I’m often asked about toxin-free deodorants. I haven’t used a store-bought deodorant for well over seven years now. I used to just make my own, but I’m pretty lazy and I love trying new products. During the last few years, I’ve become something of an expert on the natural deodorants available on the market. I thought I’d share my knowledge with you. There are many available that I have yet to try which I’d like to (the Earthwise ones look great!).
I find the very idea of using an antiperspirant barbaric. I know that sounds terribly melodramatic, but how do you expect your body to expel toxins if you repress the very process in which it uses to do that??
Packaging is a factor to consider. I like something that’s either compostable, reusable or, at the very least, recyclable.
Salt Of The Earth Classic – £4.99
This is my mum’s favourite deodorant. She uses it every day and swears by it. It’s literally just a lump of salt. It’s unscented, which she likes. For me, I don’t feel like it keeps me pong free for long enough. Also, I do like a fragrance in my deodorants. The packaging is plastic – boo! You can buy this from Holland and Barrett.
Salt Of The Earth Spray Deodorant – £3.99
I didn’t like this deodorant. I don’t feel like it worked terribly effectively. My expectations in a deodorant are for them to work for quite long periods of time without having to reapply them. I do have a friend who uses this one though, it’s just not for me. I feel like there are better ones out there. Also, plastic bottle. No.
No-Germs Deodorant – £3.99
I do like to start with a positive when I’m talking about products, so here we go. It’s natural and that’s lovely, but I really didn’t like this one. It smelt awful and wasn’t terribly effective. Yuck. You can buy this one from Amazon. I wouldn’t though…
Jason Calming Lavender Deodorant Stick – £4.99
I really like the smell of this deodorant. It worked okay. I didn’t find it to be groundbreaking or particularly long lasting. It needed reapplying if you want it to last into the evening if you’ve had a particularly active day. I don’t like the packaging – blooming plastic! You can buy it from Look Fantastic.
Homemade Deodorants – Already Had Ingredients
As I said at the beginning, I used to make my own deodorants and I still use them if a friend asks me to make a batch. They’re pretty easy to make and mostly consist of bicarbonate of soda and tapioca starch. The cream one also contains shea butter and coconut oil. I add essential oils that are known for their bacterial killing properties, for example, tea tree, lemon or lavender. I’m happy to share my recipes, just let me know in the comments if that’s something you’d be interested in me writing about. My recipes have been finely tuned over the years and are very good, I’m proud to say.
Native Unearthed – £7.95
You can purchase this one from Planet Organic. I like this deodorant a lot. It smells amazing, it’s long lasting and it comes in a glass jar. Brilliant. The only thing I did note is that the texture was quite gritty. This can sometimes happen when you heat shea butter because it doesn’t do well at high temperatures. I’m pretty sure this was a trial size one from a subscription box. I do highly recommend this one. Mine has mysteriously disappeared – I suspect it may be found in my daughter’s bedroom…
Elsa’s Organic Skinfood – £9
I came across Elsa’s Organic Skinfood on Instagram. They’re a lovely, friendly brand. I’ve been extremely lucky to have been sent a couple of these to samples prior to their upcoming launch date. They’re that fabulous that they’ve won an award before they’ve even begun trading, which is impressive. I love their deodorants. They both smell amazing (my favourite is Ocean, but my best friend and my daughter both adore Dew). Both the regular deodorants and the one for sensitive skin (unfragranced) were really effective and kept any odours away all day long. They’re going to be offering a 20% off discount when they launch so do keep your eyes peeled. My only query is what they’ll be packaged in. The twist-up ones were in plastic tubes but the sensitive one was in a tin. The note in with my deodorants did say this packaging wasn’t their final design. I wonder if there may be an option to send the tubes back to be reused? I’ll absolutely use them again because I love their ethos and, I know I keep saying it, but the smell – gorgeous!
Indigenous Beauty Deodorant Cream – £11.99
This is my favourite! I’ve really put this deodorant to the test (obviously purely for the sake of this article…). I did loads of work on the farm, got extremely hot and sweaty, didn’t change the deodorant or wash it off the next day and I still didn’t smell of body odour. It’s great that the ingredients nourish my skin, I love the smell and the texture and it doesn’t stain my clothes. I just love it. Love, love, love. I happened across this by chance as it was in a Vertue subscription box. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s well worth the money. The deodorants are all handmade in small batches. You can buy it from the LoveLula website and I’d highly recommend you do. You can buy a smaller jar, but I also prefer to buy in bulk where possible. It’s packaged in a glass bottle so yes to that too. Yes!
I hope you find this guide helpful. Always read the label of anything you put on your skin. I’d love to hear what deodorants you use, or if you’ve tried any that I haven’t tried yet. Thanks for reading,
Hi, I’d be interested in knowing your recipe for the cream deodorant. Thanks!!
Me too, I would like to know the recipe for home made deodorant. Thank you
Great article, I love natural products and love making my own.
Please could I have your recipe for deodorant?
I’d love to know your recipe too!
I would really like to rethink my deodorant, so this was very helpful!
Oh wow there are so many different choices! I am surprised. I went down the natural route a few years back and enjoyed it was nice to have a detox from all my usual products. xx
I love these! I stopped using the store bought ones earlier this year. Ever since, I just keep one for emergency hot weather, and I’m now planning to buy a non toxic one for that purpose.
There are so many great choices, I have use Jason’s lavender one and it smells So good, and also because I LOVE lavender so 🙂
I have used cloth nappies and eco friendly detergents and cleaning products etc but never thought about what I put on my armpits!! I would need something good that lasted all day!
Would really like your deodorant recipes, please!!
Thank you so much for this post, i have been wanting to try out some toxin free deodorants and now I can! I think from what you’ve said, and my own curiosity I like the sound of the native unearthered or homemade deodorants
Thank you so much for this. I started using natural deodorants a while ago, but I felt so self-conscious because none of them seem to work that I went back to terrible toxic ones! I know, I know, crazy. I should have just kept trying until I found one. I actually found the crystal salt one did work, but the crystals would scratch my skin and my skin would get so sore and the spray didn’t work. Native Unearthed, Elsa’s Organic Skinfood and Ingenious Beauty deodorant cream all sound amazing though. I’ll check these out. Might ask for the Ingenious for a Christmas stocking filler 🙂
I’d like your recipe also for the deodorant also, Thanks! Your website and articles are great!
Thanks
Nina
Thanks for this! I’ve been wanting to switch to a more natural deodorant for a while but just don’t know where to look. That’s so cool that you know how to make your own!
Hello Lu, really great post. The Indigenous beauty cream is no longer stocked so onto plan 2….can I have your recipe please? Need to get away from plastic containers and I have a glass candle holder at the ready. x