diff --git a/include/cantera/base/ct_defs.h b/include/cantera/base/ct_defs.h
index cfdd2ebf7..39ef19113 100644
--- a/include/cantera/base/ct_defs.h
+++ b/include/cantera/base/ct_defs.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ namespace Cantera
 #endif
 
 using std::shared_ptr;
+using std::make_shared;
 
 /*!
  * All physical constants are stored here.
diff --git a/src/kinetics/Reaction.cpp b/src/kinetics/Reaction.cpp
index 9b6e7daf1..783439467 100644
--- a/src/kinetics/Reaction.cpp
+++ b/src/kinetics/Reaction.cpp
@@ -590,39 +590,39 @@ shared_ptr<Reaction> newReaction(const XML_Node& rxn_node)
 
     // Create a new Reaction object of the appropriate type
     if (type == "elementary" || type == "arrhenius" || type == "") {
-        shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>();
         setupElementaryReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "threebody" || type == "three_body") {
-        shared_ptr<ThreeBodyReaction> R(new ThreeBodyReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<ThreeBodyReaction>();
         setupThreeBodyReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "falloff") {
-        shared_ptr<FalloffReaction> R(new FalloffReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<FalloffReaction>();
         setupFalloffReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "chemact" || type == "chemically_activated") {
-        shared_ptr<ChemicallyActivatedReaction> R(new ChemicallyActivatedReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<ChemicallyActivatedReaction>();
         setupChemicallyActivatedReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "plog" || type == "pdep_arrhenius") {
-        shared_ptr<PlogReaction> R(new PlogReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<PlogReaction>();
         setupPlogReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "chebyshev") {
-        shared_ptr<ChebyshevReaction> R(new ChebyshevReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<ChebyshevReaction>();
         setupChebyshevReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "interface" || type == "surface" || type == "edge" ||
                type == "global") {
-        shared_ptr<InterfaceReaction> R(new InterfaceReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<InterfaceReaction>();
         setupInterfaceReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else if (type == "electrochemical" ||
                type == "butlervolmer_noactivitycoeffs" ||
                type == "butlervolmer" ||
                type == "surfaceaffinity") {
-        shared_ptr<ElectrochemicalReaction> R(new ElectrochemicalReaction());
+        auto R = make_shared<ElectrochemicalReaction>();
         setupElectrochemicalReaction(*R, rxn_node);
         return R;
     } else {
diff --git a/src/thermo/FixedChemPotSSTP.cpp b/src/thermo/FixedChemPotSSTP.cpp
index dd1e092d8..6ba698823 100644
--- a/src/thermo/FixedChemPotSSTP.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/FixedChemPotSSTP.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ FixedChemPotSSTP::FixedChemPotSSTP(const std::string& Ename, doublereal val) :
     setName(pname);
     setNDim(3);
     addElement(Ename);
-    shared_ptr<Species> sp(new Species(pname, parseCompString(Ename + ":1.0")));
+    auto sp = make_shared<Species>(pname, parseCompString(Ename + ":1.0"));
     double c[4] = {298.15, val, 0.0, 0.0};
     shared_ptr<SpeciesThermoInterpType> stit(
             newSpeciesThermoInterpType("const_cp", 0.1, 1e30, OneAtm, c));
diff --git a/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp b/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
index ec54466d0..3aec7ee96 100644
--- a/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void GeneralSpeciesThermo::install_STIT(size_t index,
 void GeneralSpeciesThermo::installPDSShandler(size_t k, PDSS* PDSS_ptr,
         VPSSMgr* vpssmgr_ptr)
 {
-    shared_ptr<SpeciesThermoInterpType> stit_ptr(new STITbyPDSS(vpssmgr_ptr, PDSS_ptr));
+    auto stit_ptr = make_shared<STITbyPDSS>(vpssmgr_ptr, PDSS_ptr);
     install_STIT(k, stit_ptr);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/thermo/Species.cpp b/src/thermo/Species.cpp
index bd78517f0..82a9847a3 100644
--- a/src/thermo/Species.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/Species.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ shared_ptr<Species> newSpecies(const XML_Node& species_node)
 {
     std::string name = species_node["name"];
     compositionMap comp = parseCompString(species_node.child("atomArray").value());
-    shared_ptr<Species> s(new Species(name, comp));
+    auto s = make_shared<Species>(name, comp);
     if (species_node.hasChild("charge")) {
         s->charge = getFloat(species_node, "charge");
     }
diff --git a/src/transport/TransportData.cpp b/src/transport/TransportData.cpp
index 79d5d7410..97324196f 100644
--- a/src/transport/TransportData.cpp
+++ b/src/transport/TransportData.cpp
@@ -129,12 +129,12 @@ shared_ptr<TransportData> newTransportData(const XML_Node& transport_node)
 {
     std::string model = transport_node["model"];
     if (model == "gas_transport") {
-        shared_ptr<GasTransportData> tr(new GasTransportData());
+        auto tr = make_shared<GasTransportData>();
         setupGasTransportData(*tr, transport_node);
         return tr;
     } else {
         // Transport model not handled here
-        return shared_ptr<TransportData>(new TransportData());
+        return make_shared<TransportData>();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/kinetics/kineticsFromScratch.cpp b/test/kinetics/kineticsFromScratch.cpp
index 18e7d65bb..81a956f72 100644
--- a/test/kinetics/kineticsFromScratch.cpp
+++ b/test/kinetics/kineticsFromScratch.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, add_elementary_reaction)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
 
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, add_three_body_reaction)
     Arrhenius rate(1.2e11, -1.0, 0.0);
     ThirdBody tbody;
     tbody.efficiencies = parseCompString("AR:0.83 H2:2.4 H2O:15.4");
-    shared_ptr<ThreeBodyReaction> R(new ThreeBodyReaction(reac, prod, rate, tbody));
+    auto R = make_shared<ThreeBodyReaction>(reac, prod, rate, tbody);
 
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, undefined_third_body)
     Arrhenius rate(1.2e11, -1.0, 0.0);
     ThirdBody tbody;
     tbody.efficiencies = parseCompString("H2:0.1 CO2:0.83");
-    shared_ptr<ThreeBodyReaction> R(new ThreeBodyReaction(reac, prod, rate, tbody));
+    auto R = make_shared<ThreeBodyReaction>(reac, prod, rate, tbody);
 
     ASSERT_THROW(kin.addReaction(R), CanteraError);
 }
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, skip_undefined_third_body)
     Arrhenius rate(1.2e11, -1.0, 0.0);
     ThirdBody tbody;
     tbody.efficiencies = parseCompString("H2:0.1 CO2:0.83");
-    shared_ptr<ThreeBodyReaction> R(new ThreeBodyReaction(reac, prod, rate, tbody));
+    auto R = make_shared<ThreeBodyReaction>(reac, prod, rate, tbody);
 
     kin.skipUndeclaredThirdBodies(true);
     kin.addReaction(R);
@@ -120,8 +120,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, add_falloff_reaction)
     vector_fp falloff_params { 0.7346, 94.0, 1756.0, 5182.0 };
     ThirdBody tbody;
     tbody.efficiencies = parseCompString("AR:0.7 H2:2.0 H2O:6.0");
-    shared_ptr<FalloffReaction> R(new FalloffReaction(reac, prod, low_rate,
-                                                      high_rate, tbody));
+    auto R = make_shared<FalloffReaction>(reac, prod, low_rate, high_rate, tbody);
     R->falloff = newFalloff(TROE_FALLOFF, falloff_params);
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
@@ -145,7 +144,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, add_plog_reaction)
         { 100.0*101325, Arrhenius(5.963200e+56, -11.529, 52599.6 / GasConst_cal_mol_K) }
     };
 
-    shared_ptr<PlogReaction> R(new PlogReaction(reac, prod, Plog(rates)));
+    auto R = make_shared<PlogReaction>(reac, prod, Plog(rates));
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
     check_rates(3);
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, plog_invalid_rate)
         { 100.0*101325, Arrhenius(5.9632e+56, -11.529, 52599.6 / GasConst_cal_mol_K) }
     };
 
-    shared_ptr<PlogReaction> R(new PlogReaction(reac, prod, Plog(rates)));
+    auto R = make_shared<PlogReaction>(reac, prod, Plog(rates));
     ASSERT_THROW(kin.addReaction(R), CanteraError);
 }
 
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, add_chebyshev_reaction)
     coeffs(2,3) = -7.6385e-03;
     ChebyshevRate rate(290, 3000, 1000.0, 10000000.0, coeffs);
 
-    shared_ptr<ChebyshevReaction> R(new ChebyshevReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ChebyshevReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
     check_rates(4);
@@ -204,7 +203,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, undeclared_species)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("CO:1 OH:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("CO2:1 H:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
 
     ASSERT_THROW(kin.addReaction(R), CanteraError);
     ASSERT_EQ(0, kin.nReactions());
@@ -215,7 +214,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, skip_undeclared_species)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("CO:1 OH:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("CO2:1 H:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
 
     kin.skipUndeclaredSpecies(true);
     kin.addReaction(R);
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, negative_A_error)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(-3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
 
     ASSERT_THROW(kin.addReaction(R), CanteraError);
     ASSERT_EQ(0, kin.nReactions());
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, allow_negative_A)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(-3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->allow_negative_pre_exponential_factor = true;
 
     kin.addReaction(R);
@@ -250,7 +249,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, invalid_reversible_with_orders)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->orders["H2"] = 0.5;
 
     ASSERT_THROW(kin.addReaction(R), CanteraError);
@@ -262,7 +261,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, negative_order_override)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->reversible = false;
     R->allow_negative_orders = true;
     R->orders["H2"] = - 0.5;
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, invalid_negative_orders)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->reversible = false;
     R->orders["H2"] = - 0.5;
 
@@ -289,7 +288,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, nonreactant_order_override)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->reversible = false;
     R->allow_nonreactant_orders = true;
     R->orders["OH"] = 0.5;
@@ -303,7 +302,7 @@ TEST_F(KineticsFromScratch, invalid_nonreactant_order)
     Composition reac = parseCompString("O:1 H2:1");
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H:1 OH:1");
     Arrhenius rate(3.87e1, 2.7, 6260.0 / GasConst_cal_mol_K);
-    shared_ptr<ElementaryReaction> R(new ElementaryReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<ElementaryReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     R->reversible = false;
     R->orders["OH"] = 0.5;
 
@@ -368,7 +367,7 @@ TEST_F(InterfaceKineticsFromScratch, add_surface_reaction)
     Composition prod = parseCompString("OH(m):1 (m):1");
     Arrhenius rate(5e21, 0, 100.0e6 / GasConstant); // kJ/mol -> J/kmol
 
-    shared_ptr<InterfaceReaction>R(new InterfaceReaction(reac, prod, rate));
+    auto R = make_shared<InterfaceReaction>(reac, prod, rate);
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
     check_rates(3);
@@ -383,7 +382,7 @@ TEST_F(InterfaceKineticsFromScratch, add_sticking_reaction)
     Composition prod = parseCompString("H(m):2");
     Arrhenius rate(0.1, 0, 0.0);
 
-    shared_ptr<InterfaceReaction>R(new InterfaceReaction(reac, prod, rate, true));
+    auto R = make_shared<InterfaceReaction>(reac, prod, rate, true);
     kin.addReaction(R);
     kin.finalize();
     check_rates(0);
diff --git a/test/thermo/thermoParameterizations.cpp b/test/thermo/thermoParameterizations.cpp
index 370d525b4..69134c0ed 100644
--- a/test/thermo/thermoParameterizations.cpp
+++ b/test/thermo/thermoParameterizations.cpp
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ TEST_F(SpeciesThermoInterpTypeTest, install_const_cp)
 {
     // Compare against instantiation from CTI file
     IdealGasPhase p2("../data/simplephases.cti", "simple1");
-    shared_ptr<Species> sO2(new Species("O2", parseCompString("O:2")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sH2(new Species("H2", parseCompString("H:2")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sH2O(new Species("H2O", parseCompString("H:2 O:1")));
+    auto sO2 = make_shared<Species>("O2", parseCompString("O:2"));
+    auto sH2 = make_shared<Species>("H2", parseCompString("H:2"));
+    auto sH2O = make_shared<Species>("H2O", parseCompString("H:2 O:1"));
     sO2->thermo.reset(new ConstCpPoly(200, 5000, 101325, c_o2));
     sH2->thermo.reset(new ConstCpPoly(200, 5000, 101325, c_h2));
     sH2O->thermo.reset(new ConstCpPoly(200, 5000, 101325, c_h2o));
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ TEST_F(SpeciesThermoInterpTypeTest, DISABLED_install_bad_pref)
 {
     // Currently broken because GeneralSpeciesThermo does not enforce reference
     // pressure consistency.
-    shared_ptr<Species> sO2(new Species("O2", parseCompString("O:2")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sH2(new Species("H2", parseCompString("H:2")));
+    auto sO2 = make_shared<Species>("O2", parseCompString("O:2"));
+    auto sH2 = make_shared<Species>("H2", parseCompString("H:2"));
     sO2->thermo.reset(new ConstCpPoly(200, 5000, 101325, c_o2));
     sH2->thermo.reset(new ConstCpPoly(200, 5000, 100000, c_h2));
     p.addSpecies(sO2);
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ TEST_F(SpeciesThermoInterpTypeTest, install_nasa)
 {
     // Compare against instantiation from CTI file
     IdealGasPhase p2("../data/simplephases.cti", "nasa1");
-    shared_ptr<Species> sO2(new Species("O2", parseCompString("O:2")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sH2(new Species("H2", parseCompString("H:2")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sH2O(new Species("H2O", parseCompString("H:2 O:1")));
+    auto sO2 = make_shared<Species>("O2", parseCompString("O:2"));
+    auto sH2 = make_shared<Species>("H2", parseCompString("H:2"));
+    auto sH2O = make_shared<Species>("H2O", parseCompString("H:2 O:1"));
     sO2->thermo.reset(new NasaPoly2(200, 3500, 101325, o2_nasa_coeffs));
     sH2->thermo.reset(new NasaPoly2(200, 3500, 101325, h2_nasa_coeffs));
     sH2O->thermo.reset(new NasaPoly2(200, 3500, 101325, h2o_nasa_coeffs));
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ TEST_F(SpeciesThermoInterpTypeTest, install_shomate)
 {
     // Compare against instantiation from CTI file
     IdealGasPhase p2("../data/simplephases.cti", "shomate1");
-    shared_ptr<Species> sCO(new Species("CO", parseCompString("C:1 O:1")));
-    shared_ptr<Species> sCO2(new Species("CO2", parseCompString("C:1 O:2")));
+    auto sCO = make_shared<Species>("CO", parseCompString("C:1 O:1"));
+    auto sCO2 = make_shared<Species>("CO2", parseCompString("C:1 O:2"));
     sCO->thermo.reset(new ShomatePoly2(200, 6000, 101325, co_shomate_coeffs));
     sCO2->thermo.reset(new ShomatePoly2(200, 6000, 101325, co2_shomate_coeffs));
     p.addSpecies(sCO);