This is a super simple deodorant recipe with just two required ingredients and one optional ingredient.
I’m not an experienced DIY-er, so I like EASY homemade recipes, and this low waste deodorant definitely passes the test for easy with a few ingredients I already had on hand and just five steps (with one of the steps being putting the mixture into a container).
Alright, let’s get to this low waste easy homemade deodorant adapted from this video!
Ingredients: (affiliate links are marked with asterisks)
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil*
- 3/4 cup of baking soda*, which is aluminum-free (if baking soda irritates your skin, arrowroot powder is also commonly cited as a good alternative)
- OPTIONAL: 10+ drops of an antibacterial essential oil like tea tree or lemongrass (I used lavender, which has also been shown to exhibit antibacterial properties)
Supplies:
- Bowl
- Measurement tools
- Spoon
- Jar/container for deodorant (I used an old parmesan container from my parent’s house so feel free to get creative!)
How to Make Homemade Deodorant
- Melt the 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- Add in the 3/4 cup of baking soda and stir
- Add in drops of essential oil
- Put the mixture into containers and then place in the fridge for 30 minutes (or until it’s solid)
1. Melt coconut oil
The first step is to measure out 1/2 cup of coconut oil* and then melt it until it’s liquified. This can be done on the stovetop or in your microwave if you’re tight on time. Coconut oil liquefies pretty quickly! Not sure if you should get virgin or refined coconut oil? Virgin is probably your best bet as it does not go through all the same stages of processing that refined coconut oil goes through, and therefore, retains its nutrients and antioxidants.
2. Add in baking soda and stir
The next step is to add in the 3/4 cup of baking soda. Baking soda is great at absorbing moisture and killing bacteria. I used to rely on it heavily for absorbing sweat in my ballet shoes when I used to dance!
A big reason for switching to homemade natural deodorant is to avoid toxic chemicals and aluminum found in conventional deodorants. Thankfully, baking soda is virtually always aluminum-free (baking powder sometimes contains aluminum which is where some of the confusion has been in the past).
If baking soda irritates your skin, arrowroot powder or non-GMO corn starch could be options to try out, though I haven’t tried those out myself.
3. Add in drops of essential oil
This is an optional step! If you’d like, add in some drops of essential oil for a scented deodorant. Some antibacterial essential oils are tea tree, eucalyptus, bergamot, and lemongrass. I used lavender since that’s what I had on hand and this recipe was all about reducing waste.
Essential oils are resource-intensive to produce, so I try to use them sparingly. Putting in 10 drops was more than enough for me for this entire deodorant. Next time, I may even use less drops.
4. Put the mixture into container and place in the fridge
Once you’ve got everything mixed together, put it into a container and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until it solidifies. If you have a glass jar, you can put the mixture directly into the jar and into the fridge. If you only have a plastic container like me, you can put the hot mixture into a bowl and place that bowl into the fridge before putting the mixture into your container.
I got really resourceful here with the containers, using an old parmesan container. Not ideal, but this was all about reducing waste and also not going out taking a trip to buy something new or have yet another delivery amid the pandemic going on.
I scooped the deodorant into a smaller container for daily use since the deodorant would be pretty tough to get to in this container!
And that’s it! Congrats, you’ve made yourself a homemade deodorant! This is a beginner DIY and you can certainly customize this recipe as needed, but I hope it helped you get started.
How to Store Your DIY Deodorant
The melting point of coconut oil is 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if the temperature in your space is above that or even slightly below (24C / 75F), I recommend storing your deodorant in the fridge to keep it solid!
If your space is pretty cool, the deodorant should be fine to store in your bedroom or bathroom. However, it’s best to keep the deodorant in a drawer or cabinet in your bathroom to ensure it stays as cool as possible!
You May Also Want to Check Out:
Easy Vegan Homemade Lotion Recipe without Beeswax
