You can make DIY natural deodorant in just 15 minutes and have a gentle and safe solution for body odor and sweat.
Frankincense is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal, while being gentle on the skin. It is a first rate essential oil to use near the breasts and lymph nodes with recognized anti-tumor and lymphatic benefits.
For years I’ve purchased natural frankincense and coconut oil deodorant from Tropical Traditions. I’ve tried both their lavender and coconut oil deodorant and their frankincense deodorant. I like the Tropical Traditions product because it doesn’t stain my clothing, doesn’t feel greasy, and did the trick to combat odor. The deodorant isn’t an all-day deodorant and needs to be reapplied on really hot days or after exertion. But the trade-off is healthier skin and less toxins going onto the skin that could potentially cause cancer or endocrine imbalance. My mother died of breast cancer, so I’m cautious about using toxic chemicals like parabens, aluminum, propylene glycol, triclosan, and other common ingredients found in commercial deodorants and antiperspirants.
I’ve tried a variety of DIY deodorant recipes because it’s not always convenient to wait a week for a parcel to arrive. Some were too greasy and stained my clothing. Some were ineffective. Some worked well like this deodorant powder, but are bulky and difficult to travel with.
This recipe for DIY natural deodorant can be whipped up in just 15 minutes and fits in a convenient tin for travel. Package it in a 2 ounce tin for airport security checks and include the size of the tin (2 ounces) on the label, if you’ll be travelling.
DIY natural deodorant with frankincense
Yield: 4 ounces or 2 – 2 ounce tins
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon shea butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons beeswax (8 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 teaspoons tapioca, potato, or arrowroot starch
- 50 drops of organic frankincense essential oil
Directions:
Make a double boiler using a glass measuring cup. In the glass measuring cup put shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax. Simmer over medium heat until the beeswax is fully melted.
Remove from the heat. Stir in baking soda and starch. Stir to fully incorporate into the mixture.
Once the mixture is unified, add frankincense essential oil. Continue stirring until mixture becomes opaque.
Pour into 2 — 2 ounce tins. Label and date.
DIY deodorant should last 12 months if kept sealed in a cool and dry place, out of direct sunlight.
Variations:
Other essential oils that can be used in place of Frankincense essential oil include lavender, lemon grass, marjoram, tea tree, rose geranium. Avoid citrus essential oils as they can cause sunlight sensitivity in some individuals.
DIY natural deodorant ingredients
Coconut oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal, while it enhances the natural microbiome. Tapioca starch, arrowroot powder, or potato starch absorb moisture. The baking soda neutralizes odor. Besides smelling pleasantly frankincense essential oil is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
More natural deodorant recipes
While you are making your own DIY natural deodorant try this deodorant powder recipe as well for hot days when you want to feel drier. The powder enhances dryness, and makes you feel fresher faster.
Thank you for the recipe. Will be trying it right away. Is there any reason you chose bot to use corn starch?
You could certainly use corn starch. NonGMO corn starch is harder to source and conventional cornstarch could contain glyphosate residue.
Just curious what oil your using for frankincense? I use only doterra essential oils and 50 drops would be at least half of a hundred dollar bottle of oil lol. I’d say if you’re using essential oils no more than 10 drops of any combination because it would be extremely irritating
Great recipe. Looks very similar to one I tried using citrus, specifically lime. I didn’t notice any photo-sensitivity with the lime but I did have peeling when I used baking soda. I’ll have to give this a try. I know that frankincense has these properties but it’s funny how you sometimes have to see someone else use something before it clicks in your own brain. I had switched to just using deodorants instead of antiperspirants when I realized they work by irritating your sweat glands and make them swell shut. How can preventing a natural body function be a good thing and when has irritation ever lead to anything good?
I’ve had issues for many years with band-aide adhesives. Many times I’d end up with worse sores from the band-aide than what I used it for in the first place. (Just a side note here. Lots of people will tell you that the adhesive has latex in it and that this is a latex allergy. I have worn latex gloves daily for well over a decade so I know this is not a latex issue. Hypoallergenic surgical tape is the worst.) Then a few years ago I had a new twist on things. I was still thinking it was the band-aides. I knew they caused problems but sometimes they are the easiest way to go. Well, long story short, it turns out I now get contact dermatitis from neomycin containing products. That includes neosporin and triple antibiotic creams. These have been in my first aid arsenal for years but no more. When I say contact dermatitis I mean a localized, raw, seeping wound that hurts like a burn, edema in the affected limb, and full body rash and itching which all last about a month. You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy.
So, what does this have to do with deodorants you’re probably wondering. Well, after all this happened I couldn’t use over the counter deodorants any more. They cause rashes and itching now too. When I was doing research on deodorants I discovered a patent from back in the 60’s and though I don’t know if it’s still the case, it turns out that neomycin was one of the ingredients at that time. Maybe it’s just coincidence but the pieces do seem to fit together.
So this is what sparked my interest in natural deodorants. I’ve had some luck with that brand from Maine and that famous baking soda brand because they seem to use different ingredients than the rest but I still think 100% natural is the way to go. To be honest, I didn’t find either of those brands to be all-day deodorants either so you’re not really losing anything by going to all-natural home made formulations. Just fewer chemicals.
For what it’s worth, knowing that turmeric is antibacterial and antifungal I tried putting it on the first two reactions but didn’t use it on the third trying to eliminate it as the possible cause of things getting worse the two previous times. As it turned out, the third time without was the only one to leave a scar. That was the one that I took oral antibiotics and had a $100 tube of ointment for. At least the nurse-practitioner was able to identify what was causing the reaction that time. Just because you’ve used something for years and think it’s totally safe is no guarantee that you won’t develop sensitivity down the road.
Hi I had to sub for the same experience you had I had on my armpit and I change deodorants to a healthy one and right now I bought a red light plant light light from Walmart $26 I put the light on my armpit for at least 10 minutes and this is my third session I do it at home and it’s going away now I did put frankincense and Shea butter I got some Shea butter put like two drops of frankincense