Making our own homemade products is a blast! Today I will share yet another way we are cutting the Walmart cord and choosing a different, better, more prudent way of life.
diyNatural reader Samantha said, “I was extremely, extremely skeptical. I think even a little part of me wanted to be able to come back and say – no it doesn’t work. But, it really did! Like others here, I already feel that I’m sweating less, but as much as I’m excited about not smelling anymore (who wouldn’t be), I’m more excited that I won’t be throwing away shirts that are ruined by deodorant stains. Forget what I save on the deodorant, I will save hundreds of dollars not replacing my clothing!”
Why Homemade?
I like to address this up front to displace the common assumption that homemade products are made simply for the savings… savings is just one handsome fruitage.
In reality, the homemade modus operandi goes far beyond saving a few bucks. More accurately, it seeks to tap into the oft ignored foundations of family togetherness, self reliance, creative exploration, and exercised independence.
It Has To Be Sustainable
If you are a frequent follower of our homemade endeavors you should know that I require homemade products to be easy to make.
For us, difficult recipes requiring a lot of uncommon ingredients is simply not sustainable! So we seek to always adopt solutions that are easy to make and contain common ingredients (whenever possible), yet work extremely well. Today’s recipe will embody that product philosophy more so than any other!
Natural Homemade Deodorant Recipe
To make your own natural homemade deodorant, follow these simple steps:
- Purchase a bottle of 99% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (approximately $1.00/pint) or a bottle of 95% grain ethyl alcohol
- Purchase a small refillable spray bottle (we use the 3oz variety commonly found in the personal product travel section) – approximately $1.00/bottle
- Pour the alcohol into the spray bottle
- Spray under your arms for protection against body odor caused by bacteria
Before you ask…
Does it work? Yes – it works. Yes – it’s that simple. Yes – it’s that inexpensive. Believe it… I have been doing exactly this for about 3 months now and will never go back to expensive, chemical laden, store bought deodorants.
Does it sting/hurt? It depends. It never stings for me because I do not shave my pits. My wife said that using the spray immediately after shaving does sting, but will only last for a second or two and is definitely doable.
Does it smell? It smells like alcohol, but can be supplemented with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. In our experience the scent of the oil will not last and is primarily beneficial to mask the alcohol smell during application.
Will I stink? No… remember question number 1 – it works. The alcohol kills the bacteria that cause the odor.
Will I still sweat? Yes, and you should. Sweating is good for you; it is your body’s way of releasing toxins. If you blocking your sweat pores by using antiperspirant you impede your body’s ability to naturally release those toxins. Impeding this process can also effect the pH balance in your body leaving your body more prone to infection by harmful viruses and bacteria. Using the alcohol allows your body to release the toxins unimpeded, yet still eliminates odors by killing the bacteria outside the body.
How long does it last? Depending on how much you exert yourself, it may last all day, or you may need to reapply. In my experience I have NEVER had to apply it more than twice in one day – once in the morning… and once in the evening.
Will it stain or bleach my clothes? No, not in our experience. I would say as long as you are not dumping copious amounts of alcohol all over your clothing you should be fine.
Is it safe? Using alcohol as deodorant is just as safe as use as an antiseptic on cuts and scrapes. Unless someone has an allergy to alcohol, using it as a deodorant is safe for adults and young adults alike. Some research has shown continued use of isopropyl alcohol on the skin can have adverse effects, as an alternative use a high proof ethyl alcohol instead.
Why haven’t I heard of this before? Because companies cannot make money by marketing it.
Are there other uses for alcohol? Sure… be creative. I always encourage people to decrease their dependence on consumer products, and increase their own ability to “think and live outside the box!”
Did I mention that this will save you money?
C’mon… don’t be afraid – GO TRY IT!
What do you have to lose? Better yet… what do you stand to gain?
DFA is passionately dedicated to helping people break the bondage of debt and work toward financial freedom using biblical principles.
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With the 60+ natural cleaning recipes in the book you will learn how to:
- clean and do laundry without harsh chemicals
- keep floors and other surfaces looking great
- deodorize and freshen the air with essential oils
- disinfect the kitchen and bathroom
- care for your wooden surfaces
- click here to learn more.
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Forgive me I was going to mention something about the deoderant thing. I read your suggestion regarding using antiperspirant and deodorant. I’m a very happy cancer survivor of 10 years now. I had my cancer treatments and surgeries in Houston at the best cancer center in the world in my opinion. I recall going to a seminar where someone presented an idea for us to ponder. Our bodies, head to toe have lymph nodes which are like little balls of tissue all throughout your body that filter lymph. Lymph consists of all the fluid that leaks out of your blood vessels plus all the white cells that were sent out fighting infecions and inflammation in your tissues. Basically, our lymph nodes work like a drainer in your sink. Our body perspires head to toe right? Now grab some antiperspirant/deoderant and wax up your pits for 40 -50 years or more. Oh.. so it’s sealed in huh? Guess what. We don’t wax our bodies so we won’t perspire. It just made sense watching the demonstration and I was floored. It took time but I did find a deoderant without antiperspirant but now I’m switching to the ideas presented here. You have an amazing site.
Yep, I’ve been antiperspirant free for years now and will never go back. Praise God for healing your cancer!
Another deodorant to try is what I have used for several years. Works fantastic and doesn’t stink or burn. 1 cup water, 1 tsp. baking soda, and if wanted, add a few drops essential oil for scent.
Thanks Carrie.
I am concerned with the harshness of alcohol. I used to use it on my fave as a cleanser but recently found witch hazel. Witch hazel is not as harsh and even helps prevent sweating, naturally. It is most commonly used as an antiseptic. I add essential oils for fragrance. I am going to try this as an underarm deodorant. Maybe it will be better than the alcohol. Any comments?
Hi Mandy, as soon as I read “I am concerned about the harshness of alcohol.” my first thoughts were – she can use witch hazel instead, so your answer is correct, nice work.
You have the right idea using the witch hazel. I found some non alchol lavender scented witch hazel at my local health food store, but you can also buy it online. Thatchers is the brand name. Keep in mind that some of the essential oils have antibacterial properties as well. Lavender is one of them. I have very sensitive skin with psoriasis so I can’t use alcohol because it will aggravate it. At the present time I have inversion psoriasis under my arms so the lavender witch hazel is soothing and not harsh because there is no alcohol.
We tried witch hazel and it didn’t work for us, so be sure to try ethyl alcohol if you have the same trouble, it’s milder than isopropyl.
I also tried witch hazel and it didn’t work for me. The alcohol didn’t bother me at all though.
Thanks so much for creating a site where so many fantastic ideas can be shared. I made the hand santizer yesterday and today I read suggestions about using vodka for freshening clothes AND arm pits. I had some vanilla vodka in the freezer (from the old party days) and tried it on some musty smelling sweaters I just unpacked for winter and it leaves a nice light vanilla scent! I just tried it in my pits. I’m anxious to see how it works for me so I can dump the commercial deo!
Cool Donna, let us know how your pits turn out.
HOLD THE PHONE !
99% alcohol is the not the best dilution, as it is too strong and bacteria will form a protective shell and survives. Best is 70% ! Sometimes less is more. Also, know that alcohol will cross the skin blood barrier; you will get it in your blood. And, the liver will convert into toxic by-product. So… take is slow, don’t go crazy, keep it low, and be safe!
I’ve used alcohol wipes that you can get in individual packets for wiping you computer key board before I read this blog. It worked really well. I was carrying them around with me cause in FL it gets pretty hot and when I was heading to class, before our public massage clinic (I’m studying to be a massage therapist) I went to the restroom and used another wipe. It was great! Sweat itself doesn’t stink but if the bacteria on our skin starts to break down the sweat it causes an odor. The alcohol took care of that
Very good tip! Thanks for posting.
I have been doing this for a very long time! But I also don’t like the feeling of sweet so after the alcohol dries I apply a little powder just to absorb the sweat. I feel like this works pretty well, but I may have to try to make my own powder at home. Seems like it would be pretty simple.
Hi Tracy, I used to make a nice powder when I had babies, I believe it was 3 parts white clay, found at herb shops or natural food stores, to 1 part baking soda. Mix them together, then put the powder into a kitchen hand strainer or a sifter, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and gently sift, incorporating the oil into the powder. Sift a few times to really get it in there. You can also make fine kitchen/bathroom cleansers this way with straight baking soda sifted with essential oils like thyme, lavender, sweet orange. all very anti microbial oils.
Tracy,
I made my own body powder that works very well and it is great for keeping moist areas dry. I saved an old fashioned powder case with the powder puff and lid so that I could apply the powder with the puff, which is a lot neater and you don’t end up with powder all over the floor. Cornstarch is the base for this powder. Cornstarch is an old remedy for prickly heat that was used on babies in the diaper area. It is very soothing and healing. I put about 2 cups of cornstarch in a bowl and to that I added drops of pure essential oil of lavender, a few at a time, mixing it thoroughly with the cornstarch until I had the desired fragrance level that I wanted. I then poured the scented powder in to my powder case, put the puff on top and then put the lid on. It works great! I apply this powder after my shower or any time during the day when I want to refresh. It’s great for those moist areas that are so hard to keep dry. Keep in mind that lavender does have antibacterial properties and the cornstarch is very soothing, especially in hot humid weather.
Be sure to use organic cornstarch to avoid all the pesticides and chemical fertilizers used to grow conventional GMO corn.
Alcohol truely does work as a deoderant! I’ve been using alcohol as an alternative for 2 months now. Before using alcohol, my armpits would smell horrible even when using anti-perspirant/deoderant and showering twice daily and for whatever reason they seemed to sweat even more. I would be too embarassed to raise my hand near coworkers because it really smelt horrible! Now, I spray on alcohol in the am and during my lunch-break at work, I use rubbing alcohol pads to freshen up for the remaining of the day. I highly recommend this to everyone !!
It works!!! How amazing! I have added some rose scented essential oil to it. I love it. I will not buy deodorant from the pharmacy ever again! Thanks a million
You can also try the cornstarch, baking soda, and cocoanut oil recipe! Except, every time I use it they say you can put in into a old bottle, it always breaks mine… ha.
I use this one too and LOVE it! Coconut oil is awesome.
I tried that and it never worked for me! The baking soda gave me a terrible rash and I still smelled!
Betsy had the same problem. Baking soda and coconut oil gave her horrible problems under her arms. She is now using my alcohol, tea tree solution and liking it.
I also didn’t like any powders – too scratchy! So far I’ve used the 70% and 90% isopropyl alcohol with rose essential oil. I thought the 90% seemed too strong. Now that I have everclear 95% I will probably dilute some with aloe vera juice and use the rose essential oil again which smells great. I’ll post here after I try it out.
The baking soda gives me a rash too.
This works. Four four years I have been experiencing terrible itchy armpits. It was so itchy that I would go to the bathroom to scratch. It would wake me up it itch so much. And now that I’ve switched to this, the unbearable itching is gone. Thank God!!! and you are a Godsend. Thank you too.
You are so welcome Grace, we’re glad to help.
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I am allergic to all deodorants, so I am excited to try this! I don’t want to stink at the gym, but the hives from even “all-natural” deodorants really suck, thanks for the alternative!
I use rubbing alcohol in a natural granite cleaner that I use all the time AND LOVE, and I was pumped to try this as I have been on the hunt for a natural deodorant. I did try it and it works wonderful! However, I decided to look into the risks of applying rubbing alcohol to my body on a daily basis and don’t think that it is safe as you imply. Have you done much research into the health risks? This article is a good starting point… http://www.livestrong.com/article/155021-what-toxic-chemicals-are-in-rubbing-alcohol/ Please let me know your thoughts about this article and the risks of using rubbing alcohol. I am considering trying this with vodka instead based on what I have read.
Yeah we’re switching too. We tried vodka but it doesn’t work great, we plan to buy a bottle of grain alcohol that is up around 95% alcohol, which will work great.
How did it go with the grain alcohol? Would you recommend that or witch hazel to avoid the toxicity possibility of rubbing alcohol?
Funny you’d ask this today. We picked up some Everclear (75.5% ethyl alcohol) a few days back and it is working GREAT!
I have been doing this for about three weeks and it works great. Even as a woman there is no sting when I spray after shaving. I am addicted to this site now. Also, I used 91% alcohol because it’s what I had on hand and it has been doing the trick. It takes a bit to get used to not having the feeling of deodorant because as a girl we’re used to that smooth feeling, but there is absolutely no body odor. Sometimes I apply a few times a day, but even when I was on commercial deodorant I would apply in the morning and at night, so I feel this is equally better. Plus it makes me happy to know this is something I can easily do myself that is better for my body than antiperspirants.
Thanks so much for posting! I love it!
Awesome Ashley, glad you found us.
The alcohol solution seems like it maybe a little too harsh for my skin. I tried the all natural deodarant by Toms and those natural salts, burned the top layer of my skin off. So to make a long story short I was funky for weeks because I could not put any deodarant under my arms.
I’m going to try this recipe and see how it works. I am looking for ways that I can find an antiperspirant, but as long as I don’t have to worry about anybody smelling my armpits, I’m fine. I’ll come back after a few weeks and give you guys an update. I hoep and it works!!
Reesie, the natural deodorant sometimes irritated my skin too – that hasn’t happened once in the years I’ve been using alcohol.
Hey, I was wondering can you use a deodorant after you sprayed the Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. (Just in Case)
Sure Alan, but you probably won’t need to. If I were you I’d take a small spray bottle with me and just reapply if needed, but give it a shot and let us know how it goes.
Thanks! I now no longer buy deodorant. The small spray bottle took care of the problem!
Awesome Allen.
So are you still using the Everclear then?
Yes, it’s working great.
Also, I have heard of people using hand sanitizer and would like to know your take on this…?
Here’s our recipe for making your own natural hand sanitizer.
Thank you! I meant that I have heard of people using hand sanitizer as deoderant and was wondering if you have tried this or come across anyone who has tried it.
Would apple cider vinegar be an even safer alternative? I think I might give it a try.
making products at home is not always cheaper
I make my own clothes washing powder and I can buy ready made powder cheaper but I choose home made anything any time over commercially made products. It’s my mine, I’ve not had to go to the shops and I can put what I want in there
I’ve been using alcohol as an occasional underarm cleanser for years (quit using antipersperant/deoderant more than five years ago after reading everything in them – scary!) Usually I go with nothing at all, but if I start feeling stinky I just swipe some on and TA-DA no more smell! Hadn’t thought of the harshness of it, but since I rarely use it (less than once a week), I’m not too concerned – but I do have witch hazel I guess I could switch to, I just hate the smell!
Yeah that frequency won’t be an issue. I used isopropyl alcohol for years before switching to ethyl, it’s still way healthier than using commercial deodorants/anti-perspirants.
Hi,
I just had an idea: have you ever thought about going into items for pets? I recently got a dog and was reading a site with info of how to do all sorts of stuff and when they got to brushing a dogs teeth, I thought “gee, i wonder if i could use something other than buying dog toothpaste…like, maybe baking soda…I’ll have to ask Matt.” What do you think? DIY for pets?
Congrats on the dog Bonnie, I love dogs. The only pet article we have written was homemade dog treats. We probably won’t venture into the topic too much on diyNatural… but if we ever get a pet perhaps we’ll start another site JUST for pets.
God bless.
This is awesome! I have been using deodorizing essential oils in fractionated coconut oil and rubbing it on for the last year, but this is even easier and cheaper. This way I can also add whatever essential oil suits my fancy for fragrance instead of depending on the oil itself for the deodorizing properties! Love it! and your website! Thanks so much!
BTW – I’ve been using the grain alcohol (everclear)
Yep, I use everclear too. Betsy uses coconut oil along w/a few other things… which we’ll probably write another article about soon and it’s for sure going in our next book – Homemade Personal Products.
I recently purchased a deodorant that is blend of denatured alcohol, which hazel, arnica montana extract, and a couple essential oils. It worked amazingly and I am now going to try to make my own everclear / which hazel / essential oil mixture. Before the aubrey organics I was using Burt’s Bees coconut oil based deodorant stick with no luck. I was constantly having odor issues! I would need to wash my armpits a couple times a day at least. Anyone have ideas on what a good alcohol to which hazel ratio for a blend? Thanks for your help!
I found witch hazel ineffective for me, but it’s best to experiment until you find what works best for you. I would start with a small batch of a 50/50 blend and go from there.
I have been looking for 99% rubbing alcohol but can only find 70%. Will this work as well? What are my best alternatives to rubbing alcohol? Thanks,
I recommend using high proof ethyl alcohol, like everclear or even bacardi 151 – but you could also use witch hazel (found next to rubbing alcohol in the store or pharmacy).
Don’t forget; rubbing alcohol is toxic! It does absorb through the skin. I once had a bike rash which responded to rubbing alcohol, so I used it daily (as I wanted to keep biking). After some time – a month or two? – I got really dizzy in yoga class. I realized it might be the rubbing alcohol and quit. I never had the dizzy thing again. I’d use something edible, like everclear; it would probably kill germs, but not you, too.
So, after reading the article and all the posts…. What is the best combo. Out of the clear blue one day I had a severe reaction to my deodorant and have had horrible dry, itchy armpits every since then. I’ve tried a variety of deodorants, including natural and they all are horrible. Relief would be great.
thanks
The best we’ve found is ethyl alcohol (Everclear, etc.) and tea tree oil. 10 drops/ounce.
I thought you just used plain everclear? What made you add tea tree?
Both work, the tea tree adds extra anti-bacterial properties.
All we could find was everclear 190…can we still use it and dilute maybe with aloe vera juice?
Yes. That is the proof I wanted to use, but couldn’t find it at our ABC store.
Just curious – Why choose 190 (95% alcohol) over 151 (75% alcohol)?
Stronger alcohol content, but both work great.
I switch back and forth between the rubbing alcohol and ACV. I like them both and they both seem to work.
did some research about the differences between women in countries whose customs are to go without antiperspirant, or for the matter, deoderant, and those who use either of the two. To my surprise, I learned that women in less developed countries, who do not have antiperspirant, either for economic reasons, or they just do not –were more likely to have had significantly less rates of breast cancer –to piggyback on the lymph and tissue comment. That is really interesting.
So, I been using a commercial salt “stone” product and supplementing it with men’s citrusy-smelling deoderant. Your’s sounds like a great idea. I’ll try it, to eliminate the harmful chemicals in commercial products. Thank you.
Here’s the recipe for stick deodorant I’ve been using for about a year. It lasts about 12 hours for me, but doesn’t prevent sweating. If you live somewhere hot, you may have to add more beeswax to keep it solid.
1 1/2 T coconut oil (antibacterial, prevents odor)
1/4 t beeswax (helps keep it solid in warmer temperatures)
1/8 t castor oil (helps prevent crumbling)
1/2 T glycerine (helps prevent crumbling)
20 drops tea tree oil (antibacterial, controls odor)
5 drops sage essential oil (helps stop excessive sweating)
5 drops lavender oil (makes the scent more feminine)
1/4 cup baking soda (absorb moisture & odor)
1/4 cup baking powder (absorb moisture & odor)
Melt the first 4 ingredients over medium low heat. Remove from heat, add essential oils then powders. Stuff into a clean stick deodorant container. Let sit overnight to solidify. The recipe makes enough for one regular container plus a bit extra that would fit in a small travel or trial size container.
Thanks Jill, that’s a good looking recipe.
Thanks soo much for sharing your recipes:) I actually found your site because I was looking for natural alternatives to shampoo because I must have developed some sort of allergy or sensitivity. Shampoo has been making my scalp itch bad enough I even had my husband check to make sure I did not have lice! Really it was that bad! But I’m happy to say that after just one wash with your homemade shampoo/conditioner I’m itch free:) Also during this process it made me think of all the chemicals that get put in/on my body on a daily basis, the cost of all those products and the effect on the environment! I cant wait to use all your recipes on your site, but I really cant wait to get your book:)
Awesome Laura, glad you found us and glad the shampoo is working for you, amazing stuff isn’t it.
God bless.
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