I was going to do an 'updated' post about my homemade deodorants and the difference in quality when using different brands, when I was so surprised to see I've apparently never posted my homemade DIY deodorant on An American Housewife!? Over 2000 recipes posted since 2006 and I've never shared this one on HousewifeBarbie.com. Well alrighty then! It's time I introduce you to a recipe I love for homemade deodorant!
I have always been suspicious of the chemicals in deodorant. Even as a teenager I remember having a discussion with a friend about how it can't possibly be healthy to stop your body from sweating. I knew my Dad was sensitive to the chemicals in them and had a hard time finding any that wouldn't burn and itch him (he had to use a brand that came in a cream he rubbed on) and although there is no proven connection, my mother got breast cancer when she was just 51 years old - no history of cancer in our extended family. My husband's Mother died of breast cancer when he was only 12 years old and although again, there is no connection to deodorant - these personal life experiences have always made us leery of breast cancer in general and circling back to my original sentence; I've always been suspicious of the chemicals in anti-perspirant, and the fact that women put it on literally right after shaving so it has a clear and easy path into our skin and right into the fatty tissue of the breast. That bothered me every time I put on anti-perspirant.
But everyone I knew used antiperspirant/deodorant and I had no idea there were any other options so it's what I always did.
Fast forward to just a couple years ago when I started to invest in making my own homemade soaps, salves and laundry detergents, which naturally led me to making my own deodorant. But... does it work? Yes. It's not an anti-perspirant, so you still sweat (which is healthy for you!) but you don't smell.
To make this you will need a container to keep your deodorant in. If you have some (or friends or family do) - wash them and reuse them. Great money saver. However, if you have thrown them all out or the center piece that holds the product and moves up and down the container is gone, you can order empty containers from Amazon (I'll link at the bottom of this post!)
You can put it into a muffin tin and apply it with your hand each morning (messy) or put it in a jar and scoop some out to rub on if you wish, but if you have an empty deodorant container, you can use it and it will 'roll up' as it's being used, just like regular deodorant does. This recipe will make enough for 1 really large container or about 1 1/2 of the normal smaller sized. I also sometimes add a fragrance oil to this but it doesn't need it and it's optional.
Homemade Deodorant
2 empty deodorant containers (or 1 but you'll have a little left over)
1/4 c baking soda
1/4 c cornstarch
5 T coconut oil (when you buy it, it's solid, like shortening)
2 T beeswax (I like white for this but you could use yellow)
optional:
1/4 t vitamin E oil (a preservative)
8 drops tea tree oil (natural anti-bacterial oil with a strong scent so you may not want to use this)
drops of your favorite fragrance essential oil
Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in the microwave in a small bowl or container and stir until smooth (about a minute or so). Add to everything else in a small bowl and stir until smooth, blended and incorporated. As it starts to cool, the coconut oil starts to make it thick. You can pour it directly into your container (if you stir for a minute or two more, it gets to the consistency to scrape and push it into your container if that is what you prefer, although it's messier. If you take too long and it's thickened up too much, just pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds and melt again.
Gently tap the container on the counter during the filling process and after to get it completely to the bottom, and release air bubbles. Then, refrigerate or let set in a dark, cool cupboard until it completely sets up. When you use it, you gently glide it on your skin.
*NOTE - the reason I was going to 'update' my deodorant post (that I never posted in the first place) is that I have found through my own trial and error that BRAND NAMES MATTER. The first 3 or 4 times I made this, I used the coconut oil I had on hand that I always buy for cooking, baking, salves, etc. It's a cheap brand I pick up at almost any grocery store or Walmart. My finished products were fine and useable but it wasn't until I happened to invest in better quality coconut oil on my last shopping trip, and also happened to pick up a different brand of corn starch that I made this latest version of deodorant and OMGOSH I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Yes, I typed that in caps. Using a little bit more expensive brand of coconut oil and a different brand of cornstarch completely made this an even better quality product and it's ON PAR with ANY deodorant I've ever tried that was store bought and full of chemicals.
Product notes and availability:
I bought my coconut oil at Sam's Club for about $11 (the organic version is $16 or $17 I believe). I also used Clabber Girl brand corn starch. Both these brands were an improvement over my previous (mushier) versions made with LouAnn and Argo brands respectfully. If you don't want to look for your products at your local stores you can order them on Amazon - I checked and they carry them. I like to put a few drops of fragrance in mine, and I use white beeswax pellets (I buy mine off Amazon too).
Tresomega Nutrition Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 15-Ounce
Tresomega nutrition Organic Extra Virgin Natural Cold pressed Coconut Cooking Oil 54 oz (1532g)
Clabber Girl 100% Pure Corn Starch - 6.5 oz
White BEESWAX Pellets-Superior Quality 1 lb-(16 oz)
Ocean Breeze Fragrance Oil - Premium Grade Scented Oil - 10ml
Deodorant Containers, New & Empty; Pack of 5
100% Pure Tea Tree Oil Good 'N Natural 2 oz Oil
