Today I’m sharing the best homemade deodorant recipe that I make all the time. It really, truly works- and this from the girl that used to buy prescription strength Secret :0
I think most of us know by now that antiperspirant and “conventional” deodorant is bad for you and can damage your hormones. Many of us are switching to more natural choices, which is great!
But there are two problems.
One, the ones that are affordable and readily available don’t work.
And two, the ones that do work, are not affordable!

I was paying $11.99 a stick for a well-known natural deodorant that worked ok, because everything cheaper I tried was literally pointless. (edit: Native is now up to $13.99/stick at the time of writing this :l )
I mentioned in my Best Natural Cleaning Spray post that switching to homemade deodorant was the number one DIY swap I’ve made to save money and I meant it.
What You Need For Homemade Deodorant
- Coconut oil
- Beeswax
- Baking soda
- Arrowroot starch
- Essential oils
- An empty deodorant tube, a reusable one from Amazon, or even an old toilet paper tube
If any of these ingredients seem weird or hard to get, I promise they’re not! I get arrowroot starch at my big-box grocery store (Meijer). It’s Bob’s Red Mill brand and it’s very inexpensive.
Beeswax is easy to grab at a health food store or on Amazon. And if you’re not already on the coconut oil bandwagon, you’ve got to jump on. You can find anywhere from Walmart to Aldi.
As for essential oils, I recommend a few that will help keep the odor-causing bacteria to grow, but there are many that could work.
Essential Oils for Homemade Deodorant
- cedar
- lavender
- orange
- tea tree (melaleuca)
- lemon
- peppermint
- vanilla
- grapefruit
All of these have either antimicrobial, antiseptic or antibacterial properties which are going to help keep odor at bay, plus they smell amazing. A few I would avoid would be clove, cinnamon and black pepper for the obvious reason that they would probably sting the heck out of freshly-shaved armpits!
There are some who would staunchly defend the brand they’re loyal to and harp on purity- and I get it. Especially when using oils for home cures we want the best and most effective. Quality matters. BUT don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I simply cannot afford to keep the best of the best essential oils stocked on my shelves. Kudos to those who can. I try to get organic, and I wouldn’t ingest the ones I have as they aren’t graded for that. However, they are therapeutic grade and I find them perfect for diffusing and topical use.\
Making Your Homemade Deodorant
You really don’t need much to get started.
If you don’t want to invest in a reusable deodorant tube before you know if you like it, you can actually use an empty toilet paper tube!
I got the idea for this when I had a little extra deodorant solution leftover that wouldn’t fit in our two plastic reusables. I racked my brain and quickly decided to try pouring it in a toilet paper tube as a mold, thinking I’d later peel if off when it was set. But once it was cooled and set, I realized I could just push up on the bottom and use it like a regular stick.
Have you seen the new eco-friendly cardboard push-up tubes in stores? It’s just like that but without a piece on the bottom to press on.
I cut a small square of parchment paper and put the tube on top of that before pouring in the still-liquid deodorant. Then I just left it on the counter for a few hours and voila.
If you’re paying $13.99 a stick or anywhere close to that, or you’re buying chemical-laden conventional deodorant, this recipe will change your life. Pin it or print it below and let me know how it goes!

Easy, Money-Saving Homemade Deodorant
This easy homemade deodorant is not only healthy and simple to make, but it's also so much more affordable than "healthy" deodorants from the store. Customize your scent with essential oils, and yes- it REALLY works.
Materials
- 3 Tbs coconut oil
- 2 Tbs beeswax pellets
- 1 Tbs arrowroot powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 5 drops each: orange, lavender, and cedar essential oils, or favorite subs
- 2 drops tea tree oil (optional)
Tools
- reusable deodorant stick, used empty deodorant container or toilet paper tube
- stove
- sauce pan
- heat-proof bowl such as stainless steel or tempered glass Pyrex
- whisk
Instructions
- Take a medium saucepan half full of water and place it on the stove. Add a heat-proof bowl (stainless steel or Pyrex) that will sit on top of pan without fully fitting down inside. Water should NOT be touching the bowl.
- Turn on medium heat until boiling and melt together the coconut oil and beeswax.
- Whisk in arrowroot powder and baking soda until fully incorporated.
- Remove from heat and drop in essential oils, whisk.
- Pour into prepared tube and allow to firm up at room temperature or in the fridge.
Notes
To use a toilet paper tube, I recommend cutting a small square of parchment paper and placing tube on that before pouring in deodorant. Press down on the tube to keep the bottom sealed against the parchment so the liquid deodorant doesn't run out around the edges. This works perfectly to test the recipe before you buy reusable plastic tubes. Just keep in mind it won't have a lid this way.
Remember not to press too hard when applying. If you find the deodorant is on the soft side, you can store it in the fridge.
-Tara
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