I’ve actually been promising to share this with a few clients for a while now … so I’m finally going to get this recipe here on the blog!

Last week when I travelled down to Delaware for photo sessions, I forgot my home-made deodorant that I’ve been using for years now. So, for the sake of my lovely photo clients, I knew I’d need to swing by the Coop to find a deodorant. As I stood in the personal care aisle, it all came rushing back to me … AAAAAH! Natural deodorants always make me stink!

I’m not talking about the just-switched-to-natural-deodorant-and-your-detoxing-so-of-course-you-stink kind of stink. I just mean … they make me stink. It’s like my body just doesn’t agree with them … and I’m worse off than if I had just not worn anything. I decided to try Primal Pit Paste since it’s fairly similar to the deodorant I’ve been making for myself for the last few years and I’ve never tested it out. But once again … it left me stinky. (Sorry to my poor clients. It was really hot and humid, too, lol.)

Before deciding to make my own natural deodorant a few years ago, I really did try every brand out there. And I’d give them a fair go, too … at least a week or two. Sometimes it takes the body a minute to adjust. But mine never seemed to. So when I stumbled on some recipes for DIY deodorant, I decided to experiment until I found what worked SUPER well for me. I thought I’d share the recipe with you just in case you want to try it yourself! It’s so easy to make : ) Plus, if you haven’t yet switched from chemical anti-perspirants and deodorants, your body will REALLY thank you.

I like to make a few jars at a time; this recipe yields 3 4 oz jars of deodorant. And I like to be fancy, so I had some cute little labels made up since I like to gift these to friends.

100% Natural Deodorant Ingredients

• 6 TBS coconut oil
• 2 TBS baking soda
• 4 TBS shea butter
• 2 TBS arrowroot flour
• 2 TBS bees wax
• 2 TBS Aztec Indian Healing Clay
• 1 TBS Vitamin E oil
• 6 drops tea tree oil
• 6 drops lavender oil
• 2 drops frankincense oil

The essential oils are not necessary (although, I kinda feel like the tea tree oil is important in a deodorant).

Quick and Easy Directions

1. Grab a double boiler and fill it with water (or, if unfancy like me, just fill a pot with some water, and then put a large glass bowl or measuring cup in the water). Bring the water to a boil. In your second pot or fancy glass bowl, add the coconut oil, shea butter, and bees wax. Stir until completely melted.
2. While you’re working on that mixture, grab a separate bowl and mix in the baking soda, arrowroot flour, and aztec clay.
3. Once the oils are completely blended and smooth, remove from heat, and add in the vitamin e oil and essential oils. Keep stirring.
4. Add in the dry ingredients and stir until completely smooth.
5. Quickly pour the deodorant into 3 clean 4 oz jars. Be sure and work quickly as the deodorant hardens rather quickly (thanks to the bees wax!).
6. Your deodorants will dry and harden up over the next few hours. Apply with a clean finger.

If this is your first time trying a natural deodorant, you’re going to actually go through a detox process. Antiperspirants actually prevent us from sweating … something we’re SUPPOSED to do! If you’ve used anti-perspirants for years, you literally have YEARS of gunk backed up in your arm pits. (How’s that for a happy thought?!) And once you stop blocking it … it will come out. And you may be a bit stinky as a result. This particular formula has a detox element to it because Aztec Healing clay actually pulls toxins out of the skin. You may even find that you’re super, super sweaty. This is normal. Your body has to purge and then readjust.

It took me a bit to adjust, but once I did, my body now sweats in a normal way … and my sweat doesn’t stink. It definitely used to! So even though this sounds weird … that tells me that my arm pits are “cleaner” than they used to be because I’m no longer blocking up my sweat glands.

If you’re SUUUUUUPER stinky, then I’d suggest a quick armpit detox session. Follow the directions on the Aztec Clay bottle for how to mix a facemask with apple cider vinegar, and then rather than applying the mask to your face, apply it to your pits. Lay down with your arms above your head and let the mask harden. Then use a hot wash cloth to remove the mask. Voila! You’ve just detoxed your pits and you should notice significantly less sweat and smell : )

So … give it a try! You may fall as madly in love with homemade, natural deodorant as me!

XO,
Kate