8 Natural DIY Deodorant Alternatives and How to Make Them

Conventional deodorants are packed with chemicals, including parabens, formaldehyde, triclosan, and the ubiquitous antiperspirant aluminum. The problem with these ingredients is that they're terrible for the planet, from the mining of aluminum to the discharge of parabens into streams and rivers. All this in mind, it might be time to try DIY deodorant.

Making your own deodorant means you can use only natural ingredients and cater the fragrance profile to your personal liking. It can be as complicated as mixing up a custom brew of essential oils or as simple as rubbing lemon juice right onto your skin. It is important, however, to manage your expectations when transitioning from traditional deodorants.

Aluminum is the only known ingredient known to block sweat ducts. Other ingredients are used to help absorb wetness and mask the smell.

Here are eight home remedies and natural deodorant recipes you can whip up with hardly any effort.

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Baking Soda Deodorant

tight shot of corn starch and baking soda in jars — Treehugger / Michaela Blaire

Using baking soda as a deodorant is a simple and chemical-free way to combat body odor. The common kitchen ingredient also helps absorb moisture, but too much of it can irritate skin.

To make a gentle baking soda deodorant at home, mix 1/8 of a teaspoon of baking soda with a little bit of water. Without dissolving the baking soda in the water, rub the mixture onto your armpits.

Cornstarch is another natural sweat-absorbing ingredient. Use both for double the absorption power by mixing one part baking soda with six parts cornstarch—no water—and dusting a little on your underarms.

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Lemon Juice

Lemon slice floating in glass surrounded by whole lemons — Treehugger / Michaela Blaire

While it won't necessarily soak up your sweat, lemon juice is rich in citric acid that kills bacteria. The bacterial processes in sweat are what causes body odor in the first place.

Some swear by swiping a plain old sliced lemon under their arms every morning. And a lemon fresh from the fridge? Even more soothing.

Two caveats, though: Do not apply lemon juice to just-shaven skin or before exposing underarms to sun. Lemons are phototoxic, making skin more susceptible to burning when exposed to UV light.

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Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another inexpensive and easy deodorant that kills the bacteria causing unfavorable fragrance. Simply fill a spray bottle with alcohol and spritz your underarms with it.

You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give it a scent. Lavender and eucalyptus are common deodorant fragrances. Adding tea tree oil, on the other hand, could give the spray fighting power against odor-causing bacteria.

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Coconut Oil Deodorant

whipped coconut oil in jar with lavender and lemons — Treehugger / Michaela Blaire

If you're attached to the creaminess of traditional deodorants, you can replicate that feeling with coconut oil, a mild antibacterial. The only problem is that coconut oil melts into a liquid when heated above 80 degrees (cooler than skin). The solution: Mix it with cornstarch and baking soda.

Instructions

Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch in a bowl and mix with a fork.
Add in coconut oil gradually, starting with a few tablespoons, until it becomes a thick paste.
Store the mixture in an airtight container or put it into an empty deodorant dispenser.

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Shea and Cocoa Butter Deodorant

Natural deodorant made of shea butter and oils in jar. — oranorth / Getty Images

Ingredients

3 tablespoons shea butter
3 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cocoa butter
Oil from 2 vitamin E gel caps
Essential oil (optional)

Another way to replicate the creaminess of conventional deodorants is with shea and cocoa butter. They smoothen skin with high concentrations of vitamins and fatty acids, especially when mixed with the powerhouse nutrient vitamin E. The addition of baking soda and cornstarch will help keep you dry.

First, melt all the ingredients except the vitamin E oil and stir. Once melted, add in the oil and essential oils of your choice to improve the smell. Pour the mixture into a container and place in the fridge to set. This recipe yields a 1/4 pint.

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DIY Solid Deodorant

Homemade deodorant in generic dispenser and crystal on a cloth — Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images

Ingredients

1/4 cup candelilla wax
1/2 cup jojoba oil
1/3 cup arrowroot powder
1/8 cup baking soda
1/2 cup shea butter
Essential oils (optional)

For those who don't like the slimy feeling of a cream deodorant, candelilla wax is the solution. Its consistency is similar to beeswax, which helps to hold all the active ingredients together. Candelilla wax also helps dilute some of the stronger ingredients so as not to overwhelm your skin.

Mix jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda. Using a double boiler or similar setup, melt the candelilla wax. Pour in the jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda mixture. Once everything is liquified, stir in the shea butter. Allow the mixture to cool, pouring into deodorant tubes before it's fully set.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a multitasking ingredient commonly used in natural skincare. It's anti-inflammatory, rich in exfoliating acids, pH-restoring, antibacterial, and antifungal. Its antibacterial properties are especially helpful in staving off body odor.

Simply soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and swipe it on your armpits for a natural deodorant. It will have a strong vinegar smell at first, but it's virtually odorless once it's dry.

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Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Deodorant

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoon bentonite clay
1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon kaolin clay
1 1/5 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon candelilla wax
Essential oils (optional)

Bentonite clay is formed by aged volcanic ash. An ancient home remedy, it's most commonly used today as a face mask. Bentonite clay is rich in detoxifying iron, calcium, copper, and zinc. It also has strong moisture-absorbing properties and is thought to be gentler on skin than baking soda.

To make bentonite clay deodorant, first combine both clays with arrowroot powder. Using a double boiler, heat the candelilla wax, stirring in the coconut oil when it's almost melted. Gradually add in the clay and arrowroot powder mixture, constantly stirring to get rid of clumps, and continue to stir while removing from heat and allowing to cool. Add in your essential oils before it's set, then transfer to an airtight container and wait an hour before using.