How To: DIY Deodorant Without Baking Soda
Post Updated Sept 12, 2018
There are scads of easy-to-make deodorant how-to's on the net and that's great, except when the product you make ends up causing an unpleasant skin reaction. The culprit ingredient in DIY deodorants is commonly also the active ingredient: baking soda.
Sodium bicarbonate isn't recommended for prolonged direct contact with skin, and a lot of people have unfortunately had to discover this the hard way.
Many of you have asked me to develop a DIY deodorant with 'safe ingredients that are pronounceable and tolerated by sensitive skin'.
How could I possibly say no to a challenge like that?
It Took a Bit, But I Got There
I could probably count all the batches if I went through my notes, but I'm not. Suffice to say, there have been numerous – and loads of tweaking and testing.
And, I have to be honest up front: this deodorant will not provide 24/7 protection, nor is it an antiperspirant. On its best days, it has provided up to 9 hours of deodorizing action. On its worst days, it only lasted about 3 hours.
However, on average, it has proved good for about 6-7 hours of protection on 'a regular day' (that includes days with intense sweaty zumba classes).
To have something else DIY to compare with, I made and tested as many (baking-soda-free) deodorants as I could find while developing this one. Some had such an unpleasant texture they were nearly impossible to apply, some stained my clothing, and some just didn't work at all.
Even though this formula isn't 100% perfection, it fulfills the requirements and does offer tweaking possibilities so you can tailor it to your needs.
The following will make 2 small or 1 large (75 ml) deodorant stick.
And, I have to be honest up front: this deodorant will not provide 24/7 protection, nor is it an antiperspirant. On its best days, it has provided up to 9 hours of deodorizing action. On its worst days, it only lasted about 3 hours.
However, on average, it has proved good for about 6-7 hours of protection on 'a regular day' (that includes days with intense sweaty zumba classes).
To have something else DIY to compare with, I made and tested as many (baking-soda-free) deodorants as I could find while developing this one. Some had such an unpleasant texture they were nearly impossible to apply, some stained my clothing, and some just didn't work at all.
Even though this formula isn't 100% perfection, it fulfills the requirements and does offer tweaking possibilities so you can tailor it to your needs.
The following will make 2 small or 1 large (75 ml) deodorant stick.
LisaLise's DIY Deodorant with Pronounceable Ingredients
| Phase | Ingredient | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Beeswax | 9 | 0.3 |
| A | Cocoa Butter | 8 | 0.28 |
| B | Shea Butter | 32 | 1.1 |
| C | Kaolin White Clay | 20 | 0.7 |
| D | Lavender Essential Oil | 0.5 | 0.02 | D | Tea Tree Essential Oil | 0.5 | 0.02 |
Method
- Melt phase A ingredients SLOWLY over LOW heat until just melted
- Remove from heat, add phase B and stir until melted.
- Add phase C and stir thoroughly
- Mix phase D in a small bowl and let sit for half a minute
- Add phase D to mixture and stir
- Pour into containers and let set
This mixture sets very quickly. Have everything lined up and ready so you can work uninterrupted in the final steps. If the mixture sets too quickly, remelt the remainder very GENTLY over low heat.
About the Essential Oils
Both of these essential oils are deodorizing and antibacterial. They are also generally well tolerated. Replacing them with other essential oils may lessen the effect of your deodorant, but you can swap out lemon tea tree essential oil for tea tree without loosing effect if you aren't crazy about the scent of tea tree.If you don't have a jewelry scale that can measure in super small increments, the amount of the essential oils listed above is about 7 drops of each.
About the Clay
Use cosmetic grade clays. They are a bit pricier, but are produced specifically for cosmetics use (to be applied to the skin).
Kaolin is available in several grades, so check before you purchase.
Try replacing half the kaolin with Fuller's Earth clay (which has deodorizing properties) if you want a bit of extra action.
A Note About Texture
The above makes a texture that will stay solid through summer months – which is quite useful if you live in a very warm climate.
The stick will need to be 'warmed up' on the skin to apply.
If you prefer a softer texture (that is easier to apply but risks going very soft in summer months), reduce the beeswax to a total of 4 grams and use 13 grams of cocoa butter.
To Use
Apply to clean armpits. Warm the stick on the skin, then gently apply to each armpit. Be generous and don't rush application. The more you apply, the longer the effect.Combo Action For All Day Protection
Combining this deodorant with a 'crystal deodorant stone' (potassium alum) will extend the deodorizing action measurably.Even though it means doing a 'double deo application', I've experienced all day protection every time I've used these 2 together.
- Apply crystal deodorant stone (wet and rub on clean armpits)
- Let dry
- Finish with this deodorant
Read more about potassium alum here.
Do Tell
If you make and use this deodorant, I'd love to hear your feedback on how it works for you. Drop a comment on this post!
Preservative-Free Botanical Spray Deodorant
In this publication (pictured just above), I'll teach you how to make 3 botanical spray deodorants with simple, natural ingredients that have an average deodorizing action of 12,5 hours and a shelf life of approximately 6 months. It's an all-in-one-course-in-a-book for beginners and artisans who want to make natural cosmetics without preservatives. If you're interested in making more of your own products, you just might find this useful.More About Baking Soda Deodorant on This Blog
No Sweat: About Baking Soda DeodorantWhy Your DIY Baking Soda Deodorant is Causing a Skin Reaction
Visit the Deodorant FAQ Page
Comments
@Jana: You can use both refined or unrefined shea butter - whichever you prefer. DO let me know how it works for you! :)
You are so right about moving fast once its mixed, it does set really fast and started getting stuck in my pipette as I was pouring the last spoonful into the container.
Thanks again for the recipe :-)
Tina
For this recipe amount, that would mean 0.7 grams of baking soda or 7/10 of a gram.
You may still see a reaction from the deodorant though - even at this low percentage. Do let me know how it works for you, ok? I'm thinking about giving a beeswax-free version a whirl and seeing how that goes.
Thanks again for your input :)
I've made deodorant and I've used my DIY deodorant for more than a year now. My recipe is more or less like the one posted above, but I do add up to 1% of baking soda in the mix with kaolin clay and arrowroot powder for dryness and nice skin feel. I must say that the recipe works great on me and my friends.
It washes off easily in the shower at the end of the day without the sticky feeling of beeswax. It last for 8 hours or more on regular day (I'm working in an air-conditioned office from 8am-5pm, some exercise after work, and I hit my evening shower at about 8pm without stinking smell) and about 6 hours on sweaty day (doing some house cleaning, laundry and some gardening on weekends). And the fact that my country is hot and humid all the time (the temp. can hit up to 38 degree celcius sometime!) I must say that the deodorant has done a great job :)
I haven't experienced any burn or stinging from using baking soda in the recipe though, so does my friends. We've been using it for more than a year now. In fact, our armpit skin appears smoother and softer (thanks to cocoa butter).
Sorry for the lengthy comment. I just love to voice out my take on DIY deodorant :)
Have a nice day!
Zan, Malaysia.
Thanks for sharing this. It sounds like you have found something that really works for you. Please do be aware though, that some people can use baking soda deodorant for over 10 years before getting a reaction to it. The fact that you are keeping the baking soda at a low amount is wise. :)
This deodorant offers protection enough on a not too warm or busy day. On a warm, busy day I need something more and switch to a comercial product.
But I like the softness of the product which is good on my skin and the scent that isnt overpowering. I dont think it will last me very long though, or am I using too much at a time?
Am thinking of adding more essential oils to the mix for more scent, grapefruit or my favourite at the moment, black pepper. How much essentil oil would be too much and are there some oils I should avoid all togehter?
Thanks again for the recipe :-) Tina
As for use: I think one will tend to use more of this deodorant than a commercial one because it takes a bit more to get the same effect as with a commercial deodorant, so you are right about it seeming to disappear faster than a normal deodorant.
Thank you
Hope this was some help!
Just to let you know that I think you've provided a great recipe here and that I think your crusade against baking soda deodorants is a good one. I've certainly shared this link with lots of people who've approached me about making a DIY deodorant!
Best wishes,
Lorraine
Thanks for a great blog post. I've sent quite a few people to this link when they've asked me about DIY deodorants! Your crusade against baking soda deodorants is a good one, I'm sure you generate quite a lot of traffic to your blog on this topic. :)
Best wishes,
Lorraine
http://www.herbhedgerow.co.uk
Thanks for your input. I'm a little concerned that you think I am on a crusade against baking soda deodorant though. My 'crusade' is to educate about ingredients more than anything else. The baking soda gets a lot of mention due to the amount of people who keep contacting me after getting reactions from using DIY deodorant with baking soda. I keep writing about it because people keep asking me questions about it. I guess that could kind of make it look a bit like a crusade though.
Have a great weekend, and thanks for your supportive words :)
Here's a link to one MSDS
http://www.nanotech.wisc.edu/CNT_LABS/MSDS/Acids/MSDS%20Citric%20acid%20crystal.htm
Be aware that you are now adding 2 skin irritants to your deodorant mixture - regardless of pH…
Please do drop a comment if you decide to try this.
That is quite an interesting take on DIY deodorant and sounds like you are getting the best of both worlds by combining DIY ingredients with a store bought deodorant. Best of luck with it and thanks for sharing this!
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, it's simple, and it works so very well too!
I found your site because I got a rash in my armpits after using baking soda for the last few weeks. I just recently switched from commercial products and hope i can find the items to nake your recipe soon. so here is my question. I also have been using baking soda to wash my hair and brush my teeth (mixed with water). I haven't had any negative effects but thought up would ask your open union. Is it okay to use on teeth and hair, or not? Thanks!
Thanks for all your information. I find it very educational. I will definitely try your deodorant. However, I keep finding some comments regarding "tea tree oil" safety concerns on the web ("lack of knowledge about the oil's safety and effectiveness" according to wiki..; very toxic when swallowed; one study even shows that tea tree oil may alter hormone levels...etc). I have a thyroid disease and take hormones everyday, so I'd like to avoid any kind of reaction.I wonder if you could recommend me an alternative to this ingredient, or should I just leave it out of my list of ingredients? Thanks!
Thanks for all your information. I find it very educational. I will definitely try your deodorant. However, I keep finding some comments regarding "tea tree oil" safety concerns on the web ("lack of knowledge about the oil's safety and effectiveness" according to wiki..; very toxic when swallowed; one study even shows that tea tree oil may alter hormone levels...etc). I have a thyroid disease and take hormones everyday, so I'd like to avoid any kind of reaction.I wonder if you could recommend me an alternative to this ingredient, or should I just leave it out of my list of ingredients? Thanks!
I made your recipe, and followed your advice to use the crystal deodorant first. Generally, it worked well. I think I used all cocoa butter, and patchouli with lavender and geranium. I don't have tea tree, and lemon stinks on me. My question is, what about putting powdered alum in for some of the clay?
Thanks,
Crystie
If you want to add powdered alum into the recipe, be absolutely sure it is ground fine enough to where it won't feel abrasive. For the same reason, you will probably have toplay around with amounts until you have a texture that works for you. Best of luck with it! :)
I'm going to try your recipe. Thank you for developing it and sharing it. It is nearly impossible to find a commercial deodorant without aluminium.
Thanks for your input. It has not been established that potassium alum is any kind of health hazard. Please check the MSDS for potassium alum here.
http://chemistry.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=chemistry&cdn=education&tm=88&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=65&bt=2&bts=41&zu=http%3A//mubychem.com/MSDS/Potassium_Alum%2520MSDS.htm
There are many who prefer to stay away from anything that might have the slightest chance of being health hazardous, and that is understandable, but pretty darn near impossible to do.
Best of luck with the recipe. I hope it works well for you. :)
I used a natural baking soda deodorant for a couple of months and quite when I started getting LARGE boils on my armpits and up my arms as well. It was awful. I quite using it and the boils went away. I would really like to try this recipe but I am living in Europe (Spain) and can't find them. In a comment above you mentioned there is a link to find these products in Europe but I can't find the link...maybe I'm just blind here but I've been looking!
I have used a regular (store bought) deodorant for years but I am getting into more natural things these days. My store bought deodorant works great but it is hard to wash off and is starting to make my skin feel clogged.
Thanks for your help!
Ang
I have been using the typical baking soda, coconut oil, starch deodorant religiously for the past two years now, and in the past half a year the irritation has gotten quite bad. Big red spots, flaky skin, terribly itchy. One other source I read mentioned that one needs to re-balance the pH by putting Apple Cider Vinegar on before the deodorant. I haven't gotten into the habit yet, so I can't say if there is an improvement.
I have one question about the recipe though, I happen to have green clay on hand and I was wondering if it would work in place of the white clay.
Thank you for this post and your other posts on deodorant.
Adding vinegar to try and balance the skin is not going to help I'm afraid. If you are reacting to the baking soda, it is probably time to retire it from your deodorant. You can use green clay instead of white clay, but you may want to try a small portion first to see if you get any discoloration from the clay.
Best of luck with it. :)
Jesse
My first doe was the typical baking soda, coconut oil, ect. Worked great until we both had red, rashy pits! Hubs used his Degree while I played in my kitchen laboratory to come up with something else. I used plain coconut oil which healed and worked fine. So recipe 2 was similar to this recipe of yours. After 2-3 days, hubs said he had stinky pits. So I added only about 1/2 tsp of baking soda, still stinky. Upped baking soda to 1 1/2 tsp and it wasn't any better so I started over completely. The one I need up with is coconut oil, Shea butter, beeswax, neem oil, tamanu oil, almond oil, kaolin clay, arrowroot powder, Diatomaceous Earth (bought at local feed store but is food grade organic... Never use the garden variety) and a little Vit E oil. Texture was wonderful! I decreased the beeswax bc I prefer it as a cream. The only issue is that both neem and tamanu oils are very strong smelling!! So before adding EO, the smell was VERY earthy. So I tried patchouli, bergamot and cedarwood. It worked very well but that neem oils was WOW! Anyway one of my fur babies likes my ponytail elastics so I took it out of hair and wrapped around lid of my deo! He tried so hard to get it off that he knocked the glass jar on the floor and broke it. Now I needed to remake deo! Well, this time, I only had about 1/4 of the neem and tamanu oils so I used that and increased the almond oil.....much much better! Still earthy smelling which is fine but not overpowering like the first batch. I got this recipe from Scratchmommy! I think deo #3 is going to be the one!! Now I need a good toothpaste recipe. Only made one and it called for tea tree oil which I use for cold sores and am used to the smell but blech....it was nasty in the toothpaste. I dumped it out and am looking for a good recipe for that now!! I love reading your posts! I live in New Orleans, La and I get most of the ingredients at Whole food mkt and local health food stores. :-))
As for toothpaste, you might want to try peppermint or spearmint essential oil instead of tea tree - the taste will probably improve greatly. Best of luck with it!
Thanks so much for sharing! I'm curious as to how your recipe came about. Did you develop it yourself?
Thanks in advance for your response!
What are your thoughts on using Diatomaceous Earth in the recipe? I've seen a few recipes around the internet containing it and was wondering whether it would be safe.
You might find you get a grainier feel to the deodorant using Diatomaceous Earth, but other than that, it is not unsafe. Diatomaceous Earth is used in things such as toothpaste.
Hi Anon,
I'm curious about the staining of your clothes. Are you using the exact ingredients listed above? I admit I've never heard from anyone - nor have I personally - experienced any staining from this deodorant.
Yes, I've follow the measurements exactly. The deodorant I've made has a slight yellow/tan tint (like the picture you have shown) and have noticed that when I sweat the deodorant that i have applied under my arms 'melts' on to my clothing (around the pit area) and is not removed with washing. It is a shame because I feel like that besides that this deodorant works very well for me, but I don't want to continue to make it at the expense of ruining my clothing.
Synthetic fibers react differently than natural fibers, and natural fibers react differently as well, so there are several things to be considered...
even the washing method and washing products could also have a say in the matter.
I wish I could give you a more clear answer, but with so many possible factors, it's hard for me to narrow in on the reason. Maybe my comment can be of some help anyway?
There are a couple of things you could try:
1. replace the cocoa butter with mango butter (but expect a softer structure
2. replace the beeswax with bleached beeswax
Best of luck with it!
I am new with DIY deodorant.
Which ingredients from your recipe have the deodorizing function similar to baking soda? And are there other choices for that components ?
Thanks,
Jo
Could fir essential oil be used instead of the lavender and tea tree essential oils? What about peppermint essential oil?
Maybe you can help. I've tried what seems like a thousand recipes for diy deodorant on my quest to find something that works. I have quite sensitive pits, it seems, and get a rash from baking soda with nearly every amount I put in the recipe. I've tried other recipes without baking soda, and I just stink like a big dog at the end of the day.
I'm a man, so maybe that makes a difference, since nearly every forum like this or deodorant recipe site I've seen is from women, essentially for women. I dunno, but I know that I can use baking soda for anywhere from two days to two weeks before I develop a rash. But I always develop a rash nonetheless.
Baking soda in the deodorant recipe, even if slight, works like crazy, however. I can go 24 hours without odor. It's lovely. Without it, no rash, but no one wants to be near me by midday.
Do you have any suggestions? Anything would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Onto the deodorant, I've had a bad relationship with it since puberty. My underarm gradually got darker and darker. I'm African American, so it looked very dark in places. I started getting little pimples under my arms, and patches of eczema. I now haven't used deodorant in at least 5 years. I sometimes use lemon juice, coconut oil, and tea tree... they are good but I'm looking for a product that combines all of them. I still have eczema, I'm in the midst of what I'd call a flare up.. It came out of nowhere. I'm going to make a deo, but baking soda is a no no for me. It usually makes my skin inflamed. I could try the clay, I'd have to order it. Have you ever infused an oil with oatmeal? I'm asking because oats added to my deodorant might really soothe my skin, especially in combo with the coconut oil and squalane. Do you have any ideas for adding oats to the deo? I don't want it to be gritty, but maybe I could infuse the oil with oats? Please let me know your opinion! Sorry this comment is SO long. Thank you so much for reading it.
For your deodorant idea: try mixing shea and coconut oil with a bit of kaolin clay (this is also called white clay), then adding your tea tree oil (you might also want to add a bit of lavender as this offers many of the same properties as tea tree). Be sure to get cosmetics grade clay (particle sizes vary - you want the finest, smoothest feel possible for pits!). I like your idea of adding oats to the mix as this is indeed a skin-friendly ingredient. However, the 'goodies' you want to extract from the oats are mostly water-soluble, so infusing oil with oats may not get you the result you are looking for. I wonder if it would be possible to grind them finely enough to add to the mix as an 'oat flour'. Do let me know how it works for you if you decide to give this a try. best of luck with it!
1 cup + 1 tbs brown sugar
About 1 tbs Cracked sea salt
4tbs organic coconut oil
4tbs extra virgin olive oil
3 tbs pure apricot oil
2tbs organic argan oil
1 1/2 tbs vit e oil + safflower oil (derma e brand)
6 drops lavender essential oil
I've used all of these products before and my skin loves all of them. The only thing I hadn't tried was the lavender essential oil. Maybe it was the combination... Idk. But I used this scrub yesterday and have washed my hands several times since, and my skin still feels great so I don't want to toss it in the garbage. But, idk what caused the swelling and red bumps and I'm worried that I might have used too much essential oil. I know this might be a weird case, but I'd much appreciate any words of advice you may have! I've never experienced any problem with any lavender scented products before and I happen to love the scent. Yesterday was also a friend of mines anniversary and my mom had no time to get a gift, so we put together some of the scrub in a nice decorated jar. Now I'm even more worried! Do you think I overused the lavender?
I was just starting to make my own deodorant.
Can i use mango butter and cocoa butter to make a solid deodorant?
Can i subtitute kaolin to arrowroot? I thought even though kaolin is natural, but it still contains aluminum in it, right?
Have you tried making deodorant with probiotic?
Thanks!
Kaolin is indeed natural, as is aluminum. What you have to be mindful of aluminum is overdosing in aluminum - but the problem is: science has not yet established what constitutes an overdose or indeed what is a safe dose of aluminum - so I hardly know how to answer you on this. Aluminum is in our water, food, and everything around us.
I haven't worked with probiotic as a deodorant ingredient but would be interested to hear more about this. Best of luck with your deodorant!
Would there be much of a difference in using grey kaolin clay instead of white, or does it have similar properties?
Thanks,
Elise
and if your deodorant don't work all the time you want, carry it with you and also a wed paper towel supplies, so you can go to the bathroom and clean with the wed paper towel and re-apply your deodorant.
do you think I could use coconut oil instead of cocoa butter? I've seen this as an ingredient in various recipes with baking soda.
And why do we need white clay in the deodorant, what is the effect?
Thank you for publishing your insight on baking soda and for this recipe. My wife and I are using a home made deodorant with made with Baking soda, arrowroot powder, and shea and cocoa butter. It's by far the most effective deodorant we've ever used, however, less than a year later, we are experiencing some discoloration and irritation. We'd love to solve the problem.
I was wondering, what do you think of adjusting the pH of our formula down? Currently it is about a 6.5 to 7 pH and I understand we probably want to aim for 4.5 to 5.5. Is it worth trying, or is there something inherently wrong with baking soda, even after adjusting pH?
Thanks.
-G
I wanted to make this deodorant into a deodorant cream and tried experimenting. I replaced the beeswax and cocoa butter with 17 grams of mango butter, but it solidified. It works, but I have to dig it out of the jar before I apply it. What ingredients should I use (and how much) to give it a soft and creamy consistency?
Also, are there other scents besides lavender and tea tree oil that you would recommend in this recipe?
Thank you!
Lena
thank you for your posts, I wish I had read your recipe before using baking soda :(
As advised, I started to use aloe + talc to help with the burn. Sadly, I cannot stop using deodorant because of BO.
So I have checked your article for a deodorant without backing soda (I figured I could use it while healing) I was wondering if I could use the following deodorant. It is based on your recipe and what I have at home:
4 spoonful unrefined shea butter
1 spoonful coconut oil
1 spoonful aloe vera
2 spoonful Multani Mitti powder (organic clay)
8 drops lavender or orange or rosewood essential oil
8 drops hazelnut oil
Could you please give your opinion on this formula?
It could make a paste or a cooling gel (with glycrine or carrageenan)and once my skin is healed could I remove the aloe to add half a spoon of backing soda?
Thank you!
Myriam
Thank you for a wonderful blog, and all the insights and recipes you are sharing with the world. It's a treasure chest :)
After 4 months of using homemade deodorant with baking soda, a few days ago I noticed reddish bumps in my armpits, first time ever-so I assume it's a reaction to baking soda. I remembered Lise's recipe right away, so here's my experience.
I made this deodorant, but with a few changes/substitutions. I didn't have any cocoa butter handy, so I recalculated everything to Shea. And also, I used the formula with less wax, because I was wanted it to glide on "faster". It turned out a bit too oily, so I have to wait a couple of minutes if I want to put on anything with tighter sleeves ;) But it's great later on-the skin soaks up Shea. I used green clay instead of white, as a substitute. I'm thinking of substituting half of the clay with arrowroot next time. Also, since I don't like the smell of Tea Tree, I made a mix of Lavender, Lemon and Rosemary...around 18 drops altogether. It's winter here right now, and I didn’t really do anything physically demanding today...but after several hours of sitting around, the natural smell begins to overpower the essential oils. I might go with a stronger essential oil, or use Lemongrass or Cajeput instead of Rosemary and Lemon...looking at my notes now, Rosemary and lemon don't have much of a antibacterial scope.
Thank you Lise! Yes, I will definitely repeat the process, one substitution at the time, until the result is totally satisfactory. If I were to ask you one question: why are cocoa and Shea combined in the recipe? Do you think it's necessary to use cocoa as a part of the formula?
I have a question for you regarding this deodorant - i wonder why you have chosen kaolin when for instance bentonite is more absorbing - and as you say - therefore should give more deodorizing action?
I haven't tried it yet but thought I would blend this mix while cooling and then put into tin container and use with fingers to ensure none of the clay settles to the bottom. Thoughts?
Hi Lise, I've been searching for baking soda-free deodorant recipe. I've tried replacing BS with activated carbon and bentonite clay without much success. Recently however I tried using zinc oxide and it works almost as well as BS. How exactly does zinc oxide work and is it advisable to use it in the skin daily? Thanks!
My deodorant stick recipe: Coconut oil, arrowroot powder, zinc oxide powder, tea tree oil and candelila wax.
Just curious, why shouldn't I use the same dosage of ingredients over an extended period of time if it works? Is there perhaps a problem with the current combination of recipe items? Should I simplify the recipe then?
Was wondering if tts ok to replace refined shea with unrefined shea butter.
Candelilla has properties that are somewhat different from beeswax, so you may need to lower the percentage to 6 or 7%. If you have another vegan wax such as rice bran, berry wax or even sunflower wax try mixing it with the candelilla to get a more 'pliable' texture.
Thanks!
If you prefer a softer texture (that is easier to apply but risks going very soft in summer months), reduce the beeswax to a total of 4 grams and use 13 grams of cocoa butter.
Hope this helps :)
I switched ingredients to this: beeswax, cocoabutter, sheabutter, coconutoil. In the summer I may have to up the beeswax but for now, in wintertime, this is perfect!