Last Updated: June 2026
At a Glance
- Natural & Eco-Friendly: Create an effective, earth-friendly deodorant at home using simple ingredients you likely already have in your cupboards, such as coconut oil, corn starch, and baking soda.
- Quick 4-Step Process: The preparation is broken down into four easy steps: mixing the base, adding optional essential oils for scent, transferring to a container, and storing correctly.
- Convenient Shelf Life: The finished homemade product lasts for about 4 to 5 months and can easily be restored in the freezer if it happens to melt.
DIY deodorant is simple: It’s good for you, it works, and it’s good for the earth! Make your own natural deodorant with this homemade recipe.
DIY Deodorant | How To Make Natural Deodorant At Home
One of the first homemade stuff I wanted to make was deodorant, so I searched the Internet and found an abundance of homemade recipes, and experimented with quite a few. One of the more popular recipes online these days contains coconut oil, which seems to be a much raved-over ingredient that is here to stay. There are over one hundred uses for coconut oil, including deodorant. I have tried and semi-perfected this recipe through trial and error, so help yourself!
What You’ll Need:
- 1/3 cup refined coconut oil (can be purchased at a local grocery store; I like to buy mine in bulk from a wholesale store)
- 1/3 cup corn starch
- 2 tablespoons baking soda (some prefer aluminum-free, which can be purchased online)
- 10 drops of essential oils such as tea tree oil (optional)
How To Make A DIY Deodorant:
Step 1: Mix
Mix coconut oil, baking soda, and corn starch with a spoon or use a hand held a mixer for about 30-60 seconds, or until the mixture is whipped and well blended.
Step 2: Add Essential Oil
Add the essential oil or your own fragrance until you get the scent you desire, and mix well. I use tea tree oil because, aside from its pleasant scent, tea tree oil has anti-bacterial properties that help kills bacteria which causes body odor.
Step 3: Transfer The Mixture
Scoop the mixture into a glass jar or a deodorant container of your choice.
Step 4: Proper Storage
Store at a cool or room temperature to avoid the mixture from melting. Depending on the temperature of your home this might stay solid or a bit liquid. This DIY deodorant should have about 4-5 months shelf life.
A Few Things To Keep In Mind:
Always apply this mixture to freshly washed pits! If you are a naturally sweaty person, then you will want to apply liberally. Also, we are always in a hurry, and sometimes we will do our beautifying in the car on the way and in the rush of things, leave the deodorant in the car only to come back hours later to find it melted in the heat. So be sure to store your deodorant in a cool dry place.
However, if it does melt, pop it in the freezer for a few minutes to allow it to solidify again. It will melt immediately on contact to your pits because the main ingredient is oil and as every cook knows, oil melts with heat. Another note, if you shave, the baking soda might irritate your freshly shaven skin. If this happens, I simply add a “pat” of cornstarch to help with the irritation. The irritation usually goes away by the next morning.
Needless to say, everyone is different and our bodies are different and react differently to things. When you make this recipe, you will have to tweak it to your preference. Some will prefer more baking soda to help absorb odors, some less due to irritation. In this case, just compensate with the cornstarch. The recipe is simple and almost everyone has the ingredients in their cupboards!
FAQs
1. What should I do if the deodorant melts?
Because the main ingredient is oil, it will naturally melt immediately upon contact with your skin or when exposed to heat—such as being accidentally left in a warm car. If it liquefies, simply pop it into the freezer for a few minutes to allow it to solidify safely again.
2. Will the baking soda irritate my skin, and can I change the recipe?
Baking soda can sometimes irritate freshly shaven skin. If you experience irritation, you can apply a “pat” of cornstarch directly to your skin to help soothe it. Because everyone’s body reacts differently, you can easily tweak the recipe to your preference by using less baking soda and compensating with extra corn starch.
3. Why is tea tree oil recommended as the optional essential oil?
Tea tree oil is highly recommended because, in addition to giving the deodorant a pleasant scent, it features natural anti-bacterial properties. These properties directly target and kill the bacteria that cause unpleasant body odor.
Will you give this DIY deodorant a try? Let us know in the comments section below.
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