Having a bad body odor is indeed very bothersome and makes you feel insecure. Body odor is generally caused by the interaction between salt in your sweat and bacteria. To solve this issue, people will usually use antiperspirants to suppress sweat production and eliminate the smell. However, this commercial product contains aluminum which can trigger allergies. Hence, some started looking for alternatives to natural products. Instead of buying, we have tips on how to make natural deodorant at home easily!
The homemade deodorant recipe uses organic and natural ingredients. Thus, the risk of having an allergic reaction is low. Besides that, most products are fragrance-free, using only essential oils as an effective odor control and natural fragrance. Interested in trying the natural deodorant recipes?
Let’s discuss why switching to natural deodorant is important before jumping into deodorant making!
Table of Contents
Why Natural Deodorant Is A Good Option?
Before we move forward into how to make natural deodorant at home, it would be nice to know the reason why switching to natural deodorant is a good deal. As we briefly mentioned, many use commercial deodorant to deal with body odor problems, be it solid deodorant or deodorant cream. Deodorant works by blocking the pores to reduce sweat. It also kills the Staphylococcus hominis bacteria that produce an enzyme called C-T lyase that causes smelly armpits.
On the other hand, there are some cons related to using chemical deodorants. One of the most common is irritation due to several chemicals, such as propylene glycol. Moreover, the content of fragrances, parabens, and lanolin can also trigger irritating reactions. In addition, antiperspirants generally contain aluminum which can cause allergies in people with sensitive skin.
Knowing all these facts, some are switching to natural, fragrance-free deodorants with organic ingredients. A few even try to make their own deodorant cream with baking soda and other natural ingredients to help them deal with unpleasant body aromas.
Unlike commercial ones, natural deodorant is more friendly to sensitive skin because the ingredients used mostly come from nature. Besides that, it is generally fragrance-free–a perfect pick for those concerned about their skin. Natural deodorant also allows your skin to breathe because it doesn’t block the pores. So, your body will learn to sweat naturally.
The Benefits of Making Your Own Deodorant
While chemical deodorants or antiperspirants can potentially irritate your skin, natural deodorants are more gentle and let your skin take a break. Besides, some studies found that commercial antiperspirants or deodorants increase the risk of breast cancer due to aluminum accumulation in the breast tissues. Furthermore, the dangers of Alzheimer’s and kidney diseases also lurk behind aluminum exposure to your skin.
Luckily, people nowadays have started moving from commercial to natural deodorants. There are some natural products you can easily find in the market. Nonetheless, another issue emerges. Surprisingly, not all natural antiperspirants or deodorants sold are perfectly safe for your skin. Safe here means they are not free from irritation risks.
Therefore, deodorant making at home benefits you as you can monitor what ingredients you put into your natural deodorant recipes. Moreover, homemade deodorant also saves you a lot of money! You can make as much as you want and save it for later use.
Don’t worry. Natural DIY deodorant commonly lasts 6 to 12 months! What’s more interesting is you can creatively make solid deodorant or oil deodorant, as you wish. Since you don’t need much plastic packaging, formulating your own deodorant also helps save the environment.
Homemade Recipe for Natural Deodorant
Natural deodorants have many benefits for your skin, especially sensitive ones. They are made of relatively gentle ingredients compared to commercial deodorants or antiperspirants we commonly find in the market.
Instead of purchasing one, we strongly encourage you to try formulating one. Below, we provide a step-by-step guide to create your own deodorant recipe, along with recommended materials to add to the formula. Let’s have a look!
1. Natural Deodorant Ingredients
If you want to make your own homemade natural deodorant formula, you must prepare several ingredients. Most of them are gentle to your skin, while some need attention in adding to your recipe so they don’t irritate your skin. Below, you can find some wonderful ingredients we would love to recommend to make your very first DIY deodorant:
- Baking Soda (aluminum-free): helpful to eliminate unpleasant body odor.
- Arrowroot Powder: gives natural deodorizing effect and is less harsh than baking soda (for sensitive skin).
- Coconut oil (organic, unrefined): serves as natural antibacterial and makes the texture smoother.
- Cornstarch or Tapioca Flour: works as thickener for your cream deodorant.
- Shea Butter or Beeswax: Similar to cornstarch, but make a better consistency (not liquidy). Beeswax also acts as a natural antibacterial.
- Carnauba Wax: like shea butter and beeswax, but it is an alternative option for vegan.
- Essential Oils: add pleasant smell to your DIY deodorant and have natural protection against bad bacteria in your armpits.
2. Step-by-step Instructions for Making Natural Deodorant
Among the many natural deodorant recipes for private parts, we have found a great formulation you can try. The ingredients are easy to find, so it is perfect for those who don’t want to hustle in the kitchen.
Not only will it offer lovely scents from essential oils, but it’s also easy and comfortable to apply. Check the step-by-step guide for making natural deodorant:
- Take out your double boiler, then fill the lower part with ¼ of water measured from the bottom.
- Bring it into medium boil. Make sure it’s not too hot.
- Add ¼ cup of shea butter and 2 tbsp. of coconut oil to the top boiler. Let them melt while stirring occasionally.
- If they have melted, add 3 tbsp. of beeswax pellets then mix them evenly until the texture is liquidy.
- Now, remove the pot from the heat and add 3 tbsp. baking soda and 2 tbsp. tapioca or arrowroot flour starch to thicken the texture. Stir them evenly while still hot.
- Next, add essential oils of your choice and mix them. We recommend adding 20 drops of lavender and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Lavender has a shooting effect while tea tree oil will get rid of bacteria that cause smelly body odor.
- After that, pour it into a mason jar and let the mixture harden as it cools.
3. Tips for Achieving The Right Consistency
One of the trickiest parts of how to make natural deodorant at home is getting the right consistency. Sometimes, the mixture of oil deodorant can be too liquid due to not adding a thickening agent. Often, errors in selecting suitable materials also contribute to this failure.
But we have some tips for getting the perfect consistency for your deodorant cream or mixture before shaping it into sticks. Choose tapioca if you want to get a thicker mix quickly. We have tried corn flour, but it doesn’t work as great as tapioca flour. It tends to become liquid after heating.
We also encourage you to choose high-HLB wax or thickening agents. Though excellent for thickening the mixture, Beeswax (HLB 1-2) makes your deodorant heavier. Thus, it may be uncomfortable to apply.
Some of the waxes also work like a balm, creating a moist environment in your armpits, leading to more sweating. Alternatively, you better opt for shea butter (HLB 4.5-5.5) or jojoba oil (HLB 10-11). You can also use cetyl alcohol if you are okay with the ingredient in your natural deodorant. Nonetheless, you can use beeswax for the first time to learn about the consistency you prefer.
4. Suggestions for Different Scent and Texture Variations
Commercial deodorants offer a variety of aromas and textures that consumers can choose according to their preferences and needs. Several varieties are commonly sold in the market, including cream and sticks.
Fortunately, you can also make homemade natural deodorants with these variations. It only takes a few different ingredients to formulate one.
A. Deodorant Cream
To make deodorant cream, you can opt for jojoba oil, shea butter, and arrowroot powder. Jojoba oil and shea butter will give you a soft sensation while thickening your deodorant mixture.
Moreover, jojoba oil also reduces the greasy feel on your armpit, making the product comfortable to apply. Both ingredients are nourishing, allowing your skin to breathe and regulating sweat production. Meanwhile, arrowroot powder serves as a skin-friendly thickening agent.
You can actually replace it with tapioca, as both work equally well. In addition, stirring becomes a crucial process in forming this consistency. Make sure you stir well and evenly so that the resulting texture matches your expectations.
B. Deodorant Spray
The spray one is for those who want a simple way to apply the deodorant. It is quick and easy! Besides, the spray is less likely to leave stains like stick and cream deodorants do. And amazingly, deodorant spray is the easiest one to formulate at home.
All you need to do is to prepare a bowl and essential oils of your preference. However, we love to make a blend of lavender (6 drops) and lemongrass (5 drops) oils as they have amazing smells.
In addition, adding tea tree oils (5 drops) is helpful to get rid of bacteria that cause bad body odor. Also, add apple cider vinegar (4 tbsp.) to introduce fresh after use. After that, mix them all with 5 tbsp. of distilled water and transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.
C. Deodorant Stick
If you prefer a deodorant stick, you only need to add waxes. Waxes will make the texture of your deodorant mix quickly thicker and heavier. While for deodorant cream, this is undesirable.
But for the stick, it helps a lot to speed up the formation of the stick after you pour the mix into the mold. We recommend carnauba wax if you have sensitive skin or opt for the vegan option. Meanwhile, you can add beeswax as an alternative to have the preferred texture.
D. Scent Recommendations
Regarding scent variations, we highly encourage you to use various herbs to make lovely fragrances. However, lavender sits on the top tier as a favorite essential oil for natural deodorants.
It works awesome to nourish the skin, gives the fragrance, as well as serves as an antibacterial agent. We usually like to combine it with tea tree oil to eliminate bacteria that cause bad body odor and give armpits a fresh sensation.
We also love to recommend a combination of several scent of natural deodorant for men and women you can give a shot at home.
- Natural Deodorant For Men
- 5 drops of vitamin E oil, 8 drops of grapefruit, 3 drops of sage.
- 10 drops of rosemary, 10 drops of eucalyptus.
- 4 drops of lemongrass, 3 drops of melaleuca, 2 drops of sandalwood.
- Natural Deodorant For Women
- 4 drops of lavender, 3 drops of clary sage, 2 drops of melaleuca.
- 2 drops of lemongrass, 2 drops of citronella, 2 drops of tea tree oil.
- 4 drops of lime, 3 drops of bergamot, 2 drops of lemon.
Tips for Applying Natural Deodorant Effectively
Even though natural deodorant can help you reduce body odor and excessive sweating, using the wrong one will not benefit you. Besides knowing how to make natural deodorant at home, you must know how to properly apply the product to your armpit.
That’s why we include some tips for using natural deodorant effectively to deal with smelly underarms. Check them out below!
1. Exfoliating
One of the causes of the unpleasant aroma of your armpits is the accumulation of dead skin mixed with sweat and bacteria. Therefore, cleaning and exfoliating your underarm is crucial to get rid of dead skin and unclogging the pores. That way, the rich ingredients in your natural deodorant will be more easily absorbed by the skin.
2. Drying Out
After the exfoliation process, you must clean the armpits to wash away all the dead skin removed with water. Then, dry your underarms with a towel or tissues. It is crucial because moist conditions are favorable for bacteria that cause body odor. In addition, it will be difficult for the deodorant to be absorbed into your skin if wet.
3. Take Time After Shaving or Waxing
If you use the shaving or waxing method to get rid of body hair, you must let your armpit pause before applying the deodorant. Direct application after the process can lead to irritation despite the natural ingredients in the deodorant. It is because tiny invisible cuts are all over the skin after shaving or waxing. And if it doesn’t treat well, you may experience darkened armpits due to hyperpigmentation.
4. Warm It Up
Natural deodorant is easier to clump or harden, making it tricky to apply. In this case, using medium warm water, you need to warm the product for around 10 seconds. It will help the waxes, shea butter, or other thickening agents to melt. So, you can quickly swipe it on your armpit. Also, apply only a little. Too much of the product may build up on your skin and make you uncomfortable.
Storing Your Natural Deodorant
The downside to natural deodorants or antiperspirants is their shorter shelf life. Generally, they will stay in good shape only for 6 to 12 months, depending on various factors. Therefore, you must find a way to store this product and extend its shelf life.
But no worries! We have tips for keeping and prolonging shelf life of natural deodorant in the following sections. Find them out!
1. How To Store Natural Deodorant
Remember that natural deodorant ingredients include oils, like coconut oil? Those materials are fat-rich and can quickly go rancid if exposed to light and heat. Therefore, you better keep your deodorant in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
Besides making products rancid, sunlight produces heat that may melt away natural deodorant. Any temperature above 77°F is the potential to melt the product. Furthermore, placing the product in a dry area is vital since high humidity can trigger microbial growth and contamination.
2. Tips for Prolonging Shelf Life
Your natural deodorant product generally lasts for 6 to 12 months. However, the shelf life can be shorter if you store it wrong. Given that you already know the effective storage method above, it’s your call to prolong the shelf life.
You can keep it in the refrigerator and only warm it up when you want to use it. But don’t forget to close the lids of your deodorant stick or jars to prevent contamination in the fridge. In addition, we highly encourage you to use deodorant only when your armpit skin is dry. Wet skin can trigger mold growth on deodorant and thus cut short the shelf life.
Best Products of Natural Deodorant You Can Buy
Besides knowing how to make natural deodorant, we also compiled some of the best natural deodorant products you can buy in the market. They are awesome for those who don’t have spare time to get their hands on natural ingredients to make a deodorant.
Despite some being a bit pricey, you will find it useful to switch from chemical to natural ones. Using one of them, you can also determine which consistency you like and formulate one yourself later. Let’s check them out!
1. Native Deodorant
For girls and women out there who have no time to make their own natural deodorants, we have an excellent choice to buy one in the market. Native deodorant launches a best-seller product for women at an affordable price: only $32 for 3 pieces!
This deodorant stick is easy to glide on your armpits and sure to help you get away with the smell. The formula contains probiotics to combat the bad bacteria that cause an unpleasant body odor. In addition, the natural deodorant with coconut and vanilla scents makes your underarms fresh all day.
2. Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick
Another natural deodorant stick for women you can rely on: Crystal Deodorant Stick! It is an amazing choice for those with sensitive skin because the product is fragrance-free. Despite being unscented, it can help you stay fresh for 24 hours!
Knowing the deodorant stick is aluminum-free, you shouldn’t be worried about stains on your clothes. Furthermore, this deodorant also controls sweat production and eliminates culprit bacteria in your armpits. And the good news is, it only costs $15.51 for 3 packs. Super affordable!
What we love:
Besides the formula, we love that it is affordable for natural products that commonly will cost you extra money. Only at $32.99, you can get three products. In addition, it is hypoallergenic, basically safe for sensitive skins. The product also doesn’t get tested on animals. So, Native deodorant will be perfect for those who opt for a vegan lifestyle.
What to consider:
You must be aware if you have an allergy to essential oils as it is a scented product. Knowing it is stick deodorant, you may expect stains by the time you use it regularly.
3. Stick Up Natural Deodorant
If you are looking for a natural deodorant that will be ideally suited for men and women, look no further than Stick Up Natural Deodorant from Prima Life Organics. The formula includes arrowroot, a thickener that is skin-friendly and perfect for vegans. Besides, the product also has a coconut aroma that’s not overwhelming, even for those who don’t like the fragrance in their skincare products.
You can also choose other scents, like lavender or black rouge. And amazingly, the manufacturer pays attention to environmental factors in the manufacturing process of this product. The packaging is made of a cardboard tube, which is an eco-friendly material. Moreover, it costs around $16.17. Though it is a bit expensive, all these features make this natural deodorant worth buying!
What we love:
Not only does it feature an arrowroot that is perfect for sensitive skin folks, it is also an amazing pick for vegans. In addition, the product concerns more on environmental impacts by using eco-friendly materials for the packaging. And for those who love perfumed natural deodorant but not overpowering, this product will satisfy their tastes.
What we love:
Compared to the previous natural deodorants, this product is a bit more expensive. So, save some money before checking out one. You can also notice that it is not fragrance-free. Those who are sensitive to essential oils may get trouble with them. Hence, it is always wise to take a look at the ingredients first.
4. Tom’s Of Maine Long-Lasting Natural Deodorant
If you want to introduce natural deodorants to male figures in your life but don’t want to spend a lot of money, look no other than Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant. By purchasing only $14.99, you will get three products in your basket! This stick deodorant also offers you three kinds of fragrances you can choose that suit their tastes.
Despite being a natural product, this stick deodorant is long-lasting, claiming to make the armpits stay fresh for 24 hours. And amazingly, it won’t leave stains on the shirts as the product is aluminum-free.
What we love:
The product offers a long-lasting use for around 24 hours, as the claim says. It is also pretty affordable with three aroma options (mountain spring, deep forest, north woods) you can choose. In addition, the size is small, perfect for traveling as it doesn’t take too much space in your bag.
What to consider:
Even though the manufacturer claims that it doesn’t test the product on animals, there’s no vegan label on the deodorant. Hence, vegan folks may need to clarify this to the manufacturer before purchasing one.
5. Thai Deodorant Stone Crystal Mist
Those who don’t want to get in trouble with gliding the roll-on deodorant will surely love this natural spray deodorant. Thai Deodorant Stone Crystal Mist is super easy and won’t take too much time to use. It contains salt minerals that will kill bad bacteria that cause troubling body aroma.
Moreover, this deodorant is unscented, making it safe for those with sensitive skin. And just like other natural deodorants, it is aluminum-free. Nonetheless, the aluminum featured in the salt. Thus, it won’t leave stains on your skin while it has the power to reduce body odor.
What we love:
We love that it is unscented and alcohol-free, ensuring safety for those who can’t handle essential oils and alcohol that are often harsh on skin. In addition, it is affordable! You only need to spend $10 for 240 ml of the product.
What to consider:
Similar to the previous product, it is not vegan friendly. Vegan pals who want to try natural deodorants can choose the first three products we have listed above! Since it doesn’t contain alcohol, it may dry a bit longer after spraying.
Final Thoughts
For those who choose to use deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent body odor, we recommend you choose natural ones. Not only are they gentle on your skin, but they also help you get rid of the smell without clogging the pores. Instead, it will regulate sweat production so it’s not excessive.
If you want to find the proper formulation, try making one yourself. We have included a step-by-step guide on making natural deodorant at home easy for you to follow. Besides being creative in making your own homemade deodorant, you can determine the formula, consistency, and fragrance as you wish. It’s also an affordable option for those on a limited budget!
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is it worth switching to natural deodorant?
If you have issues with body odor, using an antiperspirant is the best bet to reduce excessive sweat production. However, conventional antiperspirants contain aluminum which can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. In addition, it will leave a yellow stain on your white clothes.
Hence, people start switching to natural deodorant, which is worth it! At first, you may experience an unpleasant aroma because your body is still adapting to natural deodorant. This aluminum-free deodorant will unclog the pores and make your body learn to naturally sweat again. Generally, this adaptation process will last for approximately 30 days.
How to make natural deodorant work?
Natural deodorant can be an effective odor control only if you understand how to apply it. Before you use your aluminum-free deodorant for private parts, it is better to exfoliate your underarm. This method is crucial to remove dead skin and unclogging the pores. Scrubbing your armpit gently also helps to eliminate bacteria that cause unpleasant body odor.
Besides, you must dry your armpits first before rolling on your natural deodorant stick. Humid conditions make it difficult for natural deodorant ingredients to be absorbed by the skin. You may also experience irritation when using non-toxic deodorant under these conditions. If you want to apply after shaving, wait a few minutes to let your skin take a break.
How long does homemade deodorant last?
Unlike antiperspirants for smelly armpits with a longer expiration date, DIY deodorant usually lasts only 6 to 12 months. The reason is that DIY deodorant does not contain chemical preservatives, usually commercial ones.
It only depends on essential oils to prolong the shelf life. These essential oils also serve as natural fragrances. However, these essential oils will smell rancid as a result of oxidation. Thus, your natural underarm deodorant won’t last as long as a chemical deodorant.
Why does natural deodorant turn armpits dark?
Natural underarm deodorant generally does not darken your armpits. However, people with sensitive skin may experience irritation, leading to discoloration. It is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where melanin is produced and makes your skin darker.
In this case, we highly recommend trying a natural, non-toxic deodorant that is safe for sensitive skin. You can also make a homemade deodorant recipe using natural deodorant ingredients, such as baking soda, shea butter, and coconut oil.
How long will my armpits smell after I switch to natural deodorant?
While switching from commercial antiperspirant to natural deodorant stick is worth it, you will experience unpleasant body odor for a while. Usually, it will last for 14 to 30 days as your body adapts and detoxifies the chemicals.
Some people think natural deodorant is what causes smelly armpits. And thus, they returned to using chemical ones. In fact, you just need to wait and continue using the product until your body no longer emits a smelly aroma.