It’s been seven months since I switched to 100% homemade deodorant.
The switch, it seemed like this HUGE DEAL that could ruin my life. Like, this monumental thing that might alienate all my friends and family. Like, scary. I mean, scary.
Guess what? It’s not that big of a deal.
In fact, it’s the smallest big deal I’ve ever dealt with. (And this is coming from someone who’s neurotic about which sea salt to buy.) It took about a week to get used to, and now I don’t even think about it anymore. It works, it’s inexpensive, and it contains zero aluminum. No brainer; no big deal.
Frankly, I’m madly in love with this homemade deodorant. So much so, that it was like pulling teeth to try a new recipe.
But, several people had pretty annoying issues with the baking soda and/or the cornstarch in that recipe. It can be itchy at times, and there was a rash or two reported.
So this is an awesome alternative to the baking soda/cornstarch one, if you’ve had issues. Or, if you just have a hankering for some super smooth and delightful pits (hello shea butter), give it a whirl.
It’s not a secret.
It’s all right here. Every ingredient. And every ingredient comes straight from nature.
Not a Secret Homemade Deodorant
Before we start, I have to tell a quick story.
When I first started making this deodorant, I had the bright idea to reuse a toilet paper roll to hold the deodorant. It turned out not being all that bright. The deodorant kind of seeped through the outside of the roll, so whenever I grabbed it, it would make my hands slick. Then, I realized I had no bright idea on how to cover it.
This is why, occasionally, you’ll see a toilet paper roll in the pictures.
(Here’s what I’m talking about:)
After trying to work out the kinks for a while, I realized that it would be far easier to just push all of the deodorant into an old cleaned out deodorant container.
I’m so thankful I planned ahead and kept it all these months.
So, if you can figure out a way to make the toilet paper roll idea work, kudos! Share! Otherwise, I recommend using an old, cleaned out deodorant container for this recipe.
Above, you’ll see everything you need for this recipe. It includes coconut oil, shea butter, clay (I used bentonite, but you can use any type of cosmetic clay), beeswax, and a couple of essential oils. You might also try substituting cornstarch for the clay, if you don’t think it’s irritating and you don’t want to buy clay.
First, grate 1-1/2 Tbsp of beeswax and melt it with 4 Tbsp coconut oil over low heat.
You want to wait to add the shea butter until after the beeswax has all melted, because shea shouldn’t be heated for long, or it becomes gritty and not quite as pleasant.
After the coconut oil and beeswax has melted, you’ll add in 1 Tbsp of shea butter.
At this point, you can probably remove it from the heat and just continue to stir until the shea has all melted, as well. It doesn’t take long, so don’t go far.
Maybe to the cupboard to grab a piece of chocolate. But no farther than that. Mkay?
Once the shea butter is nice and liquidy, as well, sprinkle in 4 tsp of clay (or cornstarch … though I haven’t tried cornstarch in this recipe, so you’re pioneering here and taking your chances).
Break out your whisk at this point, which you could have used all along, but forgot and grabbed your green spatula-spoon instead. Whisk everything well until it’s nice and sort-of creamy.
Drop in 20-25 drops of your essential oil. I actually cheated a little. I used 7 drops of rosemary essential oil and 7 drops of tea tree essential oil, for odor protection. But then I also added 10 drops each of sweet orange and ylang-ylang, because everything I make smells like sweet orange and ylang-ylang these days.
After you’ve whisked in your essential oils, you might want to place the pan in a cool water bath, just to help it all set up faster.
Mine really needed to set up faster.
Impatience is a virtue. Right? RIGHT?
Leave it there until it sets up a little bit, but not until it becomes solid. You should still be able to dip your spoon in and have the deodorant drip off slowly.
It will look something like this:
Once it’s beginning to set up, you’ll want to fill your container with it. If you’re using an old deodorant container, make sure it’s completely washed out (I also recommend boiling it for good measure) and that it’s rolled down all the way.
This recipe pretty much exactly filled the container you saw in the first picture (also what you’ll see below). But the little roller had to be rolled down completely to make room for all of it.
So once you have all your slightly liquid deodorant in the container, pop it in the freezer for 15-20 (or more) minutes to help it set up all the way.
The beeswax keeps the other ingredients a bit more solid, so it shouldn’t soften much until it’s heated by your skin while you’re putting it on.
Here’s what the final deodorant looks like in a close up.
Just so you know what everything does in this recipe:
- Coconut Oil: Softens, but especially adds extra antibacterial protection. Bacteria is what leads to stinkiness. Coconut oil is your best weapon.
- Shea Butter: Softens (a lot). It will also most likely help with the little bumps you get from shaving.
- Clay: Adds extra dryness protection. It will help at whisking away sweat and drying it up before it reaches your clothes. However, don’t expect it to work quite as well as antiperspirant (which contains the aluminum you REALLY want to avoid). They work in two very different ways.
- Beeswax: This may help, a little, with the perspiration problem, but the main point of this ingredient is to give the deodorant a more solid feel, so it’ll stay in your container the way you want it to.
- Tea Tree and/or Rosemary Essential Oil: These two oils are exceptionally antibacterial and antifungal, so they’ll work really hard at keeping any stinkiness from happening. Again, you can use any essential oil you’d like for scent (lavender, bergamot and lemon essential oils would be great as a substitution for tea tree and rosemary in terms of odor-stopping).
And here’s the printable recipe:
Not a Secret Homemade Deodorant
- 1-1/2 Tbsp grated beeswax or beeswax beads
- 4 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 Tbsp shea butter
- 4 tsp clay (bentonite or other)
- 20-25 drops essential oil (tea tree, rosemary, lavender, lemon, bergamot, or a mixture of any listed)
- Empty, clean, sterilized deodorant container
Melt the beeswax and coconut oil on very low heat, whisking often. Once melted, add in the shea butter and whisk a few times, then remove from the heat and continue melting. After that’s melted and you have a liquid, sprinkle in the clay and continue to whisk well until everything is combined. Drop in the essential oil, whisking still. Place the pan into a cool water bath, and leave for 5 minutes or until it just begins to set up. Spoon the mixture into your deodorant container and place it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes (or until completely hard). If, for some reason, it starts to get too soft on a hot day, just put it back in the freezer for a while.
What’s Your Deodorant?
What kind of deodorant do you guys use these days? Are you still sticking by the more traditional store-bought kind (you know, the kind they keep a “secret”)?
Have you switched over to a more natural brand?
Or are you one of the crunchy ones who’s used a homemade version for a while?
(If so, have you had any problems with it?)
In no-secrets-around-these-parts crunch!
Psst! Don’t have the time or desire to make it yourself? Go check out my Crunchy Store then. I just *might* have a solution for you 😉
This article actually is so funny… actually did a few lols. Gonna have a go today. Ta very much 🙂
Why is my mixture dark gray? Is that normal? it turned that color after adding the bentonite clay. :/
I basically used this recipe except I put zinc oxide in it too. It works great! I didn’t have any problems with the baking soda. It really works for me and I need a strong deoderant. I have hyper-hydrosis, meaning I sweat profusely. If I’m moving, I’m sweating. My husband loves the one I made and said if it works on me, it’ll work for anyone. It does go on a little white, but I just rub my underarms till it melts in my skin better. I had tried several other recipes that were spray-ons and they didn’t work for me.
I will definitely try a DIY deoderant. I did one about 2 years ago & it made me stink HORRIBLY. I had to keep a sweater on in the summer or else it would escape into the car when I was in it. So I was scared away from it. But with all these other recipes & people using what works from them I’ll give it another go. I don’t like generic deo, I know why it’s bad & when I think about or read the ingredients, I don’t like it. I’m already using natural hair shampoo & conditioner. Have done that over 3 years ago.
Hey there
I tried your recipe!! It was good but before i used to have white armpits now they are dark!! I want to add that the bentonine clay i have is dark gray!! Could that be the reason?? Help please i dont wanna go back for the aluminum deodrant!!
I think I used to much clay because mine is pretty hard going on its not gliding on smoothly, can I remelt and maybe add some shea butter or add coconut oil? Just wondering if remelting will harm it in any way. Thanks!
I’ve been reading over your receiptshoulder for natural deodorant. I’m apparently allergic to bees wax & can’t stand the smell of Shea butter, is there anything else that could be substituted for these?
You could try cocoa butter in place of the shea butter, and since it’s harder than the shea, it could help replace the function of the beeswax. But it still will most likely be softer than a commercial deodorant and you’ll probably want to put it into a small and shallow container, and use your fingers to dip out a small amount to apply. I’ve seen a brand of natural deodorant take this approach and they called it “pit putty”. You might benefit from arrowroot powder in the recipe, it has good antiperspirant properties and could help firm it up as well, and you’re less likely to have a reaction to arrowroot than, say, corn starch. Bob’s Red Mill brand has arrowroot powder/starch and this brand can be found in most grocery and health food stores. If you can’t use or don’t like cocoa butter, try mango butter, murumuru butter, or something like. Good luck!
Just finish making this deo, but mine has a darker color. It turned dark when i began mixing the bentonite clay. Any suggestion on how to make it white? I’m scared it might stain the clothes
I’ve found some bentonite clays to be different colors. The white or light grey works the best without staining.
Don’t-Fail-Me-Now Cream Sachet
(this my personal formula developed out of desperation, through trial & error and field tested by dozens of friends and clients, over the course of 6.5 years)
Use only 100% organic ingredients:
4 TBS Coconut oil
2 TBS Cornstarch
2 TBS Baking soda
1 Tsp White clay
1 Magnesium capsule (open capsule, sprinkle over dry ingredients)
Essential oil blend: 4 drops lavender, 3 drops sage, 2 drops tea tree, 1 drop peppermint + mixed with 1 capsule pure Vitamin E oil (prick vitamin with sterile pin, squeeze contents into essential oils)
Directions: Spoon coconut oil into glass mixing bowl, heat slightly over hot water, stir together dry ingredients before adding all at once and mixing until smooth. Add essential oils and blend thoroughly. Use cosmetic spatula to pack into small glass cosmetic jars.
To Use: Spritz or wipe underarms with pure witch hazel and allow to dry. Apply cream sachet with fingertips, massaging well until product is mostly absorbed.
I absolutely love using natural deodorant but the Kokomo Cream version is literally burning my skin. I plan to cook up the recipe for the “Not so Secret” deodorant with my teenage daughter and if it works, I’ll have her make her own so she stops using the store bought stuff full of aluminum. Thank you for the recipe!!
i am using a deodorant that has lots of natural goodies but concerned about the beeeswax clogging the sweat process.
sometimes i just use a couple drops of tea tree along with a couple of drops of eucalyptus, works great. i also do the same for afer shave,covering my entire face with the oils, i can breatheeee e! M E Mayes
What if before you fill the toilet paper tube, you dip it in candle wax? Since it doesn’t melt at room temperature, it might keep it from seeping through if the mixture isn’t too hot? I haven’t tried it, just a a suggestion I thought of while reading.
I’ve tried reusing old deodorant containers, Dove to be more clear, and when I got it out of the fridge to harden it up a bit, it wouldn’t move the deodorant up while I turned the bottom part -_-
Try warming it between your hands for a couple minutes first.
I usually store mine in the fridge too and this works perfectly 🙂
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Zinc Oxide cream (10%) works quite well, you can buy it at the store as diaper cream, or as natural sunblock. I tried a bunch of natural store-bought and homemade deodorants, including using baking soda, and this works better. The baking soda was the only one that worked halfway decent, but it gave me bad skin irritation after awhile no matter what I did. This doesn’t irritate at all, and does work, at least for me. Inexpensive to buy a tube of Zinc Oxide cream at the drugstore, and it’s worth trying.
6 years ago I discovered that I was allergic to antiperspirant. Ive used Tom’s, Crystal stick and Arm and Hammer Natural deodorants (term “natural” used loosely for arm and hammer) and I still smelled pretty funky after a few hours. A couple of weeks ago my husband got into some poison ivy while clearing some brush. He was covered from his knees down and itching like crazy so i made him a natural spray to help with the itching. I mixed about half Bragg’s ACV and half alovera gel and added in some teatree oil and lavender oil. It helped a good bit, teatree oil apparently helps break down the urushiol faster. We had some leftover in the fridge after he healed up, and to make a wordy comment short, I decided to try it out as a spray deodorant. It works fabulously. I was working at the computer yesterday and suddenly realized that I couldn’t smell my arms pits lol. I could never use the homemade deodorant recipes I found because they all try to replicate the drying properties of antiperspirant with added clays and baking soda but they made me dry and itchy. Once you let your body adjust, you won’t sweat as much. Besides, We’re supposed to swea, its how our body rids itself of toxins, and now I can detox without smelling like I’m smuggling cheeseburgers. ; )
I use tea tree oil and witch hazel and spray under my arms. I have also used tea tree and aloevera gel. Also use ACV. I will now have to try them all together!
Hi!
I want to try making this recipe but have a question! I want to create a eucalyptus and spearmint deodorant. Would I add those two scents to the tea tree oil and Rosemary oil? Thanks in advance!
Really really really wish I hadn’t followed this recipe…I added bentonite clay (and less than the recipe called for)…The clay balls up, falls off, makes a mess everywhere, and takes everything else with it so it doesn’t really work at all. =/ I should have realized it wouldn’t work since clay sits on top of your skin. Don’t really want to walk around with my arms up so the clay will stay on.
I’ve heard many good things about this recipe and I finally got around to making it. This was quite straight forward to make, which I enjoyed. I used the old deoderant tubes and the finished product looks awesome. Just made it last night and tried it now. The deoderant is too soft for me so I’ve snuck it in the fridge, which, while it should work, is not an ideal situation (I can hear it now “Um… why is there deoderant in the fridge?”). I would put in more beeswax in the future. I’m thinking it would also help with keeping it from melting on your pits in the day and staining clothes – keeping it more solidly on you skin rather than everything else.
I currently use a mixture of coconut oil, magnesium oil (very little, this stuff is powerful, and a detox/irritant in high doses-less is more!), zinc oxide powder, a small amount of indian clay (bentonite) and essential oils like sandalwood, lavender, melaleuca, geranium and rosemary. I think I’ve tossed aloe in the mix on occasion too. I am looking forward to adding a pinch of natural baking powder, and maybe some shea butter to mine, but that might not mix easily. Im not a fan of “cooking” my deo :-/ To the original recipe I would like to note: be careful using bergamot oil, some folks are quite sensitive and even a drop might be too harsh unless highly diluted (like the Mg oil). I’ve done it, but I use the geranium, lavander, aloe and sandalwood which can be quite soothing. Note also, if you get too crazy and wipe it in a huge swath, it can cause photo sensitivity (sunburn easily). One more hint, I keep my zinc oxide ratio 3:1 wclay. It makes everything stick really well. I tend to wear tanks a lot, and I am a sweaty gal, but it doesn’t run, and even when I wear normal sleeves it stays put!
Girl…. I put my homemade deodorant in a baby food jar, and that is where it stays- haha! Now I’m sure you don’t feel silly at all about the toilet paper roll! 🙂
Anyone else having issues with staining clothing?
Which ingredients cause the staining?
beeswax?
coconut oil?
shea butter?
cocoa butter?
green clay?
white clay?
I have been using milk of magnesia for a few years now and I love it:)
What kind of Shea butter did you use? This might of been asked before….I don’t know what kind to buy from the store.
Thanks.
There is aluminum in ALL cosmetic clays, and there is no scientific evidence suggesting that the aluminum in clays cannot be absorbed by the body through the skin. The only people who claim to know that clays are safe are the people selling it, and people who have no problem believing everything they read on the internet so long as it seems logical. You shouldn’t trust anything short of a published, peer-reviewed scientific study on things like this, and I haven’t been able to find a single one on the absorption of aluminum from clay. Salt, on the other hand, kills odor and can be found in forms that we know are safe to use. Why put all this work into creating something that may or may not have all the same problems as the stuff you buy at the drug store?
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday.
It will always be exciting to read through content from other authors and use a little something from other websites.
I stopped using deodorant years ago but just recently I started to use milk of magnesia and it’s been working great for me to get rid of BO.
I am going to make this recipe for my husband that has had a reaction to the deodorant that I made us with baking soda and arrowroot. He developed a rash. If you are finding that you are having issues making the switch from store bought to natural deodorant, don’t get discouraged. I had to make the switch during the winter and I was worried for a few months that I wasn’t a good candidate. After some time, I started sweating less and smelling less. Natural has worked well for me all sweaty summer, but I must apply daily almost to the hour or I will begin to smell.
I’ve never used deodorant and a few months ago I stopped shaving my armpits, and nobody ever told me that I stink, even though I do sweat. Deodorants are an unnecessarily luxury as far as I’m concerned.
Thought i was on a winner making my owm deodorant, now after reaading the posts, im left feeling totally confused not knowing what to try.
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After trying so many different homemade deodorants I still can’t seem to find one that works. I made this one and went to Zumba and half way through I was so embarrassed of my smell. I am a very clean eater. No grains, no sugar. I eat fermented foods and take probiotics. i wish there was a homemade deodorant that really worked.
Thanks anyway, I’m glad it works for some people.
Yolanda
Hi there! I was wondering why it’s okay to add the Bentonite Clay to the pan if the pan is metal.
Any thoughts?
So I’ve been using this deodorant recipe for about a week now. I know it takes some time for my body to get used to it. Funny thing is by about five hours in my right pit stinks and the left one is decent. I think I’ll add more drops of tea tree and rosemary to the mix next time. But thanks for this recipe. It’s better than the one with arroroot and baking soda (that gave me the worst rash ever)
Can i use coco butter instead of shae butter?
I read that you should not use anything metal when dealing with Bentonite as far as mixing and storage goes.
I plan on trying this recipe out in the summer… and if it doesn’t stand up to the grindstone… then I’ll try it out for winter!!!
For my natural deodorant, I do a couple of different things;
In the shower, I take natural sea salt and pat my armpits down so there is a nice layer of salt. I leave it there for a few minutes then rinse clean.
I made a spray bottle of my own deodorant that I use through the day;
essential oils dissolved in some rubbing alcohol, then some aloe vera gel and water to top it off.
Granted, this doesn’t last all day, but during my lunch break I spray my armpits down a little, and I’m good till the end of the day.
Ive noticed if you leave out tea tree oil it can help eliminate odor problems because 1) Tea Tree smells horrible 2) some people’s skin is sensitive to tea tree. I just used vitamin E in the recipe and some vanilla and pure mint extract.
I used this recipe but I tweaked it a bit. I used corn starch instead of clay. I also used cocoa butter instead of shea butter. I also added some vitamin E oil. So far it’s worked great. I have to reapply it sometimes because it starts to melt away but I don’t have any odor problems.
I was just looking for homemade deodorant recipes and this one looks good. I noticed some posts about the Bentonite clay and thought I’d mention that the clay also helps to draw out toxins from your armpits. When switching to a natural deodorant most people need a transition period and might stink more than usual at first. Bulk herb store has some info. on it and that is where I buy mine (a 50/50 mix of Sodium bentonite and Calcium bentonite). Since it is a swelling clay, those who were having trouble mixing it in might just need to let it sit and absorb the liquid/oils for a while.
Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Iade this deodorant and have been using it since Thanksgiving. I had some odor problems about halfway through the day but it doesn’t bother me much, my big problem is that about a week ago I broke out in a rash under bothy arms. It’s red and sore. I had it and stopped the deodorant for a couple days and it got better but now it’s back. I didn’t add anything extra to this deodorant so I don’t know what could be causing the irritation.y skin is sometimes sensitive but not a lot. Thanks!
My rashes are usually thrush/yeast (candida) infections – – which stink to high heaven! – – and burns, itches, and stains my underarms for weeks. (I have to spend 5 -10 minutes in the sun, holding my arms up to allow the sun to do its magic on my underarms, for a fee days so the stain will dissipate or wear away.) I cut back on eating starchy, sugary foods and make sure no alcohol touches my armpits as that makes it far worse. (My theory is that alcohol kills the good bacteria which had been keeping the candida in check, similar to antibiotics killing good bacteria in your gut, allowing candita to thrive – and you to sicken.)
So, cornstarch, arrowroot, tapioca powder, oatmeal, rice powder, or any other starch powder just feeds that fungal rash and brings on the fire! I know if I have this rash, my blood sugar is too high, feeding candida, so no starches inside or outside my body.
Instead, I use a powder deodorant I mix up myself, including baking powder, (but ONLY the aluminum free type, made by Red Arrow Mills) mixed with a few drops of essential oils (lavender, tea tree,sage,and geranium. I add powdered Neem leaves (the neem oil would work,but stinks! The leaves don’t,) and sometimes the clay, and/or calamine powder. I may even add ground sage and and lemon or lime zest which I have ground to a fine powder. I use a powder puff or even my hands to apply this mixture, and just powder my pits (while still damp, after washing them with soap and water.) It works, and the neem leaves even help the rash to heal. No burning, no pain, no itch, and finally no dark stained skin (from the yeast rash) nor ruined blouses (from messy waxes or oils.)
I still may stink after a few hours, (after all, NOTHING will last all day, at least without an antiperspirant.) So, I pack a wash cloth and periodically wash with soap and water, or use wipes during the day, (freshened with just witch hazel–without alcohol!) and reapply the soothing powder deodorant. Ahhh. Pure bliss.
I just made this deodorant for me and my husband. I forgot about the mention of the Bentonite clays color. I bought mine at my local Earth Fare and it’s pretty white. I would think they would have good quality but not sure. Maybe it’s kinda cream colored, hard to tell. When I hold it up to some Arrowroot it isn’t as white. What do you think? LOL thanks!
I only have Moroccan Red Clay and European (Green) clay. Can I sue either of these as a substitute for the Bentonite clay? And if so, I guess I should probably be concerned with staining because of the colors of these clays, right? Thanks!
I’ve been experimenting with homemade deodorants for a few months now & I’m keen to make a hybrid of this with my baking soda recipe! Although I might try a the white bees wax instead of regular – I know it’s not as natural as the unrefined, but I’d prefer something with less ‘yellow’ colour, if you know what I mean 😉
BTW, I feel so lucky that I don’t get issues with the baking soda! But I do have an issue with cornstarch & arrowroot – those starchy additives ALWAYS seem to FEED the armpit bacteria and create a WHIFF! So thanks, Crunchy Betty, for your recipe with clay! I’ll sub it into my current recipe instead of the starch! 😀
Did anyone else have issues with the Bentonite Clay? No matter how hard or long I whisked, it didn’t mix in. Now it looks like there’s sand in my deodorant, not sure how that will feel when I try to put it on in the morning… :/
I was considering buying Kaolin, but when I looked it up, I found out it is hydrated aluminum silicate… so that doesn’t really help if we’re trying to avoid the aluminum in commercial deodorants. Anyone able to shed any more light on this one?
Ahhh, now I see Jen’s earlier reply to someone about Bentonite clay which probably explains Kaolin as well.
“The aluminum in Calcium Bentonite Clay is in a safe oxide form, not the dangerous man-made processed aluminum. The many trace minerals in Calcium Bentonite Clay are fused together into a super compound structure known as a clay particle, which cannot break down and cannot be absorbed by your body.”
Thanks CB community!
I just tried this recipe. I waited for it to set, then once done, I poured it into an empty deodorant container (which i sterilized before hand) and stuck it in the freezer for 30 mins. The problem is the deodorant won’t dial out no matter how many times I turn the dial. And i did turn it anti-clockwise before spooning the deodorant in. I think I’m going to have to cut up the container and then allow it to melt up again and then use a different container 🙁
Abi, I had the same problem once when I was making a lotion stick – in my case, I had poured the stuff too warm 🙁 I just used the long, thin handle of a parfait spoon to dig as much as I could of it out of the damaged container, then remelted and poured into a silicon mold instead (I didn’t have another twist up container). It worked pretty well if you don’t mind getting a bit on your fingers when you apply, and I just wrap in a large piece of waxed/baking paper to protect it between uses – our bathroom doesn’t get very warm, even in summer, but if we get a series of 40 degC days (104 degF), I toss it into the fridge to stop it from melting all over the place 😉
I’ve been using this recipe along with another that contains probiotics, bentonite clay etc. I too have had issues with terrible oil stains. My & my husbands clothes are looking pretty gnarley these days. Not to mention the first several weeks we were smelling uniquely good. Five weeks in & well, we are smelling rather ripe. By mid-day we can’t even stand ourselves. Haha! I love the idea of this natural remedy but if I can’t find a fix to these problems, I feel I am forced into going back to commercial products. Any suggestions?
LMAO! I currently use straight coconut oil until I master a new recipe and I can totally relate to that feeling.
See above for laundry treatments for armpit areas of clothes. Diet also has a role to play in body odour and may mean that standard natural homemade deodorants are significantly less effective for some people. A couple of other commentors have recommended a product called Lavilin, and while I’ve never used it myself, I have read some great reviews on it – most say that the cost is worth it because you use so little of it & it lasts. Might be worth a try?
use Kaolin clay instead of the bentonite clay. The bentonite clay stained my clothes
I was so excited to try this recipe. It set up well, feels good, and I did not stink! However, the coconut oil has ruined two of my favorite shirts with dark pit stains that do not wash out. Why hasn’t anyone else complained about this? It seems inevitable given the high oil content. I had to throw away both tops and $20 worth of natural deodorant. I’m not pleased.
Gwen, I have removed yellowing from the under arm areas of clothing in the past with a bar of traditional laundry soap. Just wet the area and gently squeeze out excess water, then rub the soap bar over the area and throw into the machine with the rest of the washing & wash as usual. Hang in the sun to dry (unless the item has instructions telling you not to do this) and the stain is gone. By traditional soap, I mean real soap – not synthetic detergent. HTH.
And by “throw into the machine with the rest of the washing and wash as usual” I mean the item of clothing, NOT the bar of soap! LOL!
Just thought that I’d better clarify that 😉
First time making deodorant & boy do I feel like a pro! I used the tea tree & rosemary EO. Took the risk of using a toilet paper roll. Only difference is I lined the inside with parchment paper. Cut out an extra square & snugged it in a 1/4 measuring cup & sat my little T.P. Roll in there. Once out of the freezer, fold up the extra paper, flip it & it works like a push pop. Take that extra square & rubber band it round the flat end. Turned out quite nice. I think Ill continue that back up method when I don’t have the fancy ones on hand.
Appreciate the recipe. Cant wait to make more once my probiotics come in!
*Oh, any & all thoughts/recommendations on essential oil blends (what works well with what) would be appreciated. Im lost in the sauce on that subject.
Can I use plain green clay?
I just made this recipe tonight. Did anyone else have a hard time washing their pans and whisks after?? I just couldn’t get the oiliness away. Im really hoping it’s not going to transfer to my shirts…
Uh yeah!!! It was everywhere!!! Very hard to clean. I used the boiled water from the double boiler to melt it and then cleaned again. I threw out my sponge when I was done too. Very greasy.
I have been making my own deodorant for months now but decided I needed to find another recipe for my husband, he was turning red and itching. I decided to try your recipe and it has stained my clothes horribly. :>( Nothing wants to take it out. Anyway…this recipe turns my husband red as well. I can’t figure it out, he isn’t itching with this recipe but is beet red. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the recipe. Can we use a powdered form of clay because that is what I have? Can we add some water to make up the 4 tsp of clay or are we supposed to add 4 tsp of powered clay?
Clay is in powdered form – so I just added 4 tsp of the powder.
Curious, once this is set, does it melt easily? Just want to be prepared as I’m planning to make it today, but on a hot day, with no AC my entire jar of coconut oil is pure liquid now. Hoping the other ingredients keep it more solid, but I’ll keep it in the fridge if necessary.
I haven’t tried this yet. I found coconut oil on amazon cheap (yeah, it’s not cold processed organic but couldn’t beat the price 😉 )
Some people asked about suppliers. For my general herbal needs, I LOVE Penn Herb. They are brick and mortar (Philadelphia) and mail order. For bulk herb purchases, I like Herbal Com – they only sell by the pound so I wait until I need a LOT of something before I place an order and try to do as much as I can at once.
I’m hoping this works. I use Adidas with CottonTech – no aluminum and worked MUCH better than the stone or Tom’s or any other “natural” deodorant (the Adidas I use is NOT an antiperspirant). But I’m down to my last 2 half-sticks and it’s been discontinued. BOOOO I’m hoping this or the “3-Ingredient” one works – this lady can put a linebacker to shame LOL
I’ve been using the deodorant for quite some time and there are a few tops that have gotten oily. Do you know of another ingredient besides coconut oil? I try to use as little as possible but still have some problems. It is better if I put it on at night but I forget at times…
Great article!!!
I’ve used a bunch of homemade remedies, but in the end I’d rather go with a natural deodorant. Less work 🙂
Lavilin’s my favorite! Really great product and safe! Love it!
I’m with Shelley on this. The DIY’s don’t work as well for me as Lavilin does. Lavilin’s all-natural so it’s safe. And it works soooooo well! I love it!
All-natural so its safe? Then maybe you should try peyote, opiates, mushrooms, or cyanide.
All-natural does not equal safe.
Hmm….. haven’t tried peyote but pot is great at treating pain, poppy seeds are delicious, mushrooms rock, especially chantarelles, hmm cyanide not so much, but the arsenic in apricot kernels kills most heartburn in a flash…..
That was a awesome reply, salud.
I love this idea, but mine did not set well at all. What can I do to make it set better? I won’t be able to transport it to the gym in this form.
Try upping the amount of beeswax. You should be able to remelt the mixture and add another 1/2 to 1 Tbsp of beeswax. That should make it more solid for you. 🙂
Great deoderant. I agree with the comment about the stinky pits. Mine didn’t smell with the deoderant on for the this first week, but when I shower in the evening and then don’t put on the deoderant they definitely smell. I am certain it is the unclogging and detoxing. I had been using rubbing alcohol to just wipe my underarms but going to try the honey for sure. Also for those who mentioned the staining of the armpits in clothing, I found I was using too much deoderant and so when I was sweating from our super hot weather I was saturating my underarms. But when I use just a thin film it was much much better. Also I made my deoderant a little less firm and I put it in an old gel deoderant container and it is holding up very well. Great stuff so glad I’ve switched.
I’m really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A number of my blog readers have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this problem?
Funny you went through all this trouble to avoid aluminum, when at the end of the day this homemade deodorant probably has MORE than most commercial deodorants. Why? Bentonite.
Bentonite is an aluminum silicate clay, and if its aliminum youre scared of you just jacked up your intake. Sorry to burst your bubble but leave the clay out next time…
The aluminum in Calcium Bentonite Clay is in a safe oxide form, not the dangerous man-made processed aluminum. The many trace minerals in Calcium Bentonite Clay are fused together into a super compound structure known as a clay particle, which cannot break down and cannot be absorbed by your body.
Jen is correct about the bentonite clay being topically safe – the aluminium in clay is the silicate form & far too large a molecule to be absorbed through the skin (unless you have open wounds, which would allow almost anything in). The aluminium compounds used in commercial deodorants/antiperspirants are of significantly smaller molecular sizes, and thus, are absorbable through the pores & skin. Still, I would handle clays with great care because they can cause problems if inhaled into the lungs – but the same goes for any powdered substance.
If you make deodorant with baking soda, just make sure to put more oil than bk soda so it’s not gritty if that makes sense. When I first used it I got a rash too but I added more coconut oil and it hasn’t bothered me since. It’s pretty effective. Good luck!
I also look forward to trying this one. I have been using the “original” homemade deodorant for a while now and have been absolutely thrilled with how it works. Unfortunately, my skin has other opinions and I’ve started reacting to the baking soda. I’ve been using just coconut oil and double arrowroot powder (+ essential oils) while I scouted for a new recipe. In case you’re wondering, double arrowroot – baking soda = half as effective. *sigh*
Thanks for posting this; I’m looking forward to trying this recipe once I find the clay. About 4 months ago I started making a homemade deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda and arrowroot powder. After a few weeks, I developed a red, itchy rash which I blamed on the lemongrass oil I used to scent the product. So a couple of weeks ago, I made another batch. This time I left out the essential oil, and switched to organic baking soda. This batch produced a more intense red, itchy rash that did the scented batch! But because it’s warmer outside, and I’m perspiring more, I thought it was probably the heat. Maybe it is the baking soda despite it being organic. Will update after I try this one.
I, too got the red rash from the 3 ingredient deodorant. I have also made a recipe similar to “Not a Secret” with good results, although I used a mixture of Baking Soda/Cornstarch instead of clay.
When I’m too lazy to actually melt something (now), I just rub a little coconut oil on my pits straight from the shower, then dab on “Deodorant” with an old makeup brush.
Deodorant powder: 2 parts baking soda, 2 parts cornstarch, 1 part clay (use kaolin)
I know it seems silly, but its quick once you get used to it, and you really don’t have to worry about “making” any more.
MaryLinda… it’s probably the Baking Soda. Basically, it’s salt; and the salt to Coconut oil ratio may be too high. Salt can be very drying. Either eliminate the baking soda or cut waaaay back on it. Make sure the coconut oil is the organic, expeller pressed, virgin coconut oil. The other kind (the processed one) is made for higher heat applications in cooking (think: frying… your armpits will never get that hot. lol), and all the good properties (anti-fungal, anti-microbial, etc) have been processed out as well as the coconut scent. DO NOT heat the coconut oil in a microwave to make it easier to mix if it is solid. Microwaving also kills the good properties. Instead heat the jar gently in warm water. The rash is because either the salt dried out your armpits changing the ph balance of your skin, or you killed off the good stuff in the coconut oil by using a microwave, or both. I know, I made both “mistakes”. My rash got so bad it spread to under my breasts, and it took a few days of Lotrimin jock/foot spray to fix it. Hope this helps.
My daughter breaks out when she uses scented products under the pits. It has spread from the armpits to the breasts and down the ribcage. She was absolutely miserable and I took her to the doctor several times. Several creams later she still had the rash and was in tears from the pain. At wits end I put her on a probiotic and within a few days the rash was completely gone. Worth a try.
I have been making a dry powder with just kaolin clay and baking soda with lavender EO. Rash every time. I’ve tried several different mixes and a rash every time. Big similarity? Baking soda. Looking forward to trying it without the baking soda. One similar recipe uses lime juice… intriguing.
I have made my own deodorant for a few months now and started out using 3T coconut oil, 3T baking soda, and added a few squeezes of honey. It gave me such a rash! I then made a different batch with 1.5T baking soda and this helped a lot. I still feel a little irritation but not nearly as bad. A few days ago I made a batch with 4T of coconut oil and 1T of powdered grren clay. It doesn’t work. I stink! Lol! And same as another roost, my right armpit smelled the worst. Very strange. I am going melt this batch back down and add 1tsp of baking soda and maybe a squeeze of honey. Hopefully this will do the trick. The green clay makes mt armpits green so I am going to use this until its gone but then switch to a lighter color clay for summer.
Oh, and I also added 5 drops of Lime and 5 drops of theatre EO. I like the smell….at first anyway!
*teatree not theatre!
I am allergic to baking soda and never use it in personal care products.
UPDATE: After trying this recipe, I can say it was the baking soda causing my rash! I’ve had no rash while using this recipe. However the mixture with baking soda does a better job reducing the odor for me. After the initial rash cleared I tried applying a thin layer of this mixture to my underarms, then applying some of the mixture that includes baking soda, and voila, no rash! This mixture protects me from the baking soda induced rash. And I was able to use up the mixture with the baking soda instead of having to waste it.
I bought an organic deo by eco cosmetics. I’m not sure if it doesn’t work or its just transition period from chemical to bio deo. My armpit stink all day I have to frequently shower myself. One day i had to go to a wedding, so I take my aluminum speedstick for that day. No stinky smell. The next day I switch back to my organic deo, and it stinkier stinks than before! Its so stink I had to slather honey to my pit (I read alot about honey on this blog) after 20 mins I shower myself. I think one day I clog my pores with aluminum all the bad toxic sweat is screaming to come out. Maybe that’s why I got the unbearable smell. Anyway, after my armpit ‘honey mask’ , my stinky odour is gone. ALL gone and I still use my eco cosmetic deo surprisingly no more stinky pits! Pls try putting raw honey on ur underarm if u have bad smelling transition period of switching deo. No harm. It doesn’t hurt at all but its abit messy…=) im gonna try this recipe once I finish my store bought organic deo…=)
i think it’s really common to be stinkier than ever when switching. aluminum blocks your pores, so you armpits have a lot of “backlogged” stink. once your body has a chance to cleanse and rebalance, you will still get sweaty, but a lot less! and because your body is functioning more normally, it will be less stinky. diet can play a role, as well.
Hi. I used the deodorant and for the first three days absolutely loved it. Then day 4 hapened. I STUNK! but strangely enough it was only right underarm, not my left. I thought OMG I can’t stink this much at work (I’m a teacher and another teacher came into my room and commented on the smell lol, she thought it was the students!). So the next day I went back to my bad for you deodorant. Big mistake!! or maybe a blessing. I got huge bumps under my arms. Internal ones like my body was rebelling. So the next day (I only used the bad one for a day) was the weekend. I took a break from all of it and just put lavender essential oil under my arms after showering. Then if I started to smell I washed again and put more lavender. Then on monday I brought a facecloth and soap to work just in case. Well I haven’t stunk since lol. I do notice that on a really hot day I will need to freshen a bit by washing and reapplying but that has only been about once a week or so. I now love the deoderant. though I think once summer is over I may try to not put anymore beeswax since it is yellowing my underarms on my shirts a bit (most people say if you see staining it is the beeswax). Never going back to the bad stuff again.
No such thing as a ‘backlog of stink’. The odor is not IN you but on you and is caused by bacteria on you skin.
I just made this deodorant. I used Bentonite clay but my deodorant came out grayish green. I am new to this so this may be a silly question but is there a “white” bentonite clay? I know Kaolin is white but wasn’t sure on the Bentonite. Thanks for any help!
A good quality Bentonite should be a grey/cream color and anything bordering “pure white” is suspect. Bentonite, also referred to as Montmorillonite, is one of the most effective and powerful healing clays. Bentonite can be used externally as a clay poultice, mud pack or in the bath and, in skin care recipes. It has a very fine, velveteen feel and is odorless and non-staining. The type of bentonite offered by Mountain Rose herbs is a Sodium Bentonite
I’m trying this today! Will write back to tell you the results. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I wonder if dipping the toilet paper tube in beeswax a few times if that would have worked out. That was a great idea!
How about covering the inside of the toilet paper roll with oven wax paper?
I’ve tried a new DIY deodorant too (similar but not the same as your recipe) and am now starting to get a rash (been about a week or two)… I hear a lot of people online talking about this. I wonder if it’s just our bodies reacting to the lack of chemicals and trying to get them out of our systems now that we’ve given it a break?
I love this recipe, however, I have been substituting arrow root powder for clay since both bentonite and kaolin clay both contain Aluminum. Bentonite clay is a aluminium Phyllosilicate, and kaolin is a aluminum silicate mineral. With the substitution of starch for clay I have had great success with this recipe 🙂
Can I use candelilla wax instead of beeswax to make this vegan?
I use crystal deodorant you know, the big block of salt you have to wet to put on? I have used it to avoid aluminum. I have noticed it contains ammonium alum and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is harmful or if I should just suck it up and make my own? it is not an antiperspirant by any means, but it does stop me from smelling.
Made the no secret deodorant but came out brown. I used redmond clay but not sure what the problem is or is it just that way? essential oils used were ylang ylang, lavender, lemon, and tee tree oil. Works great but wonder what went wrong to turn it that color? HELP!
Has anyone thought of or tried using unsweetened dessicated coconut and powdered coconut milk instead of coconut oil? I’m theorizing that they might have the same anti-bacterial properties as coconut oil without staining the clothing, and the powdered coconut milk with magnesium carbonate will have the bulking and absorbing properties as the baking soda, but minus the irritation. Thus, less melting issues, less skin irritation issues, less clothes staining issues. LUSH sells a coconut deodorant powder that inspired that theory, but I figured if you’re looking for a solid the powdered coconut and magnesium carbonate would go well with the beeswax and shea butter. Just a thought if anyone wants to give it a go.
You can use magnesium carbonate as a natural, safe substitute for talc. In fact, anyone having issues with corn starch, baking soda, or arrowroot can probably substitute magnesium carbonate in this recipe.
Where do you find all the ingredients? I have no clue where to find clay or beeswax, coconut oil or shea butter. Is the shea butter just the lotion? I know this is natural and will save money in the long run, but how much do you need to invest to start? I made a lot of my own things already, but these are ingredients that are brand new to me!
I just recently discovered that my store-bought deodorant, which is hard to find without antiperspirant, and which I thought was relatively safe, contains Triclosan. I was mortified! I knew that it causes superbugs, especially when it’s used in handsoap, but I recently read that it also causes muscle weakness. I found your article when I searched for homemade deodorant. Great article, btw! I also love your name – Crunchy. I’ll be scouting out more of your website. Cheers!
i became allergic to some deoderants at the same time my odor intensified, because of hormonal changes due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. even baking soda gave me a rash. i use a smear of plain milk of magnesia on each armpit. start with a clean and non-smelling armpit of course, after a shower. rub some on, not too thick, hit it with the blow dryer on cool setting to speed up drying. it works wonderfully. i can go up to three days with no odor. i shouldn’t admit that, but sometimes i just don’t get to take a shower with the new baby and a toddler.
Thanks for the recipe! I didn’t have any beeswax sitting around so I made it without, and added an extra teaspoon of shea butter for good measure. It’s too soft for a deodorant tube so I put it in a tupperware container and it’s easy to apply with my fingers. Incidentally, while waiting for the coconut oil to melt I read the back of the bentonite jar, which mentioned something about facials, so I figured what the heck…once everything was set I smeared a little bit of the finished product on my face about 10 minutes before showering, rinsed with warm water (no cleanser), and my face was soft and smooth! I never thought I’d be putting deodorant on my face, but it really helped my dry skin. 🙂
I was so excited to FINALLY try making this deodorant tonight, after having stockpiled my ingredients for months. I had just finished my store bought stuff and put the container in some very hot water to loosen all the guck. A couple of hours later I returned to the sink to find that my mother-in-law had thrown away a part of it. Alas. There we were, going through the trash and the recycling (she couldn’t remember which can), all to no avail. I didn’t tell her why I wanted the thing, as she already thinks I’m a bit of a nut job for using cloth napkins and cloth diapers. She was giving me some suspicious looks. Tomorrow, when she is safely back on the plane, I am so dumping those cans and getting my doohickey back! Wish me luck!
I’m wondering…could I add the clay to any deo recipe? I do a simple one of coconut oil, arrowroot powder, baking soda & essential oils. I was also going to add probiotics to it after reading a blog or two about adding it in deo (depending on the probiotic brand will depend on if you have to keep it in the fridge). I guess I’ll try it and see. I do like that my deo has just a few ingredients, but I can always go back to the original if it’s an epic fail!
I like your recipe except the shea butter part, could I sub it for something else? If not I’m hoping you could point me in the right direction. I am trying to find a deodorant recipe that I found online and forgot to bookmark. I can’t use shea butter, or baking soda, this recipe had neither, it did contain bees wax. Thanks.
ok, i tried this and it came out grey (i don’t wear white often so that’s ok) but it was also REALLY soft, like lotion soft, but sticky. i remeledted it and added some baking soda and more beeswax. i hope it works!
Thank you so much for this info! I’m so excited to make the switch!
Can I put the mixture in a jar instead of a deodorant container?
I am so excited to try making this tonight. One question though, where do you get beeswax? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in a store…
I DID it! I have finished my first batch of no-secret deoderant and have actually been COMPLIMENTED on how great I smell! It has been a little odd at first. Awkward to smear my smear on at the gym. But I do love it! It is August and generally over 100 and I work out.
At the bottom of the jar, I find I have more mud than shea butter, so I’ll be stirring during the firming process this time.
I keep mine in a Palmer’s Cocoa butter jar. They even make a tiny one I take to the gym.
I love my deoderant now and am so happy it is one more natural item I can do myself! So proud of myself!
I can’t wait to try this recipe (just waiting for the ingredients to arrive!!)
I have a question. I could not find deodorant stick containers for under $2, so I thought I would go to the $1 store & buy some of them BUT, the ones I bought, the inside piece that holds the deodorant & pushes it up is not a solid piece-it looks like a grate with holes in it. So, I was wondering how to fill the container with out it leaking through those holes or if you know of a brand of deodorant that I can empty where the bottom piece is solid?
Thank you very much!!!
I can’t remember which article drew me in, but now I am a Crunchy Betty fiend! I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease a year ago and I’ve been wanting to simplify my beauty routine as well as get healthier inside and out. Thank you for your site…it makes the whole process seem fun and totally doable! 🙂
How about taping some wax paper to the inside of the toilet paper roll?
Please help! I need to know if you can use refined coconut oil and if you can use red clay powder instead
I’ve been doing the coconut oil/arrowroot powder/baking soda/choice of EO’s for a few months now. Without the beeswax, I just dip my finger in and get a fingertip worth, rub it between both hand’s finger tips and spread on each armpit, and voila! good to go! After going without for a few years, i found it difficult combining being an omnivore with exercise, and found I needed to eat more raw foods and give myself a little bit of help. So I was inspired by your recipe and those in the comments…. I’m so glad I tried it! Thanks!
Have you ever tried adding honey to your recipe? This is what I was initially searching for when I stumbled upon your recipe. It sounds great though. Do you think honey would help with it’s anti bacterial properties? Plus I love the way it smells!
Why does your shea butter look like that?
I don’t use deodorant and haven’t for a very long time (no one has complained yet) but if I did I’d certainly give this one a try.
Ok well, using kitty litter for your clay might not work becuase cosmetic clay has a much finer consistency. Maybe you could use a food processor? LOL, I have no idea. Seemed like a good idea at the time. 🙂
I know I’m a little late to the party, but let me just say I love your website!!! 🙂 I have already tried one of your recipies for acne or oily skin (honey, oats and milk), and for those of you with any doubt; it works! My skin feels very soft, and after just a few treatments I saw results. Anyway, back to deoderant. 🙂 I can not wait until I get the ingrediants to make this. I’ve been doing a lot of research on aromatherapy and I want to do rosemary and lemon EOs for memory and concentration and energy. (Thanks to Aromaweb.com – They have TONS of EO recipie blends for so many different things. — http://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/default.asp ). Oh and by the way if you can’t afford bentonite clay, buy unscented kitty litter. DONT STOP READING YET! I know it sounds crazy, but unscented kitty litter is just plain betonite clay. Seriously! And it’s way more affordable. This girl makes a face mask out of it. She also explains how kitty litter is made from bentonite clay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-x6hCI9X0g Thank you Crunchy Betty for your crunchiness!!! 🙂
~A
Hello,
I used a homemade baking-soda-cornstarch deodorant for a while, but actually forgot to add cornstarch to the recipe and it has burnt my pits.. now I’m trying to recover with only a few drops of tea-tree aplied. It works too. Planning to return to the full version (with cornstarch added) of the deo soon.
I guess as a next step I will try your recipe as baking soda doesn’t feel nice on my skin – thanks a lot for the inspiration!
As regards the container – my deodorant is filled in a big stick glue container – it rolls out and in nicely and the tube has a cap 😉
Duun
I was wondering Crunchy Betty if you still use this deo or if you are using the baking soda one? I used the baking soda one at first and LOVED it! If I had a little bit of BO and put it on it was GONE! But after a few weeks I developed a rash that I’m blaming on the baking soda (but might have been the cornstarch). I then made this formula that you have here with the bentonite clay and using arrowroot but by the end of the day (everyday) I have BO. So I’m thinking about combining the two recipes…Maybe just adding half the amount of baking soda. Just wondering what your experiences have been and which one you are currently using. Honestly the best deo I’ve come across is the salt crystal…but it takes a little more effort to put it on, and then there’s no lovely scent :/ Thanks!
where can i get bee wax and clay?
Some bentonite and other clays contain aluminum so I would recommend using baking soda instead.
I just made this today and used it fresh out of the freezer! I had bought some silicone popsicle holders and I put it in that and it works great! So for everyone who wants a great container that is a push up these work great. http://amzn.to/2aoRK6v
I have really been having a hard time with homemade deodorant! I first tried 1/4 c BS 1/4 c CS and Coconut oil with lavender and tea tree oil…worked great loved it but it was turning my arm pits brown!!! I stopped using it and the brown went away…I tired this recipe but I didn’t have any clay so I used CS and it does NOT work at all! lol not so fresh! I did put 1 tea spoon of BS in it. It is also turning my pits brown as well! I dont know why this is happening any one have any suggestions?
I love this post! My boyfriend and I have been using the coconut oil/corn starch/baking soda deodorant for about 6weeks now, and while he LOVES it, it has been damaging my poor sensitive little pits with chemical like burns. Yowch! I’ve been looking for a good substitute for a few days now. I also find that towards the very end of the day I do start to get a little bit stinky and I dislike that. I think your version with the essential oils etc will really, really help with this (not to mention the burned pits). I’m super excited to round up all the ingredients and give it a go!
Thanks!!
Do you have any problems shaving in the shower and then putting this deodorant on after the shower?
I use a mix of shea butter, baking soda, corn starch,olive oil and tea tree oil. after reading about the baking soda rashes/burns I added more cornstarch to my mix ( ex. for 3T of Shea I added 6T of cornstarch) I haven’t noticed any stains on my clothes and YES! yesterday I was able to apply immediately after shaving with no problems ( I was pretty excited!!!!) going on my second month of using -I store it in a jar on my dresser.
I use a deodorant made from coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and tea tree oil. Works great.
Okay I am glad there is an updated recipe for this. The other one left me feeling menopausal…aka murderous… due to the pain of a serious rash. I will make it this week when I get the chance but I am glad there is no baking soda or cornstarch.
Love all the info on your site. I’m allergic to all commercial deodorants, even the natural ones. Had been unsuccessful with making my own since I’m allergic to cornstarch and the baking soda also gave me a horrible rash. Made some deodorant using arrowroot vs cornstarch and it didn’t give me a rash, but only stopped odor for about 4 hours. Read about the difference between “natural” baking soda and common ones like Arm & Hammer. Got some Bob’s Red Mill natural baking soda, made this recipe with the arrowroot and BRM baking soda, and have not had a reaction to it!!! It is the best deodorant. Goes on smooth and dry – it’s not sticky or greasy. And with the BRM baking soda, it stops odor for 10-12 hours or longer. Thanks for the great info on the baking soda (The Great baking Soda Anti-Hoax)!!! I’ll never buy the cheap stuff again. It may not be an aluminum issue, but I’m convinced there is a major difference between natural baking soda and the cheap stuff.
Love what you are teaching and how down to earth you are in the process! I also want to comment on the value of the ingredients. Anything we put on our skin absorbs into the skin and circulates throughout the blood stream. Even if you apply something on the bottom of your feet, it reaches every tissue, gland and organ within 21 minutes. So if you are applying coconut oil ( I write health articles for a local paper and one article was on all of the anti-viral, anti-biotic and anti-fungal benefits of coconut oil), you are applying something BENEFICIAL to your whole body! Keep that in mind. Same with the clay I do want to give you a caveat on the cornstarch for those of you who are using that as an ingredient. Virtually every processed/boxed product with corn on the label, be it corn starch or corn oil or whatever, contains genetically modified corn. There is much research to support that GM products retain high levels of the pesticide used and that GM products are doing huge damage to our guts. Now granted corn starch applied to the skin does not go through the digestive system, but as I said above, anything applied to the skin circulates throughout the body. I would bet there are NON GMO corn starches available and just want to make sure that if you are going through the process of creating healthy deodorants and other home made products, that indeed you know those ingredients are indeed health promoting. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing this about the cornstarch. I’ve had to substitute arrowroot powder for the cornstarch because I get a nasty rash from it. Wonder if it’s because it’s a GM product? The arrowroot powder works great – I get Bob’s Red Mill brand. I even use it for body powder (1 part clay, 8 parts arrowroot, few drops of essential oil). I could not use the baking soda until I discovered “natural” baking soda like Bob’s Red Mill. Where the ingredients come from makes a huge difference.
You get a rash from the cornstarch as it is a yeast feeding starch!any warm moist area on the body ( especially the female body) is susceptable. arrowroot does not feed yeast. And is not GMO’d. yay!!!
Just wanted to point out, as I’m allergic to corn and have to know where it hides, that by using bobs red mill, you’re still getting corn. That company is KNOWN in the corn allergic community for being cross contaminated and to be avoided at all costs. They’re not careful with their products, and everything is contaminated with everything else…just FYI.
Also, corn is evil, and it’s everywhere. Everywhere. That’s all I want to say. Thank you.
so, can you recommend something different?
I would say if you are not allergic to corn, and Bob’s Red Mill is not genetically modified, and the arrowroot works OK for you, then go ahead and use it, but if you find a problem, then try the clay. I am going to try this, not sure if I want to try arrowroot or clay though! = )
Just wanted to point out, as I’m allergic to corn and have to know where it hides, that by using bobs red mill, you’re still getting corn. That company is KNOWN in the corn allergic community for being cross contaminated and to be avoided at all costs. They’re not careful with their products, and everything is contaminated with everything else…just FYI.
Also, corn is evil, and it’s everywhere. Everywhere. That’s all I want to say. Thank you.
I am on my second batch of this, and I have to say that it is wonderful! I searched and searched for a homemade deodorant that would work for me – the more common baking soda/cornstarch-based ones are marvelously effective, but they leave me with basically a chemical burn. This is the answer. There was a bit of a learning curve, however, and this is what I’ve decided works best for me since I first made and tried this recipe:
– I don’t pour it into an old deodorant container anymore. I tried this first, but I found I was applying way too much. It stained all my clothes, and it looked like I’d spread mud under my arms. (I used white kaolin clay instead of bentonite, and it made the end product sort of an olive drab color instead of the creamy beige in these pictures.) I’ve since just poured it into a clean glass jar and apply a teeny amount – like half pea-size – under each arm with my fingers. Much better.
– With the last batch, I would start to smell as the day went on. I forget the exact essential oil proportions I used then, but with my second recipe I used between five and seven drops of lavender (hard to be specific because they tend to drip a few time as I stop pouring,) the same amount of rosemary, and about ten drops or so of tea tree oil. This has worked remarkably well!
Thank you so much for this great recipe!
Kelsey – I also got burns/rash from the baking soda/cornstarch deodorants. I used arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch and natural baking soda (both Bob’s Red Mill) and no rash whatsoever. Read Kathy’s post above about the cornstarch and see the link on this site about baking soda. Can’t believe the difference in the cheap baking soda vs the natural type, even in cooking!
where do you buy shea butter?
I bought mine on Amazon. This is what I got:
http://amzn.to/2aoRiVA
You can also get it (and lots of other wonderful things) from mountainroseherbs.com
I wish I could remember where I found the recipe (Maybe OneGoodThing ?), but I have been using a mix of one part baking soda to six parts cornstarch for about two months now, and I can not believe how easy it is and how well it works! I mix it up and put it in a reused talcum powder bottle. Sprinkle in palm, spread on pit! No odor!
Michelle in Massachusetts
Thank you so much for this post! I have now said goodbye to my last stick of Dove. And I have to admit, till I started reading your blog, it never occurred to me to try and introduce homemade products to my family. I just bought what I saw on the shelves and looked at people weird who said they don’t use soap, shampoo, deodorant, tampons, ect. Hmmm sorta like my husband looks at me now! But he has no complaints about soft skin, nice smells and low cost! I started using this deodorant at about the same time I started a workout routine. While it doesn’t stop perspiration (and really that would be a bad thing biologically speaking right?), after 30 minutes of exercise I still smell like coconut:) I live in Alaska so there is no problem keeping the oil solid, I put everything in my stand mixer and let it go till it’s mixed and soft. Then I can pack it into old deodorant containers:) Thanks so much for you blog, I love not only all the wonderful info (and even better the personality) you bring to us, but also the awesome community of people wanting to help and contribute!!
I use the Aromaco bar from Lush; however, I have been looking for something more accessible and cost effective. I can’t wait to try this.
where do you get the shea butter and clay?
My deodorant came out mousy grey because my clay was grey color…
So I doubt anyone but me will be using it.
Will try now
Mine too Jessica…I thought I did something wrong, so glad you posted! I hope it works for me too!
Mine three! For a minute I was like “uh oh” and then I was like “duh….grey clay.” Who cares what color it is though right? If it works and smells good then whatever! lol
I used brown clay (some modelling stuff my daughter had). It was already wet, so I had to dry it out in the oven, then run it through an old food processor to get the powder. Spooning it from the pan into the deodorant container, it looked like some sort of chocolate fluff. Once applied, it just looks like mud. My wife laughs and says I look like pigpen. She’s not wrong 🙁
did the grey dye your clothing? I also bought grey clay. I just made the recipe tonight so haven’t tried yet, just curious about the outcome for you.
Hi there, I was wanting to make this, and needed something right away, so I used the ingredients I had, keeping in mind all the aspects of what yours has. I mixed 1 part arrowroot, 1 part baking soda, 1.5 part jojoba oil, a couple drops of grapefruit seed extract, and for scent, a drop of ylang ylang and grapefruit essential oils. It’s not solid and using an amount the tip of my finger does both sides. I only made enough to fill a .4 oz container and it lasted me a whole month! I think the “parts” were 1/2 tsp. It works like a charm! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi there, I was wanting to make this, and needed something right away, so I used the ingredients I had, keeping in mind all the aspects of what yours has. I mixed 1 part arrowroot, 1 part baking soda, 1.5 part jojoba oil, a couple drops of grapefruit seed extract, and for scent, a drop of ylang ylang and grapefruit essential oils. It’s not solid and using an amount the tip of my finger does both sides. I only made enough to fill a .4 oz container and it lasted me a whole month! I think the “parts” were 1/2 tsp. It works like a charm! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi there, I was wanting to make this, and needed something right away, so I used the ingredients I had, keeping in mind all the aspects of what yours has. I mixed 1 part arrowroot, 1 part baking soda, 1.5 part jojoba oil, a couple drops of grapefruit seed extract, and for scent, a drop of ylang ylang and grapefruit essential oils. It’s not solid and using an amount the tip of my finger does both sides. I only made enough to fill a .4 oz container and it lasted me a whole month! I think the “parts” were 1/2 tsp. It works like a charm! Thanks for the inspiration!
I have found several deodorant recipes on line but have not tried any yet. I have heard that cornstarch can encourage yeast growth so it should be avoided. I have also seen some recipes that use arrowroot powder, but don’t know if that has any yeast-growing problems or not. Has anyone heard this? Also, is anyone concerned about plastic containers containing BPA? I found a site that sells glass deodorant bottles, but you had to buy a huge quantity. Thanks for all the comments and ideas! Wish me luck.
I have found several deodorant recipes on line but have not tried any yet. I have heard that cornstarch can encourage yeast growth so it should be avoided. I have also seen some recipes that use arrowroot powder, but don’t know if that has any yeast-growing problems or not. Has anyone heard this? Also, is anyone concerned about plastic containers containing BPA? I found a site that sells glass deodorant bottles, but you had to buy a huge quantity. Thanks for all the comments and ideas! Wish me luck.
I haven’t tried this recipe yet. I will as soon as I can find the clay. I have used 2 different resipes though. One with cornstarch and one with arrowroot powder. Both had the same results. It started as a rash and felt like a layer of skin was burned off! The two don’t encourage yeast growth in everybody, just us lucky few who are prone to yeast infections. I have made this for friends (before it burned my pits) and they have had no problems with it. Who woulda thunk? A yeast infection under your arms? Hope this helps.
im making mine now and it is SO DARK My clay was grey?? you think it will matter?
i use Naturally fresh roll on. i really love the chamomile and green tea flavour
I’ve been using this DO recipe for a month or so now, most days it works great! But I am about to have a baby and wonder about the safety of the essential oils getting in my breastmilk…does anyone know if these oils are ok for babies in breastmilk? Or are there safe substitutes to switch with? I appreciate any insight, thanks!
I use essential oils daily while nursing without problems. I would say if you’re concerned avoid any that shouldn’t be taken internally (wintergreen for example) and don’t use peppermint until nursing is well established as it can reduce milk supply. Tea tree (also called malaleuca) and Rosemary should be fine.
My degree is in Botany and Chemistry, but I’m far from an expert. However, I took Medical Botany, I read gobs about the subject, I’m an amateur herbalist, and I researched this subject a lot because I’m trying to conceive. There is a LOT of conflicting information about this topic, but from what I gather, you want to avoid essential oils that act as emmenagogues, especially early in pregnancy. They stimulate the uterus, and therefore can promote menstruation(and induce spontaneous abortion) as well as uterine contractions. Don’t let this freak you out though! Usually teas or the herbs used in food aren’t potent enough to cause strong reactions, but essential oils are VERY concentrated. Perhaps there would be less to worry about if you dilute them or only use a little, but as for daily use, I’d be leary. I have read that chinese angelica, ginkgo biloba (can cause miscarriage for sure, my husband is getting his PhD in Clinical Pharmacology and he had read this before me!) sage, mint, rosemary, lavender, lemonbalm, bergamot, feverfew, and rue are all herbs generally best avoided during pregnancy. Lavender is a strong uterine stimulant, to my chagrin. But many others are considered safe if they are weak emmenagogues, so I would specifically research each oil I wanted to use on a daily basis. The BEST resource for information about herbs, that I have found so far, is The Green Pharmacy by James Duke. NOTE ON NEEM: DON’T USE IT IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET PREGNANT. It won’t hurt you, but even if only used topically, there is research to suggest it acts as a powerful birth control agent, in women and men. If you are on birth control, don’t want to get pregnant any time soon, or have had all the children you want, go for it though. I used neem oil in my homemade Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint insecticidal soap that I sprayed all over my vegetable garden all summer before finding the information about this. The effects are NOT permanent though and I have read nothing to suggest that it harms an established pregnancy. Please don’t ever be afraid of neem because it is AMAZING for so many uses! Once I am not trying to conceive I will be using it constantly again. I have no idea about herbs and breast milk though, except that Fenugreek helps increase supply. There are many resources on the topic though. Please let me know if you run across good information!
I have recently been changing a lot in my diet of what I put into it and onto it. I am a vegetarian working on vegan. And eat no processed foods, mostly whole. 10 yrs ago, I really had bad sweating problems that started when I was a late teen and continued through 20’s.
So I got some super deodorant, cant remember the name but it was potent, and burned like no other and itched!! But it dried my sweat up completely, and I started to wonder if that was good for my body, cause it was toxins that needed to come out or go somewhere.
I started noticing my left arm hurting/achey all the time but blew it off as the way I was perhaps sleeping on it. 9 Months later, after I had since stopped using the deodorant..I felt a lump. I was 22.( I am cancer free and 33 now). Needless to say it was a Synovial Sarcoma Tumor. I had cancer. They said it was extremely rare and had no known cause. To this day, I believe it was caused from those toxins being trapped in my system. The tumor was about the size of a golf ball once taken out, not too fr down from my armpit and 2 lymph nodes were taken from under the armpit as well.
I had later heard from a friend of someone she knows who got same thing, same place, after using same product. Is alluminum safe? Hmmmm
Now I am using natural stuff as much as possible. Toothpaste, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, now I have to try this. But I still have problems with sweating at times and can only smell fresh with using “secret”. Now I will have to try “no secret”.
Thank you for your site, the world and its chemicals are giving us all cancer.
This is a great recipe! I really wanted to try it, but I didn’t have clay, or shea butter, or essential oils… but I tried it anyway! I used corn starch in place of the clay, left out the shea butter, and infused my coconut oil with orange peel and rosemary that I had on hand. I love the results – you can see how it turned out here if you’re interested:
http://leavehappier.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/smelling-fresh-sans-aluminum/
Thank you for this great starting point!
wow, lots of discussion on aluminum. If there’s any knowledge of Chemistry here then there’s must be a realization that first Aluminum in and of itself is not harmful except in high quantities as is any mineral or metal. (such as iron) second, the aluminum used in antiperspirant is NOT the same as the aluminum found in our natural environment. Our natural Aluminum is identified on the Elemental Table as Al. Simple, unadulterated aluminum (found in clay). THIS is the molecular formula for Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly (whish is found in your OTC Antiperspirant) AlyZr(OH)3y+4-xClxmGly·nH2O. This is NOT in your clay.
Many studies have linked aluminum (yes even within a compound) to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The hospital I work at refuses to supply and deodorant containing aluminum for this very reason.
Aluminum (European spelling Aluminium) is harmful to all life forms. It damages all types of tissue. “Aluminum is a protoplasmic poison and a pernicious and persistent neurotoxin”. No living systems use aluminium as part of a biochemical process. It has a tendency to accumulate in the brain and bones. It is under normal conditions considerably less toxic than mercury, arsenic, lead or cadmium, but it is much more common in our environment, it also appears to be more persistent than most of the other metallic poisons. The danger is one that only manifests itself over long periods of time. It is therefore prudent to avoid consumption. Avoidance is currently the best way of protecting you and your family from the serious, long term damage that can result from ingestion. Pregnant and lactating women, the young and the elderly are at risk. The most effective way of preserving your mental acuity in to your later years appears to be eliminating the sources of aluminum in the diet.
I bet those all those people in foil hats feel silly now!
I was wondering if it is safe to make this in an everyday pan? Like the same ones I use to make soup? Or should I just designate a pan to this? Just wanna make sure I’m not hurting the fam by making soup in a pot which I cooked these ingredients in. Thank you 🙂
Given all the ingredients, it would probably just clean your pan really well. I wouldn’t worry about hurting anyone. Besides, every ingredient is edible.
hello there! I wondered this as well, being a mama too, and I finally designated one pan for all my concoctions (this was a chance for an everyday pan upgrade too, maybe I was just looking for an excuse ;). Some essential oils are not edible, although those most of us will likely use in this recipe are probably fine. I’m just a “safe than sorry” kinda gal 🙂
I first tried this recipe as is, but with cornstarch as I did not have any clay on hand.
It worked, but not as well as the BS/CS/CO one. I found this too soft and messy and not as absorbent. Last night, I used 3 Tbsp of beeswax and used kaolin clay instead of the cornstarch. Seems to be a much thicker consistency but still not as solid as I would like. I’m hoping the clay helps with smell better! If this is a big improvement I think I will add another Tbs of beeswax and 2 Tsp of clay for my next one!
I was wondering if you ever heard back from the people you asked regarding the aluminum in clay?
Thanks for the awesome posts!
Everything I can find would indicate that there is aluminum in most clays, but, I could not conclusively find whether or not it is enough to be harmful or whether all clays contain aluminum. Hope this help a bit!
Clay, bentonite if fact has aluminum. Your better off with cornstarch.
My daughter made this and used baking soda. She love it.
Remember when working with clays you are using minerals. Aluminum, and other metals are in clay, dirt rock ect.
I am going to try this with the corn starch and a little baking soda!
Thank you for a great recipe.
Any updates regarding cornstarch or arrowroot powder results? I started with the 50/50 Baking Soda (BS) w/ coconut recipe but got a terrible rash. (Bob Mill’s aluminum free version) I reduced BS to CS ratio so that it still worked but without so much grittiness/rash – but it ended up having a lot of crumble-factor. I use the BS because I think I need the extra protection to last until 7pm at the gym 😉
I recently found your version above and hoped that the addition of shea and beeswax would improve the texture -making it sticky enough to stick to my skin and not leave a mess on the bathroom floor (or in my shirt sleeve). However, I’m finding that using 4 tsp of cornstarch (instead of clay) is still REALLY pasty soft. I’ve resorted to adding a tsp of BS then a few tsp of CS until I get a “solid”. But I’ve been lazy about noting exact measurements 😉
Has anyone else has experimented with the cornstarch and found a winner ratio that will work in a deodorant container without being too dry/hard (crumbles) or too soft (going to goo with body heat).
I’d try it without BS but it still seems like the recipe above is really, really soft (maybe clay absorbs WAY more?)
If I stumble upon a winning combo, I’ll be sure to share my findings!
PS Any tips for black tanks/little black dresses – I’m constantly dusting myself when I wear one of these LOL Is the cosmetic clay less dusty?
Coconut oil is good, BUT it can cause a very bad irritation, especially on fresh shaved skin. It starts to itch really bad, and then the rash appears. So, you guys, need to be careful with some ingredients. As for lavender, DO NOT use it at all. Lavender kills the skin cells.
Fortunately, I haven’t had any trouble with coconut oil – I use it in the bath, on skin, on hair overnight, in brownies (LOL) and found it works wonderfully.
But, I had no idea about the lavender – its always been promoted as being soothing for bug bites, etc. I have heard about TT being implicated in weird hormone stuff w/ teen boys growing “breasts”. Still I usually add some TT, Lav, and Sweet orange (about 5 drops of each) into what amounts to a cup or so of this base deo mix.
Do you know much about rosemary? I love that fragrance as well, so much so that I bring in bunches from the yard as an air freshener 🙂 Maybe I should sub it in place of the others.
Sounds like you’re allergic to coconut oil. I’m intrigued by your lavender comment, my EO book lists it as an excellent oil for skin uses safe without dilution, and I have myriad personal experiences with its amazing healing powers when used topically. There is no mention of any possible skin issues. Cinnamon oil, on the other hand, is caustic and “repeated use can result in extreme contact sensitization.”
As with anything we put in or on our bodies we should stop use if we see adverse reactions but we also need to do research and guard against spreading myths.
Ok, so I know this was posted months ago… but I just found it via Pinterest. I have pretty much given up on natural deodorants. I keep being stinky. I am going to give this a go though and you have me hopeful. Will check in.
I stink bad, like total BO smell. Will this recipe work for me? Is there a must use ingredient to help with that god awful smell? I have no luck with over the counter “deodorants” making or stopping that odor. Toms is no match for me either. I had decided the antiperspirant is the key ingredient yet some OTC “antiperspirant + deodorants” work better than others for me.
I talked to one girl, she is very sensitive to everything, so she decided to experiment. She tried to use just almond oil, nothing else, she said she found a miracle that helps to stop stinky situation and there is absolutely no irritation. Try it, if this doesn’t work, you still can use this oil as a hair mask a couple of times a week.
so…i just finished making my first batch. and it’s GRAY. not light gray, like muddy pewter gray. i know it was the bentonite clay that did it, because immediately after adding that, the color got all mucked up. now, i will still give this a shot (although, i’m worried about it staining clothes), but i know my boyfriend will be immediately scared away. what do i do?! i used the bentonite made by NOW (which was not an easy thing to find) – any replacements?! i was hoping to include jars of these in my homemade beauty baskets for christmas (yes, which i did JUST start 6 days before) , but am reluctant to gift gray deodorant. help?!
Bentonite clay recipe doesn’t stain most clothes, but DOES leave color (muddy green, for me) behind until washed. The color wasn’t a huge turnoff to me. But I’ve given this recipe 3 weeks now, and I’m stinkier than EVER before. Back to the regular coconut oil, baking soda recipe!
You are my new favourite person. I am sending you cookies. And a medal. And then some more cookies. Thank you!
Hi…
I read your post and really you have done a great effort, I
think its one of the best deodorant but I have something to recommend you to
use the same thing “Deodorant” I visit many sites and blogs most of the
deodorant I like but the problem is they are not satisfy me but at last I visit
this site
when I visit this then I feel this product give me that service which satisfied
me at every aspects of the product that’s why I said to all of u to use this
and feel the differences.
Thanks
Recently made my own with coconut oil, corn starch and baking soda! Love it so far but I definitely want to try this one.
I think the recipe would be super awesome if you used cocoa butter instead of beeswax. Cocoa butter is great for conditioning/toning the delicate skin area (i try to use it under there as often as possible). Maybe a 1TBSP of baking soda? Ooo, I need to try to make this too. 😛
I switched from clinical strength Secret to Tom’s all natural deodorant, and I am looking into making my own. I love that this recipe has shea butter in it. I wax and find that having some type of moisturizer goes well with waxing. The waxing ensures my skin is smooth and the moisturizer ensures my skin remains soft. Thank you for this post!!!
Tom’s has aluminum in it, so if you’re using it to stay away from aluminum, look elsewhere. That’s why I bought it, and then I found out that “potassium alum” is another name for aluminum.
Potassium alum is not a chemical though. Huge difference. Potassium Alum is a completely natural mineral salt derived from the
earth. It is one of the most abundant substances on earth, just behind oxygen
and silicon. It’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat
and is one of the basic building blocks of our environment. Natural deodorants such as those of Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal products are COMPLETELY safe.
Make no mistake; alum is a natural compound, compared to conventional deodorants/antiperspirants which contain processed aluminum.
Is there anything I can substitute for coconut oil? I made your original recipe and loved it, but it stained ALL my shirts (I sweat a lot). So I had to stop using it. But I’d love to try this.
Ok, after 1 day i’m sad to say that this did not work for me. I showered, put it on, went to the grocery store and on the checkout line I caught a whiff of myself. I STINK! Came home, washed off, re-applied hoping it was a fluke. A few hours later and again… I stink! I wish the baking soda didn’t burn me raw. 🙁 Any suggestions?
Maybe using too much baking soda is the problem?? IDK. I saw some recipe online that called for 1/4cup baking soda! Woah! That seems like way too much b/c baking soda has the scratchy quality to it. Maybe try 1 or 2 TBSP? Or maybe as little as 2tsp?
Just made this with arrowroot in place of the clay. I can’t wait to try it tomorrow. The baking soda ones burn me so bad and I just bought some Tom’s of Main for my husband (since he’s totally against the home made one for some reason) and it just doesn’t work on me. I stink within like 3 hours.
Oh, but the baking soda one I’ve re-named “Foot Funk” because it works great on my feet! No stink, and makes my feet nice and soft!
Just made this and it is cooling in the freezer! I subbed out the clay for 3 tsp. arrowroot powder and 1 tsp. bakind soda since that’s what I had. Hope this works!
To the people having trouble with coconut oil staining your shirts: don’t put your clothes on directly after applying the deodorant. Give your pits about 5 minutes to absorb the oil, use a dry washcloth to brush off any clumps that may be left behind (I currently use a baking soda/cornstarch/coconut oil deo– it leaves clumps. I’m looking forward to trying this Crunchy Betty recipe!), and then put your shirts on with confidence. For the clothes that already have oil stains on them, rub a couple of drops of dish soap into the stains before tossing them in your washing machine and wash with hot water. Coconut oil stains are a blessing, really. I have tons of t-shirts that have greasy armpit stains from commercial deodorant, and that stuff doesn’t come out!
I filled empty deodorant containers with this mixture, but the only thing is that it melts. I have to keep it in the fridge to be able to use it. But other than that, I love it! My under arms rarely itch anymore and I NEVER smell myself. It’s wonderful, thank you!
I’m going to add more beeswax and see if that fixes the melting.
I am having the same problem with melting. It also leaks through the bottom of my deodorant container and makes a huge mess.
Did you get a chance to try it with more beeswax? Did that make a difference?
I started using just a little baking soda with cornstarch and coconut oil with a few drops of lavender. LOVE it! I may have to try out this recipe when I run out. I love making my own. It works so much better for me.
I’m so glad I found this! Both me and my sister are quite sensitive to baking soda. Baking soda in household things (particularly laundry soap) always leaves my skin super itchy, and thus has made me reluctant to put it in anything that touches my body. And my sis – oh dear. She was using a baking soda deodorant for a while and it got to the point where it pretty much burned a layer of her skin off (she was THAT determined to not use commercial deodorant). She still tries to pretend she’s not really affected by it, so I’m psyched to show her this. Because maybe, just maybe, she can stop trying to burn off her pores.
um…bentonite clay has aluminum in it…lots of it.
Ahhhh …. I’m going to have to do an actual post about this because I keep getting this comment.
It’s my understanding that the aluminum found in bentonite (and pretty much any other clay) is a vastly different structure than man-made synthetic aluminums found in store-bought deodorant. Mostly, it is far too large of a molecule for your body to absorb. It stays on the skin and kills the bacteria there, but it does not absorb into the body.
Aluminum does NOT kill bacteria. It blocks pores.
Elemental aluminum CAN be absorbed via bodily acids.
I would really, really, really love to see the research that shows that aluminum silicate leaches into the skin. Everything I’ve read has either been pure speculation or completely negating that it does and could.
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=570441
That given, the amount of information I can find by directly searching (which I have repeatedly, for hours, at least once every two weeks) is still incredibly contradictory.
In light of that, I’ve just reached out to the two people I know who’ll either be able to answer the issue definitively – or tell me that no one knows for sure at this point. When I hear back from them, I’ll post a full report on the blog. 🙂
I am looking for an alternative to brand deodorant. I have read a lot of people using straight milk of magnesia and others using straight baking soda… Has anyone tried this? And if the do work so well by themselves – wouldn’t they be a dynamic duo to mix together? And have any of you tried that?
I am so gonna try this recipe and reading Kori’s and Krissy’s comment really helps see how practical this is.
I just read in my Nourishing Traditions book that “Clay also contains aluminum, but silicon, present in large amounts in all clays, prevents absorption of this toxic metal and actually helps the body eliminate aluminum that is bound in the tissues.”
I guess I answered my own question 🙂
I thought we were supposed to avoid aluminum. Here is the mineral content of bentonite clay according the mountain rose herbs website:
Mineral Content
Silica- 61.4%
Aluminum- 18.1%
Iron- 3.5%
Sodium- 2.3%
Magnesium- 1.7%
Calcium- 0.04%
Titanium- 0.02%
Potassium- 0.01%
Moisture- 7.8%
pH – 8.3 – 9.1
http://www.etsy.com sells LOTS of different, empty containers. Simply search “container”, or you can be more specific by searching “lip balm container”, or even “deodorant container”. I just did this and found perfect stuff.
Jo you can order clay and beeswax off http://www.mountainroseherbs.com. Also, http://www.tkbtrading.com. I have also bought clay from a local herb shop.
WHAT KIND OF CLAY?
WHERE CAN I BUY IT? The type you use for ART PROJECTS?
Where can i buy beeswax?
Has anyone found a way around the use of the plastic container. It seems to me that when the one wears out you would have to buy a stick of regular deodorant (or find a supplier of just the container) and remove the old deodorant and throw it out. Is there an alternative to the cheap plastic?
I actually use a small mason jar and scratch it off with the back of my finger nail and roll it into a ball. It kinda melts with your body heat.
For anyone who is sensitive to corn (or isn’t down with GMO), you can use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch.
Patricia, coconut oil is antibacterial which is why it’s perfect for deodorant. Maybe apply a thinner layer or decrease the amount slightly? If that doesn’t work, you could try increasing the shea butter and adding coconut powder.
I’m too lazy to make my own, too cheap to buy the natural ones. The “regular” ones worked just fine until I got pregnant, I’ve no idea what happened to my body, but I was stinky ALL DAY LONG. Then I read somewhere (I think it was in the “People’s Pharmacy”) about Milk of Magnesium. I’m never buying “regular” deodorant again.
MoM is cheap, easy, works and doesn’t go bad.
THANK YOU so much for posting this! I have already made about 4 different recipes. The ones with the baking soda burn me, the ones without them just don’t work. I remembered reading your comment yesterday while I was in CVS and decided to give the MoM a try. It was like $2 for a small bottle which could probably last months. Tried it today and I have to say I’m shocked at how well it worked! I already told a few of my friends about it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!
Hey lady. Will you do me a favor and tell me the ingredients in your milk of magnesia? I’ve been doing some research on it over the last few weeks, and I’m pretty sure it contains aluminum hydroxide. Whether or not that’s one of the “leachable” forms of aluminum, though, I don’t know. I’m just curious if yours has it in there – and if it doesn’t, whether or not it still works. ‘Cause it might be the aluminum that’s doing the deo duty.
The original only has Magnesium hydroxide, purified water, sodium hypochlorite (according to the phillips website)
“Sodium hypochlorite solution, commonly known as bleach or chlorox, is frequently used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent.”
So, uh .. you’re putting bleach on your armpits which I imagine is just as bad as aluminum. O_o
I’m grateful you posted that Jennifer. I’m allergic to bleach AND aluminum. LOL
I’m extremely grateful for this blog post because it has been a real struggle to find a deodorant that works and does not contain aluminum. Normal store bought deodorants literally eat my flesh off. I just went to the local “old country store” and picked up all of the ingredients needed to make the coconut kind to test it out! Man I hope it works because I really don’t care for the alcohol based spray I am using right now.
“Sodium hypochlorite solution, commonly known as bleach or chlorox, is frequently used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent.”
So, uh .. you’re putting bleach on your armpits which I imagine is just as bad as aluminum. O_o
i bought store brand MOM and all it has in it is magnesium hydroxide and water.
You can look up the ingredients in MoM online. The ingredients listed in the majority I saw was magnesium hydroxide suspended in water. That’s it. What’s with the big bleach and aluminum scare, people?
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but couldn’t the toilet paper tube be lined with a roll of waxed paper? That should stop the seepage… especially if the wp over-lap is folded/crimped a couple of times.
I’ve been using a very similar recipe for quite some time now, but I’ve noticed the coconut oil leaves oil stains in the arm pits of my shirts; I’m now on the hunt for something to substitute it with.
Any ideas?
You should try palm oil (not palm kernal oil), its great for the skin and can stand higher temps than coconut oil.
Ooooh, I reeeeeealllly wanna try this! Need to shop for all those ingredients though, so I may get them a bit at a time and make it down the line. I am saving my old container for this verrrry purpose!
Right now I am using something from LUSH that is, well, as far as I can tell, all natural. It’s a solid bar that looks something like that that you rub on your pits. Then for extra protection and scent I use another of their deodorants that is a powder (coconut based and scented). The stinky part (pardon pun) is I have to shake it into my hand and apply it by rubbing, which gets messy.
It works well, better than the old stuff I used to use, and doesn’t like get stuck in my pores. I could never get that commercial stuff OFF my skin!
I don’t know if you’re still using a powder deodorant or if you’ll even read this, but try applying it with a kabuki brush… it works really well!
It sounds like it’s worth a try. I stopped using the aluminum deodorants many, many years ago. Right now I use Lafe’s Natural Organic spray deodorant and it has worked for me for about 10 years. Those first 4 years of it in Texas hot summers and I really love it. When I’m just about out, I’ll give this homemade one a try. Thanks.
I want to do this, but until I have enough bucks to get all the ingredients together (a little broke right now) I do this. You know that Burt’s Bees lip balm that kind of has the right idea but still isn’t crunchy enough? I got an old tin of that (not the tube, the flat tin thing, although any container would work) and put some baking soda in it, then dropped in enough eucalyptus essential oil to saturate it. I just take a little dab on my finger and rub it in my pits! It provides a wonderful cooling sensation and all-day stink defense. Not right after shaving, though. It gets a little burn-y that way. Fortunately I only shave about once a month. 🙂
thanks for the “secret.” i made my own receipe the other day with tea tree oil and baking soda and acid water for a spray on version, but I like your bar version too.
i’m curious what you think of using bentonite clay since it is known to absorb toxins?
I just finished making the deodorant now. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, but the green clay that I bought made my deodorant green (of course)! I don’t mind it so much but I don’t think my family and friends who will be receiving them as gifts would mind a tad bit. Next time I will be using a clay that isn’t green!
I’ve been using a similar recipe for a while. I use corn starch, a little baking soda (too much will break me out), shea butter, coconut oil, tea tree and yummy scented EO’s, and I add cocoa butter. It smells great and helps make it firmer. I haven’t tried adding beeswax yet. I keep mine in the fridge, then just take it out before I get in the shower. I’m afraid the beeswax will make it hard to wash off, which is one of the things I hated about “regular” deodorant. Has anyone had this problem?
Where do you buy your Shea Butter, clay and beeswax? Thanks!
You can buy it all at Mountain Rose Herbs (there’s a button over there on the side bar to get there), but I also get my stuff from a local natural foods store.
Ok people. I have been visiting Crunchy Betty for a few months now, absorbing and experimenting with all sorts of stuff. I haven’t touched shampoo in ages and my hair is loving me for it. I am going to try round 2 of making my own apple cider vinegar. The first round ended badly… with mould.
The one thing, THE ONE THING that weirded me out and that I am very hesitant to try is homemade deodorant. I usually don’t get stinky at all, it’s the wet underarm feeling that I can’t stand. I even finally found an anti-perspirant that my husband doesn’t get sneezy from smelling. Usually I have to get the unscented stuff. So switching from my beloved anti-perspirant to a homemade deodorant is a huge leap of faith for me.
But once my anti-perspirant has run out, I am cleaning out its container and making some homemade deodorant. ahhh!
It’s a mighty big leap, but I’m leaping!
I’m going to have to try this recipe. I have been using the baking soda/arrowroot powder recipe and I have broken out in a rash. BLAH! I need to figure out if I can get the beeswax, shea butter, and clay delivered here. I live in the Caribbean, so not many places deliver here.
First of all I love your site, it is awesome!
A bit about my deodorant experience:
I’ve been using the traditional kind for a long time. I’ve tried a homemade version using coconut oil, arrowroot powder and a mixture of lavender/tea tree essential oil, which smelled great and was not too much of a hassle to put on…but gave me skin rash and did not mask my BO (I come from a stinky gene pool).
Read your site and decided to give this recipe a try. Went to Mountain Rose Herbs and ordered ingredients, sadly, they were out of shea butter, so I bought kokum, mango, and cocoa butters.
Here is my question:
In your opinion, will any of those butters be a suitable substitute for the shea butter in your recipe?
Thanks in advance!
It has been a lot of trial and error to find something the is natural, cheap and effective. I’ve tried Toms of Maine, Jason’s two different brands of salt crystal deodorant and the deodorants from LUSH. Last week I bought my first jar of coconut oil and I am looking forward to making everything possible with it, deodorant included.
About the tp roll this might work. Roll waxed paper until the edges overlap slide into the paper roll making sure the edges stay over lapped about 2 inches on the inside. Also make sure you have enough length so that waxed paper sticks out of both ends of the paper roll. Then just fold over the outside and either rubber band to paper roll or tape. Now you should be able to fill the inside without it leaking out. I havent tried your recipe yet so not sure if this works exactly but it sounds like it may. =)
This deodorant seems to be staining my clothes…has anybody else noticed that? I am wondering if it’s the coconut oil or perhaps the beeswax–I want to switch to another deodorant, but if it’s the coconut oil that’s staining my clothes, there is no point switching to the other Crunchy Betty deodorant. Thoughts?
i think it’s the beeswax and or shea butter. both are yellow and i am getting yellow stains (not sweat stains). i know they have white beeswax and shea butter, it is more refined and that is how they get the color out. so not sure if they are really safe to be using since i don’t know whats involved in that refining process.
I wondered if it was the clay that was staining? I have tried three dif clays and they all turn some form of green 🙁 BUT this deodorant works FAB! I did add arrowroot powder AND some baking soda and I add both tea tree and lavender oils. I’m wondering about ditching the clay altogether and just substituting arrowroot?
I have never had trouble coconut turning things yellow, but I have heard that essential oils can stain. So maybe leave out the essential oils? Coconut oil on it’s own it pretty good at keeping the smell down.
with your toilet paper tube idea, it might help if you can wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. may be warp the insides and out with colorful duct tape? might be nice decoration.
After reading in this article, and others, the harmful effects of commercial deodorant, I decided that I was ready in my crunchy adventure to start making my own. What I do to prevent odor/moisture is:
1) dab some tea tree oil and lavender onto clean armpits with a cotton ball.
2) Wait till oil is dry, and then dust on a light layer of baking soda mixed with cornstarch.
So far, no odor! I smell better than I did with my store-bought deo!
I am seeing different ingredients for absorbing sweat – clay, arrowroot, baking soda, cornstarch. Which ones are the most effective? What are the pros and cons?
Wonderful recipe! Except you will have to be careful with bentonite since its major component is aluminum…. and that is what you want to avoid, right? Bentonite and kaolin are frequently used in cosmetics but they are aluminum based so I would not let them stay on skin… it’s fine with a facial mask but with a stay on product I would give it a second thought… From person to person you have the option to reduce the quantity of baking soda to 10% or 5% of the recipe or replace it with aluminum free compunds like calcium carbonate or zinc oxide.
Keep up the good work!
I love this recipe as im sensitive to baking soda as well, but i agree, i think i will leave the bentonite clay out.
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/bentonite.php
Bentonite Clay Profile
Origin- Wyoming/USA
Extraction- 100% naturally occurring and naturally quarry mined
Shelf life- Indefinite (4-5 years recommended)
Other Common Names- Sodium Bentonite, Sodium Montmorillonite, Wyoming Bentonite
Notes- The line of Bentonite clay offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is quarry mined from naturally occurring deposits and is untreated.
The variety being offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is a “Sodium Bentonite”, and is NSF certified and manufactured to ANSI/NSF 60 standards.
Specifications
Color- Light gray to off-white
Odor- Flat
Mesh Size- US #200 Mesh
Mineral Content
Silica- 61.4%
Aluminum- 18.1%
Iron- 3.5%
Sodium- 2.3%
Magnesium- 1.7%
Calcium- 0.04%
Titanium- 0.02%
Potassium- 0.01%
Moisture- 7.8%
pH – 8.3 – 9.1
Finally a homemade deodorant withOUT baking soda or alcohol!!! I have super sensitive skin and both alcohol and baking soda BURN. I am very excited!!!!
I have some of the ingredients on hand, but need beeswax and dry/powdered clay before I can make it. I take hydrated bentonite clay internally, but it is expensive and I’ve been meaning to buy the powdered version anyway. Now I have two reasons to buy it! 🙂
I have been using one of the homemade deodorants for a few days now and the problem I’m having is with the container. I can’t get it to roll up and down because the deodorant itself seems to be to hard. I put it in a bowl tonight with a lid. Going to apply it with my fingers from now on.
Where does one buy such ingredients? I have no idea where to go to purchase the beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, or cosmetic clay (so pretty much everything). But I really want to try this recipe, since I only have a few days left of my Old Spice!
Well, you can get pretty much any of those things in places like Whole Foods or other natural foods stores. But my favorite place to shop for my ingredients is Mountain Rose Herbs. Also, my favorite, favorite coconut oil is Tropical Traditions, but you can’t find it in stores. Most stores (even regular grocery stores) now carry coconut oil, but you want to look for cold or expeller pressed. Nothing high heat. Good luck!
After buying the ingredients (which was super easy–I was anticipating having to run around town to get them), I made my first batch a few hours ago! I applied for the first time just now, and the consistency was much different than store-bought deodorant; is it supposed to be like that? It’s less Old Spice and more brownie batter. Is that normal? I smell hella good though, so I’m going to keep using it unless it gets all over my clothes or something. Just wondering if I maybe need to add more clay next time or something? Thanks!
After reading over what each ingredient does, I added a wee bit more beeswax to my second batch today and it turned out great! Huzzah!
lol. Andrea, I used rhassoul, which is even darker! I used it today (first time) and even though I tried to rub it into my skin, I’d be afraid dark gray would get all over my clothes if it gets too hot. Talk about pit stains!! I’ll save this for when I’m working around the house or something in old sweats………
Hmm…just made some of this finally and used bentonite clay. My deodorant is a very dark grey and just looks weird. I’m going to use it though and hopefully it will be OK. Are there different kinds of bentonite?
I currently use the BS/CO/cornstarch one (love it), but wanted to make this one for the warmer weather. I’m out of beeswax, and didn’t really need to order anything else to warrant an online purchase. I see that AC Moore sells the pellets. Has anyone ever used those? Are they OK for personal use?
Melissa
I went to a farmers market and bought a pair of homemade beeswax candles, used a fine cheese grater and yanked out the wick when it was loose enough. Works fine. If you can get to a farmers market, there are always people selling honey and bee pollen, and they usually have a chunk of wax behind their table or some candles made up that you can use in a pinch.
Talk to the seller and make sure they haven’t done anything funky to the wax and you’re good to go.
I went and made this.
It was AWESOME
But before I did this, I used arm and hammers all natural deoderant
It actually worked pretty well.
Like, and 8.5 out of 10.
But this is better.
WAY BETTER 🙂
I read something about alcohol to help with extra sweaty people? Not me, but my husband is. I haven’t been able to find anything about alcohol. Can you help me?
I use Now Foods Long Lasting Deoderant Cream. Its white, you have to apply with fingers. I put it on at night so it absorbs and lessens the white staining on clothes. It works well, no odor, minimal sweating, and its natural! Love it! Here are the igredients:
Zinc oxide, talc, rice starch, calendula extract, arnica extract, vitamin E d-alpha, ascorbyl palmitate, citric acid. grapefruit extract in a base of safflower oil, beeswax, lanolin, and natural fragrance.
I worry about talc ever since reading about it being contaminated with asbestos. “Skin Deep” is a wonderful site for information on individual ingredients. Here’s what they say about talc: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706427/TALC/
I just switched to the homemade deodorant (the baking soda one, not this one, but for some reason it wouldn’t let me comment there). Anyways, I LOVE it. I sweat a LOT, but I sweat less with this deodorant. I added 5 drops of peppermint and 5 drops of lemongrass oil, and it smells so pretty!
about a year ago i tried using aluminum-free deodorants (tom’s of maine and alba botanicals) and they just didn’t do it for me. 🙁 i stuck it out for the whole tube with each, but i just got sweaty and stinky (enough that my s.o. pointed it out to me). since then i’ve been using almay fragrance free, which for some reason i thought was better but a quick check of the environmental working group’s cosmetics database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) puts it at the same level as secret’s and dove’s fragrance free deodorants (3/10, where 0 is best).
anyway, i’m excited to try this homemade deodorant!
I’ve just recently discovered the wonders of homemade laundry detergent, toothpaste, and deoderant…although my deoderant needed some tweeking–just used coconut oil, baking soda, and tea tree oil and my husband said that I smelled like a musty basement! Guess that’s better than smelling like BO 🙂 He also loves that I come running out to the kitchen after a shower, to get my deoderant out of the fridge to put it on! I mix it up, smash it into an old store-bought deoderant container, and then store it in the fridge, so it won’t melt everywhere in the bathroom.
This is now my favorite deoderant: coconut oil, baking soda, tea tree oil, and lavender oil…couldn’t give you amounts, I just mix them as I go! I don’t sweat any more than I did using a “clinical” strenght store-bought deoderant, and I smell better and it’s better for me (and my pits!).
Here’s to cruchy pits (and teeth, and clothes, and …)!!!
LOL! Molly I had to laugh at your comment that your husband likes it when you come running out of the bathroom, into the kitchen, for your homemade deodorant.
Fantastic! I’m so making this one as soon as I have the time. Out of shea butter right now, I think I’ll use cocoa butter instead.
I made the passionate homemaking deodorant a while back (http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/02/homemade-all-natural-deodorant.html), but it’s given me really bad rashes. Even a week after I stopped using it (now I just use plain coconut oil or some diluted ACV) I still have really dry and dark red skin, looks really awful. I guess it’s the baking soda, but kind of weird since I remember making the same thing maybe a year back without any trouble.
I actually came across this INSANELY easy deodorant formula (http://duggansisters.com/lifestinks/lifestinks.php –but who wants to pay $27 for something I have in my pantry?) and honestly have never looked back. I put equal parts cornstarch and baking powder (both organic) into a little container and then put a few drops tea tree, lavender, and whatever else I feel like essential oil in (orange or rose geranium are nice)…then close it, shake it up, and pat a little in les pits every morning.
I never would have thought this would be enough, or do the trick, but–it’s amazing. And SO easy to whip up a little more when I run out. Makes a good dry shampoo too, and in a pinch I have sprinkled some into stinky shoes and it clears ’em right out.
Superpowder, I should call this stuff.
Just a note, if anyone reads this who is thinking of shifting to the commercial to the natural stuff–when I made the transition (in summer, BAD idea) I had to wade my way through about two weeks of the stinkiest skunkpits imaginable, it was just disgusting. I was going into bathrooms washing under my arms every hour, and it still wasn’t enough. But once I got through that period, the skunkiness just went away, and now I have just normal stinkypits to worry about, and this powder totally does the trick.
FWIW!!
Thanks so much for the new recipe. I can’t wait to try it (although I do love the old recipe). Any other ideas for containers? I didn’t save an old deodorant container.
I talked to a nutritionist who told me if you stink, you need zinc. Also chorella is a natural internal cleanser. You don’t have to take them every day but for young ones who are growing and have major pit issues, try the zinc. It’s amazing.
Liquid chlorophyll is supposed to be a good internal deodorant…I think chlorella is just a common green algae and it has plenty of chlorophyll, so that might be why it is used for this purpose.
I live in Arizona. It gets pretty hot and sweaty here. For the last few years I’ve been using coconut oil (just straight on the pits) and then I go over it with a dusting of powder from Lush (the fragrance I use is Karma). Seriously, I can go ALL DAY and not even stink. It’s amazing.
I did the regular type recipe, using arrowroot, baking soda, coconut oil etc. Now it worked for me, but really at my age, I can actually go without anything. I meant under my arms. My girls said it didn’t work, although I think maybe they didn’t give it an honest try. One day while I was putting some on my pits, I noticed my elbows were rough and dirty from working around the yard and leaning on them. So, why not, I rubbed the deo into my elbows, added a touch of water and rubbed away. Wow, I couldn’t stop looking at my own elbows.
As for the young girls who seem to stink worse than any jock, next time your at the drs., make sure your thyroid levels are getting checked. It also could be your diet. There are all kinds of reasons, kind of like allergies, can be very hard to track down. Process of elimination. My daughter who has hyperthyroid issues gets the worst BO and she uses prescription deo. I’m going to keep trying to work with them all to find the right recipe for each girl.
Also, on that hilarious video, I’ll continue to use my storebought bentonite clay, I don’t think there is quality control in the litter that cats are meant to poop in.
I have been using coconut oil/baking soda/corn starch for a couple of months now. I love it and I think it is working!!! One thing I do that is a little different is – before I apply it I wipe my arm pits with a cottonball soaked with witch hazel (the regular retail kind which has alcohol in it) I have no idea if that really helps but I believe it does so I guess that means it does! What I like about the witch hazel is that if you want to re-apply the deodorant later in the day without showering again you feel really clean like you are getting rid of any bacteria that may be hanging out in your arm pit. I do have sensitive skin but have had no rash or irritation problems…
Yea!!! I had stopped using the icky store bought deoderants/antipers. a while ago, even before first recipe. Never quite found anything I liked/worked well. Tried first recipe from this site and it worked wonderfully for odor, even seemed to have helped for the days I forgot (carry over?). But… sadly, did produce some irritation to the pits despite efforts to tweak it. Sad. So, I have returned to store bought, natural versions of deoderant. They are ok at best so I am SOOOO EXCITED to see this recipe. Too bad local gas station doesn’t carry beeswax and shea butter or hubby would have made a run last night (although he didn’t know this is what he wouldv’e done)!! I am going to try this recipe hopefully RIGHT AWAY!!! Super excited. Did I already mention that?
A request:
would it be possible to do a crunchy dictionary of abbreviations for newbies and the other less abbreviation-savvy? In the comments to this posting alone I’ve run into the following
BS
CS
CO
VCO
OCM
EO (this one I figured out: essential oil)
as for the rest— heeeelp!
BS-baking soda
CS-corn starch
CO-coconut oil
VCO-virgin coconut oil (I think)
OCM-I’m still trying to figure this one out myself. Sorry I don’t have an answer for you/
OCM- Oil Cleansing Method
Check out Crunchy Betty’s post on the joys of OCM http://crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method
I’ve also seen CO used for Castor Oil, see the OCM posts. It uses Castor oil. So the meaning of CO depends on the topic/recipe ingredients.
I made my first batch of homemade deo last week. I put it in one of those adjustable measuring cups (you know, the one that comes in two parts and holds everything in using the power of suction?). It was just sitting there, looking perfect, so I used it.
For scent I used peppermint EO (which leaves a really nice cool and tingly sensation), and Lavender EO, but I’m quickly learning that I didn’t use nearly enough, lol. I’m stinking up a storm as the weather gets warmer and warmer, and the deo isn’t really covering it.
Also, I had to shave and put the deo on without waiting this morning, and I was terrified, yet prepared for the inevitable burn once I put it on… it didn’t. It stung just a little at first, and then the peppermint kicked in and cooled it down nice and quick. However I might change the recipe with the next batch, I’m DEFINITELY keeping the peppermint in there. It’s been a life saver. Or, a pit saver. LOL.
As for the “absorbing part,” do you think talcum powder might work? Or does that have something to avoid in it? I just found a health and herb store in my area, but I get the feeling that they’re kind of only “following the line drawn for them” if you get what I mean. They’re not very knowledgeable. Like, when I went in, and I asked if they had soap nuts, and the guy looked at me like a I was crazy and said “Soap what? I ain’t never heard o’ one o’ them.”
Oddly, it was his grammar that bothered me more at the time, but I digress.
My point is, I need something just a bit more absorbing of the sweat than the cornstarch, and I can’t find clay anywhere near me. I suppose I could order it off the internet… but if I can get away cheaper (with something like Talcum powder), that would be more ideal for my current income. :/
Thank you for everything you do for us, Betty! *huggles*
~Ness
I actually stay away from talcum powder. There’s a good bit of controversy surrounding it, and it’s just one of those ingredients I find it easier to avoid than bother with. (Here’s a site that’s talking about why it might be harmful: http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm)
You’re not alone in the soap nuts weirdness. I went into a natural store here last week and asked the same thing. Got the EXACT same results, only with good grammar. Haha.
We’re just ahead of our time, girlfriend. That’s all it is.
I’m neither advocating nor discouraging the use of this, but I think you might find the premise of it interesting (and the video’s pretty fun, too). Just, you know, since we’re talking about affordable clay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-x6hCI9X0g
ROFLMAO. OMG. THAT VIDEO.
You know, I actually DID think of that at one point. I think my issue was more that it has those rocks in it than the fact that it’s kitty litter, but I suppose you could ground it into powder (it IS just clay chunks, right?), or let it soak and then strain the water off.
I’d do a bit more searching and looking around before I make a decision, but I’ll let you know what I come up with and how it works!
~Ness
I tried the coconut oil/baking soda/cornstarch mixture as well and my pits kept breaking out. So lately I’ve just been rubbing a little plain VCO on them and they are smooth and I really haven’t had a problem with odor. If that doesn’t cut in the hot and humid Houston summer, though, I think I’ll try this recipe. Thanks for posting it.
Nice! Definitely stick with what works, especially if you’re not having any issues with it. The simpler, the better … always.
I was using the old version with baking soda and corn starch and ended up with horrible raw patches under my arms. Ouch! I tried modifying the recipe several different ways with the same painful result. However, my SO loves it and is still using the original recipe. I will definitely give this a try as soon as I can pick up some clay. 🙂
Ouch, indeed. I always feel SO sad when I hear these stories, because it’s worked so, so well for me. I want everyone to be able to love it like that, too. Sigh.
But, I suppose everyone reacts to things in their own ways. This recipe is definitely, definitely not as potent (especially without the baking soda), and it hasn’t lasted quite as long for me as the first one. I can go a day without noticing anything, but with the baking soda one, I can do my typical every-other-day shower without stinking at all.
BUT it is effective, and my underarms are VERY soft. I would have occasional itching (not anything to complain about) with the first one, but this one … nothing at all. Just smooth and soft.
I have a list of 101 things in 1001 days and making my own deodorant is on that list. Unfortunately, I just bought some of my other deodorant prior to making the list so I’m going to use it up first. I’m always curious what others have tried, what works, what doesn’t, so I’ll definitely give yours a try!
As for store bought brands, I LOVE Avalon Organics Rosemary Peppermint (it scores a 1 via the safe cosmetics database). It works amazingly well (for me at least) and I can’t imagine going to anything else (store bought). Another friend of mine has tried it and it didn’t work so well, so I’m sure each product works differently for each person – maybe I don’t sweat or perspire as much.
Thanks for the recipe!
Well, I gotta say, if you’re going to try a homemade deodorant for the first time, I’d recommend the first recipe (not this one), only because it’s just outlandishly effective. This one works, but I don’t feel as “safe” with it as I did with the other one. I may just be FAR too emotionally attached to it, though. Ha.
Avalon’s deodorant is one I haven’t tried. Next time I need an “emergency deodorant” from the store, I’ll give it a whirl. LOVE rosemary and peppermint together. Yum!
I’ll definitely give your other one a try first.
In looking at Avalon Organics, it’s actually just alcohol and a blend of essential oils. That’s it. I’ve often thought of trying to reproduce it somehow, and I still may. Just be careful if you’ve just shaved as it can burn a little bit.
That’s too funny. Check the post I just put up a minute ago. Synchronicity, at its best.
Any comments from anyone about whether this stuff stains clothes?
I actually just go without deodorant, and 90% of the time I have no problems with that. I’m looking for something that I can use once in a while, and all I keep thinking with these is that the coconut oil MUST stain clothes.
Any advice on this would be appreciated!
You know, it has never stained a single thing I’ve worn. I think your body absorbs it well enough that it’s a non-issue. It wouldn’t be much different than putting lotion on your arms and then putting a shirt on. I have gotten coconut oil stains on a shirt after making something with it (but those were big globs), and they’re not fun to get out. But this … this has never stained at all. And, in fact, I’d never even considered the possibility that it might until now!
So the post I just put up (about the freshener) might work for you, if you don’t wear deodorant very often. That’s pretty awesome, by the way. I want to be that brave. (Although, where I live, I’d say 50% of the population doesn’t wear deodorant, so even if I was stinky, I’d fit right in … haha).
Thanks for that! I’ll give this a try for sure now.
As far as no deodorant: I used to sweat A LOT. Honestly, after a few months of no deodorant at all, I started to sweat much less and smell only rarely. I just pop into a bathroom and rinse off if I think I’m getting stinky. It DID take a month or two to get re-adjusted. (Just like with no ‘poo!)
It’s not as scary as it sounds. In fact, the reason I stopped using deodorant is because my boyfriend doesn’t use deodorant, and I had absolutely no clue until he told me. It was inspiring.
Thanks for all the info and humor, as usual! You make crunchy cool. I’m off to check out the freshener post.
Oh I am soooo glad you posted about homemade deodorant. Too many people are still ignorant to the fact that many deodorants contain carcinogens. Scary! Especially because you’re spreading it onto sensitive breast tissue. I don’t wear deodorant often, and when I do, I use Tom’s. I’d rather make my own though. Perhaps I will one of these days, using your recipe of course.
A-men, lady! That’s the part that scares me the most, especially knowing how the aluminum is actually DESIGNED to go into your pores and change things around (and ultimately send bad things back into your body). Thinking of how close that is to the breasts, and how HUGE the rise in breast cancer has been … I dunno. Just seems like a no-brainer, there.
Just had to say – I made the BS/CS/CO deodorant about….a week and a half ago? 2 weeks maybe? and have been using it ever since. I LOVE IT. I am never going back. I’ve also had the pleasant experience of softer armpits with NO MORE razor burn, including one bump that’s been under my armpit since I began shaving half a lifetime ago. Literally. I’m 31. I thought it was permanent. 🙂 Also pleased to report that the occasional shooting pains that stemmed from my pits into my chest and down my upper arms appear to have disappeared. Freakin’ miracle. Perhaps it’s too soon to tell about the shooting pains, because they were fairly rare to begin with, but definitely there. I’m not in the least bit worried and I’m pretty sure I’ve found the culprit. I do regular self-breast exams and will continue to do so. Scary! You may have saved my life or at least my cleavage! Thanks!
Oh I also wanted to add that I did modify the original recipe a little, so it was 6 Tbsp coconut oil, 3 tbsp each of the baking soda and corn starch. I also did reheat and add lemon essential oils to it a day later, because I didn’t have it when I originally made the deodorant. I reheated it by putting the glass container it’s in in a bowl of hot tap water (not on the stove) and waiting until it started to melt. Once I could move it around, I stirred it and that melted the center up well enough to add the essential oil. It re-solidified perfectly. I also painted the lid to say “Mmmmm…… You smell pretty” 😀 I love affirmations 🙂 I also love this blog!
I sweat enough that I use prescription deodorant. Even that prescription-strength stuff next to the regular ones at the store didn’t cut it. I tried the recipe with baking soda during my spring break, hoping that after a week-long detox period it would work for me, but gave it up when I was still dripping after about nine days. I’m nervous enough when I perform without pit stains! There was, however, no stink (not something that the regular strength deodorant always did) and my pits were lovely and soft.
I plan on trying again during the summer. Hopefully it just needs more time–I love the idea of making my own deodorant.
I have a friend who has issues with excessive sweating/hyperhidrosis. I wish SO much there was some real natural option for you guys. If I ever, ever run across anything, I’ll be sure to pass it on. I know she’s bummed about it often; she even used prescription-strength for a while, and it didn’t work. But she’s looking for a natural option, anyway.
You might TRY the idea in the post I just put up, but I don’t know if it will really help. I doubt it’s anything even resembling a cure-all, though.
The good news: Sweating’s good for you. You’re getting rid of lots of icky toxins. So yay for that. Right?
Yes, sweating is good for me; this is what my mother says every time I fill the prescription. If there was a way to sweat less without being dessert-dry I would take it. However, I don’t think that the toxins are an issue since I don’t sweat excessively anywhere else even when I’m using the prescription.
Sometimes I just wish there was someway for my body to tell me what’s up. In English. Although I suspect most of it would be in the way of “C’mon, stupid brain! Why haven’t you realized this already!”
I’ve been using a homemade deodorant made with shea butter, coconut oil, cornstarch, BS, and glycerin for a year now. I have sensitive skin, but I’ve never had a rash or anything from mine. I particularly like the cornstarch in it because I feel like it makes my pits feel normal rather than slick, which would make me crazy. Converted my husband by force also, since I do the shopping, ha ha, no more horrendous Old Spice for him.
UGH. Old Spice. I like the idea of doing kind of a mash-up with this recipe and the original one (which is just about exactly like what you’re saying), AND vegetable glycerin. I bet that adds a good bit of softness, too. I’ll have to try your method out next time. I have to admit, I’m missing the BS in this one.
Okay, so if you converted your husband away from Old Spice, can you come and lay the smack down on Skip and tell him there ARE other options to Axe body spray? It’s the one thing I can’t break him of doing (but only when he heads off to work). He only does it outside the door, but it totally wafts into the apartment, and I cry.
And here I thought Old Spice was something Good. When my son began needing pit-stick, that’s what I bought for him, simply because it was the only “male” deodorant smell I could handle. And also because of the neat saying, “If your grandfather hadn’t worn this, you wouldn’t be here.” He knows I make my own, but he’s said he prefers Old Spice.
🙁
I feel like I’ve lead him down the wrong path, and now he won’t listen to me when I tell him I was wrong.
Oh well, it’s a slow death, and always time to turn around and do something different.
I found that the easiest, and perhaps meanest way of getting a guy to stop using something, is to suggest, vaguely, that you read somewhere you can’t remember now, that some of the ingredients might cause his [fill in the blank] to fall off, stop working, or shrivel up. I know my man is too lazy to actually verify it, but it strikes a chord of terror in his heart that allows me to replace said product with homemade. Also, men can get breast cancer, and that’s not a vague lie, and they think their might be links to regular deos and breast cancer.
HAHA! Yeah, I thought about that. And then I just told him that I’d read that Old Spice was a really bad deodorant, and you know what he said??? “So make me some!”
Easy as pie.
It was anticlimactic.
love it! but I think I still like the original recipe. I never had any problems with the baking soda. And I love, love, love that it helps to get rid of the evil black bumps when you shave. smooth like a baby’s bum.
Hey, do you think it’s okay to re-melt my original deodorant? it’s in a wide mouth jar, but I want to cram it into a regular stick.
Well, seriously, I don’t see any reason why you should even bother melting it. Just scoop it out with a spoon and press it into a deodorant container. It’s even easier that way, I’m sure.
The only thing about the original recipe (which is my fave, too) is that it tends to be a lot softer and melt easier. When I first made it, Skip made me put some in an old deodorant container for him. It turned to soup on a hot day, and he completely ignored it after then.
BUT, if you don’t have temperatures to worry about, go for it!
This looks awesome (and I love anything with beeswax). Any plans for a crunchy “roll-on” type deodorant?
How weird. You’re the second person who’s asked recently. I don’t know how we’d work that, with the ball and all that stuff. A spray-on would be easy as pie. But I just had a BRIGHT IDEA (and you know how those go, right?). What if we could figure out a way to do a roll-on deodorant using an avocado pit as the roller?
You get on that. Figure THAT one out. Ha!
A roll-on for something like the original recipe would be great in hot weather. In cooler weather a baby bottle warmer or coffee cup warmer might work to soften it for use. I looked at the roll-on deodorant bottles in the store, but they aren’t designed for easy opening to refill them. I found refillable roll-on bottles at http://www.bestbottles.com/all_bottles/Perfume_vials_glass_bottles/roll_on_roller_bottles_frosted_black_silver_gold_white_caps.php
there may be other sources also.
This one says it is for deodorant. http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/deodorant-rollon-bottle-white-p-1549.html
This first link has glass bottles. I’m not sure if this one is plastic or glass, but it says it is for medium to heavy viscous liquids & to keep it tighly capped to prevent spills. The other one may be designed for thin liquids like perfumes.
i am super excited you posted this! like ani i live in the land of heat and my homemade deodorant has turned soupy of late. my fiance and i have been scooping in out of the deodorant container…which is fine, but it’s getting messy and annoying. i can’t wait to try this recipe out so we can have a clean medicine cabinet and good smelling pits!
Haha! Good for you, getting your fiance to use the scoop method! Skip flat-out refused to use his fingers to apply his deodorant. I made him some of the original kind (with the baking soda and cornstarch) and put it in an old deodorant container, but it was too warm in the apartment and it kinda turned to soup, so he ignored it.
He’s going to use this new one, though. Here’s to boys with crunchy pits!
Oh, Betty! Your post couldn’t be more timely! I’ve been wanting to switch to something like this for a while, so thank you for this recipe! I’m embarrassed to admit I still use Secret, mainly because I like how smooth it makes my pits feel. This sounds like it would do the same thing without all the icky stuff, so I’m totally going to make this soon!!
Here’s the kicker, for me. I had no idea how much Secret was actually drying OUT my underarms before I switched. Often, they felt kinda leathery or just coated with something dry. But I’d been using it for so long, I thought that’s just how my underarms felt.
The original recipe I use (which is still my absolute favorite) did something completely unexpected: It stopped razor burn and the little red bumps I’ve had after shaving since I was a teenager. I thought I would ALWAYS have those “shaving bumps” … and then they were just gone. Incredible.
I use “Crystal” deodorant, which is basically just an antibacterial mineral. You can get it in roll-on or solid, and the solid looks/feels kinda like a giant chunk of salt. It’s unscented, but most days I top it off with a tiny dab of perfume oil to smell extra nice.
So, I love that you mentioned this, because when we were moving and life was crazy, I had run out of my normal homemade stuff, and I knew I wanted to do a new recipe. But time was short and I found myself at the store and just grabbed some Crystal Essence out of emergency. (Not sure if it’s the same brand you’re talking about.) I liked it for the two or three days I tried it, but I did feel like I needed to reapply twice a day. I got the Pomegranate smelling kind, which smelled great going on. Just didn’t feel like it lasted, y’know?
But I’m willing to bet $100 that it’s just like homemade deodorant; it takes your body a week or so to “adjust” to it.
2 parts virgin coconut oil, 2 parts arrowroot, 1 part baking soda. Also lots of lovely lavender and rosemary EO. I love it. 🙂 My husband even noticed a difference, which is to say that he didn’t notice anything… as opposed to the occasional nose-wrinkling I’d get when I was using store-bought stuff. haha. This is a keeper.
NOW. That said… sometimes I get little red bumps, but they aren’t a big deal to me. Also, VCO is supposed to be noncomedogenic, but that wasn’t my experience! When I first switched to this, I got rather painful swollen spots under both arms. Hard cysts just under the skin. Thanks to my crunchy knowledge, I used OCM to help clear up the inflammation, because it helps to cleanse pores. After about two days I was fine. Glad I stuck it out.
I love the tip about the OCM to help with the swellings. That rocks.
It seems like there’s a lot of controversy over whether or not coconut oil is noncomedogenic, but frankly, I think it probably is. That being said, I’ve never had issues with it blocking pores under my arms at all. I probably wouldn’t use it on my face, though (except under the eyes to remove eye makeup).
Isn’t it awesome how well the mixture works, though? The VCO/BS/arrowroot (or cornstarch)? I only shower every other day, ’cause my skin doesn’t dry out when I do it less frequently. Even doing that, I never smell icky with that mixture. (Now, more than 48 hours without a shower … then things might get funny.)
Sister –
Will you make me some deodorant and bring it to my house? Maybe for Brett too? That would be a very nice sisterly thing to do. And in return, I will let you take care of my children. I’m very nice. (And I accidentally typed me children instead of my children the first time…I love it when I’m accidentally a pirate.)
Love,
Sister
I told my mom this comment at lunch, and she laughed really, really hard. Harder than when I said funny things.
I think you’re her favorite.
(And, yes, I will bring some. Thank you for paying with your children.)
Oh this is so timely! I’ve been doing the coconut oil, baking soda deodorant stuffed into an old deodorant container which worked beautifully in the winter. But April in South Carolina has already yielded some 90 degree days and you know how coconut oil is with its 76 degree nonsense. I had a mess on my hands. Well, really on my pits. I was just using my fingers to apply so it wouldn’t be so messy but that makes the baking soda feel a bit more abrasive and well, you get the picture. Still works wonderfully – just messy. I’m going to try this one soon!
90 degrees in APRIL? Holy moly. Did they move the equator over there and not tell us?
I actually like the way it feels to put BS/CS/CO deodorant on with my fingers. I always feel like my hands are just a little softer after that.
If the temperatures are that excessive around those parts, you might want to up the beeswax content to 2 Tbsp instead. Mine’s nice and solid, but I can see 90 degrees making it melt a bit.
Good luck!
I’ve been using a natural, but still store-bought deodorant. But I JUST bought some shea butter, because I’d seen other recipes for deodorant that used it. Sadly, I have no clay. I’m thinking of trying it with arrowroot starch. Thoughts?
I’d give it a try. Actually, the next time I make my “regular” deodorant (which is still my favorite), I’m going to try arrowroot instead of cornstarch.
Let me know how it works for you, yeah?
I used arrowroot when I made your previous deodorant recipe and it works awesome. I’ve been meaning to let you know how it turned out…ummm it rocks!!!! I love it so much, better than any other store bought shite 😉 Seriously though no icthing at all, luv the coconut oil, can you say smooth as a babies bottom! I can’t wait to try the vodka tip from today…I’m one of those hypo-extrasweaty people, though thankfully not etra smelly!!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Swanson’s online has French Green Clay in capsules. It’s good for detoxing what’s inside too