Why make your own deodorant at home — and two recipes

Why make your own deodorant

1. Natural ingredients. Commercial deodorants often contain toxic chemicals and aluminium, while a homemade alternative is made with natural, organic ingredients.
2. Protecting the body. Many mass-produced deodorants carry a risk: they contain substances that disturb the endocrine system, leading to hormonal imbalance and problems with the cycle and metabolism.
3. Avoiding allergies and burns. Shop-bought deodorants frequently contain chemicals and fragrances that trigger allergies. Making your own gives you control over what goes in.
4. Better for the environment. Homemade deodorant uses less packaging and less energy, which makes it both an economical and an ecological choice.
5. A do-it-yourself deodorant lets you test what works best for you, while being certain no aluminium salts were used.
6. You choose the scent yourself by adding your preferred essential oils.

Recipes

Deodorant cream

• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp shea butter
• 2 tbsp baking soda (an alkaline base that neutralises odours and acids on the skin)
• 5 tbsp arrowroot, coconut, rice or corn flour as a thickener
• 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice — chamomile, lavender, tea tree, rose for a soft floral scent, or lemongrass and mint for something fresh. See our essential oils.

Method:

1. Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a water bath until liquid.
2. Take off the heat, add the baking soda and arrowroot and stir well.
3. Add the essential oil gradually, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
4. Transfer to a suitable container and leave to cool and set.

Apply with gentle massaging movements onto clean skin.

Spray deodorant

• 100 ml water
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice
• Optional: 2 drops of tea tree oil, which also fights bacteria

Method:

• Boil the water and let it cool to at least 45 °C, to prevent sodium hydroxide lye from forming.
• Stir in the baking soda until dissolved and add your preferred essential oils.
• Pour the liquid deodorant into a spray bottle and shake well.

Using a homemade deodorant means enjoying the freshness of natural ingredients while making a good choice for your health and for the environment — with the added satisfaction of having made your own cosmetics.