For many years deodorant has been the bane of my existence.  As a teenager I learned that there is a strong connection between the aluminum in deodorant and Alzheimer’s disease.  As a result, I was committed to using only natural deodorants.  I have tried every stick, spray, roll-on, and crystal I could find. The result? Disappointment.  I hate to say it, but I never found a product that worked for longer than an hour.  In my frustration I found my way back to using conventional deodorant, stressing with each application about what I was putting into my body.

Then I  heard from a friend that if you didn’t use deodorant for a period of time your body will naturally adjust to it and you wouldn’t need to use it.  Let’s just say I tried that for a week and it was a failed experiment.  And gross.

After searching around the internet, I discovered there are a ton of DIY deodorant recipes that use natural ingredients like baking soda, corn starch, and coconut oil.  I have tried several different batches of homemade deodorant using different proportions of these ingredients and different essential oils.  My first batch used peppermint oil which irritated my skin, my second batch had too much baking soda which also irritated my skin, but this final batch?  Just right.

Since I live in a colder climate, coconut oil is usually solid (except in summer) so I had to gently heat it to a liquid so I could mix my ingredients.  When it cooled again, my deodorant was a solid gel.  I’ve heard mixed reviews from others who have put homemade deodorant into empty twist-up deodorant containers – some say it crumbles while others think it works fine.  I haven’t tried this myself because I think it’s easier to keep the deodorant in a small jar and apply by hand.  If you live in a warm climate, your mixture might not solidify (unless you keep it in the fridge) so it will be even easier to apply by hand because it will be in a liquid state.  

I have been super impressed with how well this deodorant works and it actually works better for me than conventional deodorant.  I think I have to say that again.  It actually works better than conventional deodorant – the ones with the aluminum!  If only I had known about this years ago. Sigh. I guess the perfect deodorant search is over.

DIY Deodorant

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 Tablespoons corn starch*
• 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking soda*
• 20 – 25 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. Melt your coconut oil (if necessary) and mix with the corn starch and baking soda.
2. Add the essential oil.
3. Mix.
4. Transfer to a glass container.
5. Use up!
6. Will last 2 -3 months depending on usage.

*Notes: My batch has less baking soda and corn starch than some recipes I’ve seen because I experienced skin irritation from these ingredients at a higher ratio.  If this mixture is not effective for you, you can increase the amount of baking soda and corn starch by about 2 teaspoons.