Homemade Deodorant without Baking Soda

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Making your own homemade deodorant without baking soda can be a great option for sensitive skin. This recipe is made with all-natural ingredients, scented with essential oils, and perfectly formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin.

Deodorant stick on a blue and white striped tea towel with the top slightly twisted up.

Homemade deodorant is simple to make and only requires a few ingredients. It is very soothing for the skin and works great for both women and men. Scented with essential oils, you can customize it just the way you want.

I’ve been making my own homemade all-natural deodorant stick for years and I love it! I am able to completely customize the ingredients to suit my skin type and preferences. Plus, it is much more affordable than most store-bought natural deodorants.

I had several requests for a deodorant recipe that doesn’t use baking soda, as it can be irritating to some. So, I got to work and created this DIY baking soda-free deodorant. It works wonderfully and is perfect for sensitive skin!

When you are finished making it, be sure to add a free printable label from my membership library to the container.

Learn how to make this simple DIY deodorant and get my favorite oil blends to try!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
What Goes Into This Recipe
Expert Tips
Essential Oil Blends for Deodorant
Recipe FAQs
Related Content
Homemade Deodorant without Baking Soda Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Gentle on the skin: Many homemade and natural deodorants contain baking soda, which is alkaline with a pH of 9. This can be very irritating to the sensitive underarm skin of some people. If you have had reactions in the past or would just like a gentle deodorant, this recipe still works great without the addition of baking soda.
Easy to make: When I realized how simple it can be to make your own homemade deodorant, I couldn’t believe I waited so long to start! With less than 15 minutes of active time, you’ll have your own homemade deodorant.
Moisturizing ingredients: With all-natural ingredients like beeswax and mango butter, this deodorant doesn’t just fight odor, it also hydrates and soothes the skin.

Baking soda free deodorant in white deodorant container with a hand printed label on the side.

What Goes Into This Recipe

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil makes a great natural deodorant all on its own and can be used on a whim in emergency situations. It is a great natural deodorant base as it is anti-fungal and antibacte rial.
Mango Butter: Another base of this homemade deodorant, mango butter, is very nourishing and gentle for sensitive skin. Mango butter will help keep your underarms clean and odor-free with its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. You can also use shea butter or cocoa butter if you prefer.
Beeswax: The beeswax will help you to get the texture you need and hold the shape of your homemade deodorant stick. Beeswax is found in many skin care products (such as my homemade lotion bars) because of the many benefits it has for the skin. The added beeswax will help this deodorant to stay solid even in the warmer months.
Arrowroot powder: A gentler alternative to baking soda, arrowroot powder helps to absorb sweat, keeping your underarms fresh and dry.
Vitamin E Oil: Adding in vitamin E oil is optional but has many great benefits for the skin. Vitamin E oil is high in antioxidants and can be used as a natural preservative.
Essential Oils: In this recipe, the essential oils are mainly for scent, but they do have benefits for the skin as well. Keep reading to see my favorite blends for deodorant.

How to Make Homemade Deodorant without baking soda

Melting ingredients over a double boiler.

Step 1. Melt coconut oil, mango butter, and beeswax in a double boiler. You can make your own by placing a glass bowl over a pot of water.

Adding arrowroot powder to the melted deodorant ingredients.

Step 2. Remove from heat and add in vitamin E oil, arrowroot powder, and essential oils.

Stirring the ingredients together to make homemade deodorant.

Step 3. Stir the mixture well until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Pouring the mixture into an empty deodorant container.

Step 4. Pour the mixture into an empty deodorant container and allow it to cool until solid. This takes about an hour in the refrigerator.

Note: If you are storing your homemade deodorant in a deodorant container, you may want to keep it in the refrigerator because the coconut oil will soften at temps above 76°.

Homemade deodorant without baking soda in white deodorant container.

Expert Tips

Using a natural deodorant without baking soda may be an adjustment at first, but with a few tips, the transition can be smooth!

An important thing to note is this recipe is for a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. Many commercial deodorants contain aluminum to act as an antiperspirant and stop sweating. Homemade deodorants generally do not have antiperspirants in them because sweating is actually important. There are also some potential risks to putting aluminum in your underarms daily.

So when you make the switch from antiperspirant, you may notice sweating. Fortunately, the arrowroot powder will help to absorb moisture, and the essential oils will help to cover up the smell.

It can take your body up to 30 days to adjust to the switch. Here are some pointers to make it easier:

Apply the deodorant as needed
Drink a lot of water to help the body detox
Do an armpit detox a few times a week to help draw out impurities

Once your body adjusts, you will love homemade, natural deodorant! I’ve used it for years and find it to be effective, affordable, and very gentle on my skin.

Essential Oil Blends for Deodorant

Adding essential oils to your homemade deodorant will give it a lovely, natural scent. Feel free to put your favorite oils together to make a custom blend! If you’d prefer a tried and tested blend, here are my favorites for both men and women:

For Men

Fresh

10 drops cypress
10 drops eucalyptus
10 drops peppermint

Woodsy

10 drops sandalwood
10 drops cedarwood
10 drops lemongrass

Odor Buster

10 drops lemon
10 drops rosemary
10 drops citronella

For Women

Floral

10 drops lavender
10 drops rose
10 drops jasmine

Citrus

10 drops wild orange
10 drops bergamot
10 drops lemon

Sensitive Skin

5 drops lavender
5 drops Roman chamomile
3 drops frankincense

Deodorant container with homemade deodorant and printable label.

Recipe FAQs

Do I have to use a deodorant stick container?

No, you can pour your homemade deodorant mixture into a small container or glass jar if you prefer. To apply it, you can scoop a bit out and rub it into the skin. If you would rather try a different application method, you may like my homemade spray deodorant or DIY deodorant cream.

Does natural deodorant work as well as store-bought?

No, natural deodorant isn’t as strong and doesn’t work as well as commercial deodorant. That’s, unfortunately, just the way it is when you are avoiding certain ingredients. That said, many folks (myself included) still prefer homemade deodorant and find that it works well! Scroll up for my tips on making the switch to natural deodorant.

How should I store this deodorant?

Homemade deodorant can usually be stored in a cool, dark place, like a bathroom drawer. If your house gets above 76°, you may need to store it in the fridge or keep your deodorant in a small jar rather than the deodorant stick container.

Should I perform a patch test before using this?

Yes, you must perform a patch test before using any homemade deodorant. This helps determine if your skin reacts negatively to any ingredients in the product.