DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant (i.e. “The Anti-Antiperspirant”)
Body DIY Natural DIY
Looking for a safe, natural deodorant that works? This DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant is a tried-and-true favorite among Body Unburdened readers. Not only does it stop odor naturally, but it contains an ingredient that actually helps to draw impurities from the skin. Plus, it’s so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients!
I’m a multitasker…
A check-my-email-while-brushing-my-teeth, cook-dinner-while-catching-up-on-Downton-Abbey type of gal.
Which is why when I finally bit the bullet and made a homemade deodorant, I decided to take it beyond all-natural and add a powerful detoxifying ingredient that actually pulls toxins from the skin.
Yes, it’s the anti-antiperspirant.
Oh, and it works. As in no odor and reduced sweat (no natural deodorants completely stop sweat).
Here’s what some Body Unburdened readers have had to say about the DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant over the years!
“I just wanted to tell you that my whole family loves this recipe. We live in Texas so it has gotten a thorough trial and works wonderfully not only on us gals but also my husband and boys.”
“I have tried many homemade deodorants and this is my favorite so far. I didn’t even have to reapply after working out!”
“I have a hard time using commercial deodorants because they irritate my skin, and the natural ones just don’t keep me smelling sweet. I mixed up some of this and love it. It works! Feels great on my skin, no irritation at all, and keeps me smelling sweet in our hot Missouri summers.”
Bentonite clay is the all-star of this homemade deodorant recipe.
It’s one of the most effective and powerful healing clays.
It has the amazing ability to attract and bind toxins and impurities.
For this reason, it’s popularly used as a detoxification agent
Bentonite clay also has a very fine velvet-like texture, is odorless and non-staining… which are all very important qualities for a deodorant! Clays also quickly and easily absorb moisture.
So let’s get to it!
DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant
DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant (i.e. “The Anti-Antiperspirant”)
Looking for a safe, natural deodorant that works? This DIY All-Natural Detoxifying Deodorant is a tried-and-true favorite among Body Unburdened readers. Not only does it stop odor naturally, but it contains an ingredient that actually helps to draw impurities from the skin.
Ingredients
- 6 tbs or 3 oz organic virgin coconut oil — a great natural antibacterial (If you notice the deodorant is at all flaky on the skin, you may add more coconut oil as needed.)
- 2 tbs baking soda — neutralizes pH and body odor
- 3 tbs arrowroot or organic cornstarch — absorbs perspiration
- 2 tbs bentonite clay — adds extra wetness protection by whisking away sweat, and pulls toxins from skin
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil (optional but highly suggested) — a potent antibacterial
Instructions
- Put the coconut oil in a large mixing bowl. If the oil is hard (since coconut oil has a melting point of 74°F, it may be solid or liquid depending on how warm or cool you keep your home), mash it with a fork to soften it a bit. Then add all of the other ingredients. Mix everything together until you have a smooth, consistent paste. Lastly, simply transfer your deodorant into a small jar.
- To apply, simply rub your finger on the top of the paste to warm it a little, and scoop out a small amount to rub on your underarm. The paste will “melt” (as coconut oil does) right into your skin and absorb rather quickly.
- The tea tree essential oil may be a bit overpowering while mixing everything, but has just the right amount of scent when applied to the underarms. Rosemary and lavender essential oils also have antibacterial properties and so could be used with or instead of tea tree oil.
Keywords: homemade deodorant recipe, DIY deodorant
Troubleshooting: Skin irritation from natural deodorants.
Baking soda can irritate the skin by throwing off its pH.
Baking soda has a more alkaline pH (8) while the skin’s natural pH is slightly acidic (5.5-6).
So if you experience irritation this DIY deodorant recipe or from any natural deodorant that contains baking soda, that’s the likely culprit.
You have a couple options:
- Rebalance your skin’s pH with apple cider vinegar. Make a mixture of 1 part ACV to 2 parts water, and dab it on your underarms with a cotton ball.
- Reduce or remove the baking soda from the recipe. While this may affect the effectiveness, you can certainly give it a go and see if the recipe works for you even without the baking soda.
No, it’s not. You’d need to add some shea butter or bees wax.
Yes, but you might want to leave a small bottom layer of the original deodorant, as some containers have holes and it will drip through
Is this deoderant recipe sturdy enough to put in cleaned out deoderant containers so it can just be rubbed on? I’ve seen some that could be done that way and is very easy to use. Have never tried any recipe with the bentonite clay, but curious to see how it works.
I’ll be trying this recipe soon for sure! I made the typical baking soda/arrow root/coconut oil one but am curious how the clay will work for me!
Jackie, see this post from Crunchy Betty – she has a remedy that may help! http://www.crunchybetty.com/new-news-and-ph-balancing-your-old-homemade-deodorant-problems
Aughh I have tried using baking soda on my armpits…various recipes….I have had to endure “pits of fire” for weeks!!
I LOVE this recipe! I’ve been using it for about a month and it works like a dream. My husband and I went for a 6 mile hike yesterday (in the deep south) and I still had no odor! I poured mine into an old deodorant container while it was still warm and use it just like any other deodorant. Very easy and it works!!!
I made this and loved it. I have been using it for a couple weeks but the other day I shaved and put it on and it burned really really bad. It’s been a few days and I now have a big painful bump that I don’t know what it is? It be an infection? What could have caused this? I saw one post baking soda burns her? Maybe it’s that and I thought it was the tea tree oil that burned it but googling info on that only brings up ways tea tree oil TREATS burns, so maybe it’s not that? I just don’t know what to take out of the recipe to avoid this from happening again. Or what to do about this painful bump :/
I’m allergic to coconut and tea tree oil. Any suggestions? Right now I’m using 2 or 3 different deodorants to get good results and sometimes that doesn’t help!
is it possible to add a small amount of beeswax ( or some other ingredient ) to this recipe to harden it slightly and put it in a regular deodorant container?
Oh yeah, I don’t think I have one! But you can always just copy and paste it.
I don’t seem to be able to find your eco print option! Please Help!
Baking soda has alkali PH. it’s increasing your skin PH up to unhealthy numbers. Maybe not in one day but it will happened. Sweat bacteria love alkali environment. You can substitute baking soda with more clay and zinc oxide.
I made this and have added it to our deo rotation. We keep a spray bottle of alcohol (ever clear or golden grain) with EO, a container of plain coconut oil, and a jar of this blend handy to keep our bodies guessing and relief from any of the iffy ingredients. The blend is very dry, tough. I found heating for a few seconds with a hair dryer helped soften to apply. I also noticed sometimes while rubbing it in, that dry bits flake off. It’s like the oils are soaking in leaving the powdered ingredients to slough off. Maybe I need more coconut oil. Overall a good experience so far. Keep up the good work.
Hannah, I’ve been using this recipe for a a couple months (LOVE IT). I also found that I was getting bumps and burning, and with some trial and error have discovered it has to do with whether or not I shaved before putting it on. If I shave and immediately apply the deodorant, I find that I have a reaction. I’m not sure why this is. I’ve started to shave my armpits at night so that I don’t feel the need to apply the deodorant until morning. Since making this change, I’ve had no problems. So anyway, something to consider!
Hi, Hannah. Oh goodness. I just don’t know. It’s very strange and worries me (and makes me sad since I love this recipe and want so badly for it to work for everyone!). I just wonder which ingredient is giving you the reaction if not baking soda. Ironically, bentonite is used to help heal rashes, so I know it’s not that. Maybe the tea tree: http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/tea-tree-oil (scroll down to “Are there any possible problems or complications?”)
Hi Nadia, I read through all the comments before and after trying this recipe, but I’m not sure I’ve found an answer to my problem yet. I made this deodorant and put it in 2 containers for my mom and me to try, and it did a great job the first 4-5 days. Then we both started noticing how much our armpits hurt/burn and we both have big red bumps. I told her that maybe we just need to ride it out and it’s a transitional phase (what with the clay now pulling out toxins instead of them being trapped by anti-perspirant deodorant). I know other people on here have had a sensitivity to baking soda, but I’ve used baking soda on my skin before without issues (deodorants, exfoliants, etc.) I told my mom maybe we should leave out the baking soda next time, but she’s concerned about odor control if we do that. Do you have any suggestions for us? I really love the idea of this deodorant and don’t want to go back to anti-perspirants. Thank you!
I made and have been using this deodorant for a few months now…and I love it! Thanks so much for the recipe! My only complaint is that it does leave a stain on clothes…especially light or white colored materials…which I was afraid of when I saw the gray/green bentonite clay. My question is whether another clay, ( a French white or pink clay) has any of the same or similar beneficial detoxifying properties as does the bentonite clay, and therefore wouldn’t leave the gray stain? I love this deodorant, and I love the detoxifying aspect of it. I just am not pleased with the way it stains clothes…and it does not wash out! I’ve tried to research and google whether other clays would also help detoxify, but can’t come up with a definitive answer. I’ve also made a similar coconut oil/baking soda deodorant without the clay, and it’s ok too. But I really like the idea of the detoxifying element of your recipe! Any help or suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
Hi, Ashly. I’m sorry to hear that. You are most likely sensitive to the baking soda. Have you tried other deodorants with baking soda before?