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DIY deodorant stick for sensitive skin (no baking soda)

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This DIY deodorant stick made of natural ingredients is the ultimate solution for sensitive skin. Easy to make and cost-effective, this natural deodorant recipe without baking soda will help you combat odor. 

Body odor is a sensitive topic that is not the most enjoyable, but you’ve probably tried to fight it before, haven’t you?

how to make deodorant stick

Over-the-counter deodorants usually work until you realize what’s in them. Aluminum and other harsh chemicals get into the body through the armpit. And you don’t want that.

Why DIY deodorant stick?

With a balanced healthy diet and a good drinking regime, one can affect a lot in our body, even the body odor. However, little more help is needed.

The best solution is a homemade deodorant stick made from natural ingredients that don’t harm your skin and fight hard against body odor. 

Making  your own deodorant stick is easy and doesn’t require any specific equipment or skills.

Making homemade refillable deodorants promotes a sustainable lifestyle by reducing waste and reliance on single-use products.

Moreover, this DIY deodorant for sensitive skin will last significantly longer, is much healthier, and smells wonders.

how to use deodorant stick how to fix a deodorant stick

Natural deodorant recipe without baking soda

Why not use baking soda in this homemade deodorant stick if your skin is sensitive?

Baking soda is the most common ingredient in homemade deodorants. However, it is not a suitable ingredient if your skin is sensitive.

Baking soda absorbs sweat and can cover odor however may be irritating, especially for sensitive skin under the armpits, and can cause rashes. So always test on a small piece of skin before the first “proper” use. 

If you belong to this category of people, you better ditch baking soda and use zinc ricinoleate instead.

Secret ingredients to make DIY deodorant without baking soda

I combined coconut oil, mango butter, and beeswax. As an odor neutralizer, I used zinc ricinoleat while zinc oxide has been used for its antibacterial and healing properties.

Zinc Ricinoleate

Is a natural ingredient made from the seeds of castor oil.  It can neutralize odor and is suitable for sensitive skin thus often used in many natural beauty products. It is an active ingredient that is not easy to replace or omit.

Zinc oxide

A natural white powder zinc oxide has several properties that are worth exploring. 

I used it when making this homemade sunscreen as zinc oxide blocks UV rays keeping them from penetrating the skin thus protecting the skin against cell damage. 

The second time I reached for zinc oxide was when I made diaper cream for rash. Known for its healing and calming properties zinc can help with wound healing. 

In this study, researchers pointed out that zinc oxide is a very safe substance to be used even in repeated doses.

I used zinc oxide in this DIY deodorant without baking soda because it doesn’t irritate the skin and helps reduce odor caused by bacteria and minimize their growth. 

How do we produce odor?

The sweat we produce feeds the natural skin bacteria that keep growing and producing new molecules. These newly created molecules cause an unpleasant odor that makes our life miserable. We can either change the hostile environment for the bacteria by altering ph (which could be baking soda or vinegar) or use something with antibacterial properties that prevent body odor from developing (zinc oxide)

coconut oil

Coconut oil can work on its own as a natural deodorant and I sometimes use it in emergency situations. It possesses anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal properties that can kill the yeast. Moreover, it is moisturizing with a coconut scent.

To additional antiseptic and calming properties I used lavender infused coconut oil. If you want to do that you will need 1 cup of dried lavender that you Fill the sterilized glass jar with. 

Pour over coconut oil to cover all dried lavender buds

Place it in the double boiler and bring it to simmer. You will need to simmer the mixture for 5 hours but make sure you don’t exceed the temperature of 50 C (122 F). After that strain the herbal macerate with cheesecloth and use it in this project. YOu can also use plain coconut oil but not fractinated. It would affect the consistency of the DIY deodorant stick 

mango butter

Mango butter is packed with vitamins and fatty acids that the sensitive underarm skin will benefit from. Its creamy texture contributes to the easy and smooth application of a DIY deodorant stick.  

You can replace mango butter with other butter such as shea butter or cocoa butter,

beeswax

To make a deodorant stick that holds together and doesn’t break easily you need beeswax. Beeswax possesses antibacterial properties and helps the DIY deodorant stick to stay solid without refrigerating. 

diy deodorant stick

Essential oils for a deodorant to add some scent.

In addition to adding a nice scent to your DIY deodorant stick, essential oils help regulate sweating and prevent the growth of bacteria that cause bad odor. But be careful as they may be irritating your skin especially if your skin is sensitive

Thus use just a few drops of essential oil to avoid any skin irritation (1% or less by weight of the recipe to avoid issues with sensitivity)

I used lavender essential oil for its antiseptic effect and its ability to relieve muscle tension after exercise. I also love its scent.

Scent ideas for men

Evergreen cypress strengthens the immune system, and is widely used for problems with excessive sweating, 

or

Sage is an antifungal that calms harmonizes and improves mood

How to make homemade deodorant without baking soda

First step

Melt mango butter, beeswax, and zinc ricinoleate in a double boiler. Once melted, remove it from the heat and add coconut oil infused with lavender and mix it well.

diy deodorant without baking soda

Second step

Add vitamin E and essential oils.

Third step

Add zinc oxide and whisk it well to incorporate the zinc oxide properly

homemade deodorant stick
natural deodorant recipe without baking soda

Fourth step

pour the mixture into an empty deodorant container while still warm and semi-liquid. If the mixture starts to solidify, you will need to warm it up before pouring it into the deodorant container.

homemade deodorant without baking soda

Fifth step

Let it cool off for several hours before using it.

how to use deodorant stick

  • a proper application makes wonders thus slow down and make sure to give the entire underarm area a uniform thin coat.
  • If you don’t shave underarm make sure the homemade deodorant stick reaches your skin rather than hair
  • apply this DIY deodorant on dry skin for the best result.

Download free printable labels

Does the DIY deodorant without baking soda stain clothes?

Apply a very thin coat that can be easily absorbed. Remember, it is very concentrated compared to over-the-counter deodorants thus less is more in this case. Check the consistency of the deodorant and if you find it softer rather than harder keep it refrigerated. Alternatively, melt it again and add more beeswax to get a solid deodorant stick that won’t stain.

How long does it last?

This recipe is made of oily ingredients like butter, oil, and wax which are stable and don’t require any preservatives. It should easily last for 1 year. You will start to notice the change in scent or consistency if it is going rancid.

Check our Homemade deodorant stick story for a quick reference.

Pin it for later

diy deodorant without baking soda
Yield: 1 tube (75 ml)

DIY deodorant stick for sensitive skin (without baking soda)

diy deodorant stick without baking soda

This DIY deodorant stick made of natural ingredients is the ultimate solution for sensitive skin. Easy to make and cost-effective, this natural deodorant recipe without baking soda will help you combat odor. 

Active Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Tools

  • empty deodorant container 75 ml or 5 small containers (each 15 ml)

Instructions

  1. Melt mango butter, beeswax, and zinc ricinoleate in a double boiler. Once melted, remove it from the heat.
  2. add lavender-infused coconut oil or pure coconut oil and mix it well.
  3. Add vitamin E oil and essential oils.
  4. Add zinc oxide and whisk it well until the zinc oxide is well incorporated
  5. pour the mixture into an empty deodorant container while still warm and semi-liquid. If the mixture starts to solidify you will need to warm it up before pouring it into the deodorant container.
  6. Let it cool off for several hours before using it.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Other homemade beauty products

here is a collection of my favorite natural beauty products made of herbs that you can easily make at home. Free of any chemicals, efficient, and affordable these carefully selected beauty items make beautiful gifts too.

Vladka Merva on January 22nd, 2022

5 Comments on “DIY deodorant stick for sensitive skin (no baking soda)”

    • Hi Poet,
      Arrowroot, corn starch or tapioca starch may be a good substitute for coconut oil in this recipe. They help thicken the deodorant and absorb the oil. Arrowroot is an excellent option for a base for body care DIYs.

      Reply
  1. Could you use Castor oil instead of the zinc ricinoleate, since it’s a component in castor oil?

    Reply

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