When it comes to eco friendly alternatives, deodorant can be one thing that’s often forgotten about or as something people don’t want to switch for health reasons. Believe it or not, more environmentally friendly deodorants are becoming available and are a lot better for the planet as well as your body.
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Like many things about eco alternatives, people sometimes don’t opt for the more sustainable option because they’re put off by the price – especially if that brand is refillable. More often than not, the natural alternative is actually cheaper in the long run, or the product is around the same price, but you’re actually paying for just the product rather than the plastic or aerosol casing.
Why buying an eco friendly deodorant is important
For many years now we’ve all seen the hundreds of different deodorant brands, specifically antiperspirant ones, so much so that they’ve become the normal and we can become blind to what ingredients they actually use.
Although every brand is different, it’s common to find spray antiperspirant deodorants containing butane, which is a type of fossil fuel. Many large deodorant and cosmetic brands test on animals or use animal based products in their ingredients, so this is also an important factor to keep in mind – Unilever is a large company that claims to be cruelty free but they don’t have certifications (a few of their brands are certified by PETA but not many) and sells to countries that require animal testing on imported cosmetics.
Things to consider before you buy a natural deodorant
Aluminium
If you often buy antiperspirant deodorants, you’ll probably notice that on the ingredients that it contains aluminium (aluminum for those over in America). The reason for this is that the aluminium salts will essentially melt into your pores, which helps close them up so that you don’t sweat – which is the antiperspirant part.
More often than not, natural deodorants don’t contain aluminium, and so aren’t antiperspirant deodorants. This means that natural deodorants won’t stop you from sweating, but they will still deodorise your sweat so you don’t start to smell!
Bicarbonate of soda / baking soda
In order to minimise any body odour you create, there needs to be a deodorising component in the deodorant, which is usually bicarbonate of soda – aka baking soda. Bicarb of soda is a great natural deodoriser, so you’ll often see it in many cream deodorants, natural or not.
If you have sensitive skin, having baking soda in your deodorant might not be the best – though you probably already know this. Many brands do have a sensitive skin option which don’t contain any bicarb of soda, so I’ve made sure to add this in!
Type of packaging
One last thing to consider when buying a natural deodorant is what kind of packaging you want it to be in. Refillable deodorants are becoming more widely available – where you buy one case that you keep reusing and just buy refills to go inside it, which are often packaged in paper. The other most common option is a push-up deodorant that comes in a cardboard tube, which means you can just compost them when it’s finished!
There are so many different options to chose from depending on what you want – are you happy to have a plastic refill case or would you prefer one without it? Sometimes you can even get deodorants that are package free or come in blocks, or some that are more cream based that come in a tub, so they might be more suited to your interests!
If you’re interested in other eco friendly cosmetics, make sure you check out my sustainable toiletries guide!
Brands to check out
Wild
Wild deodorant is the one I use the most at the moment, and I honestly couldn’t recommend it more. I’ve been using them for just over a year now, and their refill service is super easy to use – you do have to order three refills at a time, but they do last between 4-6 weeks per refill.
All of their orders come completely plastic free in letterbox sized parcels and their cases are meant to last you for life – though you can send them back for recycling.
Type of packaging Aluminium and plastic refill case, refills are packaged in bamboo pulp and sent in cardboard
Do they sell refills Yes – Either as a subscription or you can buy them as a one off
Vegan and cruelty free Yes
Baking soda free option Yes, they have multiple scents in their sensitive range that don’t contain baking soda
Where is it available In the UK, The USA, Australia, and Europe
Price range Starter bundles are £15-£17, Cases are £10 (without refills), and refills are £6 each (without a case)
Fussy
Fussy is another refillable deodorant company that’s becoming more popular in the UK and you can understand why! After starting out in 2020, they have released a handful of different scents for their refills and even have a sensitive skin option without bicarbonate of soda!
Type of packaging Plastic refill case, refills are packaged in sugarcane pulp
Do they sell refills Yes
Vegan and cruelty free Yes
Baking soda free option Yes
Where is it available In the UK, on their online store and in some supermarkets
Price range Refills are £15 (for a subscription) or £18 in packs of three, Cases and refills are £16 (for a subscription – case + 1 refill) or £20 for a one off purchase (a case + 2 refills)
Ethique
If you’re looking for a completely plastic free deodorant, then Ethique is definitely the brand you should check out. They’re mostly known for their shampoo bars (which I highly recommend) but they also do a few deodorant sticks now too.
All of their deodorants are made without bicarbonate of soda, as well as being palm oil free too. If you’re unsure if they’re the brand to work for you, they also sell mini bars so that you can try them out – sometimes they’re also available as a free gift on your order!
Type of packaging Cardboard tubes
Do they sell refills No – but they do sell travel sized mini bars
Vegan and cruelty free Yes
Baking soda free option Yes – all of their deodorants are baking soda free
Where is it available The UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Price range The sticks are £11 each, or £4 for a mini bar
By humankind
This carbon neutral brand is a great place to look at if you’re after more eco friendly refillable products throughout your home – almost all of their products are refillable, aside from their solid shampoo and conditioner bars.
By humankind make a small range of different scents for their deodorants, as well as having four different colours to chose from when you pick a case. They currently don’t make a baking soda free or sensitive skin range, so keep this in mind if that’s what you’re after!
Type of packaging The case is made from PLA (Polylactic acid) and straw (which can be industrially composted) and the refills are made of recycled paper, a cellulose liner, and a small piece of plastic which can be separated and recycled.
Do they sell refills Yes
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – everything they make is CF and vegan apart from their silk floss
Baking soda free option No
Where is it available In the USA
Price range Refills are $12 each, cases are $10 or free if you start a subscription
If you’re enjoying this guide, make sure you check out my guide on how to use shampoo bars!
Native
Another large USA based brand that you’ve probably heard of is Native, and they now make a plastic free options for all 10 of their deodorant scents, including their sensitive ones!
Native have also partnered with 1% For The Planet to donate 1% of their plastic free sales to environmental non-profits.
Type of packaging Their plastic free deodorant is made of 100% paperboard. They also do a plastic cased deodorant and a aerosol deodorant
Do they sell refills No – but they do offer a subscription service
Vegan and cruelty free Yes
Baking soda free option Yes – they have a Sensitive range
Where is it available The USA and Canada
Price range $13
Salt of the Earth
Salt of the earth was actually one of the first natural deodorants that I used, and we still buy it in our house! Their salt crystal deodorants can last around a year (at least) depending on how often you use it, and it’s super lightweight and small – great for taking travelling!
They do a whole range of different refillable options now, which is great is you prefer a roll-on or a spray to a stick. Their crystals are also available now plastic free too, which is great if you don’t want the plastic case!
Type of packaging Their main deodorants come packaged in plastic, but you can get their crystals and stick refills in cardboard, and their deodorant balm in a glass jar
Do they sell refills Yes – for their spray, stick and roll-on deodorants. They spray and roll-on refills are plastic bottles and the sticks are cardboard tubes
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – both Vegan Society and Leaping Bunny certified
Baking soda free option Yes – their crystal deodorant is just natural mineral salt
Where is it available In the UK and Europe, on their online store and some supermarkets
Price range Between £5-£9 depending on the type
Scence
This little UK brand is not only completely vegan, but they’re 100% plastic free too! They have about a dozen different scents for their deodorant, as well as an unscented one, all of which are packaged in completely compostable paper tubes and vegetable inks.
Type of packaging 100% Paper tubes
Do they sell refills No
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – They are certified by the Vegan Society
Baking soda free option Yes – All their deodorants are free of baking soda
Where is it available In the UK and Europe, on their online store and in some eco shops
Price range £12
Earth conscious
Another completely plastic free brand you should check out is Earth Conscious. They make a wide range of different scents that come in three different forms to chose from – a stick deodorant which comes in a cardboard tube, in a aluminium tin which you can apply with your fingers, or as a solid bar.
They also donate 10p from each sale to the Marine Conservation Society to help keep the ocean healthy!
Type of packaging cardboard tubes, cardboard boxes, and aluminium tins
Do they sell refills No
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – They’re approved vegan by the Vegetarian Society
Baking soda free option Yes
Where is it available The UK and Europe, on their online store and in eco stores
Price range Tins and Sticks are £7, Bars are £9, Sensitive range is £9
Coconut matter
This coconut oil based deodorant is a great option to check out, especially if you have sensitive skin as none of their deodorants contain bicarbonate of soda! They have 4 different scent blends to chose from and a natural scent which is just from the coconut.
Type of packaging Paper tube
Do they sell refills No
Vegan and cruelty free Yes
Baking soda free option Yes – all their deodorants are baking soda free
Where is it available The UK, The USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia – ships from Hong Kong
Price range £16
Meow meow tweet
If you’re looking for a completely vegan beauty brand over in the US, then Meow Meow Tweet is definitely somewhere you should check out. As well as being Leaping Bunny certified, they’re also a Certified B Corp and Carbon Neutral – and they’re completely palm oil free too!
They make two kinds of deodorants, sticks that come in paper tubes and creams that come in glass jars. Both kinds of deodorants come with a baking soda free range, and the bulk sized jars (9.4oz) are available for refills too.
Type of packaging Paper tubes and glass jars
Do they sell refills Yes – on their bulk sized products
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – They’re Leaping Bunny Certified
Baking soda free option Yes
Where is it available The USA and Canada, – they offer worldwide shipping, as well selling in a few online stores in Europe and Australia
Price range Mini sizes are $4.50, Full sizes are $14, and Bulk sizes (for the jars) are $45
Battle green
This UK based eco brand sells a few different deodorant types – sticks, tins, and solid bars. They’re all completely plastic free, as well as being completely compostable or recyclable in their packaging.
Type of packaging Paper tubes, metal tins, or wrapped in compostable paper (the deodorant bars)
Do they sell refills No
Vegan and cruelty free Yes – They’re certified vegan by Peta
Baking soda free option Yes – their deodorant bars are bicarbonate of soda free
Where is it available In the UK, on their online store and Etsy store
Price range £7-£10
These are just a few of the different deodorant brands available at the moment, but I hope they give you some ideas to try out! What’s your favourite deodorant brand? Let me know!
Looking for more sustainable ideas? Check out my other posts!
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