May 20, 2022

Plastic-Free Deodorant

Last Updated May 20, 2022

When you wake up in the morning and get ready for the day, the routine generally looks like this: brush teeth, wash face, and rub on some deodorant. In those few steps alone, you’ve probably already touched four plastic items in the span of two minutes.

From the plastic tube of toothpaste, to the plastic toothbrush, to the plastic tube of face wash, and then the plastic container of deodorant– your bathroom can be full of plastic. But not to fret, there are plenty of great substitutes.

Before we dive in, a quick note on the differences between deodorant and antiperspirant. Antiperspirant stops you from sweating which is not necessarily good. Antiperspirants use aluminum and other chemicals to plug your sweat ducts to prevent sweat from reaching the skin’s surface.

Deodorants on the other hand, prevent your sweat from smelling bad by making your skin inhospitable for odor-creating bacteria. For an effective deodorant, natural and non-toxic ingredients can be used, which is why I’m focusing on deodorants. I wouldn’t want to rub toxic chemicals on my skin every day, so, I’m not suggesting you do either.

Deodorant Bars

I love LUSH. I don’t get a commission from LUSH. I just love sharing their products. So, of course, when looking for new deodorants I went to see if LUSH had a package-free deodorant option.

I found two package-free bars at LUSH. The first one is called Aromaco. You can cut a block the size you want and pay by the pound. It has a rather musky smell and was not my preference.

The second bar is called T’eo. It has a floral smell and you purchase the bar in its size. It has a wax coating on the bottom to help hold the bar together and provide a surface for the bar to rest. This one was more my style. Plus, isn’t it beautiful?

This is one of the deodorants I use daily. It’s lasted me almost two years and I still have half the bar left!

Deodorant in Paper Tubes

Deodorant in paper tubes is the way to go if you want something similar to a regular plastic stick of deodorant. I love Meow Meow Tweet because the name and packaging are awesome but I wish I could find it in a physical store. I could only find it online. The good thing is that my deodorant was shipped in a paper padded envelope, so still plastic-free! It says on Meow Meow Tweet’s website that Target carries their products but I was unable to find any of them at my local Target.

I love that Meow Meow Tweet uses certified organic, vegan, and fair trade ingredients and they’re palm oil and cruelty free!

If cats aren’t your thing and you don’t want to see one flexing on your deodorant in the morning, another paper tube option is Primal Life Organics deodorant available on Amazon.

Deodorant in Metal Tins

Apology was recommended to me by several zero waste moms on Facebook. I don’t love deodorant tins since you need to use your fingers to spread it on your armpit but if this doesn’t bother you, tins are a great option.

Deodorant in Glass Tubs

I started using Schmidt’s a few years ago after reading about it on Goop. It’s available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, other health foods stores, and on Amazon. The jar is glass but the lid is plastic and there is a little plastic scoop inside.

I stopped using it because, like I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t a fan using my fingers to spread it on but it smells good and did the job!

Salt or Crystal Rocks

After using Schmidt’s, I read about salt or crystal rocks. It’s a big block of mineral salts and you wet it and then rub it on your armpit. The salt helps kill the odor-causing bacteria on your underarms. I love that it’s just one simple ingredient.

I purchased mine on Amazon but the photos didn’t show the packaging. So, I was disappointed when I received the rock because it came in a thick plastic pouch. While not ideal, it lasts for a really long time. I use this daily with my LUSH bar. I’ve had it for almost four years and it’s barely shrunk in size. At this rate I’ll probably have it for ten years!

You can also find it at Sprouts or other health foods stores.

DIY Spray

Just like with toothpaste, there are plenty of DIY recipes. Again, the key to not smelling when you sweat is to make your skin a terrible place for bacteria to live and grow. Two of the easiest ways to do this is with alcohol or vinegar. Here is the recipe I found.

Basic Recipe: