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A 3-minute, 3-ingredient zero waste deodorant recipe: so easy you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner?
Do you ever get so busy you just tune out the simple, but very important things?
And when you tune back in there's a massive pile of laundry, a distinct lack of food, or nothing prepared for the next few days?
This happens to me more than I care to admit. And recently, I realized I was out of deodorant only as my finger hit the bottom of the little glass jar.
Among the average person, that might cause panic and a rush to the store. For me, though, it was a simple matter of grabbing a few ingredients, stirring a few times, and - voila - zero waste deodorant!
Not ready to make your own zero waste deodorant? Here are a few options (FYI, these are affiliate links):
I can't recommend Schmidt's deodorant in a glass jar more highly - it worked really well and lasted forever. This is by far the best deodorant that's worked for me, although finding something that works for you is a very personal thing.
I've also had great luck in the past with Fat and the Moon's deodorant - also in a glass jar - but I couldn't consistently source it locally so I gave it up.
I've heard some people really like this zero waste crystal deodorant but I've never tried it myself. Apparently it really works for some people and lasts forever?! Have you tried this? I have so many questions!
But if you're ready to try a zero waste DIY and make your own three-ingredient deodorant, find five minutes read on below.
Is there an easy zero waste deodorant DIY?
I turned to my zero waste deodorant DIY out of practicality. Sure I could buy zero waste deodorant from a store... But, I don't really needmoretiny jars. And I also really didn't need to spend $10 on a mix of ingredients I already had.
I figured trying a zero waste deodorant recipe is pretty idiot-proof.
The two things that really held me back from making it for so long are A) I'm lazy and B) I heard some people had irritation issues with DIY deodorant.
This time, though, I decided to give it a go.
After about two weeks of use, I'm happy to report that making the zero waste deodorant was not only super easy but I've had no issues with sensitive skin. (Your mileage may vary, obviously.)
2020 note: I've used this recipe for almost 4 years now and have never looked back. Seriously, I can't recommend this cheap zero waste swap any more!)
Without further ado...
A simple, 3-minute zero waste deodorant recipe
1/4 cup of baking soda
1/4 cup of cornstarch
2 tablespoons (plus a smidge) of coconut oil
5-10 drops of essential oils
Because it's been so warm here, my coconut oil was pretty much liquified already, but I stuck in the microwave in a small bowl for about 10 seconds to get it warm. I figured that way it would be easier to blend all of the ingredients.
I then tossed in the baking soda, cornstarch, and essential oil.* Mix well (this is when I added a little extra coconut oil as it was a little too thick to mix thoroughly).**
Put the mixture into a small container, pack it down, and you're done!
*I went with tea tree oil as my oil of choice for this recipe since it has antimicrobial properties that destroy the bacteria on your skin which cause body odor. I think it's effective, but the smell isn't my favorite. Next time I'd probably go for a lavender or lemongrass simply for aesthetic purposes.I use this Plant Guru 6-set of essential oils and I've been really happy with how strong and lasting the scents are!
** If this is your first batch, you may want to make a smaller test amount. If the baking soda irritates your skin, make another batch with 1 part baking soda to 2 parts cornstarch to lessen its effects.
That's it. Seriously!
This is probably about as simple a DIY as you can get, with the added bonus of being made with ingredients you likely already have in your house. If this recipe seems to be irritating your skin - don't give up!
Keep searching for another DIY zero waste deodorant recipe or turn to some commercially-available zero waste options like Fat and the Moon deodorant paste.
Best of luck crafting your own zero waste deodorant and ticking one less bit of waste off of your list!
