You can stop paying for underarm spray that quits halfway through the day or leaves you stuck with a scent you never wanted in the first place. This homemade deodorant gives you three simple options, including a quick spray version, a dusting powder, and a basic liquid blend you can tweak to suit your skin and your routine. It’s practical, inexpensive, and refreshingly low on nonsense (which is more than I can say for most deodorant aisles).
Making your own can cost less than buying a comparable store deodorant spray or body powder, especially when you already keep basics like baking soda, cornstarch, or rubbing alcohol on hand. It also lets you control the fragrance, skip extra perfumes if you prefer, and choose between a dry powder or a spray depending on what actually feels better on your skin.
You’ll need anywhere from 3 to 5 materials depending on which version you make. The main recipe makes one 8 fl oz spray bottle, while the powder versions go into a small shaker container or jar. A spray bottle, jar, and washcloth are the only simple tools mentioned here, so you won’t need a science lab to pull this off.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Homemade Deodorant
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Deodorant Recipe
- 📌 Love this Deodorant Recipe? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Deodorant Recipe
Materials You’ll Need
- 4 teaspoons alum
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 8 fl oz / 225 ml rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- A few drops essential oils such as lavender
- 1/4 cup witch hazel extract
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- A few drops antibacterial essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus
Tools/Equipment
- Spray bottle
- Jar
- Small shaker container
- Washcloth
How to Make Homemade Deodorant
- For the main MYO Deodorant spray: combine 4 teaspoons alum, 2 teaspoons baking soda, and 8 fl oz / 225 ml rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.
- Shake well till dissolved.
- Use as you would any spray deodorant.
- For the baking soda deodorant idea: fill a small shaker container with baking soda.
- Sprinkle a light covering of baking soda onto a damp washcloth.
- Pat on. Don’t rinse.
- If you want scent, add cedar or sage essential oils for men, or lavender or eucalyptus for women.
- For the basic deodorant powder: combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and a few drops of essential oils such as lavender in a jar.
- For a men’s version, use cedar or sage instead.
- Apply with a dry washcloth and dust on, or use a sprinkle top on your jar and apply.
- For the basic liquid deodorant: combine 1/4 cup witch hazel extract, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin, and a few drops of antibacterial essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus in a spray bottle.
- Shake well before use.
Customization Ideas
These deodorant options already give you a few ways to match the formula to your preference instead of forcing one one-size-fits-all version.
- For a quick, no-mix option: use plain baking soda applied with a damp washcloth.
- For a drier finish: use the powder version with baking soda and cornstarch.
- For a softer spray feel: make the liquid version with witch hazel, aloe vera gel, water, and glycerin.
- For a woodsy scent: use cedar or sage essential oils.
- For a lighter floral or fresh scent: use lavender or eucalyptus essential oils.
If you enjoy making your own scented basics, you might also like Lavender Linen Water or this guide on Where to Buy Essential Oils.
How to Use It
Use the spray versions the same way you would any spray deodorant. For the simple baking soda method, pat it on with a damp washcloth and don’t rinse. For the powder blend, dust it on with a dry washcloth or apply it from a sprinkle-top jar.
Safety Information
Test any version on a small area first, especially if you know your skin gets cranky easily. Rubbing alcohol can feel drying and may sting on freshly shaved or already irritated skin, and Cleveland Clinic notes that alcohol can dry skin and worsen irritation for some people, so it makes sense to skip the alcohol-based version if your underarms are already sensitive or broken out: 12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol.
Baking soda also doesn’t suit everyone. If you notice redness, itching, or burning, wash it off and switch to a different version rather than trying to out-stubborn your skin.
Storage
Keep the powder blends in a tightly closed jar or shaker container in a dry place. Keep spray versions in their bottles with the cap or sprayer secured, and shake before use if the mixture settles between applications.
The original liquid deodorant note says it will keep for almost ever., but practical storage still matters. Make small batches, keep containers clean, and discard anything that changes color, smell, or texture.
Cost Breakdown
Costs vary by brand and bottle size, but these are still very budget-friendly formulas. Using recent Walmart pricing for basics such as baking soda and cornstarch, the simple powder and washcloth methods cost pennies per use, while the spray versions still come in well below many store-bought deodorant sprays.
- Main MYO Deodorant spray: estimated cost not fully calculated because current source quantities and comparable pricing for alum in the exact amount used vary too much by package size.
- Baking soda pat-on method: only a light covering of baking soda is used, so the per-use cost is minimal.
- Basic deodorant powder: estimated batch cost is low because it uses equal parts baking soda and cornstarch plus only a few drops of essential oil.
- Basic liquid deodorant: estimated batch cost depends heavily on the brand prices for witch hazel, aloe vera gel, glycerin, and essential oils.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, 1 lb Box at Walmart
- Cornstarch at Walmart
- Alum Powder at Walmart
- Witch Hazel Extract on Amazon
- Aloe Vera Gel on Amazon
- Vegetable Glycerin on Amazon
- Fine Mist Spray Bottle on Amazon
- Essential Oil Purity Test
Frequently Asked Questions about Deodorant Recipe
You can, but you may not like it. The alcohol-based version can sting on freshly shaved skin, so if your underarms are tender, wait a bit or use one of the powder options instead.
The plain baking soda method is the quickest. You just sprinkle a light covering onto a damp washcloth, pat it on, and leave it alone. No mixing, no bottle, no fuss.
It helps make the powder blend lighter and easier to dust on. It also cuts the straight strength of the baking soda so you’re not applying plain baking soda quite so heavily.
No. They’re optional for scent in the baking soda version and the powder blend. If you prefer unscented products, leave them out.
Yes. The original directions mention both options. You can keep it in a jar and apply it with a dry washcloth, or use a sprinkle top if that’s easier.
Because mixed liquids like this can settle between uses. A quick shake helps redistribute everything before you spray it on.
You only need the version that fits your routine. This post includes three separate ideas, not one giant must-make-them-all assignment.
Stop using that version and wash the area off. Then switch to a different option, since underarms are not the place to prove a point to yourself.
The main MYO Deodorant recipe makes 8 fl oz, which the original recipe also notes as 225 ml.
📌 Love this Deodorant Recipe? Pin it!
Save it now so you can pick the version that fits your skin and your budget later.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Deodorant Recipe
Deodorant Recipe
Equipment
Materials
- 4 teaspoons alum
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 8 fl oz / 225 ml rubbing alcohol
- Baking soda
- Optional cedar essential oil
- Optional sage essential oil
- Optional lavender essential oil
- Optional eucalyptus essential oil
- ½ cup baking soda
- ½ cup cornstarch
- A few drops essential oils such as lavender
- ¼ cup witch hazel extract
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- A few drops antibacterial essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus
Instructions
- Combine 4 teaspoons alum, 2 teaspoons baking soda, and 8 fl oz / 225 ml rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.
- Shake well till dissolved.
- Use as you would any spray deodorant.
- Fill a small shaker container with baking soda.
- Sprinkle a light covering of baking soda onto a damp washcloth.
- Pat on.
- Don't rinse.
- Add cedar or sage essential oils for men, or lavender or eucalyptus for women, if desired.
- Combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and a few drops of essential oils such as lavender in a jar.
- Use cedar or sage for a men's version if desired.
- Apply with a dry washcloth and dust on, or use a sprinkle top on your jar and apply.
- Combine 1/4 cup witch hazel extract, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin, and a few drops of antibacterial essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus in a spray bottle.
- Shake well.
- None
Made This Project?
Tell us how it turned out, and share any tips or clever changes you made!Did you try one of these homemade deodorant ideas? Tell me which version worked best for you, or what you changed to make it fit your routine.
thank you for providing me with this wonderful recipe.:money1:
these sound great! we use milk of magnesia in a spray bottle. yes, it does leave white marks if we aren’t careful putting on our shorts, but i have never experienced this level of lack of body odor.
it is truly amazing! no mixing required, either.