Making your own deodorant might sound like some hippy nonsense with questionable results…but I promise you, this stuff really works. I’ve been using it for about a year now and can honestly say it works better than any other deodorant I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried them all. I actually smell good at the end of the day! It’s made with simple, non-toxic ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards. No nasty chemicals, it costs a few cents to make and lasts a really long time! But what I love most about it is that I am saving so much plastic packaging by making my own. I use cornstarch from a paper packet, bicarbonate of soda which I buy in bulk or get in glass jars and coconut oil which I buy in glass jars. You can also add essential oils if you like to make it scented.
Here’s my easy recipe. Let me know how you get on if you try it. Liz x
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp coconut oil (find an unscented one if you don’t want to smell like coconut)
- 4 tbsp cornflour (or arrowroot flour)
- 4 tbsp bicarbonate of soda*
- a few drops of an essential oil you like (optional)
Method
Melt the coconut oil then stir in the cornflour and baking soda*.
When the mixture is smooth add a few drops of essential oil, stir, smell and add more if you like until you get to the level of fragrance you desire. Otherwise leave it fragrance free or just its own natural coconut fragrance if using an unrefined coconut oil.
Pour the mixture into a jar/tin/tub that you can easily get your finger into and allow it to set.
The deodorant can be used in solid or liquid form. On hot days it may be a little melty and on cold days it will be very hard.
Just rub a small amount into your armpit each morning (just like applying moisturiser) and you are good to go.
*Some people find they are a little sensitive to bicarbonate of soda. This is very rare but test a small patch of skin first.
**As the deodorant is oil based it may affect very delicate clothes like silk. Ensure it’s sufficiently rubbed in and absorbed before getting dressed. No need to use more than half a pea or so in each armpit.
Delighted to see this and was especially surprised to see after I clicked on the ’10 minute chia jam’ LOL :0) but all good as really have wanted to try and find a chemical free deodorant! Just wondering if I can use Bread Soda instead of Baking / Bicarbonate Soda (I always get confused with these); Also, are all essential oil brands ok for skin (I tend to buy Atlantic Aromatics, Tisserand, etc that are in the pharmacy / health shops). Thanks again for this and will let you know how I get on once I try it!!! :0))))
Bread soda is the same thing as bicarbonate of soda so yes that’s fine to use. I can’t say with 100% certainty about all brands of essential oils. But from what I understand, as long as they are mixed with a carrier oil (in this case coconut oil) they will be in such small amounts that they shouldn’t affect the skin. If you put them onto skin in their pure state then that can cause reactions. But you should only need a few drops per batch of deodorant so that should be fine. Always test a small patch before you start using it regularly though. Some people can be sensitive to the baking soda.Hope that helps! Liz