Natural Homemade Deodorant for Sensitive Skin
Soothing, yet effective, this natural homemade deodorant stick works without baking soda nor coconut oil and uses zinc to help combat odors for those with sensitive skin.
I’m so excited to finally be able to share with you a natural, homemade deodorant for sensitive skin that actually works!
(Before I tell you about my homemade solid deodorant, I wanted to let you know that I also have a roll-on deodorant recipe! My husband loved that one. This one, though, this continues to be my favorite.)
Over the years, I’ve tried so many different natural homemade deodorant recipes, but all of them were either ineffective, irritating to my skin, or just plain too messy to use daily for the rest of my life.
Can you relate?
Natural homemade deodorants that didn’t work (for me)
I’ve been on the search for a decent natural homemade deodorant for years now. Long before I started living a more natural lifestyle, I even had issues with a lot of “normal” deodorants not working for me.
I tried everything. I tried detoxing and eating mostly fruits and veggies after hearing that body odor is often diet-related. I tried supplementation, but that didn’t seem to help either.
For a while, I even used a strange deodorant that I found here in Spain. It was a conventional deodorant, meant to last 2-3 days without needing to reapply, but I was using it daily. That, of course, concerned me a bit.
Crystal deodorants
I wanted something more natural, so I turned to those weird crystal deodorants that you have to get wet with water and then apply under your arms.
Unfortunately, not only did I find them messy, and not 100% effective, but I ditched the idea when I learned that the active ingredient was an aluminum salt. The main reason I wanted to ditch conventional deodorants was to avoid toxins like aluminum.
Many will call me irrational and argue that they are perfectly safe, but why take the risk, especially when I have cancer and Alzheimer’s running in my family?
Coconut oil + baking soda
In the search for something that was aluminum-free, I turned to what seems to be the most popular DIY deodorant: coconut oil and baking soda.
At first, it seemed to work well. After a while, though, the baking soda started to really irritate my skin. That was especially true when exercising or even at certain times of my cycle. I’d end up with very red and sore, chaffed armpits.
If I ditched the baking soda and just used coconut oil (whose antibacterial properties were supposedly enough to work as a deodorant alone), it was as if I hadn’t applied anything at all. Coconut oil did absolutely nothing for me other than leave me feeling a bit oily.
Baking soda-free deodorants
Because baking soda irritated my skin, I tried deodorant recipes that were baking soda-free.
Most of the recipes used coconut oil and replaced the baking soda with clays (like bentonite clay), essential oil mixtures, or both.
The clays were chosen to help absorb the moisture, something that I wasn’t as worried about. The essential oils provided antibacterial qualities that were supposed to help combat body odor. While they did help somewhat, they definitely weren’t enough to keep odors away. (My husband confirmed my suspicions and let me know how ineffective they really were!) 🙊
At one point, I even spent a small fortune buying the ingredients for a natural homemade deodorant that used neem oil. It was supposed to be extra effective. Unfortunately, it smelled so bad that it smelled worse than the body odor that I was trying to avoid! Plus, it didn’t work!
The mixture of neem oil and body odor was nauseating enough that I couldn’t sleep well the first night I applied it.
Back to the drawing board…
What did work (kind of)?
Baking soda is an effective deodorant because it alters the pH under your arms, making it a hostile environment for bacteria to form. In the case of baking soda, a base, the pH is raised enough to help combat body odor.
Baking soda & water
Baking soda was irritating to my skin, but it did work for me, so I decided to try again.
I thought that it was probably the abrasive nature of the baking soda that caused me problems. So, I filled a roll-on deodorant container with baking soda, dissolved in water, with a few drops of essential oil, and tried using that.
It actually worked pretty well and, most of the time, it wasn’t even irritating to my skin! I did have an occasional flare-up, but usually, months would pass between them.
It wasn’t this messy every day, but I often found white drips like this in my bathroom after using baking soda and water! 
This was a homemade baking soda deodorant that I used for a while.
The real problem, though, was that it was very messy to apply.
The baking soda solution was completely liquid, so it usually ended up all over the place. It dried leaving a white powdered mess behind.
I got sick of always having to clean up afterward, and my husband started to complain about the white stains I unwittingly left behind all of the time. It also left white marks on my clothes like spilled toothpaste. They were easy enough to clean, but I, too, got sick of the mess everywhere.
Acids as deodorants
Lowering the pH is another great way to prevent body odor. That’s why vinegar also works as a natural deodorant. I, too, effectively used it for months.
There were several problems with using vinegar as a deodorant, though.
First, I had to apply it when my husband wasn’t around because he can’t stand the smell of vinegar. Fortunately, the scent goes away when it dries, so it doesn’t smell bad while used.
Unfortunately, although it normally worked, there were days that midway through the day, it no longer did. I reapplied, when I was able. Sometimes that wasn’t convenient, though. Plus, when I applied it too often, I ended up with sore, red armpits again.
I tried using lemons but didn’t like “wasting them” as a deodorant. Plus I had the same issue with lemons as I did with vinegar.
For a while, I dissolved citric acid in water and used that as my favorite natural deodorant. Again, though, it was hard to find a concentration that would be effective without irritating my skin.
See, I tried a lot of different natural homemade deodorants before I shared my favorite!
Luckily, I found something that did work without irritation by accident one day…
The best homemade deodorant: zinc!
One day I applied a homemade sunscreen attempt, made with zinc oxide, to my red, irritated armpits because I didn’t have any other creams or lotions on hand.
Not only did it help calm my irritated skin, but I was surprised to find that I had no unpleasant body odor while using it. It alone was enough to work as a deodorant.
Unlike aluminum, zinc is an essential trace element that your body needs to maintain health. Instead of irritating the skin, it can actually help with wound healing. Zinc in topical formulas may help combat acne, eczema, and psoriasis. (Just think of how zinc oxide is used in many diaper creams.)
I decided to get to work and formulate a solid deodorant that I could comfortably apply and use daily. I planned to use zinc oxide, but wanted to boost the deodorant properties. So, I did some further investigation.
Ingredients
My natural homemade deodorant uses a base of an oil, a butter, and a wax to give a creamy solid bar that can glide over your skin. I chose to use sweet almond oil, shea butter, and beeswax. You may want to use a different combination. (See the substitutions section below.)
For their deodorizing properties, I’ve used two types of zinc, zinc oxide and zinc ricinoleate. Zinc oxide is a white powder and zinc ricinoleate is generally found as a waxy pellet.
To add a bit of color (so the deodorant isn’t bright white) and some anti-inflammatory properties, I added a bit of matcha powder. I drink matcha almost daily, so I always have it on hand. It’s a totally optional ingredient, though.
For scent, I added a mix of lavender and tea tree essential oils. They may also have some anti-microbial properties that help keep odor away.
Lastly, I added 0.5% of vitamin E (tocopherol) to the deodorant because it’s an antioxidant that helps prolong the shelf life of the deodorant. Plus, it may help with skin nurturing.
Zinc oxide
Zinc oxide has antibacterial qualities. In fact, it works against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. If you have no idea what that means, don’t worry. It just means that it’s effective over a wide spectrum of bacteria, so no matter what bacteria is causing your odor issues, you should be covered.
As I mentioned before, body odor comes from perspiration combining with the bacteria on your skin, so if you can create a hostile environment for the bacteria by either altering the pH (baking soda, vinegar), or by using something with antibacterial properties (essential oils, zinc oxide), you can prevent body odor from developing.
For the safest zinc oxide, I’d recommend choosing non-nano zinc. Non-nano zinc has larger particles that won’t be absorbed by your skin and enter your bloodstream. So, it’s safer.
The downside to zinc oxide is that it’s very, very white! One of the reasons I added the matcha is that I wanted the deodorant to be a shade that wasn’t quite to bright.
Zinc Ricinoleate as a deodorant
When researching zinc for deodorants, I came across zinc ricinoleate, a zinc salt that is sold as both a deodorant additive and also as an aid in preventing acne. Zinc ricinoleate comes from ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid found in castor seed oil.
If you saw “ricin” in the name and were concerned about it, you’ll be happy to know that although they come from the same place, castor oil and ricin don’t mix. Ricin is water-soluble, so it doesn’t get mixed into the castor oil. Any leftover ricin that may enter the castor oil when it is extracted will no longer be an issue because the proteins in ricin are deactivated by the heat used in the process of castor oil extraction.
The mechanism for zinc ricinoleate working as a deodorant isn’t exactly known, but it is thought to absorb the odors somehow without inhibiting natural perspiration.
When I received my package of zinc ricinoleate, it stated on the package that zinc ricinoleate (I’m translating from Spanish, here, so I’m not sure I’m using the perfect translation, but…) “covers the bad odors that are caused by the bacterial decomposition of sweat so that they aren’t perceived as unpleasant.” I’ve tried to research the exact mechanism of “covering” the odor, but it seems like it isn’t well understood. Most places that talk about it just say that it has a way of “absorbing” the bad odors.
Procedure
Once you’ve obtained the ingredients, making this deodorant is simple! It’s pretty much as easy as melting everything together and pouring it into a deodorant tube. That said, I can give you some tips and tricks to make it perfectly!
Begin by weighing out the ingredients and then melting together the shea butter, almond oil, beeswax, and zinc ricinoleate in a double boiler insert until the wax and zinc ricinoleate melt. Once it’s completely liquid, remove the mixture from the heat source.
Add the beeswax to the shea butter. 
Add the almond oil. 
Add the zinc ricinoleate.
Next, add the zinc oxide and matcha powder and whisk them into the oil mixture. To ensure a smooth deodorant, consider sifting the powders by pressing them through a fine sieve. You can also use a small mixer or milk frother to fully incorporate the powders in the oils. (This helps keep the zinc from forming lumps and/or sinking to the bottom of the container.)
Add the matcha. 
Sift in the zinc oxide. 
Use a milk frother or mixer for best mix!
Finally, add the vitamin E and the essential oils, whisking everything together until fully blended. (You may need to gently warm the mixture over the hot water if it begins to solidify and you are having a hard time mixing everything together.)
While still warm, pour the mixture into deodorant containers. (You can also pour it into tins for applying the deodorant by hand.)
Zinc oxide powder, green matcha powder, and zinc ricinoleate beads.
If making one tube of deodorant, you will likely have a little leftover. You can pour it into a small tin for having on hand or for using in subsequent batches.
Allow the mixture to cool off and set without disturbing it. Once it has cooled and solidified, you can use it immediately!
Materials
FAQs
If applied in a thin coat, I haven’t had issues with staining. To prevent staining, apply a very thin coat and allow it to fully absorb (or rub it in) before putting on your clothes. It’s easiest to apply a thin coat when the deodorant is on the harder (more solid) side. If it’s too creamy or soft, you’ll likely end up applying too much and it may stain. (To get a harder bar, reduce the liquid oil and/or increase the amount of wax.)
I haven’t tried it yet in this particular recipe, but candelilla wax is a vegetable (vegan-friendly) wax that makes a great substitute for beeswax in recipes. It should work here without issues, but you may have to adjust the amount used if you find that the bar is too soft or too hard.
Yes, you can use pretty much any liquid carrier oil instead.
As much as I love coconut oil, I generally avoid using it in homemade cosmetics because it solidifies at around 76ºF. That means that the consistency of the product can vary depending on the ambient temperature. I’ve only tried this with a liquid oil, so I’m not sure if the texture will change in winter if using coconut oil.
While I doubt it will be a problem in this recipe, if you do want to use coconut oil and find it too hard in the winter, try using fractionated coconut oil, which doesn’t solidify, or use a little less beeswax when you make your winter batches with “regular” coconut oil.
Matcha is optional, but I think it’s a great addition to this homemade deodorant.
Green tea, in the form of matcha powder, has lots of antioxidants, it’s anti-inflammatory, and it makes the deodorant a beautiful shade of green! Powders in anhydrous products like this one (something that only uses oils and waxes, and no water) also seem to help with the glide factor and reduce greasiness. All of that said, you most certainly can leave it out of the recipe!
You can switch out the essential oils used if you like, but keep the amount around 1% of the recipe (by weight) or less to avoid issues with sensitivity. Also, keep in mind that some oils may cause more sensitivity than others.
Another issue, which probably isn’t problematic in a product like deodorant because your armpits aren’t generally exposed to the sun, but some essential oils (like bergamot and some of the pressed citrus oils) can cause photosensitivity.
Zinc ricinoleate is one of the active ingredients in this deodorant that help make it effective. If you are desperate to try and really can’t find it, you can try leaving it out, but know that the deodorant will be less effective.
Because zinc ricinoleate is normally a waxy ingredient, you should replace it with an extra gram or two of beeswax to help keep the deodorant solid. If you just leave it out, you’ll end up with more of a cream than a solid deodorant.
I personally have always used zinc ricinoleate because I need the extra effectiveness.
Over the years, I’ve heard from several people who have made the deodorant without it. It has been effective for some, and not so much for others. Using them together, though, I have yet to hear from someone who says it doesn’t work for them. So, if you can find it, add it!
Because there are no water-based ingredients, this recipe doesn’t need a preservative. It will also keep for quite some time, depending on the freshness of the ingredients you are using.
To get an idea, check the expiration date of your ingredients. The deodorant should keep for as long as the ingredient with the shortest shelf life. (With time, it may start to smell rancid as the oils change. It won’t be unsafe to use, but definitely isn’t pleasant.)
Although this is an oil-based recipe, the outside can be contaminated with the bacteria and wetness from your skin. To prevent mold and other microbial growth on the outside, apply it to clean, dry armpits and only cap it if it’s fully dry. (If you’re really concerned, you can always add a preservative.)
This is a difficult question because different liquids have different ingredients. If it’s an anhydrous (without water) liquid, you can probably use it, but you’ll have to adjust the recipe to achieve a solid deodorant consistency. (Reduce the liquid oils and/or increase the wax.)
If it is a liquid that has water, you’d have to use an emulsifier of some sort to add it. You’ll also need a preservative. There is also the issue of adjusting the recipe to get the right consistency.
In either case, you’ll need to use the recommended dosage for the product you’re using. (Your supplier should have that information.)
Yes! I’ve been happily using this homemade deodorant for years now.
Not only has it worked through many-a-workout and walking outside on hot summer days, but it hasn’t caused any irritation at all. In fact, I think it has helped soothe my armpits and has kept me from getting chaffing when I walk or run without any sleeves.
Video
Natural Homemade Deodorant for Sensitive Skin
Materials
- 25 g shea butter
- 25 g sweet almond oil
- 25 g beeswax pellets
- 20 g zinc oxide
- 2 g zinc ricinoleate
- 1/2 tsp. matcha
- .5 g vitamin E
- .5 g tea tree essential oil
- .5 g lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Melt together the shea butter, almond oil, beeswax, and zinc ricinoleate in a double boiler until the wax and zinc ricinoleate melt. Remove from the heat.
- Add the zinc oxide, matcha powder, vitamin E drops, and essential oils, and whisk together well until the zinc oxide is well incorporated into the oils and wax. You can use a milk frother or beater to fully incorporate the powders into the mixture. (Also, consider sifting the powders to avoid lumps.) You may need to mix them together over the warm water if the mixture solidifies too quickly.
- While still warm, pour the mixture into deodorant containers. You can also pour it into tins, or pour any excess into storage containers, for applying the deodorant by hand.
- Allow the mixture to cool off and set without disturbing it. Once it has set, you can use it immediately!
Notes
- Makes around 75 ml (5 small 15ml tubes, or one larger 75ml tube)
- Matcha is optional for antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties and a bit of color.
- Use the essential oils of your choice for scent. (Or leave them out completely for unscented.)
- For those who prefer a roll-on deodorant, I have recipe for a natural roll-on deodorant that also uses zinc.
- For a more solid bar either reduce the amount of oil or increase the amount of wax (or both). For a softer bar, do the opposite.
Changes to this recipe
- This recipe was originally written with the EO’s and Vitamin E in drops rather than grams. As it is impossible to get an accurate estimation of how much you are really using when using drops, I have switched it to grams.
- Some people found the deodorant too soft. It originally called for 40g almond oil and 15g beeswax. I have since reduced the liquid oil and increased the beeswax to get a harder bar.
My old baking soda deodorant recipe
Use this one at your own risk!
As many people have shown interest, I have kept my old baking soda deodorant recipe here. It worked well for me for months, but I did occasionally get irritation when using it.
This deodorant is lacking several things… It combines oils and water and doesn’t use an emulsifier nor a preservative. That’s obviously not ideal.
Lotions and creams are made by emulsifying together a water solution and an oil solution, using an emulsifier to keep them together. Adding water and other liquids to your lotions and creams makes them lighter and hydrating, but it has the disadvantage of being a breeding ground for bacteria. (Just think how quickly a fresh fruit or vegetable goes bad in comparison with a dried one whose moisture has been removed.) So, generally, any time you combine water and oils in a recipe, you’ll need both an emulsifier and a preservative.
I was mainly relying on the high pH from the baking soda to help make my homemade deodorant last longer without needing to add preservatives.
I surprisingly never found any separation when using the mix. Perhaps because the water level was so low? Beeswax isn’t really an emulsifier, but perhaps it in combination with the alkaline baking soda was enough to incorporate the small amount of water in this recipe. (Beeswax combined with borax, for example, can show some emulsifying properties.)
This is a small batch, and it’s probably a good idea to keep it that way because it incorporates water without any real preservatives. (Baking soda will raise the pH which does serve to inhibit microbes from forming. The essential oils, matcha, and vitamin E don’t really preserve at all, but may help it last a bit longer. I can’t be sure that the pH is high enough to prevent bacterial contamination here because I’ve never tried testing it and I haven’t made this in years!) I had mine last a couple of months without any issues, but if you decide to try this recipe, and it starts smelling funky, don’t risk it and throw it out!
It was also measured in teaspoons and drops, something that I no longer do. Ensure that the amount of essential oils doesn’t go over 1% of the recipe by weight so that it is less likely to cause skin sensitivity.
Baking Soda Deodorant for slightly sensitive skin
4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. matcha
2 tsp. water
2 Tbsp. shea butter
1 Tbsp. almond oil
1.5 Tbsp. Beeswax
0.5% vitamin E (by weight)
10 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
- Dissolve the baking soda in water over a double boiler.
- Add in the shea butter, almond oil, and beeswax and whisk over the double boiler until the wax and shea butter have melted, and all of the ingredients are well combined.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the matcha, vitamin E, and essential oils.
- Pour into deodorant containers and allow to set.
This post was originally published on July 25, 2016. It was rewritten, adding new notes and photos in June of 2021.
I am intrigued by your recipe and may well be ordering some ZO soon! But I’m wondering, does the matcha stain clothing green? I’d be worried about that with white shirts and bras.
I haven’t had any problems with staining, but it’s best to apply a very thin layer to avoid issues. Ideally, it should be made on the solid side so that a thin layer can be applied.
Hi Tracy!
Your site is just amazing!! I really enjoyed reading all the good info =) thank you for sharing your knowledge!! I am having a really really difficult time finding a natural deodorant that works for me, just as you did =(. I have used a lot of different things with no success. I used a powder with baking soda, arrowroot powder and lavender oil and It worked so amazing for me!! Until it started burning my underarms horribly, I had very dark underarms for a while after that. So I had to stop using it. I used lemon juice too! It worked good bc I had no bad odor while using it, the bad part was that I did sweat (there was still no odor while sweating) so It was very uncomfortable to be sweaty. The lime was also very annoying to apply since I would have to use a hair dryer (on cold setting) to dry my underarms, this took too much time and it sometimes left a sticky feeling.
I want to ask you some questions in hopes of finding the ideal Natural deoderant, if I ever do find it I will be extremely happy =)
I had read about Zinc so I recently bought Non-nano uncoated oxide powder the bag says its “therapeutic grade” I am not sure if this would make a difference or not. As soon as I received the zinc powder I started using it straight with nothing else, I would simply grab some and rub it directly on my underarms. I am so so sad that this did not work for me! Even though It did stop my sweating, the bad odor was still there very strong =(. I was planning on making a deoderant stick with the zinc and some other ingredients but since the Zinc on its own did not work for me I highly doubt that adding more things would be effective for me. I read on your website about the Zinc Ricinoleate, I would like to try that out but it is pretty pricey =( I was hoping to find something more affordable. What do you recommend for me to do? Do you think the zinc with magnesium chloride (oil) works? I read in your comments someone mentioning that. I was also hoping to get a recommendation for a scale, I would like to buy one that is good quality since I do like to make my own natural cosmetics at home but there are just so many out there. Thank you in advance =)
Hi Bria,
Thank you so much!
Well, for me, the zinc ricinoleate is what works best.
When used in combination with the zinc oxide, I think the deodorant has worked for pretty much everybody. I can’t remember anybody telling me it didn’t work for them when using both together.
Those that have only used zinc oxide- some find that it is enough and it works for them, but others find that it isn’t enough for them. I’m one of the latter. I need the extra help from the ZR. I even had a couple write me to tell me that they don’t react well to zinc oxide, so they made my deodorant with only the zinc ricinoleate and loved it.
I’m not sure about the magnesium chloride. I’ve heard of people saying it works for them, but I find that it irritates my skin and isn’t effective as a deodorant for me.
My husband uses my other recipe- the roll-on deodorant, but this one works better for me.
As for scales…
The main scale I use was just a normal kitchen scale that I bought at a local supermarket here in Spain.
There are some very accurate scales, but they are very expensive. So, this is what I do…
I have one normal kitchen scale that measures to one decimal place for grams and can weigh up to 2kg. Then, for smaller measurements, I have a jeweler’s scale. It measures small amounts more accurately because it measures several decimal places, but overall, you can only weigh up to about 500g.
I use the kitchen scale for soap recipes and larger batches. The jeweler’s scale is perfect for small batches and recipes like this one.
It’s probably impossible for you to find the very same scales I bought because I bought them locally here in Spain, but I can share some links to similar type products if you like.
This is an example of a kitchen scale like mine.
kitchen scale like mine. This is an example of a jeweler’s scale like mine. jeweler's scale like mine.
I hope that helps!
I have found that three parts white vinegar to one part distilled water with quite a few drops of lavender essential oil in a mist bottle works for me. I tried a few combinations with magnesium chloride (magnesium oil) all led to irritation. I found that vinegar and water alone wasn’t enough, it must be the antimicrobial properties in the lavender. I will continue experimenting with this formula as the base.
Hi Ryan,
I hope you find something that works well for you!
I couldn’t use magnesium either. I found it irritating too.
Thank you so much for replying =)
I just saw your response. The scale idea sounds great! I will buy both scales.
I will also buy the zinc ricinoleate to give it a try, I hope this works =)
what function does the zinc oxide have? does it help with the sweating?
I forgot to tell you that I was worried about the expiration date on the zinc because where I purchased it from (online amazon) it doesn’t provide me with the date of expiration and I thought maybe its simply old zinc and so it’s not effective as a deodorant for that reason. Do you know if expired old zinc would lose its potency?
I am going to make your deodorant recipe for my dad and me so I cant wait to find out the results!! does the roll-on deodorant recipe work better on men?
the last question, if I wanted to omit the matcha, almond oil and shea butter would this recipe work out? the reason I ask is because, I find deodorant recipe’s to be more effective the fewer ingredients I add.
Hi Bria,
I added the zinc oxide for yet another type of zinc to make a more effective deodorizer. I have heard from a couple who successfully made this without zinc oxide, though, (one was sensitive to it) and they said it worked really well for both of them. The combination of the two seems to be very effective for pretty much everybody. Using only one seems to work for some people and not for others. (Normally people try leaving out the zinc ricinoleate, though, because it’s harder to find.)
I would try using the zinc anyway. I think it’s pretty stable, and don’t think you’d have any safety issues, so it’s worth a try. I have admittedly been using an older zinc oxide for several years now too. The only issue I’ve seen is that it has clumped up and is a bit harder to use. If you blend it well, though, you should be fine.
I think this recipe is more effective than the roll on. My husband prefers the way the roll-on glides on. That’s why I make that one for him. He doesn’t need something as strong as I do for some reason. I don’t think it’s necessarily a man vs. woman issue- it’s more about preference and each person’s chemistry, I guess. 😉
You can omit the matcha. I add it to make the deodorant a darker color because the zinc oxide is very white. Plus, it’s anti-inflammatory, so it may help calm the skin.
As for leaving out the almond oil and shea butter, they, along with the wax, are making up the bulk of the recipe. It’s what makes the consistency you need to apply the deodorant. You can adjust the levels to get a good consistency for you, and could maybe leave out one of the two, but you’d have to play with the amounts of the other ingredients to get a workable consistency. (More wax hardens, more liquid oil softens. The shea is somewhat in the middle.) You could maybe leave out the shea butter, for example, but the consistency may not be as creamy, and you may need to add more wax to help harden the deodorant slightly.
I’m allergic to almonds and coconut. Is there another substitute I could use instead?
The almond oil can be subbed with any other liquid oil. This recipe doesn’t use coconut oil.
Do you have the recipe for the sensitive skin deodorant using tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, etc. I do not have a scale and not really wanting to purchase one for this one recipe. Thanks.
Hi Lesley,
I’m sorry. I don’t have the recipe calculated in volume measurements. It’s too difficult to get the right consistency that way as different shapes of wax (beads vs. other forms or different sized beads) would give completely different results in the final recipe.
Even with the recipe as written, I’ve found that the zinc ricinoleate can vary in hardness and that means that some people end up with a creamier deo vs. a solid one.
You will not need an expensive scale to make your products for home use. However, if you are really set on not buying a scale there are calculators online that convert grams to ounces and so forth but you still run the risk of your DIY products not turning out correctly due to the different shapes of waxes and such. A scale is really the sure way of doing products at home because it is way more accurate with measurements than using a measuring cup. Best of Luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge Tracy! It was your tip on using zinc oxide that prompted me to start experimenting with it and now I have a baking soda free deodorant I’m finally happy with and that I successfully sell on etsy. I haven’t yet experimented with zinc ricinoleate but I’ve found that the zinc oxide combined with magnesium chloride is pretty effective. I’ve tried other things like diatomaceous earth and magnesium chloride on its own and wasn’t too impressed. I’m wondering if you’ve ever thought about using a natural preservative like aspen bark extract as a deodorizer. I’ve been considering it as a possible additive because I’d like to one day sell an effective deodorant that goes on clear (also because both the magnesium and zinc are a pain to work with). Would be interested to know your thoughts on it.
Hi Elise,
Thank you for your comment. I’m so happy to have helped!
No, I hadn’t considered aspen bark extract as a deodorant. I actually have some at home, but haven’t tried it yet. I meant to use it for facial creams.
Because I haven’t used it yet, I don’t really know how well it works (for anything) or how much irritation it might cause. It is an interesting idea, though.
Zinc ricinoleate would help in your quest to make a clear deodorant, though. It’s nothing like zinc oxide and is much less messy to work with. Perhaps adding that to your other ingredients would help you reduce or get rid of the ZO. (I did have one couple tell me they made my deo without the ZO and it worked well for them.)
I’ve considered trying to make a gel deodorant with clear products too, but now I can’t remember exactly what I wanted to use. (I set aside the project because I couldn’t find dispensers here.)
I have used baking-soda-based deodorant for a few years now and never had an issue. After my (now) husband started getting a reaction to aluminum-based deodorants, I tried converting him to the baking-soda deodorant I loved. He ended up actually developing a slight rash and then, with continued use, a fungal infection which required prescription cream to get rid of. At first, we both didn’t think it could be the natural deodorant – I used it and never had an issue. So we threw out the batch in case there was contamination and tried again… The rash started appearing again, so he stopped using it. Alas, it meant having to buy natural deodorants which usually didn’t work. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this recipe after desperately trying to find a deodorant that could work for both of us. I was worried that his sensitive skin might have an issue with the deodorant, but it’s been a few months of use and it works wonderfully! For a natural deodorant, it really does deodorise. Even after heavy working out, we both don’t notice a smell change. Trust me when I say this was not the case for other natural deodorants. You will sweat, of course, but no funky smell.
I’m used to applying a rather thick layer of deodorant (running the stick several times), but with this deodorant, it will leave you with stains on your clothes if you apply too much. However, just apply less (maybe two swipes, max) and the stains are of no concern 🙂
Sorry for the blogpost… It’s been a journey trying to find a homemade, natural deodorant, and I am very happy with the results from this one. ¡Gracias por la receta y todas las informacións que compartes en tu sitio web, Tracy!
Awww, thanks, Alex!
Or should I say ¡Muchas gracias! ?
Wow, Tracy i learned a ton here. i’m experimenting w/deodorants also, so far i’ve had 3 epic fails, the first was diatomaceous earth that stained severely, the second was baking soda that broke my Husband out, the most recent and third, has zinc oxide and was a cruel stainer =( What i’m looking to do is something like Tom’s, water based, solid translucent that doesn’t stain…so my research continues…
Hello,
I’ve found that with zinc oxide, the key is to make the deodorant as solid as possible. That way, you only spread on the thinnest film of the deodorant and it doesn’t stain. If you use it as a paste, it will be sticky and go on in a thick layer which will stain.
I made the deodorant twice now and each time it comes out really soft and greasy/sticky. It is similar to vegetable shortening. Anyway, I can’t use it in an old deoderant tube because it is so soft that I can’t roll it up. Any suggestions? Also, I have a really pathetic scale (which might be the problem) but I would really appreciate if you could put the recipe in US measurements, like teaspoons and tablespoons.
Thanks for your time and for sharing your recipe!
Hi Angela,
That could be due to differences in the zinc ricinoleate from place to place. I’ve heard the same comment before, which is why I want to update the post with tips for getting it to be more solid if that happens.
All you need to do is to decrease the amount of liquid oil and/or increase the amount of beeswax (or both). Yes, you want it to be on the hard side so that you only need to apply a very thin coat. That’s all that’s needed!
I love this deodorant (even without the ricinoleate) and it has been pretty good so far but I’m wondering if there are any ways to make it appear less white on the arms? I find I get white residue on my clothes a lot and it often makes my armpits look white and lint sticks to it like crazy. Has anyone had this problem or has any ideas for a fix?
Hi Morgan,
You want to get the deodorant to be in as solid of consistency as you can so that only a small amount comes off on your skin.
If you’ve made it without the zinc ricinoleate, you probably end up with a very sticky cream that is difficult to apply. When trying to apply something with a creamy texture, you’ll end up apply more than what is really needed, and that will lead to it looking white and even staining clothes.
The zinc ricinoleate is harder than beeswax so it really helps solidify the deo. Some people are finding that even with a different ZR, that it isn’t solidifying enough to glide on easily. I want to update the recipe soon- to lower the amount of liquid oil and/or increase the wax amounts. (That can be either beeswax, ZR, or incorporating some other wax.) That will help solidify things more for everybody.
It may be a bit of trial and error for each person to find what consistency works best for them.
Ok thanks so much! Maybe I will just try adding more beeswax since I can’t find any ZR (and maybe is hit and miss even if I found it if I can’t get the right one). Thanks for your reply!
I have been using your recipe for almost two months now and I have to say IT IS AMAZING!!
I make almost everything these days, you name it, I’ve made it so I know a thing or two about DIY. I spend hours researching recipes & ingredients and tbh this is the first review I have ever left. I came back to pick up the recipe again and upon seeing the review left on 23 July 2019 I just had to leave this review. You are right, everyone reacts differently and nothing will ever work for everyone but that is not your fault and seeing as you set out to do a good thing, people should acknowledge that i.e. there is no need to refer to it as ‘awful”, that is just disappointing! Nonetheless, I do hope Margaret finds something that better caters to her needs.
Now, my experience.. Day 1 -I’m not going to lie.. I stank!! However, I had not used any matcha (ran out) and I think my body just needed time to adjust (it didn’t help that I went straight in with a dynamic 90-minute yoga session, I pitied those around me 🙁 .Move forward to Day 2 onwards, it has been AMAZING (having added matcha on day two), my underarms feel soft, the hair seems to grow less (might be wishful thinking on that one!), I do not stink at all, not even at night or the next morning, I sweat a little less and I never re-apply. I’ve even taken this on holiday where temperatures were 35 degrees + and it worked a treat.
The best bit.. I’ve converted my partner and my sister who both sweat buckets (to put things into context, my partner has been using a deodorant prescribed by the doctor as the standard off-the-shelf deodorants just don’t quite cut it), are both naturally very sceptical about my natural care regimes and are both clean freaks! Now if that doesn’t define how great this deodorant is I don’t know what will!
Hence why I’m back here trying to make more!
I use zinc oxide as it’s proven rather difficult obtaining zinc ricinoleate in the UK, even on Amazon!! Anyhow, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.. I’ll keep on with the zinc oxide until ricinoleate becomes more readily accessible.
Thanks for a beautiful product! I hope you share more 🙂 God bless you! Xx
Thank you so much, Ebony, for your review and feedback! I love hearing how it’s working well for almost everybody!
I’ve heard mixed reviews from people using only one of the zincs, but still can’t recall hearing from anybody who has used both saying that it didn’t work for them.
I’m glad that just using the ZO works well for you.
I buy ZR here in Europe from a place called cremascaseras.es. If you ever decide you want to try it with that, you could perhaps find it there. That said, like you said, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” 😉