Homemade Probiotic Deodorant with Magnesium

Making effective homemade deodorant is easy and much less expensive than buying natural, non-toxic deodorant at the store. This recipe stands out because it includes ingredients that are good for and work with your body, like probiotics and magnesium.

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Nobody likes stinky pits, but avoiding the dangers of commercial deodorant is so important.

Most commercial deodorants and antiperspirants are made with toxic chemicals including parabens, fragrance, and aluminum.

I used to use antiperspirant every day until I learned about the aluminum that is used to clog pores and keep you from sweating.

When we started our natural living journey, the first thing we changed was our deodorant.

It turns out, sweating is actually a really important part of your detoxing process and you want to make sure your pores are open.

Not to mention, aluminum is a neurotoxin that should be avoided at all costs.

For a while now, I’ve been working on creating a unique recipe for a homemade deodorant that includes ingredients that work with the body rather than fighting against it.

I’m so excited to share this recipe because it actually works and it smells AMAZING!

Why should I make homemade deodorant?

Although there are a few good store bought natural deodorants out there, they are becoming more and more expensive.

In fact, I just saw the deodorant I had been using at the store. Its price has gone up to nearly $14 a stick.

In this economy, spending $14 (or more) on one stick of deodorant is just not reasonable or even possible.

The good news is that making a quality homemade deodorant (that actually works) is easy and won’t cost a fortune.

In addition, your armpits have many lymph nodes that connect to the rest of your body.

If you’re putting toxins in your armpits, they will be absorbed and dispersed into your body.

Making deodorant at home allows you to control what you’re putting on your skin to avoid absorption of toxic chemicals.

What ingredients go in homemade probiotic deodorant?

I’ve tried lots of combinations of ingredients to create the best version of this deodorant.

This combination of ingredients has worked incredibly well and one application will last all day.

Shea Butter

Shea butter comes from the nuts of the African Shea Tree.

It is frequently used in cosmetics, because it is great for your skin.

Shea butter is moisturizing, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and it’s full of vitamins including vitamins A and E that help with collagen production.

Raw shea butter heals scars, burns, and bruises, and can even help with reducing stretch marks during pregnancy.

I buy this 100% Pure Unrefined African Shea Butter on Amazon. This is the base of the deodorant.

It has a mild scent. If you don’t love the scent of shea butter, you can use mango butter instead.

Coconut Oil

We use coconut oil for everything in our house.

It has so many benefits including being antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and full of nutrients. It’s also a great antioxidant.

It is important to use an unrefined organic coconut oil that has not been processed.

My favorite brands for coconut oil are Costco’s Kirkland brand and Nutiva cold pressed coconut oil that can be purchased on Amazon.

Will homemade deodorant with coconut oil stain my clothes?

The way that oils interacts with your sweat and minerals can stain clothing.

The best way to reduce the risk of staining your clothing is by using a very small amount of deodorant.

Excess deodorant is what will stick to your clothes and cause staining.

I use less than a pea size amount of deodorant each application and have not had issues with it staining my clothes.

Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder is a starch that is similar to corn starch and can be used to thicken sauces, etc.

It is more nutrient dense than corn starch and is non GMO making it a superior alternative.

The arrowroot powder in this recipe helps the deodorant feel dry on your skin.

Even though there are three different oils in this recipe, the deodorant doesn’t feel oily, because of the arrowroot powder.

The powder will help absorb your sweat without clogging your pores and preventing you from sweating.

I’ve been using this organic arrowroot powder from Amazon for this deodorant, as well as in food recipes to thicken sauces, and in my homemade dry shampoo.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is great at absorbing moisture and is an effective deodorizer. That’s why you see it in so many natural deodorants.

Be sure to use aluminum-free baking soda. It would be a shame to go to the effort of making a homemade deodorant, just to be adding aluminum back into it.

Some people have irritation caused by baking soda in deodorant.

I originally created this recipe without baking soda, but I found that the deodorant could not stand up to my postpartum/breastfeeding stench (if you know, you know).

When I made this deodorant without baking soda, I did feel like it helped me feel dry and it kept the smell away for a few hours. I just had to re-apply a couple times a day, which was too much for my busy self.

The store-bought natural deodorant that I had been using before had baking soda in it so I knew that it didn’t irritate my skin.

I adjusted the recipe to add a little bit of baking soda and it made a huge difference for me.

This deodorant with baking soda will last the entire day without needing to reapply.

What can I use in homemade deodorant instead of baking soda?

If you have irritation caused by baking soda in your deodorant, first try reducing the amount of baking soda by half to see if that helps.

If you continue to have irritation, you can make this recipe without any baking soda. Just replace it with more arrowroot powder.

I have also heard that bentonite clay is a great substitute for baking soda in deodorant. However, I have not tried that yet.

If you try it, let me know in the comments.

Transdermal Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for your body to function.

Research shows that more than half of the population is deficient in magnesium.

Stress, sugar, illness, caffeine, medications, etc. will deplete your bodies’ stores of magnesium.

The best way to get magnesium into your system is through your skin (transdermal).

There are a lot of different kinds of magnesium that each have different benefits. I chose magnesium chloride for this recipe.

I purchase my transdermal magnesium chloride oil from a local business in my area called Living the Good Life Naturally. They have an online store so you can order it from them if you’re interested.

You can also find magnesium oil on Amazon. I have not personally purchased this one, but I do love and trust this brand for other things.

If you’re looking for another great way to get your daily dose of magnesium, try out my whipped magnesium body butter recipe!

What are the benefits of magnesium in deodorant?

Magnesium is essential for energy production. It also helps calm nerves, relieve muscle aches and spasms, and supports heart health.

A little known fact about magnesium is that it is a natural odor protectant.

Transdermal magnesium is ideal for your deodorant, because it will be absorbed into your system through your armpits.

It’s an excellent way to increase your magnesium stores with a product you are using daily.

Probiotic Capsules

Your sweat alone is not what smells. The armpit odor you’re hoping to avoid is caused by a reaction of sweat with the bacteria in you pits.

Our bodies are full of good and bad bacteria and it’s a constant battle to make sure the good bacteria is flourishing.

The idea behind having probiotics in your deodorant is to help increase your good bacteria population in your armpits.

You can use whatever probiotic capsules you love. I’ve been using this 16 Strain Probiotic that has a great mix of good bacteria.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea Tree essential oil, aka melaleuca, is a powerful oil. It is a natural deodorant, in addition to being anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

The essential oils you use in this recipe are up to you and can be adjusted to your preferences, but I highly recommend using tea tree with whatever other essential oils you choose so that you can get the deodorant properties it provides.

Other Essential Oils

In addition to the tea tree oil, I like to use other oils to enhance the smell of the deodorant.

By far, the best smelling deodorants I’ve made include vanilla essential oil. It’s not actually an essential oil, but rather an oleoresin.

You can purchase it from companies that make essential oils and it comes in the same glass bottles so I think of it in the same category.

Lavender is another great addition to this deodorant for both men and women.

Here are some of my favorite combinations that have a feminine smell:

• Lavender and vanilla
• Wild orange and vanilla
• Grapefruit and vanilla
• Cheer and vanilla

When I make this deodorant for my husband, I just put in tea tree and lavender and it smells quite manly.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried another combination that you love.

If you love this recipe, share it with your friends! You can easily share this recipe to your Pinterest by clicking on the image.

How to make homemade probiotic deodorant

1. Begin by melting the shea butter over a double boiler. Once the shea butter has melted, add the coconut oil and stir constantly until it has melted as well.
2. Take the oils of the heat and add in arrowroot powder in two stages by adding 1/4 cup and mixing it completely then add in the other 1/4 cup and mix completely.
3. Empty probiotics capsules into the mixture and add magnesium oil and baking soda and mix well. The mixture should begin to look more dry and crumbly after this step.
4. Then add in tea tree oil and other desired essential oils and stir. The deodorant will look more liquid like a thin frosting.
5. Pour deodorant into a small glass jar or an old deodorant container and put in the fridge until it hardens.
6. To use, add a pea sized amount of deodorant to the tips of your fingers and rub into your armpits. Wait a minute or two for the deodorant to soak in before putting on your shirt to avoid staining. Reapply as needed.

Notes

I prefer to put the deodorant into a jar and apply it using my hand because it helps me control the amount of deodorant I am using.

You can also pour the deodorant while liquid into a deodorant container. You can reuse an old container or you can purchase empty deodorant containers on amazon. You can also purchase cardboard biodegradable deodorant containers.

This recipe makes a small amount of deodorant. I put it in a small baby food jar. It will last a long time if you just use a little bit daily.

Shea butter takes longer to melt than coconut oil so make sure the shea butter is fully melted before adding in the coconut oil.

I put a range for the amount of essential oil drops to add, because it is up to your preference and tolerance. I tend to use fewer drops, because I don’t want my deodorant to smell very strong.