This DIY deodorant packs a punch with several herbs known support the lymphatic system.
Have you ever tried a homemade deodorant…and been really disappointed?
Sometimes with natural deodorant, it takes some trial and error to find what works and what doesn’t, for your particular body chemistry.
To be honest, I hadn’t found a combination of ingredients that I loved until experimenting more recently.
Some homemade deodorant recipes were just to messy to apply. Some contained baking powder, which can irritate sensitive skin.
But lo and behold, this particular recipe I’m sharing today might be a game changer for all of us with that bathroom “drawer of broken dreams“.
(You know, that drawer containing all the products that you had high hopes for, but didn’t work.)
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A Solid Homemade Deodorant
Whenever possible, I prefer a solid stick deodorant. I’d venture to guess I’m not alone.
Those crumbly homemade deodorant recipes that you have to apply with a little paddle are just too clumsy for me!
This recipe creates a push-up deodorant stick that is wonderfully solid, yet easy to roll on.
It’s all made possible with a combination of coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter.
(Honestly, if you keep those 3 basic items in stock at home, you’ll find SO many uses for them. Just browse my site for more ideas.)
You don’t want to leave out any one of them, to get the desired firm-enough stick consistency.
The Lymph-Friendly Herbs to Include
What makes this recipe extra great is that it’s not only toxin-free, but it includes very specific herbs that are known to help support the lymphatic system, namely:
- Violet Leaf
- Calendula
- Cleavers
- Plantain
- Comfrey
Now, these herbs all together are wonderful for promoting healthy lymphatic function.
However, you can use what you have available to you. If you want to leave a few of them out because they’re not as easy to find, that’s not a problem.
You can really use any of the 5 herbs listed in your herbal infusion for good results.
Essential Oils in Homemade Deodorant Recipe
When your lymphatic system is draining properly, you can feel better overall- and may notice a change in the strength of body odor simply from this.
However, adding some essential oils can also aid in detoxification while giving your deodorant a pleasant scent.
You can choose any essential oils, but if you don’t often use them on your skin, you’ll first want to test them diluted in a carrier oil, to make sure you don’t have a reaction.
Some essential oils that are recommended for lymphatic health are:
- Citrus oils like lemon, orange or grapefruit
- Geranium
- Rosemary
- Frankincense
- Peppermint
- Cypress
- Ginger
The combination of essential oils are really up to you.
And as always, they are optional. Coconut oil has a pleasant scent on its own!
Sweat-Absorbing Ingredients
If you’re looking to avoid baking soda, you’ll like the arrowroot powder and kaolin clay option in this recipe.
These two ingredients help to absorb sweat and odor and are gentle on sensitive skin.
Although I haven’t tested it, I think tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour) would be another alternative you could swap for the arrowroot powder, as they are generally interchangeable.
A Note About Herbal Infusions
In my recipes, I typically list the cold infusion instructions as it’s the easiest (simply adding herbs to a jar covered in carrier oil.)
BUT, it’s also the most time-consuming process as the herbs need to steep in the oil for several weeks, typically.
So please read the “notes” section of the recipe card for alternate methods, if you want to speed along the process.
Let us know how you like this homemade deodorant if you try it!
Homemade Deodorant Recipe for Lymphatic Support
A homemade deodorant that checks all the boxes: solid stick form with lymph-friendly herbs and all natural ingredients.
Ingredients
For Infused Oil: Use a combination of any of these dried herbs:
- Violet Leaf (*Check Etsy for this one)
- Calendula
- Cleavers
- Plantain
- Comfrey
Additional Ingredients:
- Carrier oil such as olive oil or avocado oil (enough to cover herbs in a small jar)
- 1/4 cup organic, unrefined coconut oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax pellets
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 1 tablespoon kaolin clay
- 30 drops essential oils (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- For cold infusion method, add all herbs to a small glass jar and cover with a carrier oil such as avocado or olive oil. Make sure the oil covers the herbs by about 1 inch. You will only need 2 tablespoons of the oil after straining it later-- so a small 4 oz jar will work, or use a pint jar (8 oz) if it's easier to mix everything. (SEE notes section for "quick heat method", alternatively.)
- Let herbs infuse for anywhere from 3-6 weeks. The longer it sits, the more potent it will be. Shake often.
- Strain the oil, discarding the herbs.
- In the top portion of a double broiler (or using the bowl-over-bowl method), melt the beeswax, 2 tablespoons of the strained infused oil you made, shea butter and coconut oil.
- Let cool briefly.
- Add in the kaolin clay and arrowroot powder, along with the essential oils.
- Stir for a few minutes while it cools, before pouring into your containers (should fill approximately 2 containers). This helps the powder and clay not separate.
- Let the deodorant set up overnight.
Notes
*Essential oils are optional. Oils recommended for lymph support/drainage are: citrus oils (orange, lemon, grapefruit), geranium, rosemary, frankincense, peppermint, cypress, ginger.
*FOR QUICK HEAT INFUSION METHOD: Instead of letting herbs sit in cold oil for several weeks, you can do one of the following if you prefer, letting the herbs heat in oil for 30 mins for up to a few hours:
- Heat the oil and herbs over a double broiler, keeping the temperature from 90-110 degrees F. Do not go over 110 to preserve the quality of the herbs. Do not boil! Don't allow any water to get into the mixture.
- Add the oil and herbs to a small slow cooker on low or "keep warm" setting, checking the temperature frequently to stay under 110 degrees F.
- Add the oil and herbs to a glass mason jar; shake and add ring and lid. Put in dehydrator at about 105 degrees F for a few hours. Careful when removing jar! Use potholders.
*You can also blend the herbs in a blender or coffee grinder before heating, to increase surface area and allow a quicker infusion process.
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