I have always loved making things myself. Food, crafts, clothing, cleaners, beauty products…you name it, I’ve probably tried making it before!
Most of the time you can make things cheaper and healthier by making them yourself. I’ve always enjoyed making things by hand simply because of the satisfaction that it gave me. Now as a wife and mom, I also love making things from scratch so that I can live naturally while staying on a budget.
Because of my obsession with making everything I can think of from scratch, I’ve decided to do a weekly feature called, Make-It Yourself Mondays. Each week I will show you how I make something from scratch. Weekly topics will range from food staples to beauty products and lots of items in between.
Every Monday there will also be an opportunity for you to show off things that you have made. Link up your posts below to show us an awesome handmade project that you have done as well!
Homemade Natural, Moisturizing Deodorant
To kick off the first, Make-It Yourself Monday, I’m sharing my recipe for an all-natural, aluminum free deodorant that really works. Homemade deodorant is one of my favorite “make-it yourself” items, because of how easy and healthy it is.
Most commercial deodorants contain aluminum among other questionable ingredients that are not good for you or your skin. So why not try to make your own with natural, nourishing ingredients?
A quick google search will show you that there are tons of recipes out there for homemade deodorants. I’ve probably tried most of them! With most of the recipes I’ve tried, there were things that I liked and things that I didn’t like. After some trial and error trying to come up with my own version, I finally found the right formula for my perfect homemade deodorant.
I LOVE everything about it. It’s smooth, moisturizing, and it smells amazing. For me personally, it actually works better than any store bought deodorant (natural or not) I’ve ever used. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Homemade Moisturizing Deodorant
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. coconut oil (1/4 cup)
- 1 oz. grated beeswax (see note)
- 1 oz. shea butter (2 tbsp)
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 20 drops tea tree oil
- 20 drops essential oil of choice (for scent)
Method:
- Combine coconut oil and beeswax in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until almost completely melted.
- Add shea butter to the saucepan and stir until everything is completely melted.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in the baking soda, arrowroot powder, and essential oils with a fork or a small whisk.
- Once everything is completely combined and the mixture is smooth, pour into your container(s) and let harden.
Notes:
- I recommend using a scale to measure out your beeswax by weight. The volume measurements will vary depending on the type of beeswax you are using. If you are using the small pellets that you can buy, the approximate measurement will be 2 1/2 tbsp. If you grate the beeswax yourself, the approximate measurement will be 1/2 cup.
- For the containers, I just use old deodorant containers. Twist it down until the bottom piece is completely at the bottom, and then fill to the very top with the deodorant while it is still liquid.
- This recipe makes enough for 2 average size deodorant containers (2.6 oz. – 3.0 oz.)
- At room temperature this deodorant is solid, but goes on very smoothly. It is wonderful! If it gets too warm and your deodorant starts to get too soft or melts, just pop it in the fridge. I’ve never had to store mine there, and the average temperature in our house is around 72o.
- Don’t twist the deodorant up more than necessary when applying. Whatever is twisted up is what will go on, so only twist up the amount that you need.
Share Your Make-It Yourself Monday Post
Now it’s your turn. I would love to see a Make-It Yourself project that you’ve done. A recipe for something that you usually buy, a fun craft, a decorating project…the list could go on and on! Show us what you’ve got!
These are the two easy guidelines for participation:
1. Link up to a post on your blog featuring a Make-It Yourself (or DIY) project. Please link directly to the post and not to your home url.
2. Please link your posts back to this blog. This is a common blog hop courtesy and will help your readers find more awesome Make-It Yourself projects. Thank you for spreading the word!
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Are you going to make the picture there into a button? I’d love to add it!
Great recipe! I’ve made my own deodorant before, just using the coconut oil, baking soda and arrowroot. It worked fine and I like it, but it melted too easily (I think the beeswax would fix that problem). The main problem was just that I seem to be too sensitive to the baking soda, made my underarms break out :S
I might try it again, this time with your recipe and less baking soda. It’s so annoying to me that I’m fine with chemically antiperspirants but a homemade all natural deodorant makes me break out!
What a great idea! I’ve never tried making my own deodorant, but to be honest, I rarely use it. Shhh! Don’t tell anybody!
Nice linkup idea! I’m sharing a lot. I’ll have to try your deodorant. My version (straight baking soda) is easier but doesn’t photograph as well
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Thanks for coming by Renaissance Mama and thanks for hosting! I actually bought two deodorant containers last night to try making my own! I linked up my post on how to make your own All Natural Soda Alternative!
Mindy, this ROCKS!!!
I’m totally pinning this so it can go viral. 
I used a recipe that is very similar to this (almost exactly the same, actually) and I love it! I’ve also noticed that it is lasting much longer than store bought deodorant.
This is awesome! Exactly what I was hoping for today’s Wildcrafting Wednesday blog hop! Would you mind linking up?
Thanks!
~ Kathy @ Mind Body and Sole
Hi! thanks for the deodorant recipe…have you had any problems with residue on your clothes causing stains? just wondering with all the emollients.
Thanks again!
julie
I have noticed that on my white tank tops there has been some discoloring in the armpits. They aren’t grease stains, but just slightly yellow from the beeswax and shea butter. I haven’t noticed anything on any of my colored clothing though. If you use white (bleached) beeswax and shea butter than I don’t think you would have a problem.
Thanks!! I can’t wait to try it!
Where would I be able to purchase shea butter and beeswax?
Mountain Rose Herbs is a great place to purchase these items from if you can’t find them at your local health food store.
Very Cool!I make most of my cleaners, but mostly for the frugal side of it. I do love the health factor though! I’m curious, what would you guess it costs you to make a batch (2 sticks)?
Katie, I’m not sure exactly how much it cost me, but I know that it is cheaper than buying it. It really depends on your sources for supplies how much it would cost you. Let me know if you try it!
Ooh – so glad I ran into you. I live in the wilderness and making things from scratch is a must. The more things I can make the better. Thanks
This is an awesome idea! I need to gather the supplies!
Any idea what ingredient in this could cause a reaction? My mom used this recipe and immediate started having tender, swollen armpits that broke out and peeled. My sister, it started after about 2 weeks of using, and for me, it happened after over a month of using it! I can’t figure out why since I use each of these ingredients in other skin care products with no problem. =(
Brittany, some people with sensitive skin can have reaction to the baking soda in homemade deodorants. This recipe has less baking soda than most homemade recipes, but if you’re still having a problem with it you might try this recipe from Crunchy Betty. It doesn’t have any baking soda in it so that might solve your problem