Tallow Deodorant Recipe – Easy Homemade Natural Deodorant
This tallow deodorant recipe is an easy way to make your own natural deodorant using simple, nourishing ingredients. Made with grass-fed tallow, coconut oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax, baking soda, and essential oils, it has a smooth, creamy texture while helping absorb excess moisture and keep underarms feeling fresh.
When I first started swapping conventional personal care products for more natural alternatives, deodorant was one of the trickier products to replace. Some natural deodorants simply didn’t work well for me, while others contained long ingredient lists or were surprisingly expensive.
Making homemade deodorant gives you complete control over the ingredients and allows you to adjust the recipe to work for your skin. And because I already use grass-fed tallow in so many of my homemade skincare products, creating a homemade tallow deodorant recipe was a natural next step.
Why Make Deodorant With Tallow?
Tallow has been used in skincare for generations, and it’s one of my favorite ingredients to keep in my home apothecary.
Rendered beef tallow is rich in fatty acids and creates a creamy, moisturizing base for homemade skincare products. Unlike a recipe made entirely with coconut oil, tallow also has a naturally firmer consistency at room temperature.
Combined with absorbent powders and a small amount of beeswax, it creates a wonderfully simple base for homemade tallow deodorant.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Grass-Fed Tallow
Tallow forms the nourishing base of this recipe and gives the deodorant its creamy texture. I prefer grass-fed tallow that has been well rendered and purified so it has little to no beefy smell.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil helps soften the tallow and makes the finished deodorant easier to spread onto the skin. I use virgin coconut oil, but keep in mind that coconut oil becomes softer in warmer temperatures.
Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder helps absorb excess moisture and oil while giving the deodorant a smoother, less greasy finish. It’s commonly found in natural deodorant recipes and is a great ingredient to keep on hand for homemade body care.
Beeswax
Beeswax helps firm the tallow and coconut oil so the finished deodorant has more structure rather than the consistency of a soft salve. It also helps the deodorant stay firmer in warmer temperatures.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is commonly used in homemade deodorant recipes to help neutralize odor. However, it can be irritating for some people, especially those with sensitive skin.
I’ve included an option below for making this homemade deodorant without baking soda using kaolin clay instead.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are optional but can add a beautiful natural scent. Lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, geranium, and frankincense are a few options that work well in homemade deodorant.
Tallow Deodorant Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons grass-fed tallow
- 3 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 1½ tablespoons beeswax pellets
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda (or you can sub 1 tbsp kaolin clay)
- 10–15 drops essential oils of choice
Instructions
1. Melt the tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax.
Add the grass-fed tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax to a double boiler or heat-safe glass measuring cup set over a saucepan that has a few inches of gently simmering water. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all the ingredients are completely melted and combined.
2. Incorporate the dry ingredients.
Remove from the heat and let the melted mixture cool for a minute or two. Then add the arrowroot powder and baking soda to the melted oils. Whisk or stir thoroughly until the powders are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth, with no visible lumps. For the baking soda-free version, substitute kaolin clay as directed in the recipe notes.
3. Add the essential oils.
Once the mixture has cooled further but is still liquid, add your chosen essential oils and stir well to distribute them evenly throughout the deodorant.
4. Transfer to a glass jar or deodorant tube.
Right before transferring it to your glass jar give it one final good stir. Then Carefully pour or spoon the mixture into a clean, completely dry 4-ounce glass mason jar or deodorant tube, leaving a little room at the top. Use a spatula to scrape any remaining mixture from the measuring cup.
* I prefer to use the small glass mason jars instead of deodorant tubes since most deodorant tubes are made of plastic. To use you simply put a little bit of deodorant on your finger and apply it to your armpits.
5. Allow the deodorant to set.
Leave the jar uncovered at room temperature until the deodorant has completely cooled and firmed up, which may take several hours. Once fully set, secure the lid and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Homemade Deodorant Without Baking Soda
Baking soda works well for many people, but underarm skin can be particularly sensitive. If baking soda causes irritation, you can make this homemade deodorant without baking soda by using kaolin clay instead.
Kaolin clay is a gentle, absorbent clay that helps absorb excess moisture and oil. It won’t work exactly the same way as baking soda for odor control, but it gives the deodorant a smooth, dry finish and may be a better option for sensitive skin.
For the baking-soda-free variation simply replace the baking soda with 1 tbsp of kaolin clay.
How to Use This Tallow Deodorant Recipe
Using a clean finger, scoop out a small amount of deodorant and gently rub it into clean, dry underarms until absorbed. If you opted to use deodorant sticks, you can simply rub it in your underarm in the same way you would use any deodorant. I personally prefer to use the glass jars instead to cut down on our use of plastics.
You don’t need much. Start with about a pea-sized amount for each underarm and add more only if necessary.
Because this is a natural deodorant rather than an antiperspirant, it isn’t designed to stop your body from sweating. Instead, ingredients like arrowroot powder help absorb some moisture while the deodorant helps keep your underarms feeling fresh.
Expert Tips
- Use well-rendered tallow. For skincare products, I prefer tallow that has been rendered and purified until it has a mild, neutral scent.
- Use gentle heat. You only need enough heat to melt the fats and beeswax. Avoid overheating the mixture.
- Keep stirring as it cools. Arrowroot and baking soda can settle while the oils are still very thin. Stirring as the mixture begins to thicken helps keep everything evenly distributed.
- Adjust for warmer temperatures. Coconut oil softens considerably when warm, so your deodorant may become softer during the summer. A small amount of additional beeswax can help firm it up.
- Patch test first. If you have sensitive skin or are new to any of the ingredients, test a small amount before using the deodorant regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I adjust the consistency of tallow deodorant?
If your deodorant is too soft, remelt it and add a little more beeswax, about 1 teaspoon at a time. If it’s too firm, add a small amount of tallow or coconut oil. For a less greasy finish, you can add a little more arrowroot powder or kaolin clay, but too much can make the deodorant chalky.
Can I use candelilla wax instead of beeswax?
Yes. Candelilla wax is harder than beeswax, so you’ll generally need less. Start with a smaller amount and adjust as needed. I prefer beeswax in this tallow deodorant recipe because it gives the finished deodorant a softer, creamier glide.
What essential oils are best for homemade deodorant?
Lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, geranium, and frankincense are all great options. You can use one or combine a few, keeping the total amount around 10–15 drops for this recipe. Always use essential oils appropriately diluted for topical use.
Can I add shea butter?
Yes, but it isn’t necessary. Tallow already creates a rich, moisturizing base, while coconut oil helps with spreadability. If you want to use shea butter, try replacing some of the coconut oil rather than simply adding it to the recipe.
Final Thoughts
Making your own tallow deodorant recipe is surprisingly simple and requires only a handful of natural ingredients. I love knowing exactly what’s going onto my skin, and making my own personal care products also means I can adjust the texture, scent, and ingredients to work for my family.
Whether you make the traditional version with baking soda or the gentler kaolin clay variation, this homemade tallow deodorant is a simple addition to a natural skincare routine and another everyday product you can easily make at home.
More Reader Favorite Tallow Skincare Recipes
If you love this recipe then check out some of my other tallow skincare recipes:
If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @wholisticmandy on Instagram. Your reviews help support this blog and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.
Tallow Deodorant Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Double boiler optional
- 4 oz glass mason jars or deodorant tubes
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp grass-fed tallow
- 3 tbsp virgin coconut oil
- 3 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp beeswax
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda or you can sub 1 tbsp of kaolin clay
- 10-15 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Add the grass-fed tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax to a double boiler or heat-safe glass measuring cup set over a saucepan that has a few inches of gently simmering water. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all the ingredients are completely melted and combined.
- Remove from the heat and let the melted mixture cool for a minute or two. Then add the arrowroot powder and baking soda to the melted oils. Whisk or stir thoroughly until the powders are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth, with no visible lumps. For the baking soda-free version, substitute kaolin clay as directed in the recipe notes
- Once the mixture has cooled further but is still liquid, add your chosen essential oils and stir well to distribute them evenly throughout the deodorant.
- Right before transferring it to your glass jar give it one final good stir. Then Carefully pour or spoon the mixture into a clean, completely dry 4-ounce glass mason jar or deodorant tube, leaving a little room at the top. Use a spatula to scrape any remaining mixture from the measuring cup.I prefer to use the small glass mason jars instead of deodorant tubes since most tubes that actually work well are made of plastic and I don't want endocrine disruptors in my deodorant. 😉
- Leave the jar uncovered at room temperature until the deodorant has completely cooled and firmed up, which may take several hours. Once fully set, secure the lid and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Notes
- Use high-quality, well-rendered tallow. Choose grass-fed tallow that has been thoroughly purified to remove impurities and minimize any beefy smell.
- Adjust the consistency. For a firmer deodorant, increase the beeswax slightly. For a softer, creamier texture, reduce the beeswax or add a little more coconut oil.
- Keep stirring as it cools. Arrowroot powder and baking soda can settle at the bottom while the mixture is still liquid. Stir periodically as it thickens to keep the ingredients evenly distributed.
- Make it baking soda-free. For sensitive skin, omit the baking soda and substitute 1 tablespoon of kaolin clay.
- Store properly. Keep your homemade tallow deodorant in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Warm temperatures can soften the coconut oil and affect the consistency.
- Avoid applying to irritated skin. Baking soda and essential oils can cause irritation, especially after shaving. Patch test before regular use and discontinue if irritation develops.
