Easy DIY Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant Recipe
You can follow the measurements below and enhance them to your needs. The measurements are not an exact science. Essentially, you need use approximately twice as much liquid as you use powders. Moreover, if you add wax, you may not need as much powder, as it acts as a thickening agent too.
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- Container with a removable lid to store the final mixture. (You can use an old deodorant container if you add wax.)
- 2 Heat-safe glass pots or regular stainless steel pots (Some people advise you not to use aluminum in the preparation process, because metal can react to essential oils or vice versa)
- Stainless steel or glass spoon(s)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- dropper
Ingredients
- 2-3 Tbsp coconut oil
- 2-3 Tbsp shea butter
- 1 dropper CBD oil (optional)
- ¼-¾ cup arrowroot powder (or corn starch)
- ¼-¾ cup baking soda
- 1-3 drops tea tree oil
- 15-20 drops your favorite essential oil (lavender, frankincense, cederwood, lemongrass, and ylang ylang, and patchouli are popular choices- mix and match 2 or 3 to make your unique scent)
- 1-2 Tbsp beeswax or soy wax
Instructions
- Put the coconut oil and shea butter (and optional wax and/or CBD hemp oil) in the smaller pot/container. (You can skip step 1-3 if you live in a very hot climate and the ingredients are already liquid—unless you are adding wax).
- Add water to the larger pot and place the small pot with the oils.
- Bring the water to a boil and then decrease the heat to a simmer.
- Once the ingredients are melted, add the essential oils.
- Mix the shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils together.
- Remove the mixture from the stove and turn of the stove.
- Add the arrowroot and/or baking soda powder.
- Mix the ingredients together until they are homogenous. The mixture should have a thick, creamy texture like icing for a cake.
- Scoop the mixture into a small storage container. (If you are using a plastic container, make sure the mixture is not too hot to melt it. This is a tricky balance since a product with wax will cool fairly fast, but most deodorant containers are made of plastic).
- Cool at room temperature. You can place the container in the fridge if you’d like to speed the process along. Note: If you live in a hot climate, you may want to keep the deodorant in the fridge. You’ll want to label it appropriately and warn anyone who lives with you that this icing-like product in your fridge is not for eating, although the smell could be tempting).
Notes
Put a pea-sized amount of the deodorant on your finger and rub it into your armpits. If you don’t like touching your armpits, you can always apply it with a cotton swab or makeup sponge. If you are using a stick (for the wax mixture), you can apply it like you’d apply and store-bought deodorant.