How to make an all-natural homemade deodorant that really works in covering up body odour. This DIY deodorant can last for hours and works effectively at removing odour.
Body odour. It’s something were all familiar with, and very much a topic we try to avoid talking about.
It’s become almost a taboo subject.
But today I wanted to bring it out of the shadows and share ways to tackle it naturally.
I imagine we’ve all experienced B.O. at some point, maybe after exercising and sweating, and it can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable.
Unpleasant body odour can actually be a symptom of liver toxicity. Not always, it’s just something to be mindful about.
According to Marla Pietruszko HD BSc RHN:
Liver toxicity is experienced to some degree by almost every person today in our modern world.
Signs and Symptoms of Liver Toxicity
If you suffer from:
- Skin conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
- Difficulty losing weight
- Anxiety and/or fatigue
- Poor digestion
- Cellulite
- Hormonal imbalance (hair loss, PMS, irregular cycles, spotting, etc.)
- Autoimmune disease
- Premature aging (greying, wrinkles, etc.)
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Dysbiosis
- Haemorrhoids
- Varicose veins
- Poor methylation
- Oily skin or dry skin
- Bad body odour
- Chronic inflammation
- Mood swings/irritability
- Feeling sluggish
These can be signs of liver toxicity.
Marla goes on to say that:
If you answered “yes” to:
- 1 of the symptoms – your liver could use some gentle cleansing.
- 2-3 of the symptoms – your liver is overburdened and needs to cleanse for several months.
- 4 or more of the symptoms – your liver is extremely congested/blocked and needs immediate cleansing and nutritional support to de-congest.
Your liver and kidneys filter EVERYTHING that goes into your body.
Stress, eating unhealthy foods (or foods laden with glyphosate), drinking alcohol, taking medications that stress the liver (like Accutane), biologics, and others, puts strain on the liver and it has a hard time keeping up with the constant flow of toxicity entering the body.
Marla has worked with hundreds of clients to help them heal their bodies and improve their detoxification systems. You can DM her on Instagram, or go to her website to inquire further on how to help de-congest your liver.
In the meantime, you can reduce your chemical exposure by switching to a natural deodorant!
Why Natural Deodorant?
While drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet helps in reducing body odour, it can still linger.
This is where a natural deodorant comes in handy.
Most of us tend to use conventional deodorants and antiperspirants to help cover up odour, which works a treat, but it comes at a cost.
Conventional deodorants are full of additives and chemicals like aluminium and parabens.
If you find the transition to using a natural deodorant challenging (i.e. you start to sweat more, your skin gets irritated, etc.), it might be helpful to try an armpit detox!
My big reason for switching over to a natural deodorant was to avoid unnecessary chemicals.
One thing I did notice when switching to a natural deodorant was that the pickings were rather slim…
I’m not referring to the lack of natural deodorants out there, more the fact that a lot of them don’t work well.
A Natural Deodorant That Works!
This one takes a little longer to make compared with layering on those conventional sprays, but it’s a lot healthier, lasts longer, and works really well.
Note: Using plain coconut oil and pure baking soda can work pretty well, too. So if you don’t have the time to make you’re own, that’s another alternative. However, just a word of warning, some people get a rash from using baking soda, so test a small amount on a tiny area of skin first before using.
When I don’t have the time to make my own deodorant, this is the pre-made one I use. I’ve had really great success with it, and it’s quite similar to these DIY recipes.
How To Make Your Own Natural Deodorant
Both of these recipes work really well.
The first recipe is a little softer, while the second has a delicious citrusy scent.
What’s great about making your own deodorant is you can customise it to your preferred textures, strengths, and scents by experimenting with the quanities, and changing up the essential oils used.
Shea Butter Natural Deodorant
Adding more shea butter will make the deodorant firmer, while adding more arrowroot powder can help to thicken up the mix, making it more of a thick cream/paste deodorant.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 tbsp shea butter
- 5 tbsp unrefined organic coconut oil
- 1/2 cup baking soda (omit if skin is sensitive to this ingredient)
- 1/2 cup arrowroot powder
- 20 drops grapefruit or lavender essential oil (or another essential oil with antibacterial properties)
To make:
- Combine the shea butter and coconut oil in a small glass jar and place the jar in a small saucepan of water over medium heat until melted, stirring occasionally.
- While melting, mix together the baking soda and arrowroot powder in a small bowl until well combined.
- Remove the jar from heat and add to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well to combine.
- Add the essential oils and pour into an air-tight glass jar for storage. It can take several hours to completely harden. If you want to speed up the process, leave it in the fridge until completely set. Once set, it does not need to be stored in the fridge.
- This homemade deodorant will last up to 3-6 months in an airtight container. Keep in mind that the deodorant changes consistency depending on the temperature. In cooler climates it can become quite hard to get out of the jar. If that’s the case, store it by the shower and allow the steam to warm it up before applying. If you live in a warmer climate, the deodorant may become a little liquid-y. If this happens, store it in a cool cupboard or in the fridge to thicken up.
Citrus Blend Natural Deodorant
After having used Paudha Healing‘s natural citrus blend deodorant for a number of years now, I wanted to try and recreate it, basing the recipe off the ingredients listed on the back of the container.
I’m really pleased with how it turned out, however the texture was a bit off (it wasn’t as soft and buttery as the original), so I recommend adding a little more shea butter and arrowroot powder to achieve the right consistency.
If your skin reacts to bicarb, omit this ingredient (I like using it as it’s great for eliminating odour).
I also used a blend of orange, lemon and grapefruit essential oils to achieve the sweet smelling citrus fragrance (a little different from the essential oils used in the original Paudha Healing deodorant).
Ingredients:
- 2-3 tbsp organic shea butter
- 1/2 cup organic arrowroot powder
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 4 tbsp unrefined organic coconut oil
- 10-20 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 10-20 drops lemon essential oil
- 10-20 drops grapefruit essential oil
To make:
- Combine the shea butter and coconut oil in a small glass jar and place the jar in a small saucepan of water over medium heat until melted, stirring occasionally.
- While melting, mix together the baking soda and arrowroot powder in a small bowl until well combined.
- Remove the jar from heat and add to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well until all the clumps are gone and the mixture is smooth (it should have slightly thickened).
- Add the essential oils and pour the mixture into an airtight glass jar for storage. It can take several hours to completely harden. If you want to speed up the process, leave it in the fridge until completely set. Once set, it does not need to be stored in the fridge.
- This homemade deodorant will last up to 3-6 months in an airtight container. Keep in mind that the deodorant changes consistency depending on the temperature. In cooler climates it can become quite hard to get out of the jar. If that’s the case, store it by the shower and allow the steam to warm it up before applying. If you live in a warmer climate, the deodorant may become a little liquid-y. If this happens, store it in a cool cupboard or in the fridge to thicken up.
If you don’t wish to make your own, this is the pre-made natural one that I use.
As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you used a natural deodorant before? Have you made your own? How was it? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
🖤 Vanessa
Sources:
Wells, Katie. (November 21, 2018). How to Make Natural Deodorant. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/1523/natural-deodorant/
Hansard, Jen. Homemade Deodorant That Really Works. Simple Green Smoothies. Retrieved from https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes/green-beauty/homemade-deodorant
Jensen, Ashleigh. (May 20, 2017). 4 Homemade Natural Deodorant Recipes That Work!. Food Matters. Retrieved from https://www.foodmatters.com/article/4-homemade-natural-deodorant-recipes-that-work
Pietruszko Marla, HD BSc RHN. (July 13, 2021). Liver Toxicity is Experienced to Some Degree by Almost Every Person Today in Our Modern World. Instagram. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRJXxYrLv7/
Lederle, Davida. (JULY 10, 2015). DIY Natural Deodorant… That Actually Works!. Healthy Maven. Retrieved from https://www.thehealthymaven.com/diy-natural-deodorant-that-actually-works/
Hansard, Jen. (August 25, 2020). Homemade Deodorant That Really Works. Simple Green Smoothies. Retrieved from https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes/homemade-deodorant
Chesak, Jennifer. (Updated: June 18, 2020). The No BS Guide to Natural Deodorants (Plus Make Your Own!). Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-deodorants-work-smart-girls-guide
Kati. (Updated: May 3, 2021). Homemade Deodorant Stick. Houseful of Handmade. Retrieved from https://housefulofhandmade.com/homemade-deodorant-stick/
