Tired of trying natural products, only to find that they just don’t work as well as the chemical varieties? You wouldn’t be the first. When you buy a natural deodorant, you are probably trying to avoid toxic chemicals. That’s great, but you still need the product to do its job, and for more than an hour. Whether a natural deodorant works is down to its ingredients and how they are distributed in the blend.
There are quite a lot of natural deodorants on the market today, but they vary greatly in consistency because of the different ingredients used. When choosing your perfect organic deodorant, there are more factors to consider than just the scent… but how do you know which is the best deodorant to use?
The best organic deodorants are what they are because of a carefully balanced ratio and combination of ingredients. Still, there’s more to say than that! In this article we’ll take you through some of the main considerations around choosing an organic deodorant.
What’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?
The clues are in the names, but there are hidden details you need to think about if you want to avoid toxic chemicals. You can prevent body odour with deodorant or antiperspirant, which work differently. There is also a difference in how an organic deodorant will work compared to a chemical one.
How organic and chemical deodorants work
How do deodorants prevent you from smelling bad? Chemical deodorants often contain alcohol, which kills the bacteria that cause body odour but can irritate dry or sensitive skins. It can also enhance the penetration of chemicals through the skin barrier.
Natural deodorants mask body odour by neutralising bad smells, usually through a combination of bicarbonate of soda and fragrance oil.
How antiperspirant works
Antiperspirant prevents you from sweating so you don’t get the odour in the first place. This might sound like the better option on paper – especially if you’re someone who sweats a lot. However, there are three main problems with antiperspirant.
Firstly, the aluminium salts in antiperspirant (the active anti-sweat ingredient) are not good for your health. Heavy metal build-up in the body can cause all kinds of health problems. Secondly, blocking up sweat glands and halting your body’s natural detox mechanisms prevents elimination of toxins and effective regulation of body temperature. Finally, most antiperspirants contain chemical scents that only increase your toxic load.
Aluminium salts in anti-perspirant have been linked to breast cancer, although the scientific community debates it. Aluminium is also a known contributor to dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease in particular.
Which ingredients are in organic deodorants?
Different brands use different formulas, but the best natural deodorants contain the some or all of the following ingredients:
Sodium bicarbonate
Also known as bicarbonate of soda, this product has so many uses for the body, as well as the home. For your body, provided it is food grade (meaning it doesn’t contain aluminium salts), it has cleansing properties both internally and externally. It reduces acidity and kills the bad bacteria that cause odour.
White clay
Clay is a powder that can absorb the moisture on your skin. It has the added benefit of cleaning the pores in the underarm skin too. As a calming ingredient, it’s really helpful to sensitive skin.
Shea butter
Shea butter has antibacterial properties. Its creamy texture helps to moisturise the skin, but it’s also an emollient (which means that it doesn’t clog the pores while it moisturises).
Coconut oil
This versatile oil contains beneficial fatty acids. It has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, so it can get rid of the bacteria that cause unwanted body odour. Like Shea butter, it’s also moisturising. Coconut oil is perfect ingredient for softening the skin.
Magnesium
This much-needed mineral is antibacterial, so it’s another ingredient that can kill smell-inducing bacteria, without irritating the skin. It’s sometimes used as an alternative to bicarbonate of soda, for those who react badly to bicarb's alkalinity.
Fragrance oils
Most organic deodorants contain a fragrance oil to give your armpits a fresh scent. Ideally they will be cosmetic-grade fragrance oils or essential oils.
Which is the best organic deodorant?
Truthfully, this will come down to personal preference and most people choose based on the appeal of the fragrance. Provided the above ingredients are used and you like the scent, you should find that your natural deodorant works well.
It is always important to check the ingredients for chemical nasties to make sure your deodorant is truly natural.
Why choose a Lavandi organic deodorant?
Our natural deodorants are among our best-selling products. They are organic, cruelty-free, plastic-free and zero-waste. They are just the right degree of ‘creamy’ without leaving you feeling slippery, they won’t leave white marks on your clothes, and they last all day.
We have 24 deodorants in our range: 8 in the Lavandi hallmark deodorant range (containing various natural scent combinations), and 16 in the inspired range. Our inspired range of deodorants is based upon world-leading fragrances, but formulated in organic ingredients. We literally have something for everyone.
Feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions about our organic deodorants, and we’ll be happy to help.