Baking Soda Deodorant

Using baking soda as a deodorant is a simple way to combat body odor without harsh chemicals. Baking soda is a common kitchen ingredient that helps absorb moisture, but be careful because too much of it can irritate skin.

Follow this recipe to make a gentle baking soda deodorant at home:

• Mix 1/8 of a teaspoon of baking soda with a little water (without dissolving the baking soda in the water)

That’s it! Then, rub the mixture onto your armpits.

Cornstarch is another natural sweat-absorbing ingredient. Use baking soda and cornstarch for double the absorption power: mix one part baking soda with six parts cornstarch—no water—and dust a little on your underarms.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is rich in citric acid, which kills bacteria. So, this ingredient is great for killing odor under your arms. But, lemon juice won’t necessarily soak up your sweat. The bacterial processes in sweat cause body odor in the first place, so applying lemon juice to your armpits will at least banish the smell.

Some swear by swiping a sliced lemon under their arms every morning. And if you grab the lemon from the refrigerator, it’s refreshing and odor-eating.

Two caveats, though: Don’t apply lemon juice to just-shaven skin or before exposing underarms to the sun. Lemons are phototoxic, making skin more susceptible to burning when exposed to UV light.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another inexpensive and easy deodorant that kills bacteria causing an unfavorable fragrance.

Simply fill a spray bottle with alcohol and spritz your underarms to get rid of odor.

Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give the deodorant a nice scent. Lavender and eucalyptus are popular skincare fragrances. If you add tea tree, you could give your spray even more fighting power against odor-causing bacteria.

Coconut Oil Deodorant

If you’re attached to the creaminess of traditional deodorants, you can replicate that feeling with coconut oil, a mild antibacterial. The only problem is that coconut oil melts into a liquid when heated above 80 degrees (cooler than skin). The solution: Mix it with cornstarch and baking soda.

Instructions

1. Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch in a bowl and mix with a fork.
2. Add in coconut oil gradually, starting with a few tablespoons, until it becomes a thick paste.
3. Store the mixture in an airtight container or put it into an empty deodorant dispenser.

Shea and Cocoa Butter Deodorant

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons shea butter
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• Oil from 2 vitamin E gel caps
• Essential oil (optional)

Another way to replicate the creaminess of conventional deodorants is with shea and cocoa butter. They smoothen skin with high concentrations of vitamins and fatty acids, especially when mixed with the powerhouse nutrient vitamin E. The addition of baking soda and cornstarch will help keep you dry.

First, melt all the ingredients except the vitamin E oil and stir. Once melted, add in the oil and essential oils of your choice to improve the smell. Pour the mixture into a container and place in the fridge to set. This recipe yields a 1/4 pint.

DIY Solid Deodorant

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup candelilla wax
• 1/2 cup jojoba oil
• 1/3 cup arrowroot powder
• 1/8 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup shea butter
• Essential oils (optional)

For those who don’t like the slimy feeling of a cream deodorant, candelilla wax is the solution. Its consistency is similar to beeswax, which helps to hold all the active ingredients together. Candelilla wax also helps dilute some of the stronger ingredients so as not to overwhelm your skin.

Mix jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda. Using a double boiler or similar setup, melt the candelilla wax. Pour in the jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda mixture. Once everything is liquified, stir in the shea butter. Allow the mixture to cool, pouring it into deodorant tubes before it’s fully set.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a multitasking ingredient commonly used in natural skincare. It’s anti-inflammatory, rich in exfoliating acids, pH-restoring, antibacterial, and antifungal. Its antibacterial properties are especially helpful in staving off body odor.

Simply soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and swipe it on your armpits for a natural deodorant. It will have a strong vinegar smell at first, but it’s virtually odorless once it’s dry.

Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Deodorant

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
• 1 teaspoon kaolin clay
• 1 1/5 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon candelilla wax
• Essential oils (optional)

Bentonite clay is formed by aged volcanic ash. An ancient home remedy, it’s most commonly used today as a face mask. Bentonite clay is rich in detoxifying iron, calcium, copper, and zinc. It also has strong moisture-absorbing properties and is thought to be gentler on the skin than baking soda.

To make bentonite clay deodorant, first combine both clays with arrowroot powder. Using a double boiler, heat the candelilla wax, stirring in the coconut oil when it’s almost melted. Gradually add in the clay and arrowroot powder mixture, constantly stirring to get rid of clumps, and continue to stir while removing from heat and allowing to cool. Add in your essential oils before it’s set, then transfer to an airtight container and wait an hour before using.

Soothing Lavender Baking Soda Deodorant

This DIY deodorant uses a variety of natural ingredients that are moisturizing for the skin and have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Baking soda is a common ingredient in natural deodorants; it’s an age-old, multi-purpose product regularly used in cooking, cleaning, and odor prevention too. Because it has a strong ability to absorb odor, it’s an effective additive in a DIY deodorant.

Baking soda isn’t for everyone though, as it may irritate sensitive skin and has a tendency to leave skin feeling dry. No need to worry, though, because a natural, homemade deodorant can still be effective without baking soda. There are many alternative odor-eliminating ingredients you can add to deodorant in place of baking soda, including apple cider vinegar, cornstarch, or witch hazel.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup shea butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil 
• 3 tablespoons beeswax pellets
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour starch
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil 

Steps

1. Prepare a double boiler with the bottom pot about 1/4 full of water.
2. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium heat and then add the shea butter and coconut oil to the top pot, stirring occasionally.
3. Once the shea butter and coconut oil have melted, add the beeswax and stir frequently until all the ingredients are liquid.
4. Remove the bowl from heat and quickly add the baking soda and the arrowroot flour, mixing everything together.
5. Add in the essential oils and then combine all of the ingredients.
6. Pour the mixture into a mason jar. The deodorant will solidify as it cools.
7. For application, scoop a small amount of the deodorant from the jar, rub between your fingers, and apply to your armpits as needed.

Rosewater Spray Deodorant

This easy-to-make spray combines a few simple ingredients that allow the body to breathe while still providing great control against odor.

Ingredients 

• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt or sea salt
• 6 drops lime essential oil
• 1 drops geranium essential oil
• 2 tablespoons rosewater
• 2 tablespoons grain alcohol, such as Everclear or high-proof vodka
• 4 tablespoons pure witch hazel

Steps

1. Add the salt and essential oils into a reusable glass spray bottle and shake to combine.
2. Using a funnel, add the alcohol, witch hazel, and rosewater. Add the cap and shake again, combining all of the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Spray the deodorant onto clean armpits and give it a minute or so to dry before putting on clothes.

Store this homemade deodorant in a cool, dry place. The spray will last about six months.

Coconut Oil and Sage Deodorant

This DIY, baking soda-free deodorant recipe is packed with natural ingredients that are moisturizing and nourishing and work for even the most sensitive skin.

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon shea butter
• 5 drops vitamin E oil
• 8 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 3 drops sage essential oil

Steps

1. Place a double boiler, with water in the bottom bowl, over medium heat. Add the coconut oil and shea butter to the top pot and carefully melt, stirring occasionally.
2. Once your ingredients are completely melted, remove the mixture from the heat to cool.
3. Pour in the essential oils and vitamin E oil, mix well, and carefully transfer to a reusable glass jar. You can also use a recyclable deodorant container.
4. The deodorant will solidify as it cools and can be applied as needed.

Cocoa Butter and Candelilla Wax Deodorant

Olive oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil all offer moisturizing qualities for the skin. Arrowroot powder can help reduce wetness, while the amount of baking soda in the recipe is enough to avoid irritation while still providing odor-fighting elements.

You can choose to make a custom blend of essential oils, depending on your preference. Tea tree oil blends seamlessly with most other scents, while also helping control odor, so consider keeping this ingredient even if you play with adding others.

Although many deodorant recipes use beeswax, candelilla wax is a great substitute as it stays much firmer than beeswax, ensuring that the deodorant glides on more easily.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoon candelilla wax
• 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
• 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup arrowroot powder
• 2 tablespoon baking soda
• 60 drops essential oils of choice
• 6 drops tea tree essential oil

Steps

1. Make or set up a double boiler and heat the water in the bottom section to a low boil.
2. Put the candelilla wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and olive oil in the top section of the double boiler and carefully melt over medium heat until everything is completely melted and blended.
3. Add the arrowroot powder and baking soda and mix well.
4. Remove the pot from heat, add in the essential oils, and stir together.
5. Pour the mixture into recyclable deodorant containers and place them in the refrigerator to cool.
6. Store your deodorant at room temperature and apply as needed.

Refreshing Lemongrass Deodorant Spray

This fresh deodorant spray combines the powerful properties of apple cider vinegar with essential oils. The spray kills bacteria and deodorizes, leaving you smelling fresh and clean throughout the day.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or witch hazel
• 1/4 cup distilled or spring water
• 30 drops lemongrass or lemon essential oil
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil

Steps

1. Fill a 4-ounce glass spray bottle with apple cider vinegar or witch hazel.
2. Add your essential oils and fill the bottle the rest of the way with distilled water.
3. Shake well and spray on clean armpits.
4. Stored in a cool, dry place, the spray will last for over a year.