The Natural Deodorant Co. (short for the natural deodorant company) active deodorant balm was included in a beauty box I purchased through Naturisimo.
Table of Contents
- Glass Jars vs. Sticks
- Active Deodorant Balm Orange + Bergamot
- Gentle / Clean / Active Strength
- Why Do These Ingredients Work?
- Using A Clean Deodorant Balm
- Where To Find It?
- Bottom line: Yes To The Natural Deodorant Co., Please, And Thank You!
My expectations for this clean deodorant were low. But I was genuinely surprised by how nice this product is.
I’ve tried many DIY skincare recipes over the years, and this looks like something one could have made in their kitchen.
That’s not a bad thing per se – it just makes me frown at the idea of shelling out a whopping twelve pounds or fourteen USD for the full-size jar.
The five-dollar Schmidt sticks at Wally World are only five bucks. However, to put things in perspective, you could also do a lot worse. For example, “routine.”, another natural deodorant, goes for USD 23.15 at the time of writing. Now that’ll routinely blow a hole in your wallet!
When mixing up my own deodorant paste with shea or cocoa butter, some carrier oils, baking soda, arrowroot powder, and essential oils to match the mood of the moment, this is the recipe I used.
It is fun to make your own skincare. It also has some drawbacks. Since you need to get each ingredient separately, you’ll end up spending a lot more than one ready-made product typically goes for.
Personally, when things got busy in my daily life with some next-level adulting, I just wanted to enjoy the convenience of buying something. Sure, I could make this myself but don’t want to spend the little free time I have doing that. Clearly, there are many others with this mindset – which is why The Natural Deodorant Company exists.
Want to know whether The Natural Deodorant Co. made the cut? Yes! Read on for more details.
Compared to both store-bought natural formulas and my own creations, The Natural Deodorant Co. is one of the finer deodorant pastes. It is silky smooth, smells yummy, spreads out easily, and doesn’t contain gritty lumps… Gotta admit they’ve nailed it!
Glass Jars vs. Sticks
Alright – this natural deodorant comes in a jar, which may sound like an inconvenient delivery system.
I expected the balm to leave some residue on my fingers, but no… even as a frequent hand-washer, I don’t feel the need to run to the sink after applying this balm. It goes on clean, melts away, and does not leave any more on your fingers than a light face cream would.
Sticks are actually a bit more wasteful. They tend to build up gritty, lumpy chunks along the edge, especially on the outside, due to the lid opening and closing.
If you’re not a fan of dipping fingers in a jar, The Natural Deodorant Company has bamboo spatulas for sale separately. Of course, fingers are still needed to apply deodorant to the armpits but a spatula does make for a cleaner and more hygienic extraction method.
Active Deodorant Balm Orange + Bergamot
Let’s take a look at the ingredients of The Natural Deodorant Company’s clean deodorant balm.
This is the one I’ve tried.
Active Deodorant Balm Orange + Bergamot, full ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder (Arrowroot Powder), Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), Magnesium Oxide, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax), Kaolin (Clay), Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed (Orange Essential Oil), Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil (Bergamot Essential Oil), limonene, citral, linalool (naturally occurring in essential oils).
Indeed, this formula is a little different from what I stirred up in the kitchen. The arrowroot flour, coconut oil, baking soda, shea butter, and essential oils look familiar.
Magnesium oxide and candelilla wax – those I did not use in my own recipes. Maybe therein lies the secret to such a smooth paste.
The Orange + Bergamot scent is delicious, though very subtle. The cream has a faint citrus-fresh fragrance – nothing too overwhelming, and some kind of slightly powdery odor.
Other fragrances are:
- Clean Deodorant Balm Lemon + Geranium
- Clean Deodorant Balm Palmarose + Mandarin
- Clean Deodorant Balm Grapefruit + Mint, and…
- Clean Deodorant Balm for Men. (Does that mean all the others are for women?)
Since “men” is not a scent, I looked at which essential oils are in it. Bay Laurel, Grapefruit, the highly prized Manuka, Lime, and Spearmint. That sure sounds like an interesting fragrance!
Gentle / Clean / Active Strength
The Natural Deodorant Co. does not only offer variations in scent but also in strength. There are three types of deodorant, which have separate formulas.
For the most sensitive skin (and, I imagine, people who barely sweat) there’s the Gentle Deodorant Cream. It relies on the antibacterial power of magnesium oxide, without using any baking soda.
These are the ingredients of the Gentle Deodorant Cream Lavender: Magnesium Oxide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder (Arrowroot Powder), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), Kaolin (Clay), Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (Lavender Essential Oil), limonene, linalool, geraniol, (naturally occurring in essential oils).
Alternatively, in the gentle range, there’s an unscented version and a tangerine one.
Then, on the opposite side of the spectrum, there is the active range. These deodorants are still entirely natural – they just contain higher amounts of baking soda.
Cosmetic ingredients are listed in order of the amount used, and when looking at the ingredients of the Active balm, you’ll see how they are pretty much the same – except that baking soda is the first one.
I really like how The Natural Deodorant Co. went with continuity as far as the fragrances go. The active balm I’m using also exists in a medium-strength version.
Clean Deodorant Balm Orange + Bergamot full ingredients: Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder (Arrowroot Powder), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Sodium Bicarbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Magnesium Oxide, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax), Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed (Orange Essential Oil), Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil (Bergamot Essential Oil), limonene, citral, linalool, (naturally occurring in essential oils).
Every skin type is different and some people are sensitive to baking soda. This does not usually cause serious issues – merely an uncomfortable, slightly burning rash that goes away on its own.
If you have no idea how your skin responds to baking soda, start with a small trial tin. Alternatively, mix a pinch of baking soda with a little coconut oil, lotion, or something else you have available right here, right now, and test it out.
Bear in mind that the dose makes a difference. I have reacted to my own DIY deodorant in the past, but not to the Natural Deodorant Co.
Why Do These Ingredients Work?
Arrowroot is a tropical plant that is native to South America, specifically the Amazon rainforest. Indigenous tribes used the root as a traditional remedy for various ailments.
Arrowroot was later introduced to other parts of the world, including the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, where it is still cultivated today for its culinary and medicinal uses.
A fine, white powder is derived from the root of the arrowroot plant. It has excellent absorbent properties and can be used as a natural alternative to talc in skincare products because it helps to absorb excess oil and soothe irritated skin. It leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth!
White clay, also known as kaolin clay, is a soft, white, powdery substance that is made up of the mineral kaolinite. Kaolin is named after the hill in China (Kao-ling) from which it was mined for centuries. The name “kaolin” is used to refer to the specific type of clay that is found in this region, but it is often used more broadly to refer to any white clay with similar properties.
Kaolin clay is known for its ability to absorb oil and water, its high plasticity and binding ability, and its low conductivity. In cosmetics, it is also used as an ingredient in facial masks, scrubs, and other skincare products due to its ability to gently exfoliate and cleanse the skin.
Shea butter is a rich moisturizer that helps to nourish and hydrate the skin, improving its texture and elasticity. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin and promote healing.
Coconut oil as a skincare ingredient is highly versatile. While it can be comedogenic, it is ideal for the skin of the underarms and forms a base for other ingredients. It contains fatty acids that help to moisturize and hydrate the skin and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Olive oil contains antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help to soothe and calm the skin, while its moisturizing effects can improve skin texture and prevent dryness.
The vitamin E present in olive oil can help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals and UV exposure, promoting healthy and youthful-looking skin. Admittedly, the latter is not s huge risk for the skin of our underarms. Luckily, you don’t smell any olive oil in the deodorant balm, so no worries about walking around smelling like a pan of spaghetti!
Using A Clean Deodorant Balm
“Clean” is a term often used for cosmetic products made without synthetic chemicals and ingredients that could harm your body or irritate your skin.
While all of The Natural Deodorant Company’s products can in that sense be called “clean”, one of their balms is also called the “Clean Deodorant Balm”.
This review is technically for the stronger version: the one called “Active”. What stands out about the Active Deodorant Balm in use is how quickly and easily it melts on contact with the skin.
While I had some apprehension due to the price being a fair bit higher than those Schmidt sticks, after using this balm for about ten days now, I have to say there is a difference.
Schmidt deodorant sure is a healthy and convenient option, but it always involves little pieces – chunks – going places. They fall on the floor, cling to fabric, sneak into my shirt, and stick to the outside of the stick.
The natural deodorant company’s balm does not do any of those things.
One natural deodorant isn’t the other – there are clearly some variations in texture and quality.
Please note that some essential oils are photo-sensitizing. This means they can cause burns on the skin when exposed to direct sunlight. Bergamot or citrus bergamia fruit oil is one of those oils.
On the skin of your armpits, under a shirt, it shouldn’t be a problem – just want to mention it.
Try the Natural Deodorant Co. deodorant if:
- You want to veer away from regular deodorant but aren’t sure where to start.
- You’re looking for a deodorant with natural ingredients.
- You doubt anything natural can be an effective deodorant.
- You love animals. The brand is certified cruelty-free (leaping bunny certified) and registered with The Vegan Society.
- All-natural skincare is what you’re after. (These deodorants are packed with plant-based, skin-loving ingredients.)
Look elsewhere if:
- You prefer using a stick.
- You don’t give a hoot about the ingredients in your skincare.
- You’re constantly at war with your armpits and firmly believe bombarding them with duct-blocking aluminum and other chemicals is the only way forward.
Where To Find It?
The company is located in the United Kingdom. If you’re in the UK, there’s a whole list of places that sell the brand on the official website, and they take international orders online, too.
For an idea of international shipping options, see the screenshot below.
Now I always have to look those things up myself, so for convenience let me tell you that fifteen GBP converts to almost twenty USD.
And speaking of convenience, you can also find The Natural Deodorant Company Clean Deodorant Balm on Amazon, for just under 15 USD (with free Prime shipping). That’s a clear winner, aye?
Oh, by the way – a mini tin goes for £4.00, and the bundle of three mini tins for £10.00. After your purchase, you will receive a coupon code to redeem the full cost of your mini against your first full-size order. (Also, for one small tin, international shipping is less than a dollar.)
Full-size pots contain 55 grams and the mini’s 10 grams. That’s respectively a two-month supply and a 7-10-day supply.
The larger jar is made of glass. There is, of course, a lot to be said about the benefits of plastic-free packaging.
However, the additional weight of a glass jar in a backpack, purse, or gym bag could be a downside of this otherwise perfect natural deodorant. Good for the environment. Less pleasant for the person who has to carry the extra weight.
The tiny tins can come in handy, even beyond merely sampling the product. When going on a trip, working your way through airports, or just trotting around town, they’ll fit anywhere with ease and can be refilled from the “mama” jar time and again.
Bottom line: Yes To The Natural Deodorant Co., Please, And Thank You!
The Natural Deodorant Company (links to the UK-based website) makes a unique range of natural deodorants – for the quality you get, the price makes sense.
In the United States, the best price for this deodorant cream can be found here, on Amazon.
| Green Beauty Tip Sometimes, I like to order from the UK-based Naturisimo, because they have great discovery boxes you can buy for a small price, that are filled with super valuable goodies. They also run nice sales on full-size products that are worth the wait. You have to be a little selective: If you’re in the US, don’t get US-based brands like 100% Pure shipped from England. (Duh.) 100% Pure has their own (American) website. But for exclusive, harder-to-find brands such as Madara or Evolve Beauty, Naturisimo is great, or, as they say: ‘splendid’. |
Their mainstream counterparts can contain quite a few undesirable ingredients. This is a great option if you wish to steer clear from aluminum compounds and salt, talc, parabens, propylene Glycol, triclosan, phthalates, or even just artificial fragrance.
When your day-to-day routine does not make it easy to whip up some deodorant, totally get this.
Just when I didn’t think I could still be surprised by something as simple as a deodorant balm… It is a pretty amazing product. Turns out, there is truth to their slogan “The Natural Deodorant Co. was born out of the desire to create the perfect natural deodorant.”
