Have you ever thought about how many plastic containers you discard each year just from personal hygiene products? Deodorant is a major contributor to this list: aerosol cans, plastic jars, roll-ons with multiple components — most of which are rarely recycled properly. It’s not just the disposal that’s concerning: many conventional deodorants contain ingredients like aluminum, parabens, and synthetic fragrances that raise legitimate concerns about health and environmental impact.
The good news is that there is a simple, economical, and effective alternative: DIY natural deodorant. With just a few ingredients, most of which can be easily found in pharmacies or natural product stores, you can create a formula that really works — without harming your skin, without generating unnecessary waste, and with a much smaller environmental impact than any industrial product.
In this article, you will learn how to make your own deodorant at home, understand why this choice makes a difference for the planet, and discover recipe variations for different skin types. Shall we?
Why Switch from Conventional to Natural Deodorant?
Before getting started, it’s worth understanding what’s at stake. The cosmetics industry generates a significant amount of plastic waste globally. Personal hygiene product packaging — including deodorants — represents a substantial portion of the single-use plastic discarded annually worldwide, much of which ends up in landfills or, worse, in the natural environment.
Besides plastic, conventional aerosols use propellant gases. Although CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) have been banned by the Montreal Protocol, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrocarbons still used in aerosols are greenhouse gases with significant global warming potential — a point recognized by the IPCC in its climate assessment reports.
From a health perspective, science still debates some ingredients present in antiperspirants, especially aluminum salts. What we know for sure is that natural deodorant does not block perspiration — it works by reducing the odor caused by bacteria that proliferate in the moist environment of the armpit. And this, for most people in most situations, is more than enough.
Understanding How Body Odor Forms
To create an effective deodorant, it’s useful to understand the mechanism behind odor. Contrary to popular belief, sweat itself has no smell. The unpleasant odor arises when bacteria naturally present on the skin break down proteins and lipids in apocrine sweat — glands concentrated in the armpits and groin.
An effective natural deodorant needs to do the following:
- Create an unfavorable environment for bacteria (alkaline pH or antimicrobial properties)
- Absorb moisture to reduce the environment conducive to bacterial proliferation
- Neutralize already formed odors
- Emit a pleasant aroma, when desired
The ingredients we’ll see below were chosen specifically to fulfill each of these functions.
Essential Ingredients for DIY Natural Deodorant
The basic formula combines a few components, each with a clear role:
Ingredient Main Function Note Baking soda Neutralizes odors; creates an alkaline pH unfavorable to bacteria May irritate sensitive skin — reduce the amount if necessary Cornstarch or arrowroot Absorbs moisture Arrowroot is gentler on sensitive skin Shea butter or coconut oil Emollient base; moisturizes the skin Shea butter has a smoother texture in warm climates Virgin coconut oil Natural antimicrobial properties Solidifies at temperatures below ~24°C Lavender or tea tree essential oil Additional antimicrobial action and aroma Use only pure essential oils, not synthetic fragrances Carnauba or beeswax (optional) Adjusts the consistency of the final product Carnauba wax is vegan; both are natural Important: essential oils are active and concentrated substances. Follow recommended dosages and avoid applying to freshly shaved or wounded skin.
How to Make Natural Deodorant at Home: Step by Step
This recipe yields approximately 100 g of product, equivalent to a medium jar. The final cost is usually much lower than commercial natural deodorants.
Base Recipe (Creamy Jar)
You will need:
- 3 tablespoons of shea butter or virgin coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 3 tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot
- 10 to 15 drops of your choice of essential oil (lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, or melaleuca)
- 1 clean glass jar with a lid (reused from another product)
- 1 small saucepan and a glass bowl (for a double boiler)
Step by step:
- Melt the fatty base: In a double boiler, gently heat the shea butter (or coconut oil) until completely melted. Do not let it boil.
- Remove from heat: Once melted, remove the bowl from the double boiler and let it cool for 3 to 5 minutes. The ingredient should be liquid but not hot to the touch.
- Incorporate the powders: Add the baking soda and cornstarch (or arrowroot) to the melted base. Mix well with a spoon until you get a homogeneous paste without lumps.
- Add the essential oils: Add 10 to 15 drops of the chosen essential oil and mix again.
- Transfer to the jar: Pour the mixture into the clean glass jar. At room temperature below 24°C, the mixture will naturally solidify into a firm ointment.
- Wait to solidify: Leave the jar open for 1 to 2 hours until completely cool before closing.
- Apply correctly: Use a small amount (the size of a bean) and apply directly to the armpit with your fingertips, spreading well.
Estimated shelf life: 3 to 6 months, stored in a cool place away from direct moisture. Refrigeration is not necessary.
Recipe Variations for Different Needs
Not everyone has the same skin type or routine. Here’s how to adapt the formula:
For Sensitive Skin to Baking Soda
Replace half of the baking soda with more arrowroot starch and add 1 teaspoon of white clay (kaolin). The clay also has adsorbent properties and is much gentler.
Stick Version
Add 1 teaspoon of melted carnauba wax to the base recipe before mixing the powders. Pour into a stick mold (it can be a reused deodorant container) and let solidify in the fridge for 2 hours. The result is a firm stick for easy application.
For Very Hot Climates
In regions where the temperature often exceeds 28°C, pure coconut oil tends to remain liquid. In this case, increase the proportion of shea butter (which has a higher melting point) or add a small amount of carnauba wax to give more firmness to the product.
Without Essential Oils
If you have very reactive skin or prefer a fragrance-free product, simply omit the essential oils. The baking soda and arrowroot already provide efficient odor control on their own.
Practical Tips for a Successful Transition
An important point that many people don’t expect: there may be a 2 to 4 week adaptation period when switching from conventional deodorant (especially antiperspirant) to natural. During this time, the sweat glands resume their natural function, and there may be a temporary increase in odor. This is completely normal.
To make this transition smoother:
- Apply natural deodorant to clean, dry skin, preferably after a shower
- Wash your armpits twice a day during the first few weeks
- Avoid synthetic fabrics, which retain more bacteria and odors; prefer cotton or linen
- Drink plenty of water — adequate hydration influences sweat composition
- Do an “armpit detox” if necessary: apply a bentonite clay mask with a little apple cider vinegar once a week during the adaptation period
Oh, and take the opportunity to rethink other sustainable household consumption practices. Just as homemade deodorant reduces waste, small changes in how we use resources at home make a big difference — like learning about rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses, for example.
The Real Impact of Making Your Own Deodorant
Making your deodorant at home may seem like a small action in the face of global environmental challenges. But the impact accumulates in concrete ways:
- Less plastic: each reused glass jar represents one less plastic container in the landfill or ocean
- Fewer emissions: producing and transporting bulk ingredients is much more efficient than manufacturing and distributing millions of individual units of final products
- Lower chemical footprint: no aluminum, no parabens, no phthalates — substances that eventually reach the soil and water through disposal and bathing
- Real savings: the cost per unit of homemade deodorant is usually a fraction of the commercial natural equivalent
Moreover, by making your own product, you know exactly what you’re putting on your body. This transparency is, in itself, a form of empowerment.
Conclusion: Small Formulas, Big Changes
Making natural deodorant at home is one of those gestures that seem simple but carry an important mindset shift: that we are capable of producing with our own hands things that work, are safe, and cause less harm to the planet.
You don’t need to turn your home into a laboratory or give up comfort. With less than 30 minutes, some accessible ingredients, and a glass jar you already have at home, you can take this step. Try the base recipe first, adapt it to your skin type, and if you want to go further, explore other natural cosmetic recipes — solid shampoo, body moisturizer, facial cleanser — the principle is always the same: simple ingredients, minimal packaging, maximum awareness.
The planet thanks you — and so does your skin. How about starting today?
Back To Top - Fewer emissions: producing and transporting bulk ingredients is much more efficient than manufacturing and distributing millions of individual units of final products
- Wash your armpits twice a day during the first few weeks
- Apply natural deodorant to clean, dry skin, preferably after a shower
- Apply correctly: Use a small amount (the size of a bean) and apply directly to the armpit with your fingertips, spreading well.
- Wait to solidify: Leave the jar open for 1 to 2 hours until completely cool before closing.
- Transfer to the jar: Pour the mixture into the clean glass jar. At room temperature below 24°C, the mixture will naturally solidify into a firm ointment.
- Add the essential oils: Add 10 to 15 drops of the chosen essential oil and mix again.
- Incorporate the powders: Add the baking soda and cornstarch (or arrowroot) to the melted base. Mix well with a spoon until you get a homogeneous paste without lumps.
- Remove from heat: Once melted, remove the bowl from the double boiler and let it cool for 3 to 5 minutes. The ingredient should be liquid but not hot to the touch.
- Melt the fatty base: In a double boiler, gently heat the shea butter (or coconut oil) until completely melted. Do not let it boil.
- Absorb moisture to reduce the environment conducive to bacterial proliferation
