Zero waste recipe: making your own deodorant

In the homemade recipes category, we got started making our own deodorant. Now if you think a deodorant consists of a very complicated formula, you're sorely mistaken! This time, zero waste expert Emily-Jane Townley shares her DIY recipe for deodorant.

Making your own deodorant

Making your own deo, together with make your own lip balm, one of my favourite recipes. I have been using homemade deodorant myself for years and can recommend it to everyone. I can sweat quite a bit, but in my experience, my recipe works much better than any other deo. Even when I exert myself, like exercising and gardening, it provides enough protection. And the baking soda makes it super long-lasting, at least six to 12 months. If you're switching to homemade deodorant for the first time, it's important to let your skin get used to it for a few weeks. Eventually, you're going to see that you sweat a lot less with this natural deodorant.

Note: some people can't handle baking soda well, so if you get red spots under your armpits, then unfortunately you can't use this deodorant. In that case, of course, you can choose your deodorant more durable. Then check out these tips for choosing your deodorant more sustainably.

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Zero waste recipe: making your own deodorant

Making your own deodorant, together with make your own lip balm, one of my favourite recipes. I have been using homemade deodorant myself for years and can recommend it to everyone. I can sweat quite a bit, but in my experience, my recipe works much better than any other deo.

Prepare5 minutes mins

Making5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Keyword: zero waste, diy, budget tip, deodorant, skincare

Portions: 1 jar

Tools

• pan for heating
• sealable glass jar or can

Materials

• 4 el coconut oil
• 3 el baking soda
• 2 el cornstarch
• 1 el glycerine (On sale at drugstores or pharmacies or olive oil or jojoba oil).
• pair drops essential oil, e.g. lavender or orange (optional)

Instructions

• Heat the coconut oil when it is hard. You should be able to stir in it, but it shouldn't be liquid. Putting it on the heater for a while often works fine too.
• Mix all dry ingredients. Add coconut oil, glycerine or oil and stir to form a smooth paste. Add essential oil if necessary for a nice fragrance.
• Scoop the paste into a jar. When you want to use deodorant, remove a small amount of paste from the jar with your finger or spatula and rub it under your armpits. On hot days, the coconut oil can become more runny, so it is advisable to keep this deodorant in a cool place. The deodorant will stay good for at least six months.

Notes

You can also choose to make a solid deo: deodorant in solid form instead of cream. To do this, replace glycerine and cornstarch with one teaspoon of beeswax or vegetable wax. Add this to the coconut oil and melt it au bain-marie. Then mix it with the rest of the ingredients and pour it into a stick or or silicone mould.

More zero waste tips from thegreenlist.nl

• According to zero waste expert Emily-Jane, this is The best recipe for making your own laundry detergent.
• Original-flavoured lip balm is very easy to make yourself. Check out the homemade lip balm recipe.
• You can also make hair wax yourself: check out this zero waste recipe here.
  
  

Sources: levenzonderafval.com. Photo credits: Karolina Grabowska (Pexels) (main image), Emily-Jane Townley.