When shopping for deodorant, opt for products that are free of parabens and synthetic fragrances. Instead, choose deodorants made with magnesium hydroxide and essential oils. And don’t fret over aluminum – it has gotten a bad rap because of supposed links to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer, but those claims have been debunked. Our favorite deodorants are certified by EWG (which ensures the product is free from chemicals of concern) and PETA or Leaping Bunny (which ensure no animal testing was performed using the product). Avoid aerosol deodorants if you can, and opt for those that come in compostable cardboard or reusable packaging. 

Ingredients 

Aluminum

Aluminum is found in antiperspirants to reduce wetness by blocking our underarm sweat ducts and to minimize body odor by inhibiting the bacteria that feed on sweat. But, aluminum has gotten a bad rap because it has *supposedly* been linked to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. Turns out, the connection to Alzheimer’s has been discredited since the 1990s and experts (like the American Cancer Society) cite that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest a link between breast cancer and aluminum in antiperspirants. The sheer proximity from underarms to breasts doesn’t mean our Spring Rain scent is causing a serious cancer risk. 

If you still want to know if there’s aluminum in your deodorant, the active ingredient could be listed as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly. That said, there’s no regulatory definition for “natural,” so just because a deodorant is made without aluminum doesn’t mean it’s made of ingredients that are more safe for people or the planet. Many crystal deodorants, which have been touted as “natural”, use alum crystals, which still contain aluminum. 

Parabens

Parabens are cheap preservatives that are used to prevent the growth of mold and harmful bacteria. They have been associated with endocrine disruption in humans, and certain kinds can kill coral, even at low levels of exposure. After a 2004 study concluded that the presence of parabens may spur the growth of breast cancer cells, the public backlash led some cosmetic companies to start removing parabens from their products. However, additional studies of the effect of parabens on our health have proved inconclusive, and the FDA currently approves the use of parabens in cosmetic products. Still, we recommend avoiding them (and luckily many great deodorants are paraben-free). 

Synthetic Fragrances

The most elusive ingredient of all might be fragrances. That’s because fragrances are protected from disclosure. While “fragrance” might appear to be one ingredient on the label, that word could potentially comprise hundreds of chemical compounds just for one scent! It’s not the scent that worries us, but phthalates, which enable fragrances to become soluble. They are known endocrine disruptors in both humans and aquatic life and can even lower the production of testosterone. Studies have found that prenatal exposure to phthalates can decrease mental and motor development in children.

Essential Oils

Essential oils, botanicals, and plant extracts – while naturally occurring – can still cause skin irritation. Enter: contact dermatitis. Fragrances like linalool and limonene, which are extracted from citrus fruit peels, can cause allergic reactions in delicate, sensitive skin. If you want some fragrance in your 3-in-1, go the route of essential oils, botanicals, and plant extracts – but make sure you test the stuff on a patch of skin before slathering everywhere. 

Magnesium Hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound, commonly found in antacids like Milk of Magnesia (which you may be familiar with if you’ve ever had tummy troubles). Magnesium hydroxide is also commonly used as a deodorant. Remember, deodorant is not synonymous with antiperspirant. However, this compound has antibacterial qualities and can inhibit perspiration odor in humans. Magnesium hydroxide is an alternative to aluminum salts as a deodorant, but it won’t stop you from sweating in the same way. According to the EPA Safer Choice list, magnesium hydroxide is verified to be of low concern to human and environmental health based on experimental and modeled data. As far as ingredients go, Finch gives this one a thumbs up. 

Packaging

Plastic

Much of today’s deodorant comes in plastic packaging, and unfortunately, they’re usually made with several types of plastic. This makes it difficult to recycle the entire unit through curbside pick-up programs in one piece. Luckily, Tom’s of Maine teamed up with Terracycle to create a deodorant recycling program that allows people to send in any brand’s used product via mail or drop-off – check the website for any nearby locations. 

Plastic is made of carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels, which we extract from the earth’s crust by drilling and fracking. Drilling and fracking have a host of negative environmental consequences that can devastate already fragile wildlife populations. Because plastic is such a strong material, products made from plastic can take hundreds of years to degrade or decompose. The only sprinkle of sugar is that plastic provides a lighter-weight, durable option that can lessen emissions associated with transportation and distribution. But when plastic is only used once, those potential savings still leave us with a pretty bitter taste. 

Aerosol

Other deodorants come as spray in aerosol cans, which are usually made from aluminum or steel. Producing just 1 kilogram of either material can emit the equivalent of driving 30 miles in your car. Plus, to get their misting effect, aerosol cans require hydrocarbons or compressed gases that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are prevalent in asthma-inducing smog. While some recycling programs accept empty aerosol cans (that also have their plastic caps removed!), many still don’t due to the dangers of pressurized cans exploding in the sorting facility. Sadly, this means that plenty end up in landfills, where aluminum and steel can take centuries to decompose. Again, Terracycle has a fix for this! Their Loop line of reusable packaging creates deodorant containers that can be less impactful than single-use. If you desire spray-on deodorant, this could be a better alternative.

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.