Why You Should Use an All-Natural Coconut Oil Deodorant and How to Make One at Home

No matter how much you try to live chemical-free by avoiding artificial beauty and cosmetic products, some products are required to keep you fresh and hygienic daily. Unfortunately, while it is easy to opt for natural cosmetic products, many are still unaware of the option to choose all-natural deodorant or to make your own. Despite its availability and whatever scent of deodorant you prefer to use, you are probably saturating yourself with toxic and harmful chemicals. Deodorant also prevents your body from performing the essential temperature regulation and toxin elimination process through regular sweating. Still, it would be best to have an effective solution for the inevitable sweat-induced odor. If you’re looking to deodor yourself healthily, you’re in luck. You can turn to coconut oil for an adequate, healthy, natural solution – a common natural substitute for cosmetic products. Raw, organic coconut oil can be an excellent deodorant, keeping any unpleasant odor at bay. It can also be used as a base for all-natural DIY coconut oil deodorant as an alternative to manufactured products.

The Importance of Using Natural Coconut Oil Deodorant

The abundance of uncontrolled and highly harmful chemicals comprising artificial deodorants seriously affects our health and well-being. Additionally, the chemicals involved may cause health problems and harm our bodies. It’s important to distinguish between the two types of products called deodorant: deodorant and antiperspirant. These two products are both applied to the armpits; however, they perform differently. A product labeled as a deodorant provides a pleasant scent but does not prevent sweating. At the same time, the antiperspirant, in the form of a spray or stick/roll-on, is a solution that contains specific chemicals intended to clog the pores and prevent the perspiration process entirely while providing an additional pleasant scent. Although both types are artificially-made and contain toxic chemicals, antiperspirant is much more detrimental and one of the more dangerous cosmetic products one can purchase. Even though antiperspirant is harmful and can cause serious health problems, it is the most widely-used cosmetic product purchased across age groups and genders. Natural coconut oil deodorant can prevent the occurrence of odor, but it cannot prevent sweating. This is the ultimate combination for natural odor prevention – eliminating unpleasant smells while allowing the body to sweat naturally. Uninterrupted perspiring is essential for optimal health. Therefore, we should avoid preventing natural sweating and aim to reduce unpleasant odors.

Why Is Coconut Oil a Perfect Solution for Odor? 

Sweat is odorless primarily when one hydrates enough and has a relatively healthy diet. However, there is a rapid multiplication of bacteria in the presence of sweat and on body parts where moisture remains longer, like our armpits. These bacteria break down the sweat into acids that will eventually cause an unpleasant smell. That being said, to prevent the occurrence of odor, we need a solution to kill bacteria. One of the compounds that coconut oil is praised for, lauric acid, has strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Once applied under the armpits or any area prone to sweating, the lauric acid in the coconut oil rapidly eliminates and prevents the occurrence of odor-causing bacteria. This is why most natural deodorant formulas are coconut oil-based. Lauric acid is a rare natural compound that can effectively eliminate microbes and bacteria. In addition to protection from armpit odor, coconut oil moisturizes and protects the skin from irritation. Where moisture persists, irritation is joint. We’ve all experienced unpleasant itching and discomfort when sweating. Applying artificial products, especially after shaving or when in contact with clothes, can irritate the skin surface and cause unpleasant sensations. Coconut oil can prevent irritation, eczema, and rashes while nurturing and moisturizing skin.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Deodorant

People that want to keep things simple often use plain raw, organic, unrefined coconut oil. As coconut oil is solid at room temperature, it is consistent with artificial sticks and roll-ons. Therefore, you can take an empty stick container from a used product and fill it with coconut oil to make it convenient to apply. Although this might work for light to soft sweaters, moderate to heavy sweaters can make a homemade coconut oil-based deodorant recipe to prevent odor, regulate sweat, and provide a pleasant scent.

DIY Natural Coconut Oil-Based Deodorant

For the coconut oil deodorant recipe, you’ll need several ingredients that might already be available in your household. However, it is a cheap and easy recipe, and you can make a large batch that lasts several months.

• Six tablespoons raw, unrefined, organic coconut oil
• Four tablespoons (¼ cup) pure and aluminum-free baking soda
• Four tablespoons (¼ cup) arrowroot or organic cornstarch
• Clean, dry bowl for mixing, and clean, dry container for storing

Optional

• 10 to 20 drops of preferred essential oils: lavender, citrus, tea tree, etc.

Preparation:

1. 1. If the coconut oil is solid, melt it until it becomes softer for easier stirring.
2. 2. Add the baking soda and the arrowroot or cornstarch into the oil and stir well until the mixture becomes even.
3. 3. Add the preferred essential oils in the amount required to achieve the desired scent potency.
4. 4. Put the mixture in the container or jar that stores the natural deodorant.

 

How to Apply and Store the Mixture

The mixture can be either solid or liquid depending on the temperature of where it is stored, as coconut oil melts at around 78°F. However, the product will work equally well regardless of its consistency. Take a small amount of the deodorant with your fingers and rub it into your underarm area. The deodorant will perform best when applied on clean and dry skin. On a regular day, one application in the morning will be enough. Feel free to reapply as needed for hotter days or days when you exercise or bike to work. If you put the DIY deodorant in an empty stick container, store it in a location where the temperature does not exceed 78°F. If the deodorant melts, it may leak from the bottom and be challenging to apply. On the other hand, avoid storing it in the refrigerator as it will harden when cold and will be very difficult to apply.  

What to Expect From DIY Coconut Oil Deodorant

Your homemade deodorant will perform equally as well as any artificial or store-bought product. The natural ingredients will work together to decrease sweat and eliminate moisture and odor-causing bacteria while making you smell fresh. Arrowroot powder: Helps absorb moisture. Coconut oil: Prevents bacteria build-up, moisturizes the skin, and provides a pleasant coconut fragrance Baking soda: Effective for absorbing moisture and neutralizing odors Essential oils: Add your preferred fragrance to enjoy throughout the day. Lavender works exceptionally well when mixed with the natural coconut deodorant scent. Most people will enjoy the feeling and performance of the DIY deodorant. However, some people may be sensitive to baking soda. In such cases, a person might experience itching and rashes. Baking soda can irritate sensitive skin, but only in these cases should you avoid adding baking soda to your DIY deodorant. Instead, double the amount of arrowroot, or use cornstarch instead of baking soda. The most effective and essential ingredient here is coconut oil, so the deodorant will still perform as expected. If you still notice problems with irritation, make sure it’s not due to the essential oils you are using.  

Say Goodbye to Wet Rings and Stains on Clothes 

Ensure you apply a small amount of the DIY deodorant and rub it well into the skin before putting clothes on. Once the oil can absorb fully, it won’t stain your clothes. Also, natural deodorant leaves no white marks on colored clothes like artificial deodorants due to the powder used to make them. When appropriately applied, the coconut oil deodorant will absorb moisture as the body starts sweating, thus preventing wet rings from appearing around the underarm area. Additionally, choose to use DIY coconut oil deodorant as a solution for sweat. You’ll avoid permanent stains on your shirts caused by excessive sweating, trapped moisture, and artificial chemicals and fragrances that remain on the clothes and stain them yellow.  

Natural Coconut Oil Deodorant for the Win!

If you want to start a more natural lifestyle, then coconut oil deodorant, especially one you can make yourself, is a great place to start. While it might take some time to get used to (mainly if you’ve always used commercial deodorant), know that once the body detoxifies, you won’t want to put anything unnatural on your pits again.