I have been meaning to make my own deodorant for a while now. Why, you ask? For quite a few reasons! I'm trying to avoid toxins and deodorants can be full of them! Even the crunchy deodorants seem to have something wrong with them.
Common Toxic Chemicals in Deodorant
Aluminum - A developmental and reproductive toxin.
Parabens - A reproductive toxin.
Propylene Glycol - Immunotoxin.
Fragrance - (can contain Phthalates)Neurotoxin and immunotoxin.
Sadly there's many more chemicals in deodorants that are also toxic but those listed above are some of the big ones.
Now that you know why I decided to make my own deodorant, how about the recipe? It's actually a very simple recipe, very easy to make, and it can even be put into an old deodorant container.
Homemade Deodorant
3-4 Tbs. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tbs. Baking Soda
2 Tbs. Arrowroot or Cornstarch (Arrowroot is preferred as Cornstarch can contain GMO's and talc)
Mix Baking Soda and Arrowroot together. Add EVCO. MIx well with spoon or hands until it is about the consistency of commercial deodorant. Transfer into a bowl or old deodorant container. You may want to put the deodorant in the fridge to harden but as long as the room temperature is below 76 degrees your deodorant will stay in it's proper form.
I have only just started using my deodorant but I'm already loving it. It works great so far and since I use non-refined EVCO my deodorant smells like coconut! Yummy!
Dropping by through BabyCenter. Not only does this sound better because I know what each of the ingredients actually are(!), but it's not at all expensive.
ReplyDeleteAny idea how long the deoderant's good for? Also, how long does the coconut oil last before going bad?
Thanks :+)
The deodorant should keep for as long as you use it. (assuming it doesn't take you years to go through deodorant :) Coconut Oil lasts for a LONG time. My container of EVCO says it's best if used within the next 2 years! I'm hoping to do a post about EVCO all by itself soon...just got to get things together!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteCan you add essential oils for fragrance?? Just curious...
ReplyDeleteOh, pinkmamazo here from BBC... :)
Yes, you can add essential oils. However, EO's can cause irritation so it's best to try it out in a small batch first.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you buy your arrowroot powder?
ReplyDeleteI buy my arrowroot from either mountainroseherbs.com or bulkherbstore.com. They both sell organic arrowroot powder for about $5/lb. However, only bulkherbstore.com sells it buy the 1/2 lb.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to comment on how awesome this recipe is. I started using it a few months ago & loved it, but my container got lost for a few days. I didn't have the time to make more, and after 3 days without deodorant I was starting to feel like I needed it (the effectiveness seems to lasts two days easy w/out reapplying if you haven't showered it off). I dug out my old bottle of store bought deodorant & put some on. An hour later I stunk in a way I havent stunk since I started using this stuff! thanks so much for sharing the recipe! I will never go back! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am going to have to try this!
ReplyDeleteDoes this work at all for perspiration as well?
ReplyDeletepaxmommy23 - Technically this is not an anti-perspirant. However, I have found that you will probably sweat as much as you would if you were using your usual deodorant. As your body adjusts to using a natural deodorant, it will not sweat (or stink) as much. I actually ran out of this deodorant maybe 6 months ago and because I've been too lazy to buy more arrowroot, I have been not using any deodorant at all! I don't sweat or stink anymore. Now I do want to make some more deodorant just because it does smell a bit nicer then good old me. :) I just wanted to show that my body has adjusted so much that it no longer "needs" deodorant/anti-perspirant.
ReplyDeleteany suggestion if one doesn't want to smell like a coconut?
ReplyDeleteIf you do not want the coconut smell then just use expeller pressed coconut oil. Only cold pressed coconut oil smells like coconut. You can also add in essential oils to make it smell nicer.
ReplyDeleteI'd really love to try this out, but I have some questions. Where can you buy non-refined EVCO and is it cheap? Also, what kind of deodorant container can you put this in?
ReplyDeleteAntonia - You can buy non-refined (cold pressed) EVCO at lots of places. Many natural stores carry some form of coconut oil however, it's usually expensive and you might not have many options.
ReplyDeleteI buy Nutiva although there are other brands (Tropical Traditions is another good one). I suggest buying through vitacost.com or amazon. To give you a general idea on price, a 15 oz Nutiva sells for $8.99 at vitacost. Vitacost actually has their own brand of coconut oil but I have yet to try it but that's even cheaper. Just make sure it says "cold pressed" on the label for un-refined. If you do not want the coconut smell then go with "expeller pressed" which is refined but without chemicals.
Any old deodorant container will work. :) Some people opt for a glass jar instead as depending on how hot your house gets it can melt.
I have been using this for a month now. I added theives' oil for scent and antibacterial properties. IT IS AMAZING! I used to 'stick' by the end of a shift (nurse) Have not had odor issues since starting to use this. thanks you so much for the recipe and tips on natural products. three women dear to me were diagnosed with breast ca this year alone and it has proven to be a wake up call. thanks for your work and blog, you are making a difference!
ReplyDeleteis there an alternative to the coconut oil? I LOATHE the smell of coconut, alas...
ReplyDelete(I've been using Tom's of Maine forever, but am game to try something new.)
Shelli - Have you tried expeller pressed (not cold-pressed) coconut oil? It doesn't smell like coconut. I recommend that. As for an alternative to the coconut oil entirely, I'm not sure. I feel like I've heard of recipes using something else but I can't remember what.
ReplyDeleteI bought NOW Healthy Foods brand virgin coconut oil at my local health food store for somewhere around $6 (I think) and it's 20 oz. Wonderful stuff! I need to find some arrowroot and make some deoderant...
ReplyDeletei tried this and LOVED it! i added grapefruit essential oil, and it smells amazing! i added it to my blog and linked back to you! thanks for the great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThose who are concerned about the smell of coconut need not worry - the smell fades very quickly. I've been using this same recipe for about a year and it works!
ReplyDeleteI make a powdered deodorant by mixing the equal parts of baking soda and cornstarch and leaving out the coconut oil altogether. I put the mixture in a little flat tin and apply with a powder puff. I add a few drops of tea tree oil to the powder in the summer. It seems to make the deodorant a little stronger. I have been using this homemade deodorant for several years now and find it more effective than store-bought kinds.
ReplyDeleteFound your blog through BabyCenter. Loving it! And thanks for this little nudge to finally try my own deodorant :)
ReplyDeleteCan I use guar gum in place of arrowroot?
ReplyDeleteHmmm I have no idea. I can definitely see it being a possibility as it's quite a bit like cornstarch or arrowroot.
DeleteThe oil doesn't clog your pores or make you break out at all?
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't! Some people have issues with the baking soda causing irritation but the oil has no issues. That's why people even use coconut oil as a moisturizer!
DeleteHi, I love the natural deodorant, but something is really irritating my skin, which has caused some redness and itching. I see above you say the baking soda can cause irritation...so that must be the culprit. Anything I can use in place of it? I really want to use this!
ReplyDeleteHi Krista,
DeleteYes baking soda is usually the culprit for irritation in this recipe. Usually people just decrease the amount of baking soda (any possible increase the arrowroot) and many times that helps. As far as I know, there's not really anything you can use in place of baking soda.
Thanks, I will try decreasing the baking soda.
ReplyDeleteI am a massage therapist here in FL, I'm also 7 1/2 months pregnant. I tested this deodorant out today... It PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS!!! Trust me, I sweat like a Clydesdale horse pulling a beer wagon uphill on the 4th of July when I work, and I barely even smelled coconut at the end of the day, and NO B.O.!! I am so pleased and impressed! Thanks so much for posting this!
ReplyDeleteWhen you place the deodorant in an old deodorant container, does it apply just like the commercial ones or is it less solid?
ReplyDeleteIt applies almost like commercial deodorant.. in the winter it's about the same, in the summer it's definitely softer. (and depending on where you live, if it gets too hot then it's just an oily mess) HOWEVER, I am about to post a "Summer-proof" deodorant version soon. That makes the deodorant much more like commercial and it's a mess in hot weather. Hopefully I'll post it next week.
DeleteI have to say I'm impressed. I went bold and decided to really put it to the test for my first time using it. I'm a fitness instructor, so 1 spin class, 2 outdoor bootcamps yesterday, then get up this morning and walk the dog in the hot sun, and I don't smell! Amazing! I followed the recipe exactly, but it's been hot here so it was pretty liquified. I threw the whole thing in the fridge for 20 mins., used a knife to get it out of the bowl, molded it into a couple of golf ball sized balls, stuck them into a canning jar and back into the fridge. Popped one of the balls out of the jar after a shower, rubbed under the arms a couple times like a regular deodorant.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! I'm currently working on a "Summer-proof" version!
DeleteI just love this deodorant. I was hesitant since I sweat like crazy and no "natural" deodorants work. Well, for once I am odor free! I know this is not an antiperspirant, but I have noticed I sweat a lot less, even in this hot summer weather. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteYou said something about a "summer proof" version, but I don't find a post for that on your blog. Did you ever get it posted? I live in Missouri and it gets HOT here in the summer, so I know the EVCO would melt and I would have a mess.
ReplyDeleteAh yes...the summer proof version...sadly that doesn't seem to be working. It worked ok until it hit 80 degrees and then it still didn't hold up and the added ingredient caused stains. So sadly there is not summer proof version (at least not any time soon)
DeleteYou can however store the deodorant in the fridge so it stays firm....or just keep it in a jar and stir before using (although that is rather messy)
Can I use pure coconut oil instead of virgin? That's what I already have and don't really want to buy more.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the coconut oil gets solid below 76 degrees, you can use it.
DeleteI have cornstarch and I really want to use this recipe!! The cornstarch I have has 'corn starch' and 'calcium sulfate' listed in the ingredients. How do I know if that has GMOs or Talc? Please let me know! I would rather not go out and buy arrowroot.
ReplyDeleteUnless your cornstarch says "organic" or "non-GMO" odds are good that it's a GMO as most corn is now. Talc would be listed in the ingredients if it was in there so you don't need to worry about that one.
DeleteI'm so happy that I found this! I have tried a few other homemade deodorants recently but they proved to be either irritating or ineffective. Not a problem with this one! It's going right in my little skincare recipe notebook.
ReplyDelete