Homemade Deodorant

I make my own deodorant because it’s cheaper, made from natural ingredients, easy to make, and creates less plastic waste. Below is a step by step process of how I make deodorant.

Also, this is not a way to completely get rid of plastic. It’s just a way to REDUCE plastic. I buy coconut oil in a large plastic container because I use it for my face, deodorant, cooking, etc. I haven’t been able to find bulk coconut oil or shea butter, but I know they exist in some places. 

There is never a perfect choice! And no perfect way to live zero waste! I’m tired of letting the good things that I do be spoiled by the imperfect parts. I simply try to make better choices than I did the day before, and try to learn from my failures.

For example, when my Imperfect Produce arrives to my door, I don’t automatically hate myself because there is a plastic container of tomatoes inside the box. I just saved those completely edible tomatoes in a plastic container from a landfill! That’s a good thing. It’s not perfect, but I cannot control everything.

I use a large container of coconut oil for months, saving all kinds of single use plastic. Lotions, deodorants, butter, crisco and oil containers. I also reuse the containers to store my other bulk foods (oats, flour, rice, etc.). Until I find bulk coconut or shea butter, I can be happy with my good choices, and look forward to even better ones. However, if you know where to find bulk coconut or shea butter in LA, please tell me. JI get the remaining ingredients in bulk or in non-plastic containers at the grocery store. 

Ingredients:

Essential oils of your choice (5-10 drops)

4 tbsp coconut oil/shea butter (can do 2 of each also)

4 tbsp arrowroot powder

3 tbsp cornstarch

2 tbsp baking soda (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Sift the ingredients into another bowl to make smooth.

Melt the coconut oil/shea butter in a small pot over medium low heat.

Take the pot off heat and turn off stove. 

Add the dry ingredients to the melted coconut oil/shea butter, and stir together until smooth.

Add the essential oils.

Pour the deodorant into a container, and place it in the fridge for 1-2 hours to harden for use.

Other tips:

The deodorant can melt if it gets to warm. If it does melt, just put it in the fridge again to harden.

Baking soda can irritate skin, so stop using it in your deodorant if a rash develops under your arms.

Enjoy and please comment with your zero waste deodorant faves!