• Home
    • All About Reformation Acres
    • SmartSteader (Homestead Binder App)
    • Disclosure
    • Reader Questions
  • Farm Fresh Seasonal Recipes
  • Recipes
    • Farm Fresh Seasonal Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Sourdough
    • Dairy
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Reformation Acres

Live Your Homestead Dream Today

  • Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Mulch Gardening
    • Herbs
    • 2016 Vegetable Garden
    • 2015 Vegetable Garden
    • 2014 Vegetable Garden
    • 2013 vegetable garden
    • 2012 Vegetable Garden
    • 2011 Vegetable Garden
    • 2010 Vegetable Garden
  • Livestock
    • Cattle
    • Broiler Chickens
    • Laying Chickens
    • Butchering
    • Pigs
    • Sheep
    • Turkeys
    • Homestead Hog Butchering
  • Herbal
    • Natural Health and Beauty
  • Homestead Management
    • Homestead Management Printables
    • Homestead Management
    • SmartSteader (Homestead Binder App)

in Herbs· Natural Health and Beauty

Herbal Deodorant Spray Recipe

Finally! A natural, aluminum-free, herbal deodorant spray that works without skin-irritating baking soda!Long ago, when I wrote with the warmth & snuggliness of my anonymity, I was able to share things such as my All-Natural Hair Care regime. I could have comfortably written about a deodorant spray without a second thought.

After numerous spousal blunders and slips (ironically he never reads here), I no longer am wrapped in that downy soft security blanket. Now mostly everyone I know has at one time or another read things they were never intended to see. They’ve plumbed the depths of my crunchy non-conformities. I’ve dealt with the panicked feeling that comes with the thought, “They think I don’t wash my hair,” time after time. When in fact, it is washing hair, just not with shampoo.

(I actually have been shampooing the past year. After years of successfully no-pooing, I was finding a ton of damage and split ends. So I got my hair cut and started shampooing to see if the baking soda & apple cider vinegar cleansing routine was the cause. It wasn’t. My damage is all back despite the awesome high-quality shampoo so I’m thinking my health is to blame. Thirteen solid years of pregnancy & nursing will do that to a body.)

Herbal Deodorant Spray (This is the best natural deodorant that I've ever tried!)

I might as well just get it off my chest and let it be known I don’t use normal deodorant anymore either. (Or conventional toothpaste for that matter.)

If I’m already seeing signals that I’m not as healthy as I could be, then I’m certainly not going to compound the problem by ingesting neuro-toxins (in the case of toothpaste). Or coating my largest organ (my skin) with metals that very well might cause cancer. If I am sweating & stinking from it, then my body is telling me it needs to get rid of something. And I want it to stop, then I need to give it a hand and expedite the process.

But just because one shares a recipe for an awesome DIY herbal deodorant, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one is dealing with body odor troubles, does it?

I think the only thing that has been more challenging to me than dealing with my hair completely changing after having had babies has been finding something to work with body odor. Ugh. Is that not seriously embarrassing to admit, or what? Part of me really wants to keep that info to myself, but I’d be cheating you out of my favorite natural herbal deodorant recipe. See the things I do for you?


My struggles most assuredly are related to the babies. Either the beginning, the end, or after a pregnancy (depends on which one we’re talking about) will have me wondering why what I’ve been using isn’t working anymore. So I know it’s hormonal. Believe it or not, it first started while I was using regular store-bought deodorant and I found that if I didn’t use any deodorant at all, there was no issue. For the longest time, I went deodorant-free.

Eventually, another baby changed things and I started trying to make my own. Having learned about the long-term safety issues related to using aluminum deodorants, I was no longer comfortable directly applying those toxins to my skin. It was worth it to take a few minutes and mix up a batch when I needed one.

After trying a plethora of different recipes, I made this herbal deodorant spray just like you would a medicinal tincture (which is incredibly easy.)

I made two batches of herbal deodorant spray to start with and after I use one up, I’ll make another to replace it so I never run out. It lasts for several months, so it’s not a big deal at all.

I’ve been using this recipe for herbal deodorant spray over a year. It is by far my favorite that I’ve ever tried. There’s no underarm irritation like with baking soda, nor worrying if it will melt, no staining of clothes.

Herbal Deodorant Spray (This is the best natural deodorant that I've ever tried!)All of the ingredients are known, herbal deodorizers, many of which you can grow in your own backyard and even then it’s quite customizable. I’ve used lemons instead of limes, lovage, clary sage, all would work nicely. You could experiment with witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, or colloidal silver.

Another excellent addition to this deodorant would be magnesium chloride flakes. Make your tincture and dissolve 1 part magnesium chloride flakes to 1 part tincture. It would seem that most people are deficient in magnesium. And topically is the best way to supplement your diet because there are fewer side effects. Low magnesium levels in the body may be a cause of body odor so this addition would work to resolve an underlying issue. (Be forewarned, magnesium chloride causes a bit of tingling on the skin of some people. It’s not painful or anything and it goes away after a few minutes.)

I’ve tried to come up with an essential oils blend that compliments the herbs nicely and packs an extra punch. Lavender & Tea Tree are probably already in your EO stash so definitely start with them. Add some Clary Sage or Anise Seed for its deodorizing effects. Even there you still have choices. I’d probably go with an addition of Patchouli for men & Lemongrass (or Lime) for ladies. (Lime is more deodorizing.)

I would give any change in your deodorant routine a few weeks to allow your body to adjust. Especially if you’ve been using a deodorant that has been blocking your pores, you might find there is a detox period. Though I don’t care for the scent of patchouli on myself, it is known to eliminate toxins and I might use it in my first batch to get the detox process going more quickly.


Herbal Deodorant Spray

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

All-Natural Herbal Deodorant Spray Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¼ cups 80 proof vodka
  • ⅓ cup sage leaves
  • ¼ cup thyme leaves
  • ¼ cup lavender buds
  • peel of 1 lime or lemon
  • Essential oils:
  • Sage (6 drops)
  • Lavender (4 drops)
  • Tea tree (3 drops)
  • Patchouli (3 drops), and either lemongrass  or lime (3 drops) per quarter-cup spray bottle
  • 1/2 teaspoon colloidal silver per quarter cup spray bottle, optional
  • ¼ cup magnesium chloride flakes, optional

Instructions

  1. Measure out the herbs & citrus peels into a pint sized mason jar.
  2. Cover them with vodka and top with a lid.
  3. Set the jar aside in a place where you’ll remember to give it a shaking once a day for about a month.
  4. When it’s ready, strain the herbs from the tincture, funnel some into a spray bottle.
  5. If using magnesium chloride, add it to the tincture and stir or shake until it has dissolved. 
  6. Add your essential oil blend and colloidal silver if you’re using it.
  7. Place the remainder of the tincture in a cupboard until you’re ready to use it.
  8. Shake the spray bottle vigorously prior to each application to mix in the oils (otherwise they’ll just uselessly sit at the top.)
  • Author: Reformation Acres

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

I think that it’s important to really consider the things that your skin absorbs. We’re called to care for our bodies as a temple. (That’s why I love handcrafting all-natural soaps.) With our unique bodies, their unique chemistries, and the things we continue to expose them means that while this deodorant works well for me, it may not for you. I would encourage you to keep searching till you find one that does!

If you have found a natural recipe or product that works well for you, share a link in the comments!

 

 


Filed Under: Herbs, Natural Health and Beauty

« 13 Ways to Avoid Homestead Burnout
Milk and Honey Cupcakes »

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    23 September, 2015 at

    Be careful that you don’t use lavender or tea tree oils on your sons. They’ve been shown to cause gynecomastia in pre-pubertal boys, because they have estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties. Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa064725

    So probably not a good mixture to be using on kiddos.

    Reply
    • Quinn says

      23 September, 2015 at

      Thank you for the link Sarah! I rarely (like I don’t remember the last time rarely) use EO’s on my kids. I tend to prefer herbal, plant-based medicine like teas & tinctures and would always appreciate a solid slap on the wrist if ever you catch me seeming to advocate their inappropriate use.

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        23 September, 2015 at

        Hey! No problem 🙂 I know you tend to be pretty respectful of essential oils as being Serious Stuff, but I also know that people everywhere recommend tea tree and lavender oils for everything, so I try to comment where I can that this stuff has a real impact–and sometimes has more effects than we’d plan on.

        Reply
  2. Chris J. Dalziel says

    26 September, 2015 at

    I started adding organic frankincense eo to my homemade deodorant. It is anticancer and I found it more effective than lavender eo. Love that your recipe uses herbs from the garden, too.

    Reply
  3. Quinn At ReformationAcres says

    27 September, 2015 at

    Thank you Chris, I need to put a batch together this week and will most definitely give your suggestion a try!

    Reply
  4. Angi Schneider says

    30 September, 2015 at

    oh, I have been wanting to try a spray instead of a roll on deodarant. I can't wait to give this a go!

    Reply
  5. Quinn At ReformationAcres says

    3 October, 2015 at

    Hoping it works well for you Angi 🙂

    Reply
  6. Rachel Kaly says

    9 March, 2016 at

    I'm so glad I found your blog! We seem to have a lot of similar habits and hobbies!! (I also totally related with you being panicked about everyone knowing you stopped shampooing! I went through the same thing when I started posting about it on my blog since I was never annonomous and everyone I knew was commenting on it…hahaha so stressful!) So far for deodorant, I've tried witch hazel + teatree oil roll on and then a dust of arrowroot powder to help keep me dry….which was okayyy…and then I just went the convenient route and started buying aluminum free deodorant that was supposedly "natural" but who really knows. I've been wanting to try some other recipes and this looks awesome! I was never a fan of the coconut oil idea because of the fear of staining my clothes!!
    http://www.sweetsimpleliving.com

    Reply
  7. Reformation Acres says

    13 March, 2016 at

    I've tried it with witch hazel before and it just doesn't seem as potent. I know some folks who swear that the alcohol alone works, but I like the extra insurance. 😉 I'm just glad I'm not the only one who worries that everyone will think I'm off my rocker, but I have high hopes it will pay off when I'm older and still healthy 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Marlee Ann says

    24 July, 2016 at

    Can you just use the herbs or do you HAVE to use the essential oils with this recipe/

    Reply
  9. Jan B says

    23 February, 2018 at

    is there an alternative to vodka in this recipe? and how long is it good for? (expiry)

    Reply
    • Quinn says

      23 February, 2018 at

      You could make a glycerine extract with glycerin, but they’re not quite as effective at drawing out the herbal properties. A glycerine has a shelf life of up to 2 years while an alcohol tincture could last 5 years.

      Reply
  10. Danie Logan says

    19 July, 2018 at

    I have always wanted an herb garden, unfortunately, I cannot seem to keep them alive. May I use dried sage and thyme or should I fork out the money and buy those little packets of fresh herbs at the grocery store?
    Thank you for your time,
    Danie

    Reply
    • Quinn says

      21 July, 2018 at

      You can use dried herbs! I want to think the ratio is ⅓ of the quantity of herbs when dried. Just make sure they’re high quality (usually smell really good with good color.)

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Reformation Acres!

I'm Quinn and I hope to encourage you to not wait until "some day" to experience the satisfaction found in a simple life. You can begin living your homestead dream today!

READ MORE

As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. We may also earn small commissions on purchases from other retail websites.

Categories

Your Favorite Posts

Homestead Printables

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Butternut Squash Pie fresh bread
30 Homesteading Skills to Start Learning TODAY fresh bread
Plant Free Chicken Food fresh bread
Dexter Cattle – Pros & Cons dexter cattle

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy • Disclosure