A DIY deodorant for Natural ExStinktion

An all-natural deodorant recipe to keep BO under control 

It’s tricky to come up with a natural deodorant that provides you with long-lasting, effective protection. We wanted our latest deodorant recipe to be made with 100% natural ingredients and gentle on the delicate skin of your underarms—but above all, we wanted it to really work! This means the deodorant has to be able to kill the bacteria responsible for the smells we associate with sweat. And so we came up with Natural ExStinktion, an environmentally friendly way to fight off bacteria, wipe out BO, and keep your underarms dry all day!

This creamy, high-performance deodorant works through the combined effects of odour-ridding powders and ingredients with antibacterial properties—namely, zinc oxide and coconut oil. Orris root powder controls bad smells while helping the natural fragrances in this deodorant recipe last all day. White clay and arrowroot starch combine to reduce moisture. Last but not least, mango butter and coconut oil soothe the sensitive skin of your underarms, which is so often damaged by shaving and chemical products. And to top it off, its cardboard tube container is 100% recyclable. 

For an eco-friendly way to take out odour-causing bacteria, try Natural ExStinktion, our DIY deodorant recipe! 

How to make a homemade deodorant that really works

Before you begin

This homemade deodorant won’t prevent you from sweating, which is a natural and important bodily process. However, its high powder content will help reduce moisture and neutralize the bacteria responsible for the unpleasant smells we associate with sweat—keeping you feeling fresh for much longer. 

Ingredients

• 13 g (13%) white beeswax beads
• 16 g (16%) cetyl alcohol
• 15 g (15%) mango butter 
• 10 g (10%) extra virgin coconut oil
• 4 g (4%) white clay
• 15 g (15%) zinc oxide

• 18 g (18%) arrowroot starch
• 3 g (3%) orris root powder

• 1 g (1%) vitamin E
• 5 g (5%) blend of aromatic essences or essential oils of your choosing 

Scent blend suggestions

Scent blend 1: Sweet

• 1.7 g (1.7 %) petitgrain essential oil
• 1.7 g (1.7 %) true lavender essential oil
• 1.6 g (1.6 %) strawberry aromatic essence

Scent blend 2: Floral

• 2.5 g (2.5%) lilac aromatic essence
• 2.5 g (2.5%) lily of the valley aromatic essence

Scent blend 3: Citrusy

• 2.5 g (2.5%) true lavender essential oil
• 2.5 g (2.5%) bergamot essential oil

Tools

• Two small stainless steel bowls
• Ramekin
• Components to make a double boiler
• Small silicone spatula
• Scale, accurate to 0.1 g
• Pipettes
• A few teaspoons
• Paperboard push-up tube (60 ml)

Good to know!

• We advise you not to alter the proportions in this recipe, in order to achieve the perfect balance between the product’s firmness and ease of application. 
• Beeswax is the hardening agent in this recipe. You can replace the white beeswax beads with any other beeswax (yellow or in block format).
• Cetyl alcohol has softening properties which will compensate for the waxy base of this homemade deodorant and ensure ease of application. 

• Mango butter protects and nourishes your skin. You can replace it with the same quantity of regular shea butter or deodorized shea butter.

• Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and imbues this homemade deodorant with a lovely sweet scent. The only ingredient it can be replaced with is deodorized coconut oil, which has the same properties but without the scent.

• White clay is absorbent. We chose it because it’s gentle on your skin. We advise against replacing it with another clay, as coloured clays may stain your clothing. 
• Zinc oxide is an antibacterial agent. It will neutralize acid production and destroy many of the bacteria that thrive in sweat and that are responsible for unpleasant underarm smells. 
• Arrowroot starch has excellent absorbency. It will comfort the skin of your armpits while keeping them dry all day through. If you don’t have it on hand, you can replace it with cornstarch, which will provide your DIY deodorant with similar properties. 
• Orris root powder also provides excellent absorbency. This ingredient is a scent fixative that will help prevent your homemade deodorant’s fragrance from fading, while imparting its own slight floral scent. 
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant and cannot be replaced in this recipe. 

Steps to follow

1. Prepare and disinfect your equipment and workspace.
2. Weigh the beeswax, cetyl alcohol, mango butter, and coconut oil in the first stainless steel bowl. Melt on the double boiler.
3. Weigh the white clay, zinc oxide, arrowroot starch, and orris root powder in the second bowl. Set aside. 
4. Weigh the components of your chosen scent blend and the vitamin E in a ramekin. Set aside. 
5. When the ingredients in the first bowl have melted, add the powders from the second bowl. Mix using a spatula, taking care to crush any clumps that may form to create a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
6. Remove the bowl from the double boiler. Before the mixture begins to set, add your scent blend and the vitamin E.
7. Mix until homogeneous. The mixture must remain fluid; if it starts to solidify, quickly place the bowl back on the double boiler to re-melt.
8. Pour the mixture into the container. Some of the liquid deodorant mixture may remain stuck to the sides of the bowl and quickly set. If that happens, just re-melt it by putting the bowl back on the double boiler, then pour it on top.
9. Wait for 24 to 72 hours before using your deodorant in order to give the beeswax enough time to fully harden.

Use and conservation

This homemade deodorant is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, itchy, and irritation-prone skin.

When made in optimal sanitary conditions, it will keep for at least six months.