Today I am reviewing The Natural Deodorant Co.’s Clean Deodorant Balm in the scent Lemon + Geranium.
I like to really give the products I try a chance before reviewing them. This October marks one whole year of using The Natural Deodorant Co.’s deodorant, so it must be time to write up my honest thoughts.
First, what even is natural deodorant?
The word “natural” gets thrown around a lot these days, and with no regulated or legal definition of what natural is, there’s nothing stopping marketers from applying it liberally to their products.
The Natural Deodorant Co. describes their deodorants as being “100% natural and packed with plant-based ingredients.” It’s very clever wording – the 100% applies to natural (the loosey goosey definition) and the plant-based ingredients are simply “packed” in.
So, it’s not 100% plant-based.
But is that a bad thing?
Well, let’s review it to find out.
Overview
- Deodorant Type: creamy balm
- Scent Options: Citrus + Black Pepper, Lemon + Geranium, Orange + Bergamot, Palmarosa + Mandarin, Grapefruit + Mint
- Size: 55g
- Active Ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide
- Certifications: Vegan Society, Cruelty Free International
- Packaging: glass jar
I found the Clean Deodorant Balm to be very effective at deodorising my body odour when applied once in the morning during the winter, and twice during the summer.
It effectively eliminates any bad smells and is easy to apply. The formula feels nourishing on my skin and I’ve had no bad reactions or irritation.
💡 Important Note: this is not antiperspirant so expect to sweat.
Personally, I don’t think it is “natural” but I do think it relies on plant based ingredients to support those non-natural active ingredients, and it sure feels a whole lot cleaner than the synthetic deodorants and antiperspirants I’ve used in the past.
It feels good, smells good, and keeps the ingredients list stripped back to just things that deodorise, things that moisturise, and things that smell good. And that’s all you need in a deodorant.
What’s In Clean Deodorant Balm?
I have been using the Lemon + Geranium scent. Let’s break down all the ingredients and what they do:
- Sodium Bicarbonate: also known as baking soda. It’s an alkaline that neutralises acidic odour molecules and prevents odour-causing bacteria from thriving.
- Magnesium Oxide: reacts with moisture in your armpits to form magnesium hydroxide, another alkaline that neutralises bad smells.
- Arrowroot Powder: absorbs moisture to reduce sweat (but it doesn’t prevent sweat, as it’s not an antiperspirant).
- Coconut Oil: gives it a nice texture and provides a source of lauric acid, to inhibit bacteria that make bad odours.
- Olive Oil: feels nice, moisturises your skin.
- Shea Butter: feels nice, moisturises your skin.
- Lemon Essential Oil: smells nice, mild antibacterial properties.
- Geranium Essential Oil: smells nice, mild antibacterial properties.
- Candelilla Wax: plant-derived wax (beeswax alternative) used to thicken the balm for a smooth texture.
You’ll also spot these on the ingredients list: limonene, citral, linalool, geraniol, benzyl benzoate, citronellol. They are naturally occurring within the essential oils, not additional ingredients.
The sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide are chemical compounds made by refining mined minerals. But the rest of the ingredients are all plant-based and what I would call “natural”.
But (and it’s a big but this time), does natural still mean good?
The Natural Deodorant Co. is a UK business but their ingredients come from all over the world. Candelilla wax is derived from a Mexican plant, olive oil is usually Mediterranean, and coconut oil has a bad reputation all by itself.
According to the Navigation Codex, sourcing products from so far away may not align with flow.
My thoughts? This is a good deodorant if your priority list places vegan formulations and skin-friendly ingredients at the top. If you want natural deodorant in the sense that it’s made at home, from locally sourced ingredients, then it’s not for you.
Personally, I find it strange that we think using a vegan plant-based wax from halfway around the world is somehow better than using beeswax from the farm down the road.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this – leave me a comment below!
What Using Deo Balm Feels Like
Okay, now the important question. What does The Natural Deodorant Co.’s product actually feel like to use?
The texture is quite hard when the ambient room temperature is cold, and extremely soft when it’s warm. It’s kinda like butter, and it very quickly softens on your finger.
To use it, I scoop out a small glob (about half the amount of toothpaste I use) and rub it onto my armpit with a finger. It spreads and glides very easily, and seems to sink into the skin – your armpit won’t feel wet like with most antiperspirants.
Once it is applied, it has a subtle smell that’s hard to detect. When you start to perspire, the scent intensifies and keeps you smelling fresh even if, like me, you sweat like a pig in the sun!
How Long Does It Last?
The deodorant does not stop you sweating, but it does make you smell good. The good smell and odour-neutralising properties last all day. Once applied, I can confidently go about my day knowing I won’t smell.
That being said… you’ll get sweaty if you’re active or the weather is warm. This means sweat patches and uncomfortably moist armpits. During the height of the summer I find it best to wipe down or wash my armpits halfway through the day, then reapply the balm. This isn’t because the deodorising effects have diminished (I smell lemony and lovely) but just because it gets uncomfortable to be so sweaty.
Final Verdict
I really love this deodorant and will continue to use it most days. The only time I switch back to antiperspirant is when I need to stay sweat-free for a particular occasion (e.g. attending a wedding).
It’s really good for:
- Low activity, mild-weather days when you wouldn’t normally sweat lots.
- People with sensitive skin who struggle with harsh deodorants.
- Anyone looking to make their daily skin routine kinder on themselves, animals and the planet.
It’s not good for:
- Office work, special occasions, or any other circumstance where not have a single drop of sweat show is a must.
- People who get very sweaty and don’t like the feeling.
I bought this deodorant myself, I haven’t been gifted it or even approached by The Natural Deodorant Co. However, I am an Amazon affiliate, so if you decide to buy it through my links below, I might get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to Buy The Natural Deodorant Co. Balm
You can find their products on Amazon, at Holland & Barrett, or on The Natural Deodorant Co.‘s official website.
At the time of writing, one 55g pot costs £12.95. The company says this is an 8+ week supply, but I found that one pot actually lasted 9 months. That works out as £1.44 per month, which is roughly 5p per day.
FAQs
The balm comes inside a glass jar with a metal lid. The jar is inside a cardboard box. And that’s it – there’s no plastic whatsoever. It’s all recyclable.
There’s a jar return scheme. Once you have 6 empty deodorant jars, you can send them back and receive a 15% off voucher for your next purchase.
Yep, there’s a Gentle Deodorant Cream that uses magnesium oxide and clay, to replace sodium bicarbonate (which some people find irritating). There’s an unscented version too.
Not really. It spreads easily to your armpit and you can just wipe any residue left on your finger into your skin – the balm is very buttery and calming on your skin anyway. You could also use a beauty spatula if preferred.
No, I haven’t noticed any stains on my clothing from the deodorant. It adheres and absorbs into my skin, so it doesn’t transfer to a black t-shirt pulled on afterwards. However, it doesn’t stop you sweating, so it’s important to treat/wash your shirts at the armpit to remove the natural oils your body produces and prevent discolouration.
Some people report a transition when switching from antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, where they might smell bad or sweat excessively. I did not experience this when switching from Dove deodorant to The Natural Deodorant Co.
