Looking for a perfect homemade deodorant that wouldn’t irritate your armpits? Are you annoyed by all the baking soda recipes you seem to stumble upon everywhere?
Well, I’ve got some great news for you! today, we’re making homemade deodorant with bentonite clay and it actually really works!
Natural, no baking soda, no arrowroot powder, and no nasty ingredients.
Ready? Let’s make a fragrant and smooth bentonite clay deodorant!
We’re all about natural here and using on what’s best for our skin. I have made and tested this deodorant on several occasions for the past few years and I have to say that it works very well for me during the cold months of the year. It applies nicely, it’s budget-friendly and easy to make.
However, in my experience, it’s not the best for very active days (hiking, gym, traveling), so I was looking into commercial alternatives that I could buy and would work for the summer months and on days when I was more active physically (ideally, it also had to be trave-friendly). After reading dozens of reviews online and testing too many natural deodorants, I have discovered that Magnesium Deodorant from Violets Are Blue works very well for me.
Make no mistake, it’s definitely pricier than if you make it yourself (obviously), so I balance it out with my homemade option for the sake of my wallet. But, I love the fact that it’s unscented and made with natural ingredients. It doesn’t contain any clay nor baking soda, and it has turned into one of my favorite deodorants to use. It’s a clean product that doesn’t cause any itchiness or skin irritation. What’s more, it applies smoothly, it’s travel-friendly and it comes in a more generous size than the natural deodorants normally do. It’s vegan, alcohol-free, and the magnesium helps to balance the pH levels of my underarms even on days when I’m very active.
Now that you know what to expect from my clay deodorant recipe, let’s have a look at how to make it at home!
How can I make a natural deodorant?
Easy. Very easy. With a few right ingredients, you can make your own deodorant that is free of any nasty ingredients, chemicals, fillers, and irritants.
A while ago I made a homemade deodorant with baking soda that turned out to be one of the most popular posts on the blog. You can see the whole recipe here.
But, I made it for some friends as well and not everyone was happy with baking soda. What’s more, it just didn’t seem to work so well for some people. That’s why I decided to change it a bit. I wouldn’t say this new product is an actual homemade deodorant for sensitive skin, but it is free of baking soda. And that’s already a huge plus for some!
I’ve been testing it for a few weeks now and I have to say I’m very happy with it. I’ve also changed other ingredients slightly. I didn’t include any tea tree oil, which I thought was a must, but hey, it works anyway!
Let me show you how you can make your own natural homemade deodorant with bentonite clay. It’s nourishing, soothing, and it leaves the skin soft.
No irritations, no itch, no unpleasant smells!
Natural Homemade Deodorant with Bentonite clay
The main ingredients that are new in this recipe are two types of clay that I used instead of baking soda.
Bentonite clay
Why bentonite clay? Because it’s useful, beneficial, and just plain awesome all around.
If you’re new to bentonite clay, have a look at this post on bentonite clay skin benefits. I’ve also published a post on my favorite bentonite clay face masks, in case you’re interested (they’re all easy and gorgeous!).
In short, bentonite clay has incredibly strong healing properties. I use it in all aspects of my life (I even drink it from time to time!). I included it in this homemade deodorant recipe because it attracts and binds toxins and impurities to itself, so it works as a detox agent!
The best thing about it is that it doesn’t leave any stains and it’s odorless. It absorbs the moisture rather quickly and it’s more or less the top ingredient in this recipe.
White kaolin clay
why kaolin clay? Because I figured I want to exaggerate. White kaolin clay is a great alternative to bentonite when it comes to sensitive skin. I figured that since I wasn’t doing and baking soda, I might as well go all out with clay.
You can read more about the benefits of white kaolin clay for sensitive skin, but I used it in this recipe because it’s super effective and mid at the same time. I wanted to use diatomaceous earth, but I’d have to wait too long for the delivery, so I decided to use kaolin clay instead.
After all, many homemade deodorants are made with diatomaceous earth, especially for those who tend to react to baking soda.
Which essential oils are best for deodorant?
While there is a ton of options as to which essential oils to choose for your deodorant, there are only two that I’ve found to be the most popular ones: lavender and tea tree. Because I was already getting annoyed by tea tree oil (I use it for a number of recipes), I wanted to change the routine a bit.
I did my research and I decided to include the following combo in my new homemade deodorant:
Eucalyptus essential oil
With many beneficial properties, eucalyptus essential oil is the second most important ingredient in this homemade deodorant.
It is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic. At the same time, it promotes healing of the skin and it’s also a great addition to any DIY recipes that aim to soothe coughs, insect and bug bites, skin infections, and colds.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender oil is ridiculously popular and it smells amazing. It’s soothing, calming, and there’s nothing the lavender oil couldn’t do.
Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties that can calm your mind, boost the healing process of the skin, help with various skin disorders, soothe tired muscles, boosts blood circulation, and much much more!
Orange essential oil
Apparently, citrus-based essential oils are a must in my homemade skincare. But, orange essential oil isn’t in my recipe just because of its smell.
Orange essential oil is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and much more. It also acts as a tonic, a detoxifier, and promotes healthy, smooth, and glowing skin.
This essential oil is phototoxic, but since it’s a deodorant and not a facial oil, I figured it didn’t really matter.
Feel free to experiment if this combo is not your thing, though. I swear by it and even add it to my essential oil diffuser now and again (it’s so uplifting and refreshing and calming and all that good stuff!).
If you prefer other combos, best essential oils for deodorant are:
- Clary sage, ginger, tea tree, lemongrass, cypress, rosemary, peppermint
- Flowers (lavender and geranium)
- Citruses (bergamot, wild orange, grapefruit, lemon)
All Natural Homemade Deodorant With Bentonite Clay
Ingredients:
– 2 TBSP organic coconut oil
– 2 TBSP shea butter
– 1 TSP tapioca flour
– 0.5 TBSP candelilla wax
– 1.5 TSP bentonite clay
– 1.5 TSP white kaolin clay
– 15 drops orange essential oil
– 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
– 10 drops lavender essential oil
– 2 drops vitamin E oil
Instructions:
- Melt candelilla wax in a double boiler over medium heat until almost melted
- Add shea butter and stir with a spoon, until almost melted
- Add coconut oil when shea is nearly all liquid
- When all three ingredients are completely liquefied, remove from heat.
- Add tapioca flour and stir well (without any lumps)
- Add bentonite clay and stir well (without any lumps)
- Add kaolin clay and stir well (without any lumps)
- When the mixture has cooled down a bit, add essential oils and vitamin E oil, stir well
- Pour the mixture into a clean jar (or a clean empty deodorant container)
- Apply with the flat end of a spoon (I use a plastic I got with an ice cream cup)
Notes:
1. Don’t use any metal utensils when working with bentonite clay. Use plastic, wood, or ceramic spoons and bowls instead
2. Bentonite and kaolin clay may not completely un-lump (there may be small pieces left once you’re done stirring). Same happened to me, but the deodorant firmed well and applies smoothly now
3. You only need a bit of deodorant for each underarm (pea-size piece) when applying
4. The deodorant melts when it comes into contact with skin, although not as quickly as my other deodorant. I assume it’s because of the clay, but it works great anyway
How long does homemade deodorant last?
If you store it properly (clean, dry airtight container), using a popsicle stick to get the deodorant out of the container (and not your fingers), the homemade deodorant should last from three to six months.
Can I use baking soda as a deodorant?
Well, I would advise against using just baking soda on your skin as it can irritate it and it’s a harsh thing to use in the long run. You can use it as an ingredient; I have a recipe on this deodorant with baking soda. But I know some people prefer to steer clear of it altogether, that’s why I made this homemade deodorant with bentonite clay as an alternative to baking soda-based recipe.
Let me know how this homemade deodorant with bentonite clay works for you!
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Hi! Thank you 🙂 the clay contains aluminum that we want to avoid. I would love to know how it is different from another deodorant with aluminum?
Hey May, thanks for your question. Now, the aluminum in deodorants is a different thing than aluminum in bentonite clay (to my knowledge, but I’ll admit, I’m don’t have a phd in bentonite clay and heavy metals :). From what I understand, the molecule of bentonite clay consists of different trace minerals, aluminum being one of them. Each trace mineral has a part to play and without aluminum, clay wouldn’t have the same drawing properties as it does since the negative charge of the clay comes from aluminum (source). Because of this, there are many claims that aluminum in clay cannot leach into our system. It’s a small part of a bigger picture and it’s tightly linked to it. Yes, aluminum in itself can be dangerous, but even if you think about the water molecule, H2O, separating it could be very dangerous (source):
This is was slightly scientific, but I hope it helps! Cheers, Kat
Some essential oils that I’ve found really kill stink: sage / pink grapefruit / bay laurel
Mixing sage with other essential oils will guarantee you don’t smell throughout the day.
Hey! Quick question… is there a benefit to using candelilla wax over something like beeswax? What are its benefits?
Hey Lauren, not really, I just use it instead of beeswax as it’s vegan friendly. But you can use beeswax if you’d prefer. Just make sure to adjust the quantity, as you’ll be needing more of beeswax.