Difficulty: Beginners
Time: 20 mins
Yields: 1 tube (85 ml)
Having tried all sorts of natural deodorants, including crystal deodorants (remember those), and being quite fussy when it comes to deodorants, I decided to create my own.
This solid deodorant is completely natural, including the environmental friendly cardboard tube it comes in, which you can order from Go Native. It contains no aluminium or other synthetic ingredients. Likewise, it contains no baking soda, which can be irritating to some skins (like mine) and other harsh ingredients. Instead, I focussed on using only natural ingredients that are effective, yet mild on the skin.
To absorb sweat, I used a combination of tapioca starch and bentonite clay. Bentonite clay is a highly absorbent natural clay (see this article about the properties of clays), and it will keep you feeling dry and clean.
Shea butter helps with the glide, but it is also moisturising and easily absorbed into the skin. This helps leave the absorbing clay and starch on the surface of the skin to do its work, without creating a messy paste.
Avocado is also well absorbed into the skin, but it also contains beneficial nutrients and vitamins, to help keep your skin healthy and nourished.
Beeswax is what makes this deodorant solid and at these proportions will deliver just the right amount of deodorant to your skin. Not too much and not to little!
And lastly I used a special blend of essential oils to keep you feeling fresh:
- Lemon myrtle: like tea tree, it is anti-bacterial, killing off those smelly bacteria, but unlike tea tree, it has a pleasant fresh lemon scent!
- Rosemary: has also antiseptic properties, helping to keep your skin healthy
- Lime: is refreshing but is also deodorising and cleansing
- Spearmint: not only refreshingly cool, but it will also help soothe skin. Great for sensitive, irritating skins (especially from shaving!)
All the ingredients, including the essential oils, are available from Pure Nature.
ONE: Weigh out your avocado oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a small pot. I use my pot straight on the stove, but if you prefer you can use a double boiler or bain marie method. Heat on the lowest setting on your stove until all the beeswax and shea butter has melted.
TWO: Stir in the tapioca starch and bentonite clay and mix briskly using a whisk.
THREE: Add the essential oils, and mix.
FOUR: Pour the mixture into the tube. If the mixture has started to set, just pop it back on the stove for a moment until it becomes fluid again.
Once you’ve filled the tube, let it set and cool down completely before putting the lid on. This will prevent condensation forming on the inside of the lid.
Natural solid deodorant
Ingredients
- 30 g beeswax
- 20 g shea butter
- 30 g avocado oil
- 20 g tapioca starch
- 15 g bentonite clay
- 25 drops lemon myrtle essential oil
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
- 15 drops lime essential oil
- 5 drops spearmint essential oil
Directions
- Melt the beeswax, shea butter and avocado oil in a small pot on the lowest setting on your stove.
- Using a whisk, mix in the tapioca starch and bentonite clay.
- Add the essential oils.
- If the mixture has started to set, gently heat it on the stove again until fluid.
- Pour the mixture into the tube. Let it cool down completely before putting the lid on.
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How long do you anticipate this lasting? Like, for example, if I wore it to work, how soon would I need to reapply?
Hi Wendi! It’s hard to say and would depend on a few things like how quickly your skin absorbs oils, how much you perspire, the temperature, the fabric or no fabric, etc. I’m usually good with applying my deo once in the morning. But others need to apply it twice or more. Hope this helps!
May I replace avocado with Almond Oil in this recipe?
Yes, you can! The reason I chose avocado is for its nourishing and conditioning properties. Almond oil will make for a lighter deodorant.
Will this make the pits dark? I have tried the recipe with baking soda and my pits turned dark. That made me went back to store bought deodorants.
No it shouldn’t. I haven’t had any issues with it, and I’ve used it with white T-shirts as well.
Hello, I hope you can help. I would love to make and try your deodorant as I’m having problems with other recipes. I’ve managed to get most of the ingredients but my healthfood shop only stocks Tapioca Flour or Potato Starch – woukd I be able to use either of those instead of the Tapioca Starch? They can order it in especially for me if not but I just thought I’d check first.
Fingers crossed yours works as I’m getting sore with the baking soda recipes 😔 TIA Angela
Hi Angela! You can use tapioca flour, because often they’re the same thing. Good luck!
I was wondering if you could give me a list of a couple ingredients I could use to replace tapioca flour… I don’t have this available, but it’d love to try this recipe!
You can substitute with another starch such as arrowroot or even cornstarch.
Hola. Me encanta tu idea y deseo probarla. Me surge una duda: dentro de los ingredientes hay uno denominado Cal. Luego no lo veo mencionado en la elaboración del producto. Qué es Cal? Es Hidróxido de Na? Y qúé cantidad se agrega? Muchas gracias. Magdalena
No estoy seguro de a cuál te refieres, pero aquí está la receta en español. 30 g cera de abejas, 20 g manteca de karité, 30 g aceite de aguacate, 20 g almidón de tapioca, 15 g arcilla de bentonita, 25 gotas aceite esencial de mirto de limon, 15 gotas aceite esencial de romero, 15 gotas aceite esencial de lima, 5 gotas aceite esencial de menta verde.Espero que esto ayude.
if I wanted to put this into a small tin so i can wipe it on how would i make the deodorant softer? also , I love this blog.
Thank you so much, Denise! If you want a softer consistency, I would try using only 20-25g of beeswax.
Can you reuse the tube after its done?
If it’s still looking good, yes you can. But be aware it is cardboard, and it does deteriorate over time and with use.
Thanks a lot for getting back to me Jackie!
Hi:) I just wanted to see where I could find the containers to pour the deodorant in?
Hi Jennifer! I got mine from Go Native in New Zealand. Not sure where you can get them outside of NZ.
Hi! I wana try but may I change beewax for other wax like carnauba wax? Thanks!
Hi Rita! You can substitute the beeswax for another vegan wax, but I haven’t tried it out myself yet. Usually the usage rate is about half of beeswax, and it’s better to combine carnauba and candelilla wax than using just one type on its own. It gives a nicer consistency. Hope this helps!
Love this! I currently make a deodorant without baking soda using diatomaceous earth. I am going try yours to compare them.
Diatomaceous earth will work well too. It’s also highly absorbent. Love to hear your thoughts when you compare them!
Well yours does smell a lot better. The diatomaceous earth works however it really doesn’t smell very good when it’s heated in your pits! I like yours however I had to add a bit more oil as it had a little drag to it. It works well but I do have to re-apply if it is a particularly busy day! Thank you!
Thank you! I noticed the drag myself, and it’s funny how some people like it and some don’t.