I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants. I wanted something that would be fresh, not overpowering or scented heavily, and that would be free of toxins. I’ve tried store brands (most never worked), crystal stones and various recipes for homemade deodorant. It’s this combination that really seemed to work for me (and many others who have tried it since).
Simply mix an equal amount of baking soda and organic, non-GMO cornstarch or arrowroot powder together. Add enough coconut oil to make it a paste, then add a couple drops of essential oil if you choose. I use Grapefruit essential oil just for a little extra anti-bacterial and preservative action, but it’s not necessary. I’ve been making this for years, and just recently added the essential oils. Lavender and rosemary are also nice scents- if you add more than a drop or two, you might make the deodorant scented- which is fine (maybe not for hubby!) but I prefer its natural coconut aroma (basically unscented). Make sure it’s essential oil and not a fragrance oil or synthetic substance- that would negate the natural benefit we’re seeking here! 🙂
Keep in mind that coconut oil will melt at temperatures above about 78 degrees F, so if your house runs hot, you might have to keep an eye on this, and stick it in the fridge during the day, take it out the night before to use in the morning as it will be really hard and difficult to use straight from the fridge (coconut oil hardens in the fridge). All that said, I’ve traveled with this and had it in different houses over the past 3-4 years I’ve made it, and it’s never melted in my bathroom cabinet.
Usually I use a Pyrex glass container with lid, but you could scrape it into an old deodorant container to have a stick deodorant. I’ve tried this and it seems to get used faster, so I prefer to just scoop out a little bit (you only need a TEENY bit) and rub it on. My husband and I have used it for years to avoid the toxins, heavy metals and endocrine disruptors in traditional deodorants and it’s always worked great for us- even in the middle of Texas summers.
I did have a client tell me that she recommends using caution when applying this before wearing something delicate, like silk or satin, and making sure that it’s absorbed before dressing to avoid the stain potential. I have never had this issue, but I’ve probably not worn satin or silk lately, either 🙂
Enjoy!
Hi Amy,
I tried a recipe like this a couple of years ago, but I didn’t have any luck with it. I don’t know if I did something wrong like add too much coconut oil, or I probably didn’t store it right. I do think this is a great recipe, especially if you’re trying to get rid of toxic chemicals. Does it stain your clothes?
Hi Amy,
I tried a recipe like this a couple of years ago, but I didn’t have any luck with it. I don’t know if I did something wrong like add too much coconut oil, or I probably didn’t store it right. I do think this is a great recipe, especially if you’re trying to get rid of toxic chemicals. Does it stain your clothes?
Hi Neeli! Yes, you have to add just enough to make a paste…I added too much in the past and it wasn’t the same at all. Also, it is important that it not melt, so storing it in some place that isn’t too hot is important. I sometimes put it in the fridge right after I’ve made it to firm it up and then put it in the bathroom cabinet after that. I’ve not had a problem with it staining clothes, and neither has my husband, but most of the time we’re in pretty casual wear- as I mentioned above, my friend said to make sure it’s dry before dressing in delicate fabrics like silk or satin (or probably anything very tight fitting under the arms- like you would use caution with conventional deodorant- especially the white ones)
Hi Neeli! Yes, you have to add just enough to make a paste…I added too much in the past and it wasn’t the same at all. Also, it is important that it not melt, so storing it in some place that isn’t too hot is important. I sometimes put it in the fridge right after I’ve made it to firm it up and then put it in the bathroom cabinet after that. I’ve not had a problem with it staining clothes, and neither has my husband, but most of the time we’re in pretty casual wear- as I mentioned above, my friend said to make sure it’s dry before dressing in delicate fabrics like silk or satin (or probably anything very tight fitting under the arms- like you would use caution with conventional deodorant- especially the white ones)
I made this up a few weeks ago and have been happy with it! I did get a bad rash at first, but I think it is because I got a heat rash, this deodorant does not prevent you from sweating (which is a good thing, to sweat.) But since I’d been using an antiperspirant for so long, my body was no used to the sweat! Once the heat rash cleared up, this stuff has been awesome. I keep mine in a little glass jar on my bathroom counter top. My house is set to 77 (I’ve always heard coconut oil melts at 76?) Anyway, mine is mushy, about toothpaste consistency, but I just dab a tiny bit on my fingers to use. The coconut in my pantry is completely liquid. During the winter it gets completely solid.
Hey Amanda! Great- yes we really like this recipe- I completely understand what you mean about the rash- I’ve had a couple of people tell me about that, but then it cleared quickly on its own. I think it melts between 76-78ish and my experience has been maybe a little higher than that- well depending upon how it’s stored, how much is in the jar, etc. I keep my deodorant in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, and it’s never melted. I think one of the keys is to keep it paste-like. Mine is softish- yes, about toothpaste consistency, maybe a little firmer, and I apply it just the same way 🙂 Our house stays around 74ish most of the time. During the summer, my coconut oil gets pretty liquidy (as the house gets warmer) and yes, in the winter, very hard because we let it go down to about 66. Thanks for sharing your experience with this recipe 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I made this up a few weeks ago and have been happy with it! I did get a bad rash at first, but I think it is because I got a heat rash, this deodorant does not prevent you from sweating (which is a good thing, to sweat.) But since I’d been using an antiperspirant for so long, my body was no used to the sweat! Once the heat rash cleared up, this stuff has been awesome. I keep mine in a little glass jar on my bathroom counter top. My house is set to 77 (I’ve always heard coconut oil melts at 76?) Anyway, mine is mushy, about toothpaste consistency, but I just dab a tiny bit on my fingers to use. The coconut in my pantry is completely liquid. During the winter it gets completely solid.
Hey Amanda! Great- yes we really like this recipe- I completely understand what you mean about the rash- I’ve had a couple of people tell me about that, but then it cleared quickly on its own. I think it melts between 76-78ish and my experience has been maybe a little higher than that- well depending upon how it’s stored, how much is in the jar, etc. I keep my deodorant in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, and it’s never melted. I think one of the keys is to keep it paste-like. Mine is softish- yes, about toothpaste consistency, maybe a little firmer, and I apply it just the same way 🙂 Our house stays around 74ish most of the time. During the summer, my coconut oil gets pretty liquidy (as the house gets warmer) and yes, in the winter, very hard because we let it go down to about 66. Thanks for sharing your experience with this recipe 🙂 Have a great weekend!
My husband and I began using this mixture about a month ago and I love it! It has stayed the consistency of mushy paste during our warm spell in NW Washington. For several years we’ve just been using coconut oil, but I noticed it wasn’t working as well for him lately. Since we’ve been using this…no more BO. 🙂
Hi Susan, Great! Glad to hear that you’ve liked it- we noticed the same thing- that plain coconut oil didn’t do the trick, but this combo does! 🙂
My husband and I began using this mixture about a month ago and I love it! It has stayed the consistency of mushy paste during our warm spell in NW Washington. For several years we’ve just been using coconut oil, but I noticed it wasn’t working as well for him lately. Since we’ve been using this…no more BO. 🙂
Hi Susan, Great! Glad to hear that you’ve liked it- we noticed the same thing- that plain coconut oil didn’t do the trick, but this combo does! 🙂
I loved this! I mentioned this post on my blog today – http://thecoconutmama.blogspot.com/2011/09/10-ways-to-add-coconut-oil-into-your.html
Hope you don’t mind =)
~Tiffany
Hey Tiffany! Great- we love it too! And, of course I don’t mind- thanks for the shout-out 🙂 I’ll share your post on my FB page 🙂
I loved this! I mentioned this post on my blog today – http://thecoconutmama.blogspot.com/2011/09/10-ways-to-add-coconut-oil-into-your.html
Hope you don’t mind =)
~Tiffany
Hey Tiffany! Great- we love it too! And, of course I don’t mind- thanks for the shout-out 🙂 I’ll share your post on my FB page 🙂
Can’t wait to try this. Thank you!!
Can’t wait to try this. Thank you!!
Hi there!
I made a batch of this a few months ago and it works great! However, my batch started smelling bad after about a month and it even started to get moldy, so I had to throw it away. Do you have any idea why that might have happened? Does that ever happen to you? Also, I found that my first batch burned my under arms after I put it on (I think because I put it on after shaving in the shower), so I added some water to it and it seemed to help make the burning stop. It started smelling bad even before I put the water in though. Any advice?
Hi Kerri…Hmm, that’s odd. I’ve never had a batch turn, and we’ve used it for over 5 years, and made many (many!) batches. I always make sure to put essential oil in there, so if you omitted that step, it could have played a part. You can decrease the baking soda if it irritates your underarms- it’s typically the culprit.
I make a few homemade beauty solutions with coconut oil and keep some pain coconut oil in a jar in the kitchen for cooking and a jar in the bathroom for oil pulling and in my research for my recipes I’ve read to not add water as the bacteria in it causes the coconut oil to mold (my mom had run into this happening herself too). So now I use a metal spatula or spoon to scoop out what I need from each jar and give one with each jar I give as gifts for the same reason. Once my mom started using a spoon
instead hers never molded again…?
Awesome tip, Shari! Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Hi there!
I made a batch of this a few months ago and it works great! However, my batch started smelling bad after about a month and it even started to get moldy, so I had to throw it away. Do you have any idea why that might have happened? Does that ever happen to you? Also, I found that my first batch burned my under arms after I put it on (I think because I put it on after shaving in the shower), so I added some water to it and it seemed to help make the burning stop. It started smelling bad even before I put the water in though. Any advice?
Hi Kerri…Hmm, that’s odd. I’ve never had a batch turn, and we’ve used it for over 5 years, and made many (many!) batches. I always make sure to put essential oil in there, so if you omitted that step, it could have played a part. You can decrease the baking soda if it irritates your underarms- it’s typically the culprit.
I make a few homemade beauty solutions with coconut oil and keep some pain coconut oil in a jar in the kitchen for cooking and a jar in the bathroom for oil pulling and in my research for my recipes I’ve read to not add water as the bacteria in it causes the coconut oil to mold (my mom had run into this happening herself too). So now I use a metal spatula or spoon to scoop out what I need from each jar and give one with each jar I give as gifts for the same reason. Once my mom started using a spoon
instead hers never molded again…?
Awesome tip, Shari! Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Hey, could you tell me if non flavored gelatin would work too? it too is a thickening agent like corn starch. please let me know.
thank you
Hi! I am sorry, I have no idea. I’ve never tried that, but if you do, please report back and let us know how your experiment turned out. The cornstarch is not in this recipe to thicken, it is there to absorb moisture, so perhaps that can inform your process. 🙂
Hey, could you tell me if non flavored gelatin would work too? it too is a thickening agent like corn starch. please let me know.
thank you
Hi! I am sorry, I have no idea. I’ve never tried that, but if you do, please report back and let us know how your experiment turned out. The cornstarch is not in this recipe to thicken, it is there to absorb moisture, so perhaps that can inform your process. 🙂
I’ve been making this for close to a year now and can’t believe how effective it is! I’m not fortunate enough to have a sweet-smelling body odor, so I’ve used Mitchum for years as it was the only thing that kept it somewhat in check. That is, until I tried this! Unbelievable!!! I can go two full days in 100+ degree temperatures without a shower (with minimal body odor) while using this. Better yet, though, I’ve always had lumps in my breasts and just assumed it was natural. Except, I discovered it wasn’t when they totally disappeared after I began using this deodorant! Crazy! Can’t say enough good things about it–I use arrowroot and lavender essential oil and store it in a small canning jar. Love it!
Excellent- thanks so much for sharing 🙂 We love it, too!
I’ve been making this for close to a year now and can’t believe how effective it is! I’m not fortunate enough to have a sweet-smelling body odor, so I’ve used Mitchum for years as it was the only thing that kept it somewhat in check. That is, until I tried this! Unbelievable!!! I can go two full days in 100+ degree temperatures without a shower (with minimal body odor) while using this. Better yet, though, I’ve always had lumps in my breasts and just assumed it was natural. Except, I discovered it wasn’t when they totally disappeared after I began using this deodorant! Crazy! Can’t say enough good things about it–I use arrowroot and lavender essential oil and store it in a small canning jar. Love it!
Excellent- thanks so much for sharing 🙂 We love it, too!
In your article, you stated that people should simply mix an equal amount of baking soda and organic, non-GMO cornstarch or arrowroot powder together. My wife has been having a hard time finding a deodorant that she is not allergic to. Are there certain essential oils that are better for you to be added in here?