I’ve Been Using My 4-Ingredient Deodorant for a Year & Will Never Go Back to Store Bought!
Homemade deodorant works, is safe, and will save you so much money from buying store-bought.
This DIY deodorant is better than anything you can buy! 🤩
Say goodbye to chemicals & overspending on store brand deodorants – this homemade deodorant is easy to make, effective, lasts a long time, & is a much cheaper alternative to store-bought deodorants! It’s also great for men and women!
I’ve been using the same tube I made LAST YEAR & I love it so much!
So, if you’re looking for an all-natural remedy to use daily, this homemade natural deodorant recipe is the only thing you need in your life! 👏
I first want to preface this post by saying I’m not someone who often enjoys or seeks out DIYs – I find them to be a hassle & oftentimes I feel like I’m spending more money in the short term on ingredients, materials, etc.
But just look at how much deodorant I still have since I made this recipe A YEAR AGO! 👆😱
I’m so glad I made the plunge to try this DIY deodorant – I’ve used it almost every single day & I haven’t purchased a store-bought deodorant since! 😍
It’s also effective, I stay fresh all day, & and it has saved me so much money! Best of all, I still have plenty of those ingredients I thought I overspent on last summer and they’re ready for me when I need another deodorant…which will likely be a year from now!
This DIY has been so rewarding so I hope you take the time to try it for yourself because I know you won’t regret it!
Your skin is the largest and one of your most precious organs, so don’t put something on it that you wouldn’t want to be absorbed into your body.
Plus, since breast cancer runs in my family and the link between cancer & aluminum in deodorant remains debatable, deodorants aren’t a product I’m willing to compromise on.
Fun Fact: Did you know that eating a good diet and replenishing with plenty of water can also help cut down on smelly body odor?
That said, there are still times when I want to feel extra fresh and after hearing my good friend rave about her homemade natural deodorant (she tweaked Wellness Mama’s recipe), I knew I needed to try it out! Which lead me here… because it’s truly amazing and I just had to share it with you all.
The search is over, friends! 🤩🙌
Hip Tip: Before you switch to my all-natural deodorant, make sure to do this easy armpit detox first so you’re starting fresh and smell even fresher.
The ingredients are simple. All you need is some virgin coconut oil, beeswax, organic arrowroot powder, baking soda, & essential oils (if desired).
Now, I know most people don’t have sticks of beeswax laying around, but don’t let that scare you away from trying this recipe, friends! It’s cheap to buy on Amazon, ships in just a day or two (with your Prime Membership), and you’ll get enough to make about 3 sticks of homemade natural deodorant so there’s plenty of bang for your buck if you need to order it as I did.
That means you’ll be spending less than $1.99 per stick of homemade deodorant and at the rate I’m using mine, this pack of beeswax will last you 6 years so that’s less than $1 a year you’ll spend on deodorant! 😱
I know I said the essential oils are optional, but I highly recommend them. Not only will this give your homemade natural deodorant its unique & fresh fragrance, but it can also provide many benefits!
I’m opting to use peppermint oil in my recipe. It’s great for relieving anxiety, stress, headaches, muscle aches, and itching. Plus, it has an overall awakening sensation when applied to the skin because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties – a great way to start the day! It actually reminds me of the same sensation I get from the cooling lotion or DIY bug spray I recently made. Plus, it promotes good sleep, if you’re one to use deodorant before bed, too. 😉
Here are some other popular essential oils I’d recommend for your homemade natural deodorant:
Popular feminine essential oil scents:
- Lavender – A light, calming, yet refreshing floral scent. It can help with pain, headaches, stress, anxiety, and promotes better sleep.
- Rose Geranium – A sweet floral scent with a hint of mint. It can help with anxiety and stress, plus also be used to provide relief against pre-menstrual symptoms.
- Ylang Ylang – A sensual, sweet, and floral scent with sedative properties. It helps manage extreme PMS and can help lower high blood pressure.
Popular masculine essential oil scents:
- Cypress – A fresh, clean herb scent with a hint of woodsy evergreen. It tightens pores and minimizes sweating and acts as an antiseptic.
- Orange Sweet – A bright, energizing citrus scent that helps support the normal function of the immune system. It’s also anti-fungal, antibacterial, and doesn’t cause photosensitivity.
- Frankincense Carteri – A green balsamic scent with a hint of lemon-wood. This oil helps rejuvenate the skin, fight stress & anxiety, and boost overall mood. Also helps support your immune system.
Important: Some people may be sensitive to essential oils. If you’re unsure about incorporating them into your personal care routine or how you might react to them, you should always consult with your doctor first. Once you get the green light, start with small drops of essential oils to start. You can always add more next time.
Now, let’s make some homemade natural deodorant! 👏
Homemade Natural Beeswax Deodorant
PrintSupplies Needed
Directions
1
Chop (or shave) your beeswax into small pieces. This will help melt your wax more evenly and quicker. If you’re buying the beeswax I used from Amazon, each bar is 1 oz., so you will need to chop 1 1/2 bars to equal 3 tbsp.
2
Combine your chopped beeswax and virgin coconut oil into a double boiler and melt slowly. Stir constantly until melted – this will take about 5-10 minutes depending on how big your pieces of beeswax are. Make sure you don’t overheat your oils as you don’t want to kill off the probiotics. If you don’t have a double boiler, it’s okay! You can easily improvise as I did with a heat-safe bowl on top of a saucepan with boiling water.
3
Take your oils off the double boiler and add your organic arrowroot powder, baking soda, and essential oils (if using scents). Stir until completely smooth. I added about 10 drops of peppermint essential oils to my natural deodorant recipe, but you can use as little or as much as you like. Use fewer drops if mixing different scents together.
4
Once you’re done mixing, your natural deodorant will go from runny to a smooth consistency and quickly start to thicken. You can then place it in a small glass jar to apply in the future with your fingertip or pour it into a mold (like muffin tins) to make small, natural deodorant bars. Or wait a few minutes longer for it to thicken a little more (similar to a peanut butter consistency) and you can pack it into an empty deodorant container as I did. Enjoy!
Note: This recipe will make a little over 1 full stick of deodorant.
Applying this deodorant is a little different than your typical stick of deodorant.
To apply, you’ll want to run your finger over the top to gather a small pinch on your fingertip. Then I separate the pinch of deodorant into two pieces and rub them between each of my pointer fingers & thumb. (This makes the deodorant more malleable). Then I spread each piece on my underarms and voila!
So as I mentioned, it’s different and slightly more time-consuming, but I promise you’ll get used to it!
As you can see, I opted to use an old deodorant container for my homemade natural deodorant. You can use a spoon or use your hands to pack it into your container.
You can wash an old deodorant container out by using hot water and soap (which is what I did) or you can buy some empty containers on Amazon when you scoop up your beeswax bars. 😉 Since you’ll have some extra containers you could even consider making extra to gift to some friends. You can also opt to store it in any small airtight container.
Take it a step further and label your homemade deodorant sticks using a similar method I tried when making spice labels with a Cricut machine! 😍
I truly cannot stop raving about this deodorant… even a year later!
It actually works, minimizes my sweating (thanks to baking soda), and smells so clean! In fact, it’s so safe, you could actually eat it… not that I would though. 🤣
Here’s what some of my friends said about this homemade natural deodorant recipe:
“It’s honestly the best natural deodorant I’ve used (and I’ve tried 10+ different natural deodorants and literally none of them worked for me). It’s super easy and fun to make and I also love that I can play around with different essential oils each time and get different scents.” – Nicole
“Although this natural deodorant isn’t an antiperspirant, it does seem to absorb a lot of wetness and after a few weeks of using it, I noticed an unexpected side effect… I wasn’t sweating as much to begin with. Months later, and I notice this even more!” – Katie
Want to use a substitute?
- Instead of coconut oil, you can use almond, jojoba, or avocado oil, but cut the portion in half so it’s not as runny.
- If you’re sensitive to baking soda, you can just use arrowroot in its place or cut the amount down in half and replace it with arrowroot to limit any negative reactions.
More helpful tips for making natural deodorant:
- Avoid staining your clothes. You can do this by ensuring you’re not using too much natural deodorant. A little goes a long way and your armpits aren’t that big! Keep in mind that more deodorant doesn’t equal less body odor… it just means more staining. Wait about 5 minutes so the deodorant can soak into the skin and then get dressed for the day.
- Shaving can cause irritation. Since this recipe contains baking soda or may contain magnesium (from essential oils) there’s a chance you could experience some stinging or irritation if applied immediately after shaving. To avoid this, wait about an hour after shaving before applying your natural deodorant.
- Keep your deodorant from crumbling. This recipe does not need to be stored in the fridge or freezer as it will harden too much and may not work effectively. For best results, store at room temperature and apply to underarms by gently applying with your fingertip.
*If for any reason you experience a reaction to your homemade natural deodorant, you should stop using it immediately and consult with your doctor.
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“Likely have the ingredients sitting in your pantry” . . Am I the only one that doesn’t keep arrowroot and beeswax just laying around?
I didn’t either Jess, but like I mentioned in the post, both are easily accessible and quick shipping on Amazon. I have them linked if you’d like to give it a try. 🙂
Yeah it was just a cheesy line. Lol.
I was hoping natural meant vegan. We struggle getting a good vegan one.
Sorry it’s not vegan for you, Toni! I’m not super familiar with being vegan, however, if it’s my understanding the beeswax is restricting you from trying this recipe? In that case, you can substitute the beeswax for Shea butter and it will work just as great! Hope that helps. 🙂
You can make it with no beeswax, it’ll just not firm up enough for a stick. You can still make a “pit paste” that you keep in a tiny jar. Also, I had to cut down on the baking soda due to irritation and diatomaceous earth is a great replacement. I ordered all the ingredients on amazon and they’ve lasted me all year. I’ve even got all my sweaty hard working farmer brothers switched to this because it works so well there is NO STINK! We love it.
You could also keep it in the fridge. That would keep it a solid… might be a little chilly in the winter, though!
Candelilla wax is vegan and a great alternative to beeswax. It’s plant based. You would just use half the amount of candelilla wax the recipe calls for with the beeswax.
You have to use either beeswax or candelilla wax in the recipe. If you just added a butter or oil in the place of it, then it would melt and create a mess if you ever travelled with it or it was exposed to heat in anyway. It’s what keeps the mixture together.
Hi Toni, I use cocoa butter solids, when I make my pot paste. They work and smell amazing, and would be suitable for vegan lifestyle. 💕
*pit* paste! Not pot! That would be a VERY different type of post, ha! 🤣
Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe! I will give it a try. We appreciate all your hard work which helps save us money. Hugs 💕
You’re so welcome, Tonya! I hope you love it!
Thanks, Hilary! It is a great recipe and I linked it above in the post! 🙂
Did you know you can make homemade deodorant with only ONE ingredient? Milk of magnesia in a roller ball container ? You can add essential oil for smell. It’s amazing. And CHEAP! You can buy both the rollers and the milk of magnesia on Amazon!
Milk of Magnesia is also fantastic for getting rid of pimples! Use the plain kind of MoM. Just dab it on, or pat it all over as a mask you wash off after a while. In a day or two the zit is gone. I used to leave the lid off the bottle so it would thicken up and be easier to apply.
Oh darn! Sorry for the issues, Elle. I don’t see another comment from you for this post. Let us know if you have any further issues with commenting.
I have read if you can’t eat it don’t put it on your skin. So this would be great to use as a deodorant.
How many tablespoons of Canelilla Wax would you recommend? Appreciate the help 🙂
I Terrance! It can be up to personal preference as to how much you use. We suggest 2-3 tablespoons. Hope that helps!
This is basically Wellness Mamas recipe. She is the original deodorant maker if you want to know how to make other products with less chemicals. She’s amazing! And I wouldn’t buy the containers. Just use any glass container and rub it in like lotion. You’ll be doing that anyways.
Yes, we did look at her original recipe and made some of our own tweaks. If glass is preferred, that’s a great option as well!
I love Wellness Mama, too, Hilary! As stated above, she was the amazing inspiration for my recipe. Thanks for sharing your other tips with us!
Wow sounds simple can try it out in little quantity to see. Do share if you make your own soap
So glad you found this post helpful, luna! I love your idea for making soap too. I actually buy handmade soaps from my local farmer’s market and it’s all I use! Now you have me thinking I should try to make it on my own! I will definitely let you know if I do. 🙂
I love using natural soaps also! I wish I could find some local. I am so happy to see you use PT oils in your products! I definetly will be supporting and following your DIYs
If it isn’t a solid at room temperature, will it run down your arms when under your armpits?
Hi Sally! I’m not sure I understand your question completely. The deodorant can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. I would recommend room temperature, but regardless it will stay in solid form. When putting the deodorant on, it will be a paste-like consistency and your skin absorbs it, so there shouldn’t ever be any running or liquid-like consistency. If by chance, you do run into that problem (which I’ve never experienced) my guess is that you’re applying way too much. I hope this answers your question, but if not please let me know and I’m happy to answer any questions you have. 🙂
I use 2 tbs baking soda, 2 tbs corn starch, 4 tbs of coconut oil and the drops of whatever essential oils, I use tea tree and lavender. This works great for me, no sweating, no smell, have been doing this for 10 plus years. If you don’t want that oil stain on your shirt, after you apply the deodorant wait about 5 minutes, then put some tissues under your armpits to absorb any leftover oil so it doesn’t stain your shirts.
also, no need to heat up or melt the coconut oil, and keep in a cool place
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and tips with us! I’m so happy to hear you have found a natural deodorant that works so well for you!
If you have sensitive skin, the baking soda will cause bumps or rashes. I use magnesium hydroxide powder in place of the baking soda and it is much easier on sensitive skin and keeps the smell away. Unfortunately arrowroot powder alone doesn’t keep odors away like baking soda does. The magnesium powder does though!
Thanks for sharing, Crystal! I have super sensitive skin and this recipe works for me, but I really appreciate your tip as well.
I made this recipe as posted and it is so thick it sorta hurts when I apply it at room temperature. The deodorant balls up and falls off of my skin most of the time, even after I’ve tried rolling it between fingers for a minute to warm it up.It there a way to soften it up now that it’s made?
Hey there!
I’m so happy to hear you gave this homemade deodorant recipe a try and I’m so sorry you are experiencing some difficulties!
To me, it sounds like maybe it’s being stored somewhere where it’s too cold because I experienced similar results when I was testing the recipe and had stored mine in the fridge and it got way too hard and wasn’t plesant to use. My best advice would be to try storing it somewhere where it can be about 75 degrees or warmer. My other thoughts are to only take a pea-sized portion and roll it between your fingers for a bit longer too so you’re able to spread it easier.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend reheating what you have already made since reheating coconut oil isn’t recommended. I hope this advice helps and please let me know if it does help!
Temperature isn’t the issue as I’ve tried warming it with a hair dryer when finger rolling didn’t do the trick. Did I get a bad batch of beeswax perhaps?
Mm one was doing the same. I actually ended up adding another oil. I added some grapeseed oil, what I had on hand, and the helped soften it up a bit more and it spread a little better. It was maybe 2-3tbsp. I’ve also made another recipe using Shea butter. That works great as well.
Can I add shea butter to this recipe? I was thinking 2 tbs of beeswax and 1tbs sheabutter and the rest is the same? would this make the bar too soft? Cause I live in hot climate?
Hey Amy! I have never tried it so I don’t know what the outcome would be. It will be less stable with the shea butter, but considering mine is pretty hard I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to try it. If you do, please let us know how you like it!