Summer is such a great time to experiment with homemade deodorant recipes, wouldn’t you agree?

It’s hot, sticky, and sweaty weather where I live so it’s the perfect time to concoct different formulas and put them to the ultimate test!

I recently ran out of my homemade Himalayan salt deodorant and wanted to try something a bit different. Don’t get me wrong, the salt version works great, but I’m one of those people that needs to change it up to keep my body guessing before it gets used to things. Getting used to things is bad because it means BO in my book. It’s the same for my hair care too. Am I the only one who has these issues?

Anyways, I came up with a super easy homemade deodorant that you can throw together in less than a few minutes that’s both effective and smells amazing… amazing enough to temp you into sniffing your underarms! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.

Homemade Deodorant with Tangerine and Geranium

You can make as large a batch of this deodorant as you like as it works well as a roll-on and as a spray. This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite brands of store bought deodorant, Weleda. They have three different spray deodorants: rose, sage, and citrus that I love to alternate. That is, until one day I decided to try my hand at making my own version.

This homemade version is way cheaper and the fun part is you can choose which essential oils you want. I chose to make mine with a delicious combination of tangerine and geranium for a cheerful summery blend. It smells just like sour candy and I just use this combo for other recipes this time of year (be sure to check out my amazing fizzy bath bomb recipe!).

Here’s what you’re going to need:

• A roll-on bottle/spray bottle of your choice (I’m using the standard 10ml roll-on bottle size)
• Vodka, tequila, gin, or other clear drinking alcohol (do not use rubbing alcohol)
• Water
• A small funnel or pipette
• 10 drops tangerine essential oil (get the one I used here)
• 10 drops geranium essential oil (get the one I used here)

You can make several different scents and alternate as you like. Make one for each day of the week if you really want to! I really like the roll-on bottles because they're convenient to take with you and allow you to try more scent combinations. 

To make a 1oz size spray deodorant, you would need 30 drops of each essential oil.

To make a 2oz size spray, you would need 60 drops each of EO and so on.

It might sound like a lot of essential oil, but this deodorant needs to be strong because you don't use a large quantity of it, just a few drops of EO actually goes on your skin with each use. However, if you have very sensitive skin, feel free to use less EO and more water as needed.

Loving Preparation – Homemade Deodorant

• Add the essential oils to the roll-on bottle first to ensure you have room for them
• Next, the bottle half way with water (for a stronger deodorant, add less)
• Now fill the bottle to the shoulder with vodka
• Cap closed and shake well before use

[yumprint-recipe id='114']I tend to need a stronger deodorant so I use less water. Just keep in mind that the deodorant may cause a burning sensation for 5-10 minutes because of the vodka. The less water you use, the more likely this will happen.

To use the deodorant simply swipe it on all areas where your hair grows to ensure the best odor-protection.

On normal days, I almost never have to reapply but on days where I exercise or have been sweating profusely, I may need a quick swipe to keep things fresh. If you find that you need to reapply too often, you may need to lower the amount of water you use in the recipe.

This homemade deodorant is really fun to experiment with and come up with new scent combinations. If you find that you have created a scent you’re not crazy about, allow the deodorant to “age” for a week in a cool dark place and try it again. The essential oils will have gotten nice and cozy with one another causing them to meld and mellow out a bit. You might just like what you made after all!

What have been some of your best simple homemade deodorant recipes? I’d love to hear what you’ve come up with!

Don't miss out on my other deodorant recipe posts below!

Travel Size Roll-On Deodorant
Homemade Probiotic Deodorant Cream
How to Make Your Own Herbal Deodorant
Four Thieves Coconut Oil Deodorant
Homemade Mineral Salt Deodorant Spray