Easy Tallow Deodorant Recipe for Everyday Use

Tallow is not just for your skincare, it makes an amazing base for deodorant too. Tallow deodorant is deeply nourishing, gentle on sensitive underarms, and tallow itself blends beautifully with other ingredients.

If you’ve ever made the switch to natural deodorant, you know it can be… a journey. I’ve tried store-bought “clean” ones that left me sweating like I ran a marathon (just from folding laundry), and the DIY ones that felt gritty or melted into a soupy mess in the summer.

So, after plenty of trial and error, I think I finally made a good one. This tallow deodorant is creamy, easy to make, and actually keeps me feeling fresh all day.

• 11 Must-Try Beef Tallow Recipes to Make at Home

Tallow Deodorant Recipe:

You might go through a short detox phase where your body adjusts while using this tallow deodorant. This can include more sweating or odor at first. Don’t worry, it’s normal and temporary! I personally didn’t have to detox, but I had already been gradually switching to more natural products for over a year, which probably helped.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp tallow
• 1 tbsp beeswax
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp baking soda (you can reduce if you’re sensitive)
• 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
• 10–15 drops essential oils (I love lavender + tea tree or grapefruit + rosemary)

Instructions:

1. Set Up a Simple Double Boiler

Place a heat-safe glass container (like a glass measuring cup or small jar) into a small saucepan filled with a couple inches of water. This will gently heat your ingredients without burning them.

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2. Melt It All Together

Add the tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax to your container. Warm over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally until everything is fully melted and smooth (about 10–15 minutes).

3. Stir in the Powders

Once everything is melted, remove the container from heat. Quickly stir in the arrowroot powder, baking soda, and any optional dry add-ins like zinc oxide, kaolin clay, or activated charcoal. Stir well to fully incorporate and avoid clumps.

4. Add Essential Oils

Let the mixture cool for a minute, just enough so it’s not hot but still pourable. Then stir in your essential oils and any heat-sensitive ingredients like vitamin E oil or rosemary extract.

3. Pour and Cool

Pour into a container you like. Let it cool and solidify.

To apply, scoop a small amount and rub into clean, dry underarms.

Notes:

• This recipe makes about 4 oz of deodorant.
• If you’re sensitive to baking soda, reduce to 1/2 tsp or omit and increase arrowroot powder slightly.
• Use peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, or lavender essential oils for a fresh, clean scent.
• Some people go through a short detox period when switching to natural deodorant. I didn’t experience that personally, but that’s likely because I’d already been switching to natural products slowly over the past year.

This deodorant actually works. No funky ingredients, no weird after-smell, and no aluminum. Just simple, nourishing ingredients that your skin will love. And honestly, it feels good knowing I made it myself with things I trust.

If you’ve been struggling to find a natural deodorant that actually does its job, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Tallow Deodorant

Print Recipe

This homemade tallow deodorant is a simple, natural alternative to store-bought options. Made with nourishing ingredients like grass-fed tallow and coconut oil, it helps fight odor and keep your underarms soft without the toxins.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp tallow
• 1 tbsp beeswax
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 10 drops essential oils your choice
• 1/4 tsp non-nano zinc oxide optional
• 1/2 tsp kaolin clay or 1/4 tsp activated charcoal optional
• A few drops of vitamin E oil or rosemary extract optional

Instructions

• Place a heat-safe glass container into a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water.
• Add tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax to the container. Heat on low-medium, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth.
• Remove from heat. Quickly stir in arrowroot powder, baking soda, and any optional dry ingredients (zinc oxide, clay, charcoal).
• Let cool slightly (not solid), then stir in essential oils and optional vitamin E or extracts.
• Pour into a 4 oz jar or container and let it cool completely before using.

Notes

• This recipe makes about 4 oz of deodorant.
• If you’re sensitive to baking soda, reduce to 1/2 tsp or omit and increase arrowroot powder slightly.
• Use peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, or lavender essential oils for a fresh, clean scent.
• Some people go through a short detox period when switching to natural deodorant. I didn’t experience that personally, but that’s likely because I’d already been switching to natural products slowly over the past year.