent deodorizer. It helps balance the PH and curb the bacterial activity on your underarms, which will reduce odor. (11) Baking soda has the unique ability to absorb odors!

Arrowroot Powder and Non-GMO Organic Cornstarch: Arrowroot powder is my favorite powder to use in DIYs because of its ability to absorb excess moisture. Instead of aluminum, which blocks sweat, arrowroot will decrease the amount naturally. Cornstarch will do the same thing. Just make sure you purchase a non-GMO brand!

Essential Oils: You can create so many beautiful blends with essential oils. EOs give this deodorant a lasting scent without any synthetic fragrances!

Here’s a little essential oil inspiration to help you create your new favorite deodorant! Remember to store your deodorant bar in a cool, dark place between use. A combination of any of these oils smells fantastic!

• lemon
• lavender
• tea tree
• geranium
• lemongrass
• lime
• thyme
• sweet/wild orange
• vanilla

Peppermint is also an excellent oil to use as it can lower blood temperature in the armpit area. However, the skin of the armpit is often a sensitive area. So be sure to use no more than 5 drops of peppermint in this mixture.

Special note from Mama Z: My favorite mix is 5 drops each of wild/sweet orange, peppermint, and vanilla. It’s such a lovely fragrance!

Keep in mind that certain citrus oils are photosensitizing. So, be sure you don’t apply a citrus-based deodorant if sunbathing or when your underarms will be at risk of burning due to total sun exposure.

For a list of photosensitizing essential oils, click here.

This recipe takes just a few minutes to create! In no time at all, you’ll have a great smelling, effective deodorant.

Homemade Deodorant Recipe w/ Essential Oils

Homemade Deodorant

 

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Author: Mama Z

Ingredients

• 2 to 4 tablespoons organic coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons unrefined shea butter
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons non-GMO organic cornstarch
• 15 drops essential oils**
• Supplies:
• Glass jar
• 1 empty stick deodorant container

Instructions

1. Fill a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place over low heat.
2. Place 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter in the glass jar and set in the saucepan.
3. Heat the ingredients until melted. As soon as you can stir the mixture, remove the jar from the heat, so it's not too hot for the other ingredients.
4. Stir in the arrowroot, baking soda, and cornstarch.
5. Add essential oils. Allow the deodorant mixture to sit for 5 minutes.
6. When the mixture is still pourable but thick enough to not be runny, fill the stick deodorant container. (Make sure the applicator is rolled all the way down, so there is room for the mixture!)
7. Store in a cool, dry place and apply as you would regular stick deodorant.

Notes

Some of my favorite essential oils for deodorant are cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, lemon, lavender, tea tree, jasmine absolute, lemongrass, sweet or wild orange,rose absolute, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and vanilla absolute.

Don't forget that certain citrus oils are photosensitizing, so be sure not to apply a citrus-based deodorant before sunbathing or when your underarms will be at risk of burning due to sun exposure.

Also, if your mixture starts melting in the summer, try adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of kokum butter, which is the hardest butter available.

You will need to add 4 or 5 more drops of essential oils to overcome the waxy smell of the kokum butter.

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Step One: Melt the Moisturizers

Set a jar in a saucepan filled with an inch of water. Place two tablespoons of coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter in the jar. Melt slowly over low heat, stirring occasionally.

Step Two: Stir and Remove From Heat

As soon as you’re able to stir the homemade deodorant recipe, remove it from the heat so it doesn’t overheat the other ingredients. The mixture needs to be thick enough to stir but thin enough to have no air pockets.

Step Three: Add Baking Soda and Powder

Stir in the arrowroot, baking soda, and cornstarch.

Step Four: Add Essential Oils

Once the mixture is cooled, add the essential oils of choice and stir gently.

Step Five: Pour Into Container

Fill your empty container when the homemade deodorant recipe is still pourable but thick enough to not be runny. Make sure the applicator is rolled all the way down, so there is room for the mixture! Store in a cool, dry place and apply as you would a regular stick deodorant.

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