Switching to natural zero waste deodorants isn’t just a trend – it’s a conscious step towards better health and a cleaner planet. Shoppers today are more aware than ever about what goes on their skin and where packaging ends up. Salt of the Earth has just 1 ingredient!
Concerns over chemical ingredients in popular deodorants, the risk of skin irritation, and piles of empty plastic containers have sparked a new wave of interest.
Moving away from synthetic chemicals and non-recyclable packaging makes sense for your skin and our environment. Zero waste deodorants tick both boxes, offering safe, effective products in sustainable, guilt-free packaging.
Understanding Zero Waste Deodorants
A natural zero waste deodorant puts your health and the environment first. Natural means these products avoid synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and aluminium-based additives you often find in regular options. Instead, they use simple and gentle plant-based ingredients that work with your skin, not against it.
Zero waste refers to how these deodorants are delivered to you. Rather than using plastic containers that may never break down, brands use alternatives like compostable cardboard tubes, glass jars, or refill systems. The goal is simple: leave no lasting rubbish behind.
Natural zero waste deodorants often feature:
- Plant and mineral-based ingredients
- Essential oils for scent
- Biodegradable or reusable packaging
You get the peace of mind of knowing your daily routine isn’t adding to landfill or polluting recycling streams.
Natural Ingredients and Their Benefits
Natural deodorants rely on kitchen-cupboard basics that pack a punch:
- Baking Soda: Neutralises odour by changing your skin’s pH.
- Arrowroot Powder: Absorbs moisture, keeping you dry.
- Coconut Oil: Kills bacteria thanks to its natural antimicrobial properties.
- Shea Butter: Soothes sensitive skin and acts as a moisturiser.
Many brands skip artificial perfume, using instead essential oils for subtle, nature-inspired scents like lavender, tea tree, or citrus. This helps those with allergies or sensitive skin avoid irritation from harsh chemicals.
Choosing a product with fewer, more recognisable ingredients can feel like letting your skin breathe again. If you’ve struggled with stinging or red patches, switching to a natural base can make all the difference.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Innovations
Plastic sticks and rollers often wind up as permanent litter. Zero waste deodorants flip the script with clever packaging like:
- Cardboard tubes: Compostable and sturdy, these push-up sticks keep your deodorant safe without plastic.
- Glass jars or aluminium tins: Easy to refill or recycle, cutting down on waste.
- Refillable systems: Buy a starter pack, then top up from pouches or bulk shops.
Crystal and Stone Deodorants Explained
Some natural options ditch creams and balms for mineral stones. Crystal deodorants and deodorant stones use minerals like potassium alum to create an invisible layer on your skin, stopping bacteria responsible for odour.
- Long-lasting: One stick can last six months or more with daily use.
- Ultra-low waste: No extra packaging (sometimes just a cardboard sleeve) and almost nothing left at the end.
- Simple: Wet the stone and swipe, no chalky marks or greasy residues.
They don’t block sweat glands [unlike antiperspirants], so your body cools naturally, but you stay odour-free.
Salt of the Earth (Hampshire) is a leader in the natural deodorant market. Its factory runs on clean energy, and it produces natural deodorants that so far have saved over 500,000 plastic bottles from landfill.
This natural crystal deodorant only contains potassium alum (not aluminium) and nothing else. Just apply to damp skin after washing, and dry after use. May mark some household surfaces, marble and natural stone.
The natural deodorant is sold with refills (we only recommend the unscented version, as the scented versions contain fragrance oil). Made with moisturising shea butter and coconut oil, just buy cardboard refills thereafter.
Earth Conscious Bare Bar is an unscented bar of deodorant, ideal for sensitive skin and allergies. Crafted with love and care, these bars are made with organic fair trade coconut oil and arrowroot, to keep you smelling fresh.
A little goes a long way, and everything is sold in zero-waste packaging. To use, just apply sparingly to underarms and it will melt into the skin. 10% of each sale goes to a charity helping to protect our seas, shores and wildlife.
Natural Zero Waste Deodorant Brands
Britain has become a thriving hub for sustainable deodorants, and some brands stand out for their quality, values, and results.
Pur Organic Vegan Deodorant Creams
Pur Deodorant is natural, organic and vegan, made with quality ingredients to keep you smelling fresh all day. It offers a nice creamy texture for less mess – a quick swish under your arms, massage gently into skin, and you’re good to go.
Sold in 3 natural fragrances:
- Geranium (lemon floral)
- Lavender Grapefruit (floral and sweet)
- Palmarosa & Sweet Orange (sweet floral)
Natural Cardboard Deodorants (from Bristol)
Your Nature is a natural deodorant brand made with vegan ingredients. They are sold in easy-to-use push-up tubes made from cardboard, easily recycled at end of use. Everything is also made to order, so there’s no waste. These are made from a blend of coconut oil and shea butter (not for latex allergies), mango butter and plant wax.
Sold in several scents (and in a handy travel size):
- Unscented
- Lemon & May Chang
- Orange & Patchouli
- Sandalwood & Bergamot
- Cedarwood & Grapefruit
Battle Green Vegan Deodorant Balms
Battle Green Vegan Deodorant Balms are made with natural ingredients, sold in easy-to-recycle cardboard tubes. Handmade in Wales, each tube contains at least 65 applications of deodorant.
Choose from 7 refreshing scents:
- Violet Bergamot
- Lavender Tea Tree
- Grapefruit Mint
- Orange Patchouli
- Lime Vanilla
- Lemon Rose
- Mandarin Neroli
To use, just push up the cardboard disk at the base to reveal your desired amount, and apply to your underarms. A pea-sized amount should be enough.
The mini deodorant tins are ideal for travel. They are sold in the same choice of scents.
The Ilex Wood (natural scented vegan deodorants)
The Ilex Wood is a super natural beauty brand, which also makes a nice line of natural vegan deodorants, in plastic-free packaging. With amazing reviews, just push up the recycled paper based cardboard tube to use. No palm oil. Made with coconut, arrowroot, shea butter (not for latex allergies) and essential oils.
Choose from:
- Ylang Ylang & Cedarwood (suitable for men and women)
- Lavender & Lemon (relaxing, refreshing)
- Spiced patchouli (earthy, men or women)
Pit Putty (founded to be ‘stink-proof!)
Pit Putty was founded by friends, after finding a fellow friend had breast cancer, and had been told that using natural toiletries was beneficial. In fragrance-free or natural scents, these are sold in cardboard tubes or tins, made from shea butter, coconut oil, baking soda, plant waxes and oils, with arrowroot powder.
These were invented in Australia, being ‘stink-tested’ to ensure they work in many temperatures and situations! The mild alkaline reacts with acid from bacteria, to stop body odour in its tracks.
Awake Organics (baking-soda-free deodorants
Awake Organics Star Cloud is an unscented natural deodorant, that works. Rather than relying on baking soda, it uses arrowroot (prebiotic food for good bacteria) and non-live vegan probiotics to create the right PH for a balm-to-powder deodorant to prevent odour.
If you prefer scent, choose Space Cat (sweet orange, rosemary, rose geranium) or Cedar Ridge, a men’s deodorant scented with cedar and black pepper.
How to Prevent Body Odour
Keeping odour at bay doesn’t mean dousing yourself in chemicals. You can stay fresh with a few simple swaps:
- Shower daily – clean skin makes it harder for bacteria to flourish.
- Wear loose, breathable fabrics like cotton or bamboo. Letting your skin breathe reduces sweat build-up.
- Stay hydrated—drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins.
- Eat a balanced diet and go easy on foods that trigger strong body odours, like spicy meals, garlic, or onions.
- Try a natural deodorant that uses antibacterial oils and powders.
Some worry that conventional deodorants are not safe near lymph nodes. There is no concrete evidence of risk, but it’s still good to natural biodegradable ingredients, near such important areas of your body.
Keep your underarms clean, use a product that suits your skin, and let your body do what it does best – balance itself out.
Conclusion
Natural zero waste deodorants combine thoughtful ingredients and planet-friendly packaging to give you cleaner, healthier options. You skip harsh chemicals, avoid single-use plastics, and support brands doing good for people and the planet.
Small changes in your daily routine, like picking a smarter deodorant, can add up to a much lighter load on the earth and your body. Next time you run out, consider making the switch. Your skin, your conscience, and the planet will thank you.
