If you’re sick of the sight of the plastic packaging waste on the majority of ‘regular’ roll-on deodorants, and you’re finding it difficult to recycle aerosol deodorant and antiperspirant cans – then it’s about time you tried an eco-friendly alternative.
Does natural deodorant work?
There is often a misconception that natural personal hygiene products are less effective at concealing odours, but this is not true. Natural ingredients such as baking soda, magnesium hydroxide and citric acid (amongst others), work naturally to prevent bacterial growth (i.e. the smelly odours), whilst not blocking pores.
Whereas the chemical aluminium parabens used in regular antiperspirants largely block pores in your skin, and thus can create irritation, ultimately forcing an unnatural process with your bodily functions. Not to mention the notion that aluminium compounds such as aluminium zirconium or aluminium chlorohydrate can cause cancer as they infiltrate the soft tissue in your armpit when applied.
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What are the best eco-friendly deodorants?
We have searched high and wide to find the best eco-friendly deodorants that are natural and recyclable, which not only smell sensational but also keep you, and your skin, feeling fresh – free from chemicals!
So let’s take a look at some of the best out there, with specific reference to the company that makes them, what ingredients they use, how it’s packaged and what they smell like… starting with:
Pit Putty – ‘We’re 100% natural, vegan and eco-friendly, all the way!’
A company created by a couple who started wanted to focus on their health and wellbeing, whilst seeking out natural and sustainably made products, they couldn’t find an eco-friendly deodorant that kept them smelling fresh.
This prompted them to start making their own, from their kitchen in the UK to start with, but after much success and positive feedback from customers, they’ve now branched out of the kitchen!
Each product is still handmade, filled with premium, natural and sustainably sourced ingredients.
What ingredients are used?
Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut Oil, Naturally Mined Baking Soda, Candelilla Wax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Calendula Flower Extract.
How is it packaged?
PitPutty have three key products that are all packaged differently, but most importantly, all are either fully recyclable – 1) the PitPutty sticks are made from recycled cardboard, (2) the Pit Putty tins are made from aluminium, and (3) the PitPutty Soaps Suds soap is packaged in greaseproof paper.
What scents do they have?
Their range includes: Lemongrass teatree; Rose geranium; Lavender lemon; Cinnamon cedarwood; Lime basil; and a fragrance free option.
How much do they cost?
PittPutty have created a mini-range which cost £2.99, and their larger size products cost from £5.99 for the soap bars, to £8.99 for the putty tins, and £9.99 for the pit sticks.
Earth Conscious –‘Aluminium free, paraben free and contains no carcinogens or toxins’
This family run company started with an earth-conscious mindset, initiated when the owners had their first child – they decided they wanted to take action and limit their, and our, impact on the planet by producing a range of deodorants and baby balm from high quality, natural ingredients.
Fast-forward to today and Earth Conscious now make, package and distribute their range of natural products from their base in the Isle of Wight in the UK, and distribute nation and world-wide.
What ingredients are used?
Earth Conscious deodorants use: Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil°, Maranta Arundinacea Root (arrowroot) Powder°, Butyrospermum Parkii (shea) Butter°, Sodium Bicarbonate, Helianthus Annuus Seed (sunflower) Cera, Citrus Limon Peel (lemon) Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel (grapefruit) Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed (sunflower) Oil, *Limonene, *Linalool = °Certified Organic *Naturally occurring in Essential Oils.
How is it packaged?
Earth Conscious has three ways they package their products: (1) recyclable tins (2) compact plastic-free cardboard tubes and (3) unpackaged deodorant bars – all are robust and small enough to take wherever you go.
What scents do they have?
Their range includes: Grapefruit and lemon; Lemon and rosemary; Lavender and tea tree; Jasmine and rose; peppermint and spearmint; Indian bay leaf and orange; Pure unscented.
How much do they cost?
The price depends on the weight of the deodorant – the tins and the roll-ons come in sizes of 60g and cost £7, and the unpackaged natural bars are 90g and cost £9.
Fussy – ‘We’re on a mission to banish single-use plastic from your bathroom’
Founded in 2020 by UK-based friends Matt and Eddie, who both resented the vast amounts of single-use plastics found in bathrooms, they took action to make a change to that by creating Fussy – a simple, high-quality, sustainable natural deodorant.
Since then, they have gone on to be named ‘The UK’s Best Eco-Deodorant’ and featured on the entrepreneur pitching TV show, The Dragons Den, and secured funding from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden.
What ingredients are used?
Fussy deodorants are full of natural ingredients that not only care for the skin but the planet too. We use sunflower wax, coconut oil, shea butter, caprylic, tapioca, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide and a probiotic called Lactobacillus.
How is it packaged?
Fussy cases are made from recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable – they did look to use alternative materials but they decided the most sustainable option was to make a product all from one material, which actually has a lower footprint over the lifetime.
Better yet, their refills are 100% compostable, made from sugar cane pulp waste material.
What scents do they have?
Their range includes: Eucalyptus, sage and peppermint; Cedar, cinnamon and patchouli; Scotch pine, silver fir and juniper; Mandarin, grapefruit and black pepper; Vanilla, ylang ylang and star anise; and Pure unscented.
How much do they cost?
Fussy comes in a selection of prices dependent on what package or subscription you go for – ranging from £13 at a subscribe and save price for 1 case and 1 refill deodorant, £20 for 1 case and 2 refill scents, and £32 for 1 case and 4 refill scents.
Salt of the Earth – ‘We strive to offer our customers top-quality products that have minimal impact on the environment’
Established in 1993 and adopted in 2005 by UK-based, mother and son team Thomas and Sally, they have a long-standing vision and passion for making environmentally friendly, natural skincare products.
Having started with one key deodorant, they have since created a range of award-winning deodorant, roll-ons and travel sprays – all sprays have no CFCs or propellants and are contained in a climate-friendly bottle.
What ingredients are used?
Salt of the Earth have a range of products, all of which use 100% natural ingredients – and none contain Aluminium Chlorohydrate, Triclosan or Parabens.
Their original deodorant, The Classic Crystal, only has one ingredient: pure Potassium Alum, which is a natural mineral salt that has been used as a deodorant for hundreds of years.
All deodorants are 100% vegan and approved by both the Vegan Society and Vegetarian Society.
How is it packaged?
It’s worth noting that some of the Salt of the Earth products do contain 50% recycled plastic, and 50% bioplastic i.e. the travel sprays – but they also provide a selection of products that are plastic free and either in a cardboard box (e.g. the plastic free Classic Crystal) and a glass jar with a recyclable metal top. See the plastic free packaging range here.
What scents do they have?
Their range includes: Unscented; Amber & sandalwood; Lavender & vanilla; Vetiver & citrus; Peony blossom; Ocean & coconut; and Orange & neroli.
How much do they cost?
Specifically looking at their plastic free range, the cheapest deodorant is the Crystal (75g) at £4.85, and their slightly more expensive scented roll-on sticks and balms cost between £7.99 and £8.99.
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We hope this has been a helpful roundup of some of the best eco friendly deodorants that are on the market – we’ll keep this article updated if/when more deodorants make the list.
Please do get in touch if you have an environmentally friendly product that you would like us to feature on the site, email us with your details: hello@ecofriendlychange.com