Essential oils for deodorant
Using Essential oils for deodorant just might be the best natural alternative for how to get rid of body odor.
Are smelly armpits making you self-conscious? Do you avoid going to gatherings due to your body odor? While sweating is natural and nothing to be ashamed of, you may be worried about body odor if you work around people the whole day.
Body odor can make a significant impact on a person's confidence and wellbeing.
Traditional commercial deodorants and antiperspirants contain artificial fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and antibacterial preservatives, which may be harming your health in the long term. Although currently, there is no research that supports claims that conventional deodorant can cause breast cancer.
But if you want to err on a more natural way that does not contain harmful toxic chemicals, creating your own deodorant from natural products may be the answer.
Natural deodorants that contain essential oils do not have any side effects, and they also do not inhibit the body's natural purification process. Plus they can be super fun to make and use.
Read on to learn how to use essential oils for deodorant. In this post, we will also cover topics like –
- What causes body odor?
- Best essential oils to prevent body odor
- All-natural DIY deodorant recipes
- Precautions and safety tips for using essential oil deodorants
*This post contains affiliate links to the essential oils and other products I talk about in the post. Purchasing them here from my blog is no extra cost to you but I do earn a commission that helps in the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support!
What causes body odor?
Our body is covered with sweat glands because sweating helps to cool down the body. There are two kinds of sweat glands – eccrine and apocrine glands.
The eccrine glands cover most of our body, and they open directly on the skin surface. The sweat produced by the eccrine glands is primarily odorless until the bacterial on the skin metabolize the sweat and produce odor.
The apocrine glands secrete odorless sweat under stress. When sweat comes in contact with the bacteria on the skin, it starts producing odor. These glands usually do not begin working until puberty which is generally when people start noticing body odor.
Some of the other factors that cause body odor include –
Food – What we eat can impact our body odor temporarily. Foods like broccoli and red meat contain sulfur and can cause body odor.
Medical conditions – Medical conditions like hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and even obesity can change the body odor as the consistency of the sweat changes. Certain medications can also increase perspiration.
Clothes – Cotton, linen, and chambray are breathable fabrics, and they allow airflow, which helps to dry out sweat. Polyester, rayon, and denim repel moisture or sweat, which can cause body odor.
Best essential oils to prevent body odor
Essential oils are prized for their scent, but they have many beneficial properties that can help you eliminate body odor and keep you feeling fresh. Luckily, many essential oils boast odor-busting properties. Here are some essential oils for body odor prevention –
1. Lemon essential oil
The lemon essential oil has an uplifting and refreshing aroma. Many people recommend lemon for underarm deodorants as it is highly acidic and very effective in reducing body odor. Lemon essential oil is made from the peels and the rind of lemon and is equally effective in getting rid of body odor.
2. Tea tree essential oil
Tea tree oil has a fresh and clean scent, making it the perfect remedy if you want to know how to stop smelly armpits naturally. It has natural cleansing and astringent properties, which help to support armpit detoxing and reducing body odor. All these qualities make using tea tree for body odor the best choice.
3. Bergamot essential oil
Bergamot essential oil has been used as a natural deodorant for a long time. It has a robust citrusy smell, which is quite refreshing. It has powerful disinfectant properties and is also suitable for skin issues.
4. Lavender essential oil
Lavender is a soothing oil, both for your body as well as your mind. It calms the skin and helps reduce body odor. When you use it as a deodorant, it also helps to soothe itchy and dry skin. People with sensitive skin issues can also use this essential oil.
5. Lemongrass essential oil
Lemongrass is highly effective in reducing body odor. Its beneficial properties prevent smelly armpits, reduce inflammation, and also reduce stress. You can also use lemongrass oil to soothe sore muscles.
6. Parsley essential oil
Parsley leaves one of the best-known herbs for body odor prevention. The parsley essential oil is also as effective in getting rid of body odor. The presence of chlorophyll in this oil helps to neutralize body odor.
7. Rosemary essential oil
The unique aroma of rosemary essential oil makes it an ideal ingredient for natural home remedies for underarm odor. Rosemary oil also helps to reduce tissue inflammation.
8. Sage essential oil
Another effective kitchen herb for body odor prevention. Sage oil has an earthy, fruity, and floral aroma with a hint of nuttiness, which makes a perfect ingredient for an essential oil deodorant. The astringent properties of this oil can also reduce the amount of sweat. This essential oil is also beneficial if you are prone to razor burns and irritated underarms. Sage oil also helps tone and tighten skin with regular use.
9. Ylang-ylang essential oil
The fruity, flowery, and rich scent of ylang-ylang essential oil has been used for centuries in perfumes and cosmetics. Another property that makes it an excellent natural deodorant is that it is effective in soothing skin irritations and razor burns. It can also prevent dark underarms.
10. Geranium essential oil
The geranium essential oil has a light, floral and fresh aroma that makes it one of the best smelling essential oils for body. It has beneficial properties that fight body odor. It also provides relief from skin irritations and wounds.
All-natural essential oil blends for deodorants
You can use any of the essential oils mentioned above to make homemade deodorants. You can blend these oils to create a more effective scent for reducing body odor. Here are a few blends for you to choose from when creating your natural deodorant recipe.– Personally, my favorite essential oil blend is #4.
1. Lavender and clary sage
2. Bergamot, lime, and lemon
3. Lavender, tea tree, and lemon
4. Lemongrass and ylang-ylang
5. Rosemary and lemongrass
6. Geranium, lavender, and grapefruit
7. Ylang ylang and geranium
8. Parsley, geranium, ylang-ylang
Essential oil recipes for body odor
The use of essential oils for deodorants is not new. In ancient Rome and Greece, aromatic herbs and essential oils were coveted luxury goods. Most deodorants available in supermarkets or drugstores today contain harsh chemicals. Here are some easy essential oil deodorant recipes if you prefer a more natural approach and want to learn how to get rid of body odor. They are super fun to make and take just a few drops of essential oil and natural ingredients to create a wonderful homemade deodorant stick.
You can create batches of homemade deodorants by doubling up the recipes.
Essential oil deodorant stick
Ingredients
- Coconut oil – 3 tablespoons
- Baking soda – 3 tablespoons
- Shea butter – 2 tablespoons
- Arrowroot powder – 2 tablespoons
- Lavender essential oil –four drops
- Clary sage essential oil – three drops
- Deodorant container or a glass container.
Directions
- Melt two tablespoons of shea butter and three tablespoons of coconut oil in a double boiler.
- Once they have melted, remove them from heat and add arrowroot powder and baking soda.
- Add four drops of lavender essential oil and three drops of clary sage oil.
- Pour the mixture into an empty deodorant container or a glass container and keep it refrigerated.
These are my favorite deodorant containers for creating homemade deodorant recipes.
Essential oil roll-on deodorant
This roll-on deodorant recipe is non-greasy, and it is easy to make.
Ingredients
- Witch Hazel – ¼ cup
- Arrowroot powder – 1/8 cup
- Aloe Vera gel – 1/8 cup
- Baking soda – ¼ cup
- Distilled water – ¼ cup
- Magnesium hydroxide – 8 grams
- Rosemary essential oil – 15 drops
- Empty roll-on bottles
Directions
- Mix 8 grams of magnesium hydroxide in ¼ cup of distilled water.
- Put the rest of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk together.
- Add the magnesium water to this mixture.
- Whisk well to prevent clumping of arrowroot powder.
- Pour this mixture into roll-on bottles and secure the top.
Essential oil spray deodorant
Using a small spray bottle this great recipe is a great option to try for your first homemade deodorant. It has common ingredients that you can find locally. Making it one of the easiest ways to test if using your own homemade deodorant is something you want to do.
Ingredients
- Witch hazel – ½ cup
- Aloe vera gel – ¼ cup
- Baking soda – ¼
- Clary sage essential oil – 10 drops
Directions
- Add witch hazel, aloe vera gel, baking soda, and clary sage oil to a glass spray bottle.
- Put the cover and shake well.
- Shake the glass bottle well before every use.
Store the above different deodorants in a dark place out of direct sunlight.
Other home remedies for underarm odor
We hope you have now learned how to use essentials oils as a deodorant. If you are looking for some other options for how to stop smelly armpits naturally, we have some easy home remedies for you –
1. Lemon for armpit odor
Citrus fruits like lemon can make the PH level of the skin more acidic. Since odor-causing bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment, lemon juice is the perfect natural alternative to deodorants. Just rub the juice of half a lemon to your armpits and pat dry.
2. Baking soda and cornstarch
Baking soda and cornstarch can both absorb moisture and help get rid of body odor. If you want to know how to get rid of smelly armpits, dust them on your armpits.
3. Coconut oil for body odor
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, which help get rid of body odor. Take some coconut oil and apply it directly to your armpits. It also helps to moisturize your skin.
4. Milk of magnesia
Milk of magnesia is alkaline, and it helps to balance the skin's ph levels. It helps get rid of body odor and is gentle enough for people with sensitive skin.
5. Wear clean, breathable fabrics
Change into clean clothes regularly and wear clothes made from fabrics like cotton or linen. If you still face body odor problems, you can incorporate essential oils into your laundry. Add a few drops of essential oils to wool dryer balls and toss them into your washing machine. Your clothes will come out of the washing smelling fresh and clean.
Lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin, tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, chamomile, peppermint, lemongrass, rosemary, and basil are some of the best essential oils for body odor in clothes.
6. Use an antibacterial soap
You can also opt for a deodorant soap such as coal tar or antibacterial soap from Amazon. These soaps continue to do their job even after you have finished washing. You can use them daily as they do not irritate your skin. If you find them too drying, you can use this soap only for your armpits or groin. You can buy an antibacterial soap for smelly armpits from Amazon.
Precautions and safety tips when using essential oils for body odor
Smelly armpits and body odor can be embarrassing. Often we try all sorts of remedies to get rid of body odor. However, not every home remedy works for everyone. We need to be extra cautious when using essential oils for body odor.
1. Avoid using undiluted essential oils on your armpits. They can cause skin burns and scarring. So apply oils using a carrier oil like grapeseed oil. I would avoid using olive oil as it may stain clothing.
2. Do not use essential oil solutions on freshly shaven underarms. It can lead to skin irritation and stinging sensation.
3. Keep your essential oil deodorants away from children and pets.
4. Always use the proper combination and dosage of essential oils.
5. Always use good quality essential oils for your essential oil deodorant recipes.
6.If using citrus essential oils avoid direct sun exposure to the areas that have the deodorant applied as it can lead to skin burns.
Final thoughts
Body odor is a common problem that develops in people of all ages. Hormonal changes, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and even some medical conditions can lead to diabetes. If you are often looking for answers to questions like how to get rid of smelly armpits or how to get rid of woman body odor, it’s time to try essential oil deodorants. We have shared recipes of an essential oil deodorant stick, a roll-on deodorant, and a deodorant spray with you. Besides getting rid of body odor, the relaxing scents of these essential oil deodorants will also help relieve stress that may cause excessive sweating.