Part III: Natural Deodorant Recipes

Here are my 2 top recipes for natural deodorant. Many of the ingredients can be purchase locally at health food stores or drugstores, but a few items such as the beeswax pellets, may be more difficult to find. There are some simpler recipes with only coconut oil, corn starch,  and baking soda, so if availability of ingredients is a big issue with you, modify accordingly.  I set out to find a combination that would apply smoothly, would endure higher temps., and would work well as a deodorant.  Both of these recipes contain beeswax which allows them to survive warmer weather.

My favorite recipe (Test Group D)

1 1/2 Tb beeswax
1/2 Tb cocoa butter
1 Tb coconut oil
5 drops castor oil
50 drops essential oils (choose from tea tree, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood, etc)

Directions:  Melt beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in a double boiler or in your microwave at 10 second intervals until completely melted.  Add castor oil and essential oils.  Let cool slightly; pour into empty deodorant tubes or other clean containers.


2nd Favorite (Test Group C)
(I found this one at http://withgoodthings.com/make-your-own-deodorant/

1 1/2 Tb beeswax beads
4 Tb coconut oil
1 Tb shea butter
4 tsp corn starch (I used arrowroot powder)
4 tsp baking soda
20 drops essential oils

Directions:  Melt beeswax, coconut oil, and shea until melted in a double boiler until smooth.  Add drops of essential oils.  Cool slightly before pouring into empty deodorant tube or other container.

Individualize your Deodorant

1. If you find your deodorant too hard, use less beeswax in the recipe next time.  For now, remelt and add a little more coconut or castor oil. (you could also add a few drops of olive oil to soften it up a bit)  If you find it too soft, remelt and add a bit more beeswax.

2. If you are allergic to shea butter ((I have heard of more than 1 person with this allergen) simply substitute cocoa butter or mango butter.

3. You may use cornstarch and arrowroot powder interchangeably.

4. You can add a few drops of vitamin E to help with preservation.  (I plan to add this to my favorite recipe above for my next batch.)

5. Experiment with different essential oils to suit your preferences. Tea Tree and Lavender are very common in store-bought natural deodorants.  I am thinking I may try a combination of tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary next time, very similar to my soap called The Juan de Fuca.  Do keep in mind that some essential oils are more antibacterial than others and may affect the duration and effectiveness of your natural deodorant.