Today, I tackle a subject that no one really wants to talk about: body odor.

More importantly, I will tackle it naturally. Chances are, you’ve probably experienced body odor at some point. I am posting this because it was a touchy subject for me for a long time, and I’m hoping my (embarrassing) plight might be able to help you!

Why Natural Deodorant?

Eating a good diet and drinking enough water can really cut down the odor, but sometimes you need something else. Sure, the conventional deodorant antiperspirants work great, if you don’t mind infusing your armpits with aluminum and other additives!

For those of us who have sought a more natural option, you may have noticed that the pickings are rather slim. There are a lot of natural deodorants out there, it’s just that, well… most of them don’t work well. I say this from experience, as a woman who has been pregnant multiple times in the last few years (pregnancy increases sweat) and worked out through the pregnancies.

So what to do?

Sweat like a horse or slather on the aluminum? Is there no other option?

Fortunately, there is!

Unfortunately, it takes more time than going to the store, but it lasts a lot longer and is a whole lot healthier! In my pursuit of healthy armpits, I finally stumbled upon a natural homemade deodorant recipe that works and is still natural. This is after trying every natural variation I could find (which didn’t work or caused a rash) and after several very failed attempts at making it.

I did find in the process that pure baking soda or plain coconut oil work pretty well, so if you aren’t into making your own, maybe try that. Some people get a rash from baking soda, so test this on a small area of skin first. I’ve also recently been using this pre-made natural deodorant, which is very similar to these DIY recipes and that smells amazing and works well!

How to Make Natural Homemade Deodorant

Both of the recipes below work really well. I prefer the softness of the first recipe, but if you don’t have shea butter lying around, the second recipe works just as well and has fewer ingredients. You can customize your deodorant to your scent preferences with essential oils, if desired or omit them for an unscented version.

If you are looking for a pre-made option that smells incredible, I’d recommend this handmade one from Crunchy Betty.

Homemade Deodorant with Shea Butter

Shea Butter Deodorant Ingredients

• 3 T Coconut Oil
• 3 T Baking Soda
• 2 T Shea Butter
• 2 T Arrowroot (optional) or organic cornstarch
• Essential Oils (optional)

Note: You can get all the ingredients here.

Shea Butter Deodorant Instructions

1. Melt shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler over medium heat until barely melted. UPDATE: Combine in a quart size glass mason jar with a lid instead and place this in a small saucepan of water until melted. This will save your bowl and you can just designate this jar for these type of projects and not even need to wash it out… This can also be done in the microwave if you have one.
2. Remove from heat and add baking soda and arrowroot (If you don’t have arrowroot, use more baking soda or just omit)
3. Mix well
4. Add essential oils and pour into a glass container for storage. It does not need to be stored in the fridge.
5. If you prefer, you can let it cool completely and put into an old deodorant stick for easier use, though it may melt in the summer!

NOTE: It may take several hours to completely harden and this process can be sped up by putting in the fridge for a few minutes.

source – Wellness Mama