Body odour can be a distracting embarrassment for you and those around you. Your confidence drops, your self-esteem takes a hit, and your wellbeing is negatively impacted. Deodorants are a big business, but what many people don’t realise is that conventional antiperspirants can be harmful to you body due to toxic ingredients. When choosing your deodorant, be sure to check the ingredients so that you know what your body will be absorbing.

Smelling good isn’t worth the health risks associated with a number of common ingredients. Many commercial antiperspirants contain ingredients that have unintended consequences that are seldom advertised, the most common of which is hormone disruption. Our skin is one of the many ways the human body absorbs external substances, making it important for people to know what they’re putting into their bodies and to understand the effects of each substance.

Unfortunately, the bad ingredients outweigh the good, but thankfully there are a number of safe ingredients that won’t harm you or the environment. As a general rule, it is recommended that you avoid aerosol spray deodorants because they include fossil fuels like propane and butane, which are bad for both your health and the environment. These products are also often sold in non-recyclable containers. Antiperspirants work by discouraging or stopping the body from sweating. Sweating, though, is a natural bodily function that helps the body detoxify, so antiperspirants can potentially be harmful to your overall bodily health.

The best products are those that have been certified organic. These deodorants are regulated so that they are free of harmful chemicals and other pollutants that can be toxic to your body and the environment. Once you’ve sifted through the mass of chemical-laden deodorants, your search will be narrowed to the point where you can choose with confidence the product that works best for you.

Good Ingredients
- Sage, witch hazel, and other natural astringents
- Clay minerals like bentonite and kaolin
- Mineral salts (potassium alum, ammonium, etc.)
- Cornstarch, arrowroot, and other natural powders

Bad Ingredients
- Aluminum compounds
- Mineral oil
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- DMDM hydantoin
- Formaldehyde
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Triclosan
- Parabens
- Bronopol
- Propylene glycol
- Quaternium-15
- Steareths (such as steareth-15)