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Are you looking for the best eco-friendly deodorants that are kind to the planet and your skin, yet still smell great?
Many well-known deodorants contain chemical ingredients and come in single-use packaging that harms the environment. Yet millions of Americans every day still willingly spray and roll these chemical-laden products on their underarms.
Polypropylene (the hard plastic used for deodorant containers) is one of the biggest components of plastic waste, with a tiny 3% recycling rate.
It’s time to ditch single-use deodorant containers and choose a more sustainable and natural deodorant.
So I decided to research and test deodorants that contain no toxic ingredients and come in plastic-free, zero-waste packaging.
Let's start with my top pick - the eco-friendly deodorant I use myself...
✔ Palm Oil Free
✔ Recycled Plastic Packaging
✔ Vegan & Cruelty-Free
We Say: I’ve been aware of PiperWai since 2016 when they appeared on Shark Tank and accepted an offer from Barbara Corcoran.
After over a year of further negotiations, the deal eventually fell through, and Barbara walked away, but that hasn’t stopped PiperWai from going from strength to strength.
This natural deodorant stick is now my go-to most mornings.
The smell of this deodorant is just right for me. Strong enough to last many hours without being overpowering.
The activated charcoal works hard to keep both sweat and odor at bay for most of the day. A second application in the afternoon is sometimes required on warm days. This is the same for me with all deodorants, though.
Not a fan of scents? Sensitive skin? Need a genuinely neutral product? PiperWai has your back with their Scentless Natural Deodorant Stick.
There is free ground shipping available on all domestic orders over $38.
You can also set up a recurring order and save 15%. Eco-friendly, convenient, AND cost-effective. Love it!
We Say: This natural solid stick deodorant is one of Mrs. M’s favorites.
She loves the smell of lavender, and this deodorant packs a punch in the lavender smell stakes.
Personally, I feel the smell can get a bit overpowering if you’re heavy-handed with the application.
Mrs. M totally disagrees, though, and says the level of smell is perfect.
There is a Eucalyptus Lemon option that is much more suited to my ‘taste’.
This aluminum-free deodorant uses baking soda, magnesium, and arrowroot to absorb excess moisture and keep you fresh and comfortable all day.
All Meow Meow Tweet products are 100% cruelty-free, vegan, and palm oil free.
This is a seriously powerful sustainable deodorant...all wrapped in a zero-waste tube.
We Say: Ethique is becoming one of our favorites here at TheRoundup.
Steph loves their chemical-free shampoo and conditioner, and I’m a massive fan of their plastic-free deodorant.
The version I tested was called ‘Minimalist’.
With a name like that, I was expecting a short list of ingredients and sustainable packaging, and I wasn’t disappointed. The eco-credentials of this deodorant (and the Ethique brand in general) are beyond reproach.
Ethique is a Certified B Corporation based in New Zealand. It donates 2% of yearly revenue or 20% of profit (whichever is higher) to many eco-friendly and sustainability charities.
I’m always a little skeptical of fragrance-free deodorants and their ability to keep the pong away all day.
No such concerns with ‘Minimalist’ from Ethique.
My pits gave off an incredibly subtle clean smell. Hard to describe, but think of freshly laundered sheets that have been drying in the fresh air for hours.
✔ Natural Organic Ingredients
✔ 100% Plastic-Free
✔ Non-Toxic Formula
We Say: EcoRoots is one of my favorite zero-waste online stores, so when I saw they made their own eco-friendly deodorant, I had to try it. And I’m glad I did!
It’s made with natural, organic ingredients that are gentle on the skin while providing effective protection against odor.
Not only does it work well in reducing body odor, but EcoRoots Zero Waste Deodorant also comes in an innovative, compostable paper tube, making it a zero-waste option.
Plus, the deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free, so you can use it with peace of mind knowing that no animals were harmed in the process.
If you’re looking for an effective, natural deodorant that fits your eco-friendly lifestyle, EcoRoots Zero Waste Deodorant is definitely worth checking out. By using it, you can feel great knowing that your zero-waste lifestyle doesn’t have to mean sacrificing effectiveness or quality.
And, because you’re shopping with EcoRoots, you can be confident that the shipping mailers will be just as eco-friendly as the deodorant.
EcoRoots ship everything 100% plastic-free. It only uses recyclable & compostable materials (including paper tape, cardboard, and packing paper to ensure your order arrives in perfect condition.
We Say: Battle Green produces an impressive range of zero-waste & eco-friendly products.
I’m just concentrating on their deodorant for this article. However, I’ll be back to try some of their other products in the future.
In their sales pitch, Battle Green says that this deodorant will not stop you from sweating but will make you smell nice and kill odors.
I understand why they say this. No truly natural deodorant can stop sweating like an aluminum-heavy antiperspirant. However, I think they’re doing themselves down a bit.
I did not sweat any more with this deodorant than with any of the others in this article. Maybe I’m just blessed with dryer-than-average pits!
Shipping to the U.S. is free on all orders over $35 and takes around 7-10 days.
Also, Etsy uses carbon offsets to negate emissions from delivery and packaging on all Battle Green purchases.
We Say: Spotting a bit of a pattern here? Yep...I REALLY do love PiperWai stuff!
This is a no-brainer choice as my favorite cream natural deodorant because it’s essentially just a cream version of the PiperWai solid natural deodorant I use daily.
Both products perform and smell the same, but I find the solid version slightly easier to use.
Apart from the application method, the main difference is that the cream is baking soda-free. That makes it a good choice for those with sensitive skin (see the baking soda section below).
Another difference is the packaging. This natural cream deodorant comes in a tub made from Ocean Waste Plastic (OWP).
By using OWP, PiperWai is helping clean plastic from our oceans and prevent new plastic from entering them.
OWP also produces around 60% fewer CO2 emissions and 85% less energy compared to virgin plastic.
We Say: Just like my overall favorite natural deodorant brand, PiperWai, Meow Meow Tweet also gets two entries in this article. For two reasons:
Mrs. M uses the unscented version because it has a small list of natural ingredients.
This baking soda-free deodorant is perfect for those with sensitive skin *see baking soda section below).
Mrs. M swears by it as “the perfect deodorant to calm razor burn and keep me smelling cute all day on days when I’ve shaved my armpits”.
My wife and I put each of these deodorants through their paces over a six-month period, with help from Arabella Ruiz and Steph Cole from TheRounup team, who volunteered to test them in different climates and activity levels.
We researched over 30 eco-friendly deodorant brands before narrowing down our testing pool. We purchased every product independently and rejected any brand that did not meet our sustainability and performance standards.
These are the key criteria we evaluated to determine our overall ratings.
We tested each deodorant for at least two weeks to account for the natural deodorant adjustment period. We compared performance across different seasons, activity levels, and skin types within our testing group.
We purchased all products featured in this article with our own money. We were not gifted any items. No brand is permitted to pay for inclusion in this list. Our recommendations are based purely on our testing experience and honest evaluation of each product's performance and sustainability credentials.
Some users of natural deodorants find that they experience a transition period when switching from traditional products.
This adjustment phase typically lasts 2-3 weeks and may involve increased sweating as your body adjusts to the new product.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a common ingredient in many natural deodorants due to its ability to kill odor-causing bacteria.
However, sodium bicarbonate has demonstrated slight dermal irritation in controlled tests (Cosmetic Ingredient Review).
Dermatologists advise avoiding deodorants that contain baking soda because it can irritate skin, particularly in people with hidradenitis suppurativa (American Academy of Dermatology).
If you have sensitive skin or want to go fully organic, you should look for baking soda-free options, such as arrowroot powder.
Natural deodorants do not contain chemical preservatives to make them last for years on the shelf or in your vanity cabinet.
So it’s not a product you should bulk buy too excessively.
I buy two at a time, which lasts me around three months before I need to order again.
Shelf life varies from product to product. However, in my experience, most natural deodorants stay at the peak of their powers for around six months.
The list of potentially harmful ingredients that go into some deodorants makes for pretty scary reading.
All recommendations in this article are free from the following hidden dangers.
Aluminum is found in tons of antiperspirants and deodorants.
It prevents sweating by plugging the pores/ducts on the skin’s surface. This, in turn, stops the production of odor-causing bacteria.
Effective...but wholly unnatural!
Some studies suggest a potential link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer (Darbre, 2005; Mandriota et al., 2016; Gorgogietas et al., 2018).
There is no specific evidence proving that aluminum causes breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. While the research is contradictory (many say yes, many say no), do you really want to take the chance?
The following ingredients are also often found hidden in well-known deodorant brands.
While not necessarily harmful, they’re animal-based, so you will need to look out for them if you’re fully vegan.
If you're unsure about the ingredients that may be in your deodorant, one option is to make your own.
There is also a DIY option and the more adventurous of you might want to have a go at making your own deodorant from natural ingredients.
I’ve tested out some online recipes, and my favorite is as follows:
Deodorant masks body odor with fragrance and uses active ingredients to kill odor-causing bacteria. Antiperspirant stops you from sweating by using chemicals (aluminum salts, for example) to clog up your sweat glands.
I would technically classify all of the products in the article as deodorants rather than antiperspirants (due to their lack of pore-clogging aluminum). However, they all do an admirable job at keeping sweat and stink at bay.
Dove has a range of aluminum-free deodorants called Dove 0% Aluminum.
Apple cider vinegar, like baking soda, kills the bacteria that cause stinky pits. So it stands to reason that adding it to your DIY recipe might be a good idea. I’ll add a few drops to my next DIY batch and report back with any significant findings.
Plastic-packaged, chemical-laden, mass-produced deodorants stink...but you don’t have to when you switch to natural deodorants.
Definitely go aluminum-free, and keep an eye on the baking soda content if you have sensitive skin.
You don’t need a list of ingredients longer than The Constitution of the United States to stay dry and sweet-smelling all day.
Have you made the switch to natural, organic, or refillable deodorant? How was the detox? Have I missed your favorite brand or DIY home hack? Drop me a line and let me know.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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