Finding a homemade deodorant stick recipe that really works in stick form is tricky. I figured out the secret ingredient that gives it stability and the perfect amount of glide.
Homemade deodorant stick recipe
Deodorant is one organic skincare DIY that I’ve been making for a long time. Since commercial deodorants contain some really hazardous ingredients, it was one of the first skincare products that I wanted to be able to make myself. I wanted to be able to use only the safest, most natural ingredients.
For quite a while, I stuck with a cream deodorant recipe, which I applied with my fingers. It worked great. That recipe is amazing at eliminating odor, and I found it to work way better than any of the store-bought natural deodorants I had previously tried.
Then something called motherhood happened to me. I found myself with only a minute fraction of the time I previously had to take care of myself. Suddenly, a cream deodorant that had to be applied with my fingers was just too much effort. I was determined to create a homemade stick deodorant recipe that I loved.
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Testing, Testing
If you’ve looked for them, you’ll know that there are myriad of homemade stick deodorant recipes online. Pretty much all of them are just cream deodorant recipes with wax added. Normally, it’s beeswax.
I tried so, so many of them. And every time, I ended up with the same problem: The deodorant stick was too soft to glide on properly. It just gooped up and went on in a big, thick, mess. Not good! Nobody wants globs of deodorant on their skin and clothes.
I wanted the consistency to be hard but with just enough glide to slide on in a nice, thin layer, just like the store-bought deodorants (but without the toxic chemicals, and it had to really prevent odor).
The secret ingredient
Eventually, after lots more research and testing and experimenting, I figured out the exact proportions that the ingredients needed to be, so that the deodorant was stiff enough to hold up well in stick form.
I also made a crucially important discovery. The type of wax really matters! Beeswax is just too soft.
Candelilla wax turned out to be the secret ingredient I had been looking for. Beeswax softens too quickly, and is responsible for the thick, goopy mess I had been experiencing.
Candelilla wax, on the other hand, stays much firmer, resulting in a perfect glide. I was so excited. I had nailed it!
Let’s talk about sweat
Before I share my fabulous homemade deodorant stick recipe with you, let’s talk for a moment about sweat. Isn’t sweating gross? Shouldn’t we try to stop it? Actually, sweating is a really good thing.
Sweating is one of the ways that our bodies detoxify. Preventing our bodies from sweating is preventing one of our important detoxification pathways from working, and is definitely a bad idea.
Also, commercial deodorants usually use some form of aluminum to stop perspiration. Aluminum is toxic to the body in a variety of ways. It’s certainly not something we want to be absorbed into our bodies on a daily basis.
So, ditch the toxic aluminum, and feel good about letting your body sweat. The good news is, with a great homemade deodorant stick recipe, you can perspire without worrying about odor.
And you don’t have to sweat like a pig. The arrowroot powder in this recipe helps to absorb wetness and keep you dryer, without compromise.
More about the ingredients
I use a variety of skin-friendly oils and butter in this deodorant recipe. Olive oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil provide moisturizing properties. Virgin coconut oil has its own antimicrobial properties that help control odor. Arrowroot powder helps to reduce wetness.
The baking soda is a small enough amount to not be irritating but also helps to prevent odor. In the past, I’ve used deodorant recipes with more baking soda in them, and they do tend to be irritating. I haven’t had that trouble with this recipe.
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Customize it
Like so many other DIY skincare recipes, you can really have fun with the scent. Different essential oils can be blended and used to create an unlimited variety of scent options. Some of my favorites are lavender, grapefruit, and vanilla. I also really like Plant Therapy’s Deodorizing Synergy. For men, cedarwood and sandalwood are really nice choices.
Whatever essential oils you decide to go with, I recommend adding a few drops of tea tree essential oil at the same time. Tea tree is really effective in controlling odor and will blend nicely with the other oils you use.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Another nice thing about making deodorant yourself is that you can really reduce the amount of trash that is thrown away. Stick deodorant containers can be used, refilled, and used again and again. I like to use little chalk labels to write the scent I used each time I make a new batch of deodorant.
Homemade deodorant stick recipe directions
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 tbsp candelilla wax
- 1 tbsp cocoa butter
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 60 drops essential oils of choice
- 6 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions:
- Put candelilla wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and olive oil in a heat-safe container.
- Create a double boiler by putting the container with the oils and wax in a pan of water.
- Heat the water in the makeshift double boiler to a low boil.
- Keep heating the oils until the candelilla wax is completely melted and blended in.
- Add the arrowroot powder and baking soda, and mix well.
- Remove from heat, and add essential oils, mixing well.
- Pour into stick deodorant containers.
- Allow to harden in the refrigerator, then allow to come to room temperature.
- Store at room temperature.
Homemade deodorant stick recipe video
More DIY skincare recipes
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How to make magnesium lotion for sleep, stress, and more
Have you tried making your own deodorant yet?
What essential oils do you like to use? Tell me in the comments!
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Extra virgin olive oil, organic
Plant Therapy Deodorizing Synergy
Plant Therapy tea tree essential oil
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Yield: 4 2.5 fl. oz. sticks
Stick Deodorant
Finding homemade deodorant stick recipe that really works in stick form is tricky. I figured out the secret ingredient that gives it stability and glide.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp candelilla wax
- 1 tbsp cocoa butter
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 60 drops essential oils of choice
- 6 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions
- Put candelilla wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and olive oil in a heat safe container.
- Create a double boiler by putting the container with the oils and wax in a pan of water.
- Heat the water in the makeshift double boiler to a low boil.
- Keep heating the oils until the candelilla wax is completely melted and blended in.
- Add the arrowroot powder and baking soda, and mix well.
- Remove from heat, and add essential oils, mixing well.
- Pour into stick deodorant containers.
- Allow to harden in the refrigerator, then allow to come to room temperature.
- Store at room temperature.
