One of the most asked questions on my popular homemade deodorant post is: “Can I put this in a plastic deodorant container for easy application?”
And the answer is- absolutely yes! But it will work better if you make a couple of tweaks!
I should also confess that sometimes I don’t make my own deodorant anymore since finding a pre-made option that uses the same ingredients and smells incredible! Check it out if you aren’t into the DIY version or don’t have the ingredients on hand.
What Are Deodorant Bars?
Deodorant bars are is similar to homemade sunscreen bars but without the zinc oxide for sun protection and with baking soda and arrowroot added in for odor protection. These are slightly thicker than my original homemade deodorant recipe, which allows them to be used as a bar, or put into an empty deodorant container.
Since the homemade lotion bars, sunscreen bars, and deodorant bars all use many of the same ingredients, you can order these in bulk and save a lot of money on your family’s personal care products.
I also love Frugally Sustainable’s idea of adding probiotics to the recipe to help balance good bacteria and prevent odor, and I tried it with this recipe. If you have very sensitive skin or really struggle with odor, this might be a great option for you also!
Try making your own deodorant if you haven’t already… you’ll not only save money and avoid chemicals, but I’ve found the homemade versions work better too!
Start with a Detox
If you are new to natural deodorant, I’ve found that an armpit detox, done once a week or so, greatly speeds up the adjustment period and makes it more effective more quickly. Here’s how to detox your pits.
Before You Start, You’ll Need
- Coconut oil (or 1/2 as much of a liquid oil if you are allergic to coconut oil)
- shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter (or a mix of all three)
- beeswax (pastilles)
- Optional: Vitamin E oil
- baking soda (Omit this if you have sensitive skin and just use extra arrowroot)
- organic arrowroot powder or non-gmo cornstarch
- 2-3 capsules of high quality probiotics that don’t need to be refrigerated (I love Bio Kult brand)- optional
- Optional: Essential oils of choice – I used about 20 drops of lavender essential oil
Deodorant Bar Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter (or a mix of all three equal to 1 part)
- ½ cup + 1 tsp beeswax
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil – optional
- 3 tablespoons baking soda (Omit this if you have sensitive skin and just use extra arrowroot or cornstarch)
- 1/2 cup organic arrowroot powder
- 2-3 capsules of high quality probiotics that don’t need to be refrigerated (optional)
- Optional: Essential oils of choice – I used about 20 drops of lavender essential oil and also like citrus and frankincense
Deodorant Bar Instructions
- Combine coconut oil, shea (or other) butter, and beeswax in a double boiler, or a glass bowl over a smaller saucepan with 1 inch of water in it. Combine in a quart size glass mason jar with a lid instead and place this in a small saucepan of water until melted. This will save your bowl and you can just designate this jar for these type of projects and not even need to wash it out…
- Turn the burner on and bring water to a boil. Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth:
- Remove from heat and add the vitamin E oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder, probiotics, and essential oils. Make sure the mixture is not hot to the touch (warm is ok) so that the heat doesn’t kill the probiotics.
- Gently stir by hand until all ingredients are incorporated.
- If you will be making these into bars, pour into muffin tins or other molds while still liquid. If you will be putting into an old deodorant container to use like stick deodorant, let the mixture harden for about 15-20 minutes at room temperature to harden and when it is about the consistency of peanut butter, use a spoon to scoop into the deodorant tube and pack down to fill. Then, leave the cap off overnight to completely harden before using.
Note: This recipe can be adjusted to make any quantity that you’d like by increasing the amount of ingredients used. This batch made enough deodorant for my husband and I for about 2-3 months. You could also cut the recipe in half if you want to make a smaller amount.
FAQs
Why is mine taking so long to harden?
This is common when using the baking soda. Try putting it in the fridge for a few hours to harden. I actually like keeping mine in the fridge all the time and applying while I’m making breakfast since it keeps it really cool and refreshing.
It seems to be leaving stains on my shirt- what do I do?
This is likely just due to the oil residue that is there for a few minutes right after it is applied. Try keeping it in the fridge so a smaller amount is transferred to skin or waiting approximately 5 minutes after applying before putting a shirt on.
Help! I have a horrible rash after a few days/weeks/months of using this.
This is also common in some skin types and if you have used conventional deodorant for a long time and have a build up of the chemicals from that deodorant in your skin. I’ve found that doing an armpit detox once a week makes a huge difference. You can also try omitting the baking soda from the recipe, which resolves the issue for most people.
Is this an antiperspirant?
No. Stopping the body’s ability to sweat is not a natural process and there is no way that I know of to accomplish this naturally. The good news is that you will sweat less and less as your body adjusts to a natural deodorant and it won’t be needed anymore. Again, the armpit detox can help speed that up. I went from using clinical strength deodorant to not needing an antiperspirant at all and just using a very light natural deodorant.
Have you ever made your own personal care products? How did it go? Let me know below!
Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe (Gluten Free)
What would one use in place of coconut oil in these natural recipes? I’m allergic to it.
You could sub almond oil, but just cut the amount in half and add an extra half of shea butter instead.
From the above article:
For those sensitive to coconut, grassfed organic beef tallow can also be
used and it is great for the skin, though you will need to add
essential oils to cover the mild scent.
I’m looking for a good makeup remover!
Coconut oil is the best eye makeup remover I have found. Everything else I have used irritates my very sensitive eyes. LOVE it.
grapeseed oil is fabulous, use it for eyemakeup everyday. Cheap in grocery store!!!
Coconut oil works great to remove eye make up.
I use 1 tsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp castille soap and 1/2 cup distilled water. I have also used pure coconut oil in a pinch but in the summer coconut oil tends to liquefy at room temperature.
I use 50/50 witch hazel and EVOO – works fantastic for getting off even waterproof eye makeup!
Avocado oil or avocado oil and witch hazel.
I want to know about making lip tint and mascara! Can’t wait!
Ditto on the mascara.
is the probiotic necessary? The stuff that you recommend is awfully expensive for a college student =(
Not necessary, and any other would work as long as it doesn’t have to be refrigerated…
I was wondering about that myself since it listed the probiotic as optional. What is the purpose of the probiotic in this?
It can help with odor and there is emerging evidence that we have a skin biome so it helps support beneficial bacteria on the skin.
The ingredients are spendy so thats why im keeping using my one. i hate to keep trying things and waste the money 🙁 I might try the arrowroot next time although im allergic to corn on the inside so im not really sure if i should put it on the outside either. ive tried natural ones at the store but i felt i really sweated throught them. I dont have a sense of smell so i worry if i sweat that i smell bad.
Arrowroot might work better for you if you’re allergic to corn. If you have a grocery store that sells items in bulk you can buy smaller quantities. I do that when I want to try things and not buy a big bag or box.
Arrowroot isn’t corn based, so you should be ok there. If you sweat a lot and don’t have a sense of smell, have you taken magnesium and zinc? Those are both signs of magnesium and zinc deficiency. Here’s more info on the magnesium: https://wellnessmama.com/3610/low-magnesium/
I tried using cocnut oil, arrowroot and baking soda and have not had any problems since. The cornstarch must have caused the poblem for me. The deoderant without the baking soda did not work as well.
You know there are a lot of people who use lemons as deodorant… You could use slices of lemons, or even that bottled lemon juice stuff (although I’d make sure it’s ONLY lemon)… I’ve tried it and it works, and I stink bad sometimes Lol
If you know anyone that is into trying new things, sometimes it really is nice when you purchase these items together, try the new recipes, etc. and you will cut your cost in half or get as many people together as possible so the cost is cut even more. I will purchase the items, make up all the things as they don’t have as much time as I do and then we split the cost. Of course, figure out the total before hand so they know what they are getting into. ALL the best to you.
Ecmorgan, you might try some different combinations if you haven’t already. I tried arrowroot powder and beeswax in my recipe and it broke me out like crazy–I think I’m allergic to beeswax, as weird as that sounds. I do better with just coconut oil, baking soda and cornstarch with some tea tree EO, even though it melts easily. But that’s just me. (And it works way better than traditional deodorant). But that’s for my skin. There may be another recipe that works better for your skin.
I keep it in the refridgerator i have it in a old deodorant bottle. it literally takes all my skin off then scabs over and starts over again. 🙁
Have you tried without the baking soda?
Hi from Edinburgh, UK – I also reacted with a painful, burning rash – definitely suspect the sodium bicarbonate. Will try without. Anyone have an idea what the purpose of the bicarbonate is meant to be, if going without is an option?
I would not use any combination of natural ingredients that produced that result to my skin. You need to try something else. That constant peeling and scabbing over is not healthy and may cause adverse affects.
How do you store the bars?
They are shelf stable for up to 4 months and freezer stable indefinitely.
I made your previous deodorant. But i feel like it burns off all of my skin. its incredibly painful. do you think its the baking soda as i see noted in here? i really dont want to go back to traditional deodorant.
Try omitting the baking soda and see if that helps. From what I can tell, the pH of a person’s body/sweat also makes a big difference, and if you are more on the acidic side, it will literally create a minor chemical reaction, which could be why it feels like its burning. with just the arrowroot, it shouldn’t be a problem, and the probiotics can help replace the baking soda. Good luck!
I had the same problem and I switched to all organic baking soda and organic arrowroot powder. I have no problems now.
Sorry Sandy, but baking soda is a mineral, sodium bicarbonate, and cannot by definition be organic. But I am interested in whether or not you changed the ratio of baking soda. Perhaps you used less the second time around?
I followed the deodorant recepie but I instead of 3 tablespoons of baking soda I used 1 and 2 zinc oxide non-nano. It works very good!
Suri
Instead of mixing up a big batch, what I usually do is make what I’m going to use and see how it works for me.
For example, I’ll take a dab of coconut oil, a sprinkle of baking soda and a drop of EO, rub my hands together and apply. That way, I get to see how effective it is and whether I have any adverse reaction before mixing an entire batch of something that I won’t be able to use.
If I do have an adverse reaction, I’ll omit something and / or replace it with something else. It took some trial and error, but I’ve found what works well for me!
I had the same problem so I reduced the baking soda to teaspoons instead of Tablespoons
and I increased the arrowroot powder to make up for the baking soda reduction. I’ve been using it since.
Yes, it is the baking soda. I just had a bad reaction to it myself. If you make a new batch, just omit the baking soda & use more cornstarch.
So you can use corn starch in this recipe instead of arrowroot powder? I can’t find arrowroot where I live (most Texans aren’t in to trying new holistic things) and I’m out of deodorant now and wanted to make some so I don’t have time to order any online.
Lol I’m from Texas too and I know what you mean. You can order organic Arrowroot powder from Mountain Rose Herbs.
hey if you have an heb market near you. they have arrowroot powder in the healthy living section
I made a batch with the baking soda and it worked great. About 3 days later, I had a red itchy rash. I made another batch but reduced the baking soda. Does not work as well. Any suggestions?
I use a homemade deodorant with baking soda. I have found that if I apply coconut oil after I apply the deodorant, it prevents me from getting burned. (I have super sensitive skin, so baking soda tends to burns my skin.) So I get the benefit of using the deodorant with baking soda (that works), and the extra benefit of not being burned. 😉 I hope this helps you, too!
I use plain baking soda to my armpits. it never irritates me and keeps the smell away a whole day.
I have extremely fair/sensitive skin and every time I try to wear makeup I breakout like CRAZY for the next week. I don’t have the best complexion :/ so I can’t wait to see what tips and tricks you have for natural makeup!! I am definitely going to be trying this deodorant too!! nothing i buy ever works for me!
I was really excited to see this recipe and immediately bought all the ingredients and made it. Without the baking soda. Today, 2 weeks later of once a day application, I had to see a dermatologist due to a very strange and painful rash that had begun in my arm pit, yesterday I noticed it beginning in my other arm pit. I don’t have insurance so the visit cost me $188. The dermatologist told me to immediately discontinue the use of the deodorant and put me on a string of meds and salves. I personally think it may have been from the probiotic. Just a fair warning to anyone with sensitive skin. The cost of this experiment was way too high.
I’m sorry to hear this. You know I just use coconut oil alone. And that last me a whole day with no nasty smells. It works great 😉 no rashes as of yet and I’m very fair and sensitive too 😉
Sorry about your rash. Before I sell home-made deodorant, I tell my customers that they cannot use too much since it is so concentrated. If you use the same amount of deodorant as store-bought ones, you are using too much so a rash may occur. This recipe is concentrated and contains no water, unlike the store bought version, so you just need to use a little bit. Also some essential oils, such as lemongrass are not recommended for sensitive skin, and a rash may occur.
I had a reaction to the essential oils. I used them for about 6months. Over time they build up in the body. I love the oils but everytime i apply them i get a very itchy rash. Unfortunately i had to stop using them.
I would strongly recommend not using the same essential oil for an extended amount of time. I intend on making this deodorant with several different oils so I can switch off week to week. All essential oils have an intended purpose, that’s why people use essential oils to deal with issues. Just as with my supplements I take, I like to switch off brands as they are all slightly different. Using anything for an extended period of time will allow that item to build up in your body. Sometimes this is good, sometimes it is not.
I would not say it was from the probiotic at all. Did you use cheap Essential oils? I only use one brand. My friend was using cheap essential oils she bought on Amazon and in the store, and ended up with adverse reactions.
I get the same reaction when I use arrowroot powder. I now use rice powder instead and no longer have any reactions. I haven’t ever added essential oils, either.
I’m so sorry you had that happen! When using essential oils, make sure they are very high quality. Grocery stores do not carry good quality ones, and that may have been the problem right there. Therapeutic Grade is the only kind you should use on your skin, and it must be diluted!
Could I use a white bentonite clay? if so, what can I substitute it with? thanks
I use a homemade deodorant once daily but I can not use it on the days that I shave. I shave on days that I know I will be home. I got a rash when I used it and shaved (it contains baking soda), it took 3 days to heal. I didnt start back using the homemade deodorant until I was healed.
I accidentally discovered what works for me, especially after shaving. I had tried many store bought natural brands, used with different soaps, cleaned shirts with vinegar, etc etc and was tired of trying. I went back to ‘regular’ toxic brand, but quickly knew I actually smelled worse when using it – and it was ruining my clothing. With that, I started trying again and discovered WITCH HAZEL, of all simple things. I keep it around, it is great for chicken pox and such, but never had I used it for underarms. It is also recommended after shaving to prevent razor burn – of which I assumed the opposite – I thought it would burn! So, I haven’t used regular deo for 2 months now; treated all my shirts with strong vinegar (Four Monks brand) and rinsed it out well. I use the jar of hemmorhhoid pads saturated in witch hazel, generic from any store; this is stronger WH than most that are sold in bottles. I use one pad a day and wipe my skin after showering. I started using Pit Paste after that and now the PP works for me again with no problem. I will usually start to smell at the 24-hour mark, but this is a serious improvement for me. I shave maybe once/week/every 5 days, and still use the WH pads right after – NO burning, no itching or anything. I was really surprised by this, but it seems to work.