I love homemade deodorant. LOVE it.

In fact, I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve used “conventional” deodorant. It was before Smalls was born…so around 5 or 6 years?

And one thing that I’ve realized over that time is that I am definitely not alone. In fact, I talked about how you can actually detox your armpits not too long ago (yes, yes I did).

In fact, more and more people are switching to healthier body care, which rocks…but when it comes to our armpits? I felt a little lost (okay, okay…a lot lost) for a long time. I tried so many different brands, and some worked, and some didn’t.

Some of the brands were horrifically expensive, and some of them I could buy at the local grocery store. And then there are the recipes for making your own deodorant. And wow are there a lot of them! Just do a search for “DIY deodorant” or “homemade deodorant recipe” and you’ll find pages and pages of suggestions, recipes, and raving reviews.

I’m proud to say that I’ve actually tried quite a few of them…but none of them turned out to work very well for me. So I went back to purchasing my deodorant via the Interwebs or at the health food store. You may be wondering why I’ve spent so much time looking for a natural deodorant (or a recipe) that actually works.

What’s Actually In “Traditional” Deodorants?

Some really nasty stuff!

• Propylene Glycol (also known as antifreeze)
• Parabens
• Aluminum
• Phthalates

…and that’s just the short list. There’s also Triclosan (linked to cancer), Formaldehyde, and other endocrine disruptors. Basically, they’re not great for you.

I think that many of us just keep up the status quo because we’re worried that homemade deodorants (or ones purchased from smaller shops) just won’t work. And you know what? That’s not exactly true.

Expect a “Healing Period”

Think about it: you’ve been effectively poisoning your armpits (or at least rendering them ineffective) for literally years. Traditional antiperspirants and deodorants work by plugging your sweat glands so that you literally cannot sweat. That’s really gross, y’all.

When you switch to a natural deodorant, your body suddenly can breathe. I went through a month where I was literally sweating all day long. Remember, my body hadn’t been able to properly release toxins and other grossness through my sweat in years. It was like my armpits were crying with relief.

At first, I was rather alarmed, but as I did some research, I found out that this was a very normal response. My body wanted to breathe!

So I “suffered” through-okay, honestly? I just carried my homemade deodorant around with me in my purse and constantly reapplied.

And then one day, I didn’t need to anymore. In fact, I noticed that I was actually sweating less. I could apply my coconut oil or baking soda and go about my day. And yes, they work pretty well. Or they did…until I moved to Texas.

Suddenly, my sweat glands went back into overtime. It was hot, y’all. I had to mix it up a bit to really figure out what worked for me.

My Homemade Deodorant Recipe

• 4 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• Optional: 2 tablespoons activated charcoal
• 4-6 drops of essential oils

Simply mix all of your ingredients into a small glass pot with a lid. As you mix, this should form a paste that you can scoop with your fingertips or a cosmetic spatula. To use, massage a pea sized amount into each armpit. It works best if your skin is clean and dry.

You can use any essential oils that you find pleasant, though my favorites are Lavender, Lemon, Grapefruit, Purification, Peppermint, and Joy.

Natural Deodorant that Works

When I got pregnant with Smalls, I was so tired that the thought of making my own homemade deodorant, easy as it is, was entirely unappealing. So I set out to find the best “homemade” deodorant that didn’t require me actually making it (yes, I can choose to be lazy about some things). I have found the following deodorant brands to be highly effective (and easy on your wallet):

• Stick Up from Primal Life Organics
• Primal Pit Paste
• Crystal Deodorant Stick
• Herban Cowboy
• Piper Wai Natural Deodorant

Of these, My favorites are Stick Up and Piper Wai. My body seems to respond to these the best, but for Ish, he does better with Herban Cowboy or Primal Pit Paste.

Armpit Detox

Know that it may take you some time to figure out which deodorant option works best for you (it might surprise you!). Don’t forget to give yourself time to adjust. Do an armpit detox if necessary, and enjoy not putting junk on your armpits anymore.

If you choose to make your own DIY deodorant, please make sure that you’re only using pure, therapeutic grade essential oils. While there are a number of oil companies out there, I choose to use and support Young Living essential oils:

Ready to get the yuck out of your house? Get started here!

What do you think about homemade deodorant?