When I first began delving into making herbal bath and beauty products myself many years ago, it all started with homemade herbal deodorant. It’s the perfect beginner recipe for DIY beauty products, mainly because it’s simple to make, but also because it’s good for your health. The best part is that this homemade deodorant recipe really works!
Why Make Your Own Deodorant?
But why make your own deodorant you ask? Because regular store bought deodorant is full of ingredients that are very questionable to say the least. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list? I suggest checking it out and you’ll see what I mean.
I know you’re not eating the stuff, but all those chemicals do get into your body through your skin. There have also been studies that show that aluminum in antiperspirants may cause breast cancer. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to mess around with that.
What Goes in Homemade Deodorant?
The first homemade deodorant I made is the most common one you’ll find on the internet, with coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot or cornstarch, and essential oils. It works ok, but needs to be put into a jar and applied with your fingertips as it’s too soft for a normal deodorant container.
The bummer about it is when it’s hot out it turns almost to a complete liquid, with the baking soda and arrowroot/cornstarch settling at the bottom.
That’s where this recipe is different, as it adds beeswax and shea butter to make the whole thing a thicker consistency so that it will hold up in an actual deodorant container or in a half circle mold, making for much easier application.
Beeswax is beneficial in homemade deodorant recipes because it’s naturally antiseptic, antibacterial, emollient, and hydrating to the skin. Vegans can try using carnauba wax in place of the beeswax to get the same results, but less will be needed as it’s a harder wax.
Arrowroot powder and baking soda are added for their natural deodorizing effect. If you are sensitive to baking soda in your deodorant it can be omitted, just replace with more arrowroot powder.
Essential oils make the deodorant smell good while also adding some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
I like to use an herbal infused blend of coconut oil and sweet almond oil for this deodorant recipe. Coconut oil is antimicrobial and antifungal, and sweet almond oil is light and absorbs easily into the skin, so there is minimal oil residue left after applying.
Herbs to Use for Homemade Deodorant
Lavender and sage are excellent for making herbal deodorant. Lavender is often used in skin care products due to germ fighting benefits and its pleasing scent. Sage is amazing in that it has some natural antiperspirant properties.
There are many other herbs you could choose depending on your preferences. Some good options are rosemary, mint, calendula, oregano, marshmallow root, yarrow, rose, chamomile, and lemon balm.
My favorite place to get high quality, organic dried herbs is Mountain Rose Herbs.
Homemade Deodorant Recipe with Lavender and Sage
The first step in this recipe is to make an infused herbal oil with lavender and sage, or any other herbs of your choice.
For the Infused Herbal Oil
Fill a half pint canning jar about ⅔ full of dried lavender and sage leaf. Melt ¼ cup of coconut oil in a saucepan on the stove over low heat, then pour over the dried herbs. Then add sweet almond oil to fill the jar.
Cover the jar and put in a cool and dark place to infuse for 2-6 weeks (the longer the better). Strain out the herbal material with a fine mesh sieve when ready to use.
For the Deodorant
Ingredients
- ½ cup herb infused oil (see above)
- 2 ounces beeswax
- 1 ounce shea butter
- 20-30 drops essential oils of your choice (I like to use 10 drops each of lavender, sage, and sweet orange)
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda (optional, replace with more arrowroot if you omit)
Instructions
- Put the infused oil and beeswax into the top container of a double boiler, and stir as the beeswax melts. (Tip: you can make a double boiler with a smaller pot, bowl, or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over an inch or so of simmering water. If you use glass Pyrex, put something in the bottom of the pot that it can rest on, such as a canning jar lid).
- Once the beeswax has completely melted, add the shea butter and stir until it dissolves.
- Remove the mixture from the double boiler and stir in the essential oils, then stir in the arrowroot powder and baking soda. Keep stirring for a minute or two to thoroughly combine. The mixture will begin to thicken slightly.
- Pour the mixture into empty deodorant containers or half circle molds. Let the deodorant set up for a few hours before using.
This recipe makes about 8 ounces of deodorant in total.
This is what it looks like when everything is stirred together right before pouring it into the deodorant container or mold. It has thickened slightly, but is still pourable.
I really like using the half circle mold for homemade deodorant. (You could also use these molds for making lotion bars.) I keep the finished deodorant in a large tin and it works perfectly!
It’s really amazing how well this herbal deodorant works! I really suggest you give it a try, even if you’ve had trouble with homemade deodorants in the past. The lavender and sage combination are highly effective and smell very nice.
This is absolutely my favorite recipe for deodorant, and I’m so happy to be ditching the store bought stuff for good!
Homemade Deodorant with Sage and Lavender
Equipment
Ingredients
Infused Herbal Oil
- 1/3 cup sage leaves
- 1/3 cup dried lavender
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2/3 cup sweet almond oil (approximately)
Homemade Deodorant
- 1/2 cup infused herbal oil
- 2 ounces beeswax
- 1 ounce shea butter
- 20-30 drops essential oil I like to use 10 drops each of lavender, sage, and sweet orange
- 2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda optional or substitute with more arrowroot powder
Instructions
Infused Herbal Oil
- Place the herbs in a half pint mason jar.
- Melt the coconut oil over low heat.
- Add the coconut oil to the jar of herbs and then fill the jar the rest of the way with sweet almond oil.
- Cover the jar and put in a cool and dark place to infuse for 2-6 weeks (the longer the better).
- Strain out the herbal material with a fine mesh sieve when ready to use.
Homemade Deodorant
- Put the infused oil and beeswax into the top container of a double boiler, and stir as the beeswax melts.
- Once the beeswax has completely melted, add the shea butter and stir until it dissolves.
- Remove the mixture from the double boiler and stir in the essential oils, then stir in the arrowroot powder and baking soda. Keep stirring for a minute or two to thoroughly combine. The mixture will begin to thicken slightly.
- Pour the mixture into empty deodorant containers or half circle molds. Let the deodorant set up for a few hours before using.
Notes
Hi, can’t wait to try this! Could you please tell me what would be better to use white or yellow beeswax? Thanks
I have a question, do I have to fill the whole mason jar with sweet almond oil since it is a lot of herbs I feel or is it enough with the 2/3? Because when I added the 2/3 it seemed to little for me because the herbs sucked the whole sweet almond oil, I’m not sure if it’s supposed to look like there’s a lot of oil or not
any problem with the beeswax clogging pores, the way commercial antiperspirants work?
Hello!
Could clay also be used?
Hey do you think I can replace the coconut oil with grapeseed oil? Coconut oil gets hard!
Also did you use any food colorant?
What good combinations in essential oils and infused oils work well for men? My husband has sensitive skin and all the other homemade recipes were a flop. This recipe seems like a winner.
Unfortunately can’t find arrowroot where i come from. Can i replace it with something else? Thank you.
Cornstarch
Tapioca flour(tapioca starch) can be substituted for arrowroot.and yes cornstarch.
Love this recipe, thank you for posting it. It’s the first deodorant that I have made that actually last all day, doesn’t stain my shirts, or turn my armpits a dark color. This will be my go to recipe from now on!
Hi, did you do the infusion or just add the essential oils? I wonder if this will work as well without doing the infusion
Could you substitute cocoa butter for the shea butter? My skin doesn’t seem to like shea butter.
Yes Cocoa butter can be used.
What about its shelf life?
I have tried making your dandelion salve several times, with great success! I’m interested in trying this recipe too. But how long does the deodorant work? Do you have to reapply during the day?
I have two 1/2 rounds used for making bath balms.. could I use these for the deodorant molds, if so, should I grease them 1st? thanks,
Hi Bonnie, yes those would probably work. I don’t usually grease them as the deodorants come out easily, but you could try it just to be sure!
Hey, this recipe sounds amazing and I am super excited to try it. I do have a question though, do you use a certain type or kind of Shea butter? Such as refined or unrefined? Thank you!
I prefer organic refined as it doesn’t impart any scent.
Great idea as my long-time favorite store-bought deodorant is suddenly unavailable. I’ve always used unscented as I don’t want to broadcast scent, and I’m wondering how much I could cut back on the essential oils without losing anti-microbial effectiveness. Or, is this actually an issue — other people being able to smell it. Thanks!
You can definitely cut down or even leave out the essential oils if you’d like. The lavender and sage in the infused oil will give it a lot of antimicrobial and antiperspirant properties on their own!
I went ahead and made it according to instructions. It smells wonderful and doesn’t “broadcast” at all. Best of it, it works!!!
Collen,
Thank you for this great post. I never cease to be amazed at the wonderful things I can do with my beeswax.
This sounds so easy! Please share what containers you’ve found to stir the finished deodorant in. I’m thinking of gifting them! Thank you!
They make great gifts! They are the 4oz tins from Mountain Rose Herbs.
This recipe sounds lovely. I’ve been using simple aloe for about a year now. I discovered by accident that it works as a deodorant. I had an inflamed pore in one of my armpits so stopped using regular deodorant and rubbed on aloe after my showers in an attempt to calm the red and sore blocked pore. After a few days I realized that the aloe inhibits odor. I tried going without it but that will never work for me. Having something that smells nice under my arms would be nice though so may try your recipe. What if you just add more essential oil instead of infusing with dry herbs?
You could try that, but I’m always a fan of using whole herbs whenever possible!
I cannot wait to try this. Been looking for a good recipe. Thank you so much for posting.
Hi i can not use coconut oil or almond oil due to allergies has anyone made this with other oils? Like grape seed or olive oil? Thanks
Any carrier oil that you prefer will work!
I have developed an allergy to sage (what the heck!) have you tried any other herb with the lavendar? Rosemary maybe? Or Basal? I could maybe use an oil if I am not growing the herb?
Instead of baking soda try food grade diatinatious earth, you wont have to reapply so often. Also activated charcoal is an option too. :)
Food grade Diatomaceous Earth can be an irritant as it is very sharp and cuts my fingers when I apply it barehanded on my cat for flea control. Thank you for this recipe!
Adding more beeswax should fix both issues!
Hello. Great ideas here very inspired to do this. I was wondering with the half rounds how you apply? Do you take them out and apply like a bar of soap in hand? Could be a stupid question. Thanks in advance.
Same question from me too :)
Yes, to apply using the half rounds simply take it out of the tin and rub the rounded side on your pits. It’s as simple as that :)
Many thanks Colleen! Will certainly try this one…
Hi, I’ve been making my own deodorant for some time now with a very similar recipe. To make it harder in a warmer climate I exchange some of the coconut oil with cocoa butter – it smells heavenly and keeps the deodorant pretty solid even when it gets warmer.
I am seriously thinking of doing this but does it stain or leave a residue on your shirts? Does it wash out well? Thanks alot in advance.
T
I have never had a problem with it staining my clothes. Try it, I think you’ll like it :)
Thanks alot. I will.
That’s definitely the case for me with the non-beeswax version, but I feel like the beeswax one works much better and lasts longer. Maybe add more drops of essential oils? I love Wild Orange oil, sometimes when I don’t have the homemade deodorant made I just rub the Orange oil in my pits and it’s wonderful!
You know, your sister’s technique is just not to sweat….ever…! :)
Ha! Yeah, how does she get away with that???
cool!
How bout some honey? A natural antimicrobial, antifungal etc…
That’s what the beeswax is for… honey might be a little too sticky!
amazing! I did not know you could do this!
I know, it’s pretty cool, huh? Glad you like it!