Making Your Own Herbal Deodorant

Deodorant was one of the products that I had the hardest time switching from a conventional brand to a natural alternative. But I knew how absolutely toxic the store bought versions were, so I was determined to find one. I tried so many brands, all of them expensive and none of them working. Then when I started experimenting with recipes found online, I started to realize what worked and what didn’t. Then herbs came into to play, did you know there are herbs that have natural deodorizing properties? I didn’t either…talk about a game changer. With this new found knowledge I set out to make the perfect deodorant recipe, one that was moisturizing while keeping odors at bay, and I am going to share that recipe with you today. The idea in this recipe is to combine some of the best odor fighting herbs and essential oils with moisturizing Shea Butter to make a gentle natural deodorant, that actually works.

The Herbs

Calendula- is the go to herb for skin care in my book, and that is because it has strong antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti inflammatory properties while being full of antioxidants that help protect and soothe skin.


Witch Hazel- is very soothing to the skin, reducing inflammation, and redness which is great for after shaving. It also has antiseptic and antibacterial properties which makes it a perfect addition to this recipe.


Lemon Balm- is an herbs that has been used since ancient times as an antibacterial agent. It Is also very high in antioxidants and soothing to the skin.

The herbs you use are defiantly up to you, I have chosen these herbs because of their availability and healing properties. Lavender, Chamomile, Nettle, Rose, and Spearmint would also be great additions. When you have chosen your herbs, you will need to infuse them into the oil of your choosing. I like to use an Organic Olive Oil because it is easy to add into just about any recipe. There are two different methods of infusing herbs into oil, the cold or the warm method. The cold method just consists of adding 2Tbsp of each herb into a jar and covering with your oil. Then just cover your jar and place in a cool place out of direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks. I use this method and just measure out what I need, replacing the oil to cover herbs again. This way I always have some on hand when I need it. The warm method consists of placing your herbs and oil over low heat for 1-2 hours, this is great if you are in a pinch but you have to be very careful about how much heat is added. The heat will break down the properties of the herbs and should be kept as low as possible.

The Recipe

30g (2Tbsp) – Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
20g (4tsp) – Organic Raw Shea Butter
10g (2tsp) – Infused Olive Oil
20g (4tsp) – Local Beeswax
15g (3tsp)- Arrowroot Powder
15g (3tsp)- Aluminum Free Baking Soda
6 drops of each Tea Tree, Rosemary, Sweet Orange, Lavender and Lemon Organic Essential Oils.

These essential oils have great antibacterial properties to help fight odor, but you could do any combination of essential oils. Find some essential oil combinations here to get you started. Also, if you would prefer a baking soda free version, feel free to switch the baking soda out for bentonite clay.

The Process

First we are going to take the Beeswax, Shea Butter, and Coconut Oil and place them in a jar. Then we will put that jar into a small pot of water over low medium heat, making a double boiler effect. Once your solids have melted down you can remove them from heat and add your infused Olive Oil. Then stir in your Baking Soda, Arrowroot Powder, and Essential Oils until well combined.

Then just pour the mixture into a container of your choice. I prefer to use a roll up style container but a small jar would work just as well.

Let the mixture cool for about 30 minutes before using... and there you have it, you just made your own deodorant.

If you have been using a conventional deodorant, then you might have a detox period. This is simply your body ridding itself of toxins, it can last up to 2 weeks. During this time you may need to apply this deodorant multiple times a day until your body regulates itself.

We hope you have found this post helpful and that it encourages you to make your own products. If you have any questions, we are always here to help.

Thank you for reading,

Happy Homesteading