Homemade Deodorant Recipe {Aluminum Free} (2024)

By Stacy Williams

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If you’re tired of using deodorant that is full of toxins, this homemade deodorant recipe is just what you need. This all-natural DIY aluminum free deodorant recipe works amazingly, smells great and comes together in just a few minutes.

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Deodorant is one of those things that no one should be without. After all, no one wants to be the girl (or guy) no one wants to be around because of smelly pits, right? For me, deodorants are something I’m quite picky about.

I don’t like store bought deodorant because I hate not knowing exactly what I’m putting on my body so when we started going greener and living more simply a few years back, I moved to learning how to make this homemade deodorant instead.

fact, this lavender scented homemade deodorant was the very first thing I made homemade when I started working on this list of things to make homemade to save money back in 2015 and I’m still making it today!

How to Make A Homemade Deodorant Recipe with Aluminum

I’ve tried a lot of homemade deodorant recipes over the last few years, but none of them were able to handle what a Texas summer can throw at it.

It ain’t pretty when the heat index outside is 112° F and you’re sitting on the side of a lake and your deodorant fails.

This homemade deodorant recipe though works incredibly well in those kinds of heats while being gentle at the same time. In fact, it’s gentle enough that both of my girls wear it as well.

That was exactly what I was looking for when I began making it; a homemade deodorant that would hold up under even the hottest Texas sun, but gentle enough not to irritate my skin.

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What Ingredients Are in DIY Deodorant?

Part of the reason this lavender scented homemade deodorant works so well is because the ingredients are perfect to make a homemade deodorant with.

Beeswax is known for its skin softening qualities and in this recipe; also holds things together to form a sort of “gel.” The shea butter and coconut oilnot only help moisturize dry skin, but combined they also help your homemade deodorant to glide or spread easily.

Corn starch and baking soda not only help to get rid of any odor, but they also help to absorb moisture from sweat.

Is there aluminum in baking soda?

I am not sure where this rumor began, but there is no aluminum in baking soda. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate does not contain aluminum at all.

If you are interested, this site explains it better and in a bit more detail.

In any case, this particular homemade deodorant recipe is an aluminum free deodorant so those who are sensitive or try to avoid it can rest easy when using it.

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What essential oils are in homemade deodorant?

As this deodorant is an all natural deodorant, it does contain essential oils. These oils help to boost the power of the deodorant and add their own benefits to the mixture.

Tea tree essential oil is antimicrobial so it makes sense to use it in a homemade deodorant. Odor is caused by bacteria on the skin so using an antimicrobial product can help to kill bacteria that help create odor.

Lavender essential oilis antibacterial as well which gives your tea tree oil a bit of a boost and also helps your finished product smell fresh, clean and soft. The two essential oils together create a very powerful combo for your homemade deodorant recipe.

Vitamin E Oil is used not only for its skin softening properties – seriously, try my homemade dry skin lotion recipe (Six Dollar Family) that uses it as a main ingredient! – , but also because it has a preservative effect on homemade beauty recipes. This preservative effect helps to give not just this homemade deodorant recipe, but all your DIY beauty products a longer shelf life if they are properly stored.

What Other Scents Can I Make This Deodorant With?

The batch in this post was done with a lavender scent, but you do not have to use lavender. If you’re not fond of the scent of lavender, feel free to experiment with other essential oils for scent.

For women, rose essential oil, geranium essential oilor or even peppermint essential oilare all fantastic options.

I also especially like using the Clean and Fresh essential oil blend from Simply Earth.

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You will need:

Homemade Deodorant Recipe {Aluminum Free} (5)

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Homemade Deodorant Recipe

If you're tired of using deodorant that is full of toxins, this homemade deodorant recipe is just what you need. This all-natural DIY aluminum free deodorant recipe works amazingly, smells great and comes together in just a few minutes.

Course DIY Beauty

Cuisine Essential Oil Recipes

Keyword Beauty, Lavender Oil

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings 1 container

Author Stacy Williams

Cost $1.00

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the coconut oil, beeswax pellets, and shea butter into a medium saucepan and melt it slowly over low heat stirring often.

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  • After the mixture has melted, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the baking soda and corn starch using a wire whisk

    Homemade Deodorant Recipe {Aluminum Free} (7)

  • Allow the mixture to cool slightly, but no so long it thickens too much. Add the essential oils and stir to combine. Pour into empty deodorant containers and allow it to sit for 8 hours or until it is fully hardened.

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Notes

  • The beeswax pellets will melt slower than the other ingredients. Be sure to watch the mixture carefully and stir often so it does not burn.
  • As with any recipe containing cornstarch, it will thicken as it begins to cool. While you do need to allow it to cool before adding the essential oils, do not allow it to cool enough to thicken. Doing so will make pouring impossible.
  • For best results, use within 90 days and store in the fridge for long lasting shelf life. Bring to room temperature before using, however, please note that coconut oil begins to melt at around 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Homemade Deodorant Recipe {Aluminum Free} (2024)

FAQs

How to make aluminum free deodorant? ›

Instructions:
  1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot.
  2. Mash in coconut oil until blended. Add essential oils, if desired.
  3. Place the mixture in an empty glass jar.
  4. To use, just warm a small amount between your fingers until it turns into liquid. Apply to your armpits.

What is 2 ingredient DIY deodorant? ›

It's only two ingredients that are found in your kitchen: coconut oil and baking soda.

Is there a natural deodorant that actually works? ›

For Staying Dry: Glossier Deodorant

Why We Love It: The first deodorant from beauty powerhouse, Glossier, is refillable and aluminum-free. Available in four scents, the formula uses a blend of naturally sourced ingredients to keep you dry and odor-free.

Why do my armpits still smell with aluminum-free deodorant? ›

It is the bacteria that grows on the sweat that causes this odor – sounds gross right? Therefore, when you remove aluminum, your body will release what has been blocked which causes this brief time period of body odor. It's known as a detox when switching to a natural deodorant.

Can deodorant be made without aluminum? ›

Once found mostly in specialty stores alongside organic and plant-based products, aluminum-free deodorants (commonly called natural deodorants) have made their way into mainstream retail stores and online shopping sites.

What is the most important ingredient in deodorant? ›

Aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirkonium tetrachlorohydrate glycine complex are the most frequently used active ingredients in commercial antitranspirants today. Aluminium chloride and propantheline bromide, the anticholinergic substance, are important alternatives although less common.

Is it cheaper to make your own deodorant? ›

First of all, you will save a lot of money in the long run. Mixing together a little cornstarch, baking soda and coconut oil is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a $3 stick of deodorant. And natural brands can cost as much as $23! By making your own, you get a $23 all-natural deodorant for almost nothing.

What does arrowroot powder do in deodorant? ›

Arrowroot functions as a thickening agent and absorbent in natural deodorants. To create your own gentle, non-toxic deodorant, gently heat 6 tbsp. of Coconut or Babassu Carrier Oil (both great choices for their antibacterial properties) along with 4 tbsp.

Does coconut oil work as deodorant? ›

The antibacterial properties of coconut oil are effective against odor-causing bacteria. This helps keep the underarms smelling fresh naturally. Coconut oil in natural deodorants doesn't block pores. It allows the skin to breathe and perspire naturally.

What happens to your body when you start using natural deodorant? ›

By the third week, the body odor will start to die down but you may notice more sweating than usual. This is your body doing a final sweat purge. You're almost at the finish line! Around week 4, your underarms are sweating less and smelling better.

How can I make my armpits smell good without deodorant? ›

Check out these “forgot deodorant” hacks:
  1. Hand Sanitizer. Yes, you can totally use hand sanitizer as deodorant – and best of all, it's easy enough to find. ...
  2. Alcohol Swabs or Wipes. ...
  3. Antibacterial Hand Wipes. ...
  4. Hand Soap & Water. ...
  5. Witch Hazel. ...
  6. Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
  7. Lemon Juice. ...
  8. Baking Soda & Cornstarch.

What is aluminum-free deodorant made of? ›

Even further, some products work as both deodorants and antiperspirants. Some antiperspirants are made without aluminum, instead incorporating alternatives like corn starch, arrowroot powder, talc, and baking soda to absorb moisture.

What happens when you start using aluminum-free deodorant? ›

Your body odor is probably going to smell different, and potentially stronger, than what you're used to. That's because your body is simultaneously purging its sweat glands and recalibrating the balance of microscopic organisms that live on your skin. It's establishing a new normal.

How do I transition to non aluminum deodorant? ›

Tips for getting through the transition period:
  1. Choose a cooler, less humid time of year. Fall, winter, and spring are all good times to switch to an aluminum-free deodorant!
  2. Keep it clean. ...
  3. Exfoliate. ...
  4. Wear natural fibers. ...
  5. Drink water. ...
  6. Apply more than once. ...
  7. Give it time.

Are aluminum-free deodorants actually aluminum-free? ›

Deodorant brands that label their packaging as "natural," "aluminum-free," or "clean," have done away with the inclusion of aluminum altogether. In its place, such brands are opting to mask body odor with fresh scents or natural products like apple cider vinegar, sage or coconut oil.

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