DIY All-Natural, Sensitive Skin Essential Oil Deodorant Recipe

DIY All-Natural, Sensitive Skin Essential Oil Deodorant Recipe

• 3.10.2015

At long last! As I mentioned in this post, this is a project I've been thinking about for a long time. Well, I've finally figured out my homemade deodorant recipe, a combination of lots of versions I studied. It took some trouble-shooting! I melted it down twice and added more ingredients to get a better mix. The first batch was too solid so I couldn't get enough on; the second batch was a little better but still not enough scent from the essential oils, and I was trying it without any baking soda so the odor-fighting properties were not strong enough!! ;) Now I feel good about this combination.

I think there are really thousands of combinations for effective homemade all natural deodorant, but I was always stumped by the confusing ingredients I didn't have on hand and the tons of variations out there. How could I know what was best??! So I've read a LOT of recipes, revisited many of them the several times I've made DIY deodorant, tried variations... and they were all a great foundation for my own variation. I was particularly helped and inspired by these:

• Wellness Mama Deodorant Bar Recipe (she knows her stuff about natural, DIY bodycare)
• The mix of oils in Bonzai Aphrodite's homemade stick deodorant
• The purpose of each key ingredient in Rural Spin's effective homemade deodorant post

I switched to all natural deodorant a while ago now because I don't want to use harsh chemicals on an area as sensitive as my underarms, but in one of my attempts my natural stuff was actually a little harsh, too, because of the several tablespoons of baking soda. I wanted to try a baking soda-free DIY deodorant recipe, but that didn't work out. But this one has worked well (after several attempts) thanks to the moisturizing oils and shea butter, as well as the aloe, and very small amount of baking soda.

Another barrier to my making my own deodorant regularly was I twice had to borrow my friend's homemade lotion/body product pan to melt things. I finally realized I needed to get my own, so I bought a teeny tiny saucepan at Goodwill exclusively for this use for $1.50. It even has a small pour spout.

DIY All-Natural, Sensitive Skin Essential Oil Deodorant Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c. coconut oil
• 1/4 c. shea butter
• 1/4 c. beeswax pellets
• 1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
• 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
• 1/2 c. arrowroot powder
• 1 tbsp baking soda (way less than most DIY deodorant recipes so less irritating, but I found it necessary for odor reducing!)
• 20 drops of antibacterial essential oil (tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus) 
• 20 drops of antifungal essential oil (tea tree, peppermint, sandalwood, or eucalyptus)

Instructions:

1. Melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a small saucepan with the glycerin and aloe vera gel.
2. In a separate container, mix together the arrowroot powder and baking soda and break up any chunks in the baking soda.
3. Combine the oil mixture, powder mixture, and essential oils in the saucepan. Pour into silicon baking cups or jar, although with this texture the solid stick form works a lot better. Or, wait till the mixture is cooler and thick like peanut butter, and push into an old deodorant stick.

I've found the cupcake shape bars work great! I get some deodorant on my fingers from grabbing it, but I just rub it into my hands--it has a lot of the same ingredients as a hand salve, really.

It looks nice in the jar but I melted it out during my first recipe re-do, and it was too solid to get out, anyway. If you want to use a jar version, use about half as much arrowroot powder and it will be softer.

I haven't had any problems with irritation using this stuff! And now that I've tried and tested three versions, it really works!