If there's one natural product you should be using, it's deodorant. Do a basic internet search and you'll find all kinds of inconclusive info about antiperspirant and deodorant being linked to breast cancer. It's neither proven, nor disproven. In that case, why take a chance using the store bought brands when you can whip up all-natural lavender deodorant! This recipe makes enough deodorant to last 3-4 months in as little as 30 minutes! You can apply it with your fingers, or fill up an old empty deodorant stick.
If you're a big fan of lavender, you'll also love my lavender foot soak!
all-natural lavender deodorant
For pits sake, make the switch to a natural deodorant already!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon shea butter
- 2 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 3 tablespoon baking soda
- 5 drops 100% tea tree oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil (or scent of your choice)
Instructions
- Using a double boiler or a pot with a heat safe bowl on top, melt the coconut oil and shea butter together. Stir or whisk it until it’s combined and no solid pieces remain.
- Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in arrowroot powder and baking soda. Once combined and smooth, drop in your tea tree oil and lavender oil, and whisk a few more times.
- Pour the mixture into your desired containers. TIP: clean out an old deodorant stick (since you’re not going to use that brand anymore!) and pour the mixture into it just below the top.
- Place the containers filled with the mixture in the freezer for 10 minutes just to solidify it. It will remain solid at room temperature once it’s settled.
Notes
I think people tend to over apply their deodorant. You don't need much. If you've put your mixture in a jar, then use your fingers to get less than a pea sized amount for each arm pit. This recipe makes about a 3 to 4 months supply.
Switching from antiperspirant to a natural deodorant will take some adjusting, because your body needs to sweat out those old toxins. In 2-3 weeks you’ll notice a fresh clean difference under your arms. It’s worth the wait, so just stick with it.
tip: for a masculin scented deodorant use pine, cedarwood, or rosemary essential oils.
Kelly McKey
I like the idea of using all natural deodorant, but I don't like the idea of smelling "bad" for 2-3 weeks while my body gets used to it. Any suggestions on how to deal with that without my co-workers and husband thinking I've abandoned showers? Also, how bad is the sweat? I already need special stuff to deal with sweat when using antiperspirant deodorant... I have this picture of my armpits dripping and people crying when I come around if I try something all natural.
Lauren Toyota
Hi Kelly! Thanks for checking us out and leaving your comment. Basically we've been tricked into thinking that these commercial deodorants and antiperspirants are helping the situation of smell and sweat. However they're leaching very toxic chemicals into our body and preventing us from doing something we're supposed to do... sweat! However, when you switch to this natural deodorant you most likely will not smell terrible. You might have slightly more of a natural body odour then a baby powder smell that you're used BUT only if you were to stick someone's nose right into your armpit. Generally people can't smell you or your deodorant. I'm sure you probably even wear a body fragrance or perfume? For the most part you're going to have a little more moisture under your arms than you're used, but it's not excessive. But you haven't been sweating from the antiperspirant so you're going to think you're sweating a lot, which you're not really and it won't stink up a room. If you're a generally clean person who showers daily, as I'm sure you do, then you shouldn't smell bad even if you don't wear any deodorant. John has even made the switch and he had no issue with odour, and he's a man!
Avram
Hi. Looks like a great recipe. But what size deodorant stick container do you use?
Lauren Toyota
Hi Avram
Well it doesn't really matter because you can twist the base of it as low or high as you need. I filled a travel size deodorant stick and and about 4 more small containers like the one pictured above with the small black lid. You could fill a regular sized deodorant stick pretty sure!
Kelly
Lauren, I made the recipe and have been using it all week. It works great -- no odor even after working out! Only thing is, it never set up -- i use it like a lotion. Any suggestion for what i might have done wrong?
thanks,
Kelly
Lauren Toyota
awesome! I'm glad you like. So it says in above to set it in the fridge or freezer until it's solid. Then if you remove it from the fridge and leave it in the bathroom it should remain pretty solid, unless of course your bathroom is quite steamy and warm a lot of the time. Mine seems to be alight. But what's happening is the coconut oil is melting again. You could either leave it in the fridge to store it there or under a cupboard away from too much warmth. OR if your bathroom is generally warmer then next batch try adding 1 more tbsp of arrowroot powder to make it thicker and therefore less likely to melt.
laura
Hi, I am just wondering where the best place is to buy the arrowroot powder and essential oils? Thanks Laura
Lauren Toyota
Hey Laura
Where are you located? Any health food store would carry it, and essential oils may even be available at a large grocer with a beauty section or drug store. I've even found essential oils at winners and home sense before.
laura
Hi Lauren,
I live on Long Island NY. I saw some essential oils at whole foods I didnt get a chance to look for the arrowroot powder but I will get some health food stores. Thanks so much! I cant wait to try it
Jordie
I like Lavilin. Expensive, but also long-lasting so I think it's worth it.
Lauren Toyota
I actually got a rash and itchiness under my arms from Lavalin deodorant. Although I wear the fragrance and it's great!
Ana
Hola Lauren!
I'm from Costa Rica and I will love to do this deodorant. But here it could be difficult to find some of the essentials. So I had to google it, arrowroot, so it saids its a starch and I was wondering if I couldn't find it here can I use corn starch? And then the tea tree oil, can I used olive oil instead if couldn't find it here.
I'm sorry I don't know if I'm changing the recipe too much!
Thank you have a nice day 🙂
Lauren Toyota
sorry for my late reply! I actually don't know if corn starch will work? Also tea tree oil is an essential oil that has antibacterial properties, it's not the same as olive oil. You need to find some essential oils... lavender, lemon, peppermint, and tea tree all have antiseptic properties so you could use just one of those in replace of both lavender and tea tree.
Maryanne
Lauren,
Found your recipe in the clean eating magazine and have been using it for about 3 months now. My husband was skeptical at first, but I got him to try it and he thinks its awesome! We both go the whole day smelling clean and fresh instead of being overpowered by anti-persperant, and we live in the south where sweating is always going on. I love that this deodorant doesn't stain our clothes, or clump on our armpits (especially my hubby's). I have found though that I haveto leave the dedeodorant in the fridge so that it doesnt melt here in the warmer climate. I will give the extra tbsp of arrowroot powder a try next time. Thanks again for the recipe and for your blog! Can't wait to try more of your recipes. You are awesome!
Maryanne
Lauren Toyota
that's so great to hear! Everyone that has tried it has had awesome results! Yes in warmer climates you probably have to keep the deodorant in the fridge, but adding a little more arrow root actually works as well to keep it more like a soft paste. thanks for checking us out!
Katrina
Lauren,
What an amazing idea! I have found myself being very conscious of things I am using now a days. Deodorant has been a huge concern of mine for awhile now.
Thank you for this!
Love this blog 🙂
Lauren Toyota
Hey Katrina
Thanks for checking us out! I hope you like the deodorant 🙂
Kris
Yaaaaaaaay! Thank you for sharing this 🙂 I've been buying natural deodorants for years but many didn't work, or I'd have to reapply, or they'd show up white on my clothes. Finally, I found Anarres and another brand, whose name escapes me, unfortunately, but they're both vegan and made locally—and they WORK! It's exciting! Haha. Now, though, I'm looking forward to trying your recipe. Thank you! I'll probably replace the lavender with patchouli, though, because I must admit that that's one of my my most favourite scents. (I'm a hippie through and through.) Thanks again! 😀
Jessica Platz
Ok, so I'm really interested in making homemade deodorant--and I actually have before! My problem is that the baking soda in these recipes actually causes me to break out. Like really really break out with a horrible red rash. And the recipes that I've tried that don't have baking soda usually rely on arrowroot or corn starch, which is just not enough to keep me from getting stinky. Do you possibly have any other suggestions or other recipes for deodorant that are effective and omit baking soda?