How to Make DIY Homemade Deodorant - Easy, Cheap, Healthy

Why make your own world's best deodorant? First, because it is so much healthier for you and also because it is cheaper and so easy to do. We're living in the tropics, I take saunas every day, so since this works for my husband and I, it surely will work for anyone.

On my travel health journey, I've discovered that there is more to healthy secrets than just organic food.  I started reading about how many harmful chemicals in deodorant and other every-day beauty supplies that most of us regularly use and the the damage they can do.

We already use a natural toothpaste that we make and natural shampoo and creme rinse, ( recipes coming) but I thought deodorant would be too hard. I have long heard that the aluminium in deodorant is especially dangerous, ( as well as Parabens, Phthalates, tricloan and Proylene glcol), but now I am tweaking everything and don't want to pay the high price of organic beauty products when I can make my own simply. ( They are also not that easy to find on the road of world travel).

I was wrong, making your own deodorant is sooo easy! If you want something fancier, I saw this one and this one made with probiotics online, but the one I make is so much easier and I am into simplicity and ease. Less is more in my world, but your mileage may vary. You can actually make a deodorant with each of these separately, but I like them together.



SUPER EASY 2 INGREDIENT DIY HEALTHY DEODORANT


My husband came home from the store with a typical bottled deodorant. I read deeply, and sure enough it had waaay too many chemicals including aluminium, so I threw it out, but saved the bottle after washing thoroughly. It took a LOT to get that perfume smell out ( yucky chemicals).

It is easy to pop off the top ( I used a small knife and I have refilled it several times now). Then fill it with organic virgin coconut oil ( at room temp if you live in a cold climate) and a little natural baking soda ( aluminium-free).  Shake and put the top back on.

Voila! You now have an amazing deodorant.

JUST LEMON WORKS TOO AS A DEODORANT

Why the lemons in the photo? It's another natural deodorant that works well, is cheap and usually easily accessable. I use lemons every morning as I wake up,  squeezed into some warm water ( sometimes combined with ginger and organic cinnomon) so I have lots of left over lemons.

Take the sqeezed lemons or even a slice of one and swipe it on your armpits. Voila..another great, natural, cheap deodorant. It is not quite as strong as the coconut oil, but works good on a normal day. Also I have read that one can dry it in the sun and then grind up the lemon peels for a great antipersperant, but I haven't tried it because it seemed too much trouble when I have what works.

These two simple solutions work well for the traveler as well as those at home. We're all bombarded with toxins daily in our environment and that takes a health toll for us as individuals as well as the planet, so why not find a cheap, natural way?

Are you a holistic family looking for green solutions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[gabi klaf]

Ok, Jeanne, now I know. Now, I know. going to try it now.... hmmm, i have the baking soda and now, i'm off to find the coconut oil. we find coconut milk in the old market here in cambodia all the time. surely, i can find the oil. i'll let you know how it works. gabi

[Jeanne @soultravelers3]

Great Gabi, I think you will really like it like we do, but let me know!

[Laurie]

Seems that this wouldn't work so well in a cold climate in the winter. In Alberta, Canada, coconut oil is liquid in the summer when it's hot but solidifies at room temp, at 19 C. I guess you could just put it in a jar. Does this really work for odor protection?

[Melanie]

Wow, thanks so much for this tip! I've been on a mission to go green, natural and healthy and have just recently discovered coconut oil for us. I use it as a moisturiser, in cooking, for my hair ...
Unfortunately I haven't been too happy with the natural deodorants and am keen to try this one! Here in South Africa it is too cold at the moment to put it into a bottle - the oil is too hard to flow. But I will try just mixing it in my hand with a sprinkle of baking soda and smearing it on. That should work, don't you think?

Thanks again and have a great day!

Melanie

[Jeanne @Soultravelers3]

I haven't used it yet in a cold climate, but I think it still should work fine Laurie. I suppose you would have to use it as a cream or warm it up. I know it goes solid in our fridge, but sitting out at room temp here it is liquid, so if you have heat in your home, I would imagine it would be liquid inside too, but no experience with cold places yet, but we will check that out when we go to cold China this fall. ;)

It works AMAZING for odor protection...I am truly amazed.

[Jeanne @Soultravelers3]

Yes, I think that would work fine Melanie! I often times just use the coconut oil alone or even just the lemons sometimes. Some just use the baking soda alone with a powder puff, but I found that too harsh on my skin, so I just use about a teaspoon in my container.

I purposely didn't put the amount as I figured each person could tweak it to their liking.

I really shocks me that it works so good and DOES feel really healthy.

My husband is out walking a lot in this tropical heat and I am amazed at how great he smells now. LOL

[Meredith]

I have both these ingredients already, I'm going to make it tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!

[Susan, Real Family Travel Magazine]

Jeanne, have you had any reactions to this deodorant? I tried a version with coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch. I loved it for about 10 days and then started getting a painful reaction. I love the idea of going natural, but the pain made me go back to the store stuff. Maybe I got my proportions wrong. I did try another version using some leftover hard lotion (from MadeOn lotion) and that didn't bother me at all, but didn't work as well. Will have to try the lemons!

[Jeanne @soultravelers3]

You are welcome Meredith...we find it a gem so had to share!

[Jeanne @soultravelers3]

I hear ya Susan and neither my husband or I have had a reaction to this, but I HAVE had a reaction to just using baking soda ( some do this with a powder puff) so I know what you are talking about.

I just put a tiny bit of baking soda in this, but if you have sensitivities to it, try it with just the organic cold pressed coconut oil.

Or just a lemon or lime.

I actually mostly use those three so that the container lasts longer for my husband.

I don't think you will have a reaction to just those things, but try each separate and see. Good coconut oil is usually very good for the skin and I don't know anyone who reacts to it.

I don't know about corn starch, but I do know some have problems with baking soda and their skin, so I'd just eliminate both and see if it works better.

[Patty]

Thank you for the great receipe. I will have to gather the ingredients and try to make my own. I would like to share an excellent all natural, aluminum free deodorant. I've tried the salt crystal, Tom's, etc.. but they seem to work only for so long. However, I have experienced nothing but success with Nutural. After wearing this deodorant all day, and completing my 5 mile run before dinner, there is still NO! stink and no stains on my clothes. I love it.
www.nuturalife.com

[Victoria]

Hi. I just wanted to warn you to be careful with using lime as your deodorant and going under the sun. Lime can cause your skin to be hypersensitive to ultraviolet light and cause burn-like or bruise-like marks on your skin (doctors call it phytophotodermatitis).

I experienced it firsthand when I went to Mexico on a vacation. It is good it didn't hurt me but didn't look very pretty either. :)