When I recently dissected my beauty routine in a post called Natural Makeup, many of you asked about the body care products that I use every day. I’m thrilled to start out by sharing my Homemade Deodorant recipe with you.
Why make Homemade Deodorant? Store bought deodorant can be incredibly toxic, containing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) such as parabens and phthalates and even metals like aluminum. While I’m not a total stickler about banishing these types of items in entirety from my household, they’re not products I’m willing to apply to my body on a daily basis.
Our skin is our largest organ of absorption, so I am very careful about what I allow on mine. On top of that, deodorant is used on the arm pits which contain lymph nodes, making this an extra sensitive area for us when it comes to absorbing toxic materials.
I prefer making my own beauty and body care products when possible and this homemade deodorant is one of those items that’s easy to throw together in a few minutes. Like all of my recipes, this contains very few ingredients!
Homemade Deodorant
Ingredients
Deodorant
- 3 ounces rose water
- 1 ounce magnesium oil
- 5 drops essential oil of spruce
Special Equipment
Instructions
- Use funnel to pour rose water and magnesium oil into spray bottle
- Drop spruce oil into mixture
- Shake well
- Use daily as needed
I love this Homemade Magnesium Deodorant for three reasons. First, it’s non-toxic, which is very important when applying items so close to the breast area, given the epidemic of breast cancer in our country. Second, “mineral salts have been used for many years as a natural odor blocker,” according to my colleague Dr. Josh Axe. Finally, I think this Homemade Deodorant made from magnesium oil is a great way to sneak more magnesium into our bodies since the arm pits are an area that has many pores that are often very open and absorbent.
You can make your own magnesium oil by combining 1 cup magnesium flakes with 1 cup filtered water. Place the magnesium flakes in a stainless steel bowl, heat the water and pour it over the magnesium flakes so that they dissolve. I store my homemade magnesium oil in an 8 ounce glass spray bottle. Sometimes I make my own magnesium oil and sometimes I purchase it. Either way will work very well.
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I use rosewater in this recipe because it’s slightly drying and astringent which is a good thing when it comes to deodorant. I have added spruce in the form of its essential oil because I like combining slightly masculine, woody scents with sweet flowery, feminine scents. I also chose these amazing ingredients because I have spruce trees and roses all over our yard and I think they are gorgeous together on both a visual and olfactory level. Feel free to experiment and combine other bases and essential oils with the magnesium oil in this Homemade Deodorant recipe.
If you don’t want to make your own deodorant, you can buy magnesium based deodorant here. I love that there is a product on the market that is non-toxic and contains magnesium. Make sure not to apply this Homemade Magnesium Deodorant, or any magnesium oil for that matter, to any part of your skin right after you shave because it will sting and create a bit of a burning sensation.
Here are some of my other homemade body care recipes and beauty tips!
Aubrey says
Holy moly! It really works!
I have tried a handful of clean ingredient deodorants over the past 3 years. They either don’t deal with oder well or I would end up with itching and raw armpits (contact dermatitis?).
After giving birth to baby #4, I noticed that I got smelly after a shower and deodorant application a lot sooner than I ever had in my life. I began trying new brands, cleaner and safer with each attempt. I really wanted a store bought, pre-made deodorant. I didn’t want to make my own products at home. Boy, was I wrong (and lazy).
This stuff really works! My one critique is purely personal, I’m not as big of a fan of the rose smell as I thought. *I tried the deodorant out on my busiest day of the week and it really held up well. *I had dry brushed before my shower and did have a bit of stinging from the magnesium oil where the deodorant touched my arm. However, it lasted 5 minutes tops. Completely bearable.
Elana to the rescue again!
Elana says
Aubrey, agree with everything you said in your comment! Per the rose, you can try other scents in its place :-)
Elizabeth Tucker says
I just spray vinegar under my arms every morning. Works great!
Elana says
Elizabeth, that sounds like a great natural solution!
Johnny Martin says
I have been wanting to make home made deodoarant fo ages after reading about how bad aluminium is which is in many deodorants. It was super easy to make – I used Pine Needle essence – and really works and feels good. And a bonus you can you use the magnesium oil on bruises/strains etc. Thank you
Elana says
Johnny, I’m so glad to hear you made this! We love it too :-)
Rita Hanson says
Where do you buy the magnesium oil?
Elana says
Rita, if you click the link in the ingredients portion of the recipe you will be taken to a place to buy that product :-)
Brenda says
Thanks. My favorite deodorant recipe is mixing coconut oil (1/2 cup or so) with 8 drops of
tree tea oil. Works great and does not stain.
Elana says
Thanks Brenda!
Letha says
Can this be used by teenagers? I have a 17 and a 14 year old and we all are conscious of what we use.
Elana says
Letha, yes!
Dee Lessard says
I use the home made deodorant that calls for coconut oil, baking soda, bees wax, arrow root and essential oils. I Love it and have not had an issue with cloths staining. Though I wonder about adding a little magnesium chloride to the recipe for additional health benefits. I just don’t want to add a possible irritant. What do you think? I wonder if anyone else has tried it.
Elana says
Dee, I haven’t tried that so not sure. I love my deodorant recipe and don’t find it irritating :-)
Sheila says
Are the magnesium flakes the equivalent of Epsom salts?
Elana says
Sheila, they’re a bit different :-)