Zero Waste Deodorant: 6 Plastic-Free, Sustainable Alternatives

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Zero waste deodorant is a must, especially in warm weather. I mean, who wants to be all stinky, right? Unfortunately, most commercial brands of deodorant come packaged in plastic and have questionable ingredients in them. Most people are familiar with the fact aluminum lurks in a lot of antiperspirants nowadays. Aluminum exposure is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and interferes with estrogen levels. Worse yet, when your body cannot process estrogen properly, there’s a higher risk to develop breast and prostate cancer. Is that really something you want to put on your armpits? Along with aluminum, conventional deodorants are made with a host of other nasty ingredients like parabens, steareths and artificial colors. Does any of that sound good to you? Nope, didn’t think so. It’s time we ditch conventional deodorants and opt for zero waste deodorants that are both plastic-free and all natural. I have 6 amazing deodorants lined up for you. Which ever deodorant you pick, you’ll wind up making a better choice for the environment and your health.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

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6 Zero Waste Deodorants

Here are the top six plastic-free, zero waste deodorant brands I recommend. All of them are plastic-free and vegan (except #3 – it has beeswax in it). I’m sure there are plenty more brands out there, but these are my personal favorites. No matter which one you choose, you can’t go wrong. For more information on plastic-free deodorants, be sure to check out this post all about zero waste deodorant.

1. Primal Pit Paste

Primal Pit Paste is my personal favorite. I actually based my own DIY deodorant off this stuff because I absolutely love it. It’s not only plastic-free (packaged in glass), but also free of questionable ingredients and one of the most affordable options on this list.

This brand carries an array of different scents to choose from (the one pictured is orange creamsicle. Other scents include coconut lime, jasmine, lavender, lemongrass, royal and blue, and unscented. All the ingredients are natural, organic and vegan.

The deodorant cream lid is made from BPA free plastic, but that’s not too big of a deal because you can just reuse the jar over and over again. I’d reuse it to make my own DIY deodorant, or perhaps DIY toothpaste.

Ingredients: Organic shea butter, organic arrowroot powder, non-aluminum baking soda, organic coconut oil, candelilla wax, lavender essential oil, non-gmo vitamin E derived 100% from sunflowers.

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2. Meow Meow Tweet Deodorants

Looking for a vegan, zero waste deodorant that’s made without baking soda? You’re in luck: Meow Meow Tweet has one deodorant that’s all three! It’s available in a 2.4 oz. glass jar.

This brand mainly specializes in deodorant using baking soda, but it’s nice to see they offer a baking-soda free option. You can find the deodorants with baking soda in a 2.4 oz. glass jar or a compostable cardboard tube (pictured to the upper right). All the ingredients are organic and vegan, always.

I love the fact they offer some of their deodorants in a compostable cardboard tube because it makes for easy application. It feels similar to applying deodorant as you conventionally would.

All their glass jar deodorants have a metal lid, making the whole product plastic-free and easy to recycle. I recommend reusing the jars before recycling them though.

Ingredients (for baking soda free deodorant): Arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide, organic/fair trade coconut oil, organic/fair trade shea fruit butter, organic jojoba seed oil, organic sweet orange peel oil, organic grapefruit peel oil, organic lemon peel oil, organic bergamot FCF peel oil.

Ingredients (for lavender bergamot deodorant stick): Organic Sunflower seed oil, organic arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide, organic/fair trade cocoa seed butter, organic/fair trade shea fruit butter, sunflower seed wax, sodium bicarbonate, organic lavender oil, bergamot FCF peel oil, organic lemongrass oil, organic peppermint oil.

For more Meow Meow Tweet products, be sure to check out this amazing collection here!

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3. Fat and the Moon Deodorants

Fat in the Moon offers two zero waste deodorants, one in a .05 oz tin, and one in a 2 oz. glass jar.

The one that comes in the tin (pictured left) is perfect for those with sensitive skin because it doesn’t have any baking soda in it, and it’s pretty much scent free. It’s relatively cheap too, compared to the other options on this list (though not as affordable as Primal Pit Paste). However, it does contain beeswax, so it’s not vegan, just a heads up. The tin is also small, making it perfect for storing in your purse for on the go coverage.

To apply it, you just put a little on the tips of your fingers and smear it under your arms. A little will go a long way and last you a while.

For those who prefer a more creamy application, Fat and the Moon also offers a deodorant cream in a 2 oz. glass jar (pictured right) with a metal lid. It is on the pricier side, just a heads up. This option contains beeswax and baking soda, but you apply it much the same way. The scent is a mix of black pepper, bergamot, a hint of citrus with a base of clary sage.

Ingredients (for sensitive pit cream): organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot starch, magnesium hydroxide, beeswax, organic basil oil, organic vetiver oil.

Ingredients (for deodorant cream): Organic coconut oil, baking soda (aluminum free), organic arrowroot starch, beeswax, organic essential oils of black pepper, organic clary sage, organic bergamot, organic tea tree, organic grapefruit.

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4. Primal Life – Stick Up Natural Deodorant

This zero waste deodorant is unique in that it comes packaged in a compostable cardboard tube, is vegan AND is great for sensitive skin. It doesn’t utilize baking soda, but instead uses hemp seed oil and activated charcoal.

I really love deodorants that utilize activated charcoal because I’ve noticed they help eliminate odors even faster and for longer periods of time. However, Primal Life does give the option to opt out of the charcoal infused deodorant with their white lavender and white coconut scents, if you so choose.

This deodorant is great for the busy person who really likes to do physical labor, sports or workouts. It’ll keep you dry for the most part, and even when you do sweat, it’ll be pretty much odorless, thanks to the help of activated charcoal, magnesium and zinc oxide (non-nano) – all of which help with deodorization and don’t cause rashes.

There’s absolutely no plastic in this packaging, which I totally love. It’s perfect for those who prefer to not get their hands soiled by dipping them into a jar or tin of deodorant, this is a great option.

To use, simply apply 2 to 3 swipes under your arms. You don’t want to over apply, as this deodorant is more effective when less is used.

Ingredients: Organic cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil, organic manihot esculenta (arrowroot) root powder, Zinc Oxide (non-nano), euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) Wax, organic cannabis sativa (hemp) Seed Oil, bentonite, magnesium hydroxide.

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5. Kaiame Deodorant

Looking for a deodorant that’s affordable, in a beautiful glass jar, vegan, and cruelty free? Kaiame Deodorant has you covered (literally).

This handcrafted zero waste deodorant is free of parabens, aluminum, phthalates and GMOs. Pretty impressive right?

It’s also one of the only deodorants on the market that utilizes activated charcoal, magnesium oil, vodka, and colloidal silver. All these ingredients combined together really make odor vanish in the blink of an eye. It does contain some baking soda, but just a little, so sensitive skin types should be okay wearing it.

All you have to do is smear some onto your armpits.

I love how it comes in two scents: tea tree (pictured above) or lavender. Nice and simple, just the way I like it.

The glass jar is accompanied by a metal lid, making it completely plastic-free. You can reuse the jar to house some of your own DIYs when it’s empty.

Ingredients: Organic coconut oil (cocos nucefera), organic arrowroot powder (maranta arundinacea), natural baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), colloidal silver, vodka, candelilla wax, 100% pure magnesium oil (magnesium chloride brine), organic charcoal powder (activated), organic tea tree essential oil.

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6. Ethique – Glow Solid Deodorant

This is perhaps one of the most unique deodorants on this list. All the more reason to love it though!

Ethique’s glow solid deodorant bar almost looks like a body soap bar, if you didn’t know any better. I assure you it’s not though: It’s deodorant in solid, bar form. It’s 2.47 oz. and fits in the palm of your hand with ease.

Made from vegan, cruelty free ingredients, it’s free of palm oil and baking soda, making it suitable for sensitive skin types. Aloe vera is one of the ingredients featured in this product, which gives a soothing feeling as you apply the deodorant. Bamboo is yet another unique ingredient, but it’s great for mopping up sweat and reducing odor.

This solid deodorant comes in a compostable paper wrapper, also making it completely plastic-free.

To use, simply unwrap the deodorant bar (you can leave half the bar in paper to use as a handle) and apply to underarms. Reapply after exercise or as needed.

To store this unique deodorant, you can keep it wrapped up in the original wrapper it came in (so don’t compost it right away), or store it in an airtight container of your choice.

Ingredients: Propanediol (from corn), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) juice, tapioca starch, polymethylsilsesquioxane, sodium stearate, saccharomyces ferment, equisetum arvense extract, salvia officinalis (sage) oil, bambusa arundinacea (bamboo) stem extract, lavandula augustifolia (lavender) oil, vanilla planifolia (vanilla) oleoresin, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, tocopherol (vitamin e), citric acid.

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For those who enjoy DIY zero waste deodorant:

I get that not everyone has time on their hands to make DIY deodorant. That’s one of the reasons I crafted this list. That being said, for those who do prefer DIYs, here are a few options for you to consider.

My zero waste deodorant recipe: The one I use works like a charm for me. I love whipping it up and actually need to make more as I type this.
Going Zero Waste’s spray on deodorant: Kathryn is one of my favorite zero waste bloggers. She’s got an amazing zero waste deodorant spray worth checking out too.
Green Indy Blog’s zero waste deodorant: According to Polly, it only takes 3 minutes to make. The ingredients are also easy to find plastic-free!
Other DIY deodorant options: When you’re pinched for time, try simply dusting baking soda onto your armpits, swiping half a lime on your underarm, or dabbing some white vinegar onto your pits. Whatever works for you and gets the job done, right?

Will you be giving any of these zero waste deodorant alternatives a try? What do you like to use to stay stink free?

For more zero waste skincare tips, be sure to check out my zero waste bug spray recipe or my zero waste sunscreen roundup.

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Zero Waste Deodorant: 6 Plastic-Free, Sustainable Alternatives

By Ariana Palmieri

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