This article was co-authored by Ritu Thakur, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Latorre. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant in Delhi, India, with over 10 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.
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You may be concerned about chemicals in store-bought deodorants and want to use a natural remedy instead. Baking soda makes a great deodorant, and lasts up to 24 hours. You can apply a mixture of baking soda and water; create a paste using baking soda, arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and essential oils; or even make a deodorizing spray from baking soda, aloe vera, witch hazel, and essential oils. No matter your preference, you’ll be fresh and odor-free with these natural deodorants.
Steps
Using Baking Soda and Water
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1Put ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda in your palm. Shake a small amount, about ⅛ teaspoon (0.6 g), of baking soda into your palm. You may need to add more, so keep it handy.
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2Add ¼ teaspoon of water to your palm. Now you need to add water to dissolve the baking soda. Add ¼ teaspoon (1.2 mL) of water to your palm. The mixture should feel slippery, so add more water or more baking soda as needed.Advertisement
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3Apply the mixture to your underarms. Rub each palm under the opposing underarm to apply your homemade deodorant to both armpits. Allow the mixture to dry before getting dressed.
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4Wash your hands. Now that you’ve made and applied your deodorant, wash your hands using soap and warm water to remove any baking soda residue.
Making a Deodorizing Paste
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1Combine baking soda and arrowroot powder. Add 2 tablespoons (29.5 g) of baking soda and 1/3 cup (50 g) of arrowroot powder to a mixing bowl. Stir to combine them thoroughly using a spoon.
- Arrowroot powder can be found at health food stores and online.
- Use cornstarch instead if you don't have arrowroot powder.[1]
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2Add ⅓ cup of coconut oil. Next, add ⅓ cup (50 g) of coconut oil to the powder mixture. “Cream” the mixture with the back of the spoon until it has the texture of a thick paste. You can add another tablespoon (0.5 oz.) of coconut oil if the mixture is still too powdery.
- Coconut oil can be found at grocery stores, health food stores, and online.
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3Put 10-15 drops of essential oils in the mixture. If you’d like your deodorant to have a pleasant scent, you can add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture. Stir the mixture thoroughly the distribute the oil.
- Lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil are all great choices.[2]
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4
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5Rub the mixture on your underarms. Simply apply a small amount of the paste to your underarms with your fingers. Wait up to five minutes before getting dressed to avoid smearing the paste onto your clothing.
Creating a Baking Soda Spray
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1Put baking soda, witch hazel, and aloe vera to a spray bottle. Put ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) of baking soda, ½ cup (118 mL) of witch hazel, and ¼ cup of aloe vera (59 mL) into a spray bottle.
- Witch hazel and aloe vera can be found at grocery stores and health food stores as well as online.
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2Add up to 10 drops of essential oil. You can create a scented deodorant by adding essential oils to your mixture. Choose from scents like patchouli, myrrh, tea tree, or lavender.
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3Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Replace the sprayer onto the bottle so the mixture can’t escape. Shake the bottle vigorously to combine all the ingredients.
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4Spray it on your underarms. To use this homemade deodorant, simply shake the bottle, then spritz a small amount of the spray on your underarms. You can rub it in or just allow it to dry before getting dressed.
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5Store the spray in a cool, dry place. When you’re not using the deodorant, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Warnings
- Discontinue use if you experience a rash, itching, discomfort, or skin changes.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- A number of people react poorly to baking soda (NaHCO3). Test a small amount of the powder on your forearm before using it as a deodorant to ensure that you don't have a negative reaction.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Don’t confuse baking soda with baking powder, which contains powderized acid.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ Ritu Thakur, MA. Natural Health Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.
- ↑ Ritu Thakur, MA. Natural Health Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.
- ↑ Ritu Thakur, MA. Natural Health Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.
- ↑ Ritu Thakur, MA. Natural Health Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sodium-bicarbonate.html
About This Article
Baking soda makes an inexpensive and long-lasting deodorant. To make your own baking soda spray, you’ll need to mix baking soda, witch hazel, and aloe vera in a spray bottle. You can also add up to 10 drops of an essential oil, like tea tree or lavender, to make your deodorant smell nice. To use your homemade deodorant, just shake the bottle and spray a little onto your skin. Make sure you test a small amount of baking soda on your skin before using the deodorant, since some people can have negative reactions to the chemical. Store the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For more tips, including how to make a deodorizing paste from baking soda, read on!
