Natural and Organic Deodorants: Products that Actually Work!

Recently we decided to expand our natural and organic product selection. One of the first categories we decided to tackle was deodorant. We know smelling good is pretty important, and with concerns around aluminum-based deodorants growing, we knew we could find some great alternative options for our customers – and team members!

Our main product supplier, McKesson, only offered the Tom’s of Maine brand. Tom’s has always been one of our top 10 sellers, but we needed to find more! As we saw other retailers growing their selections of unique deodorant lines, we decided it was time to look beyond McKesson. We ended up finding some pretty great brands by searching them out ourselves. Without further ado, let me tell you what we’ve got in stock for you:

Jason Natural

Jason Natural Products has been around since 1959. Their biography reads “disenchanted by big companies and big chemicals, this group harnessed their free-spirited California mindset, leading them back to simple, safe, and gentler ingredients”. If you’re switching from conventional deodorants, this is a great brand to start with.

The feel of Jason deodorants is very similar to most ‘traditional’ deodorants we carry. Ingredient-wise, they promise to be free of parabens, harsh sulfates, phthalates and artificial colors—the list still runs quite long, with some hard to pronounce ingredients. If you’re looking to go even more natural, keep reading! Top Seller: Tea Tree

Tom’s of Maine

Tom’s got its start in 1970 with a line of natural home cleaning products. Owner Tom Chappell always struggled to find natural body care products, so he knew what his brand needed to develop next! Since the 1970’s, they’ve grown dramatically and were purchased by Colgate-Palmolive in 2006 as natural and organic products became a mainstream trend.

Tom’s deodorant comes in a variety of wonderful scents like wild lavender and fresh apricot. Similar to the Jason line, the feel of applying this deodorant is very similar to any conventional brand. If you’re looking to avoid aluminum-based products, Tom’s antiperspirant line DOES contain aluminum. Ingredient-wise, their website does a great job letting you know why each and every ingredient is there. If only more brands did this! Top Seller: Original/Unscented

Kiss My Face

Started by Bob Macleod & Steve Byckiewicz in the 1980’s, Kiss My Face set out to revolutionize the cosmetics industry. Among many other great products, they make a nice line of gentle deodorants. Kiss My Face promises ‘no white marks’ and they mean it! Application is smooth and easy, though we’ve gotten some feedback saying it won’t stand up to a very active day, if you get our drift.

That being said, unless you work a very physically demanding job or are at the gym 24/7, this deodorant does a great job. Especially when it comes to baring your underarms in the summer—no white marks is a big plus! Many conventional deodorants claim they don’t leave white marks, but they don’t always deliver. Top Seller: Cucumber Green Tea

Schmidt’s

Schmidt’s started only a few years back (2010) in Portland Oregon. While brands like Kiss My Face, Tom’s and Jason took inspiration from what the conventional brands were doing, Schmidt’s decided to create a new ‘natural’. They take their list of no-no ingredients further than the other brands and are “always free of aluminum, propylene glycol, SLS, PEG, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrance, artificial flavor, artificial colorants, and artificial sweeteners.” (Don’t worry, the ‘sweeteners’ applies to their line of toothpastes, which we also carry!).

With a dramatically different ingredient list than the previously mentioned brands, Schmidt’s is a little different when it comes to application as well.  You may think you can ignore ‘directions’ on deodorants, but I recommend you read this one! It simply reads “hold product momentarily to skin to soften on contact with body heat”. This is essential! We’ve had customers say it’s too hard to apply, but after having them try the ‘body heat’ softening tip, it applies easily! So while this line takes a little getting used to, its natural odor fighting power and amazing scents make it all worth the tiny transition! Top Seller: Rose & Vanilla

A picture of Schmidt's Lavender and Sage Deodorant in an orchard.
A stick of Schmidt’s Deodorant growing in its natural habitat.

Primal Pit Paste

Similar to Schmidt’s, Primal Pit Paste has a very slim ingredient list. Favored by CrossFit enthusiasts, this deodorant falls in line with a more natural way of living. From the food you put on your plate, to the deodorant you apply to your ‘pits – Primal Pit Paste is clean and simple. One of my favorite reviews on their site reads “Primal Pit Paste – The best deodorant ever. It’s coconut based, so you can probably eat it in a pinch.” While we don’t recommend eating ANY deodorants, it helps you realize how truly simple and natural the ingredients are in Primal Pit Paste.

Did we mention we sell this brand in jars too?! Yes indeed, it’s not only time to rethink your deodorant brand, it’s time to rethink application! Speaking of application, it’s similar to Schmidt’s. Primal Pit Paste give you these directions: 1. Soften stick by warming up on your skin for 5 seconds 2. Swipe 1-2 times per pit 3. Allow 5 minutes for deodorant to absorb into your skin, then get dressed as usual. Top Seller: Lavender

Stop By And Check Out Our Natural Deodorant Selection Today!

Stop in and give these new deodorant lines a try today! Products subject to availability.

Our team uses:

Alex – General Manager: Jason Men’s Forest Fresh Deodorant Stick

Allison – Natural and Organics Buyer: Schmidt’s Charcoal and Magnesium

AleciaRetail Manager: Primal Pit Paste Lavender

Written by Alex Anderson

Alex is the current owner of Oswald's Pharmacy. A 6th generation member of the Wickel-Oswald-Kester-Anderson family, Alex focuses on innovation and taking the business into the future. With 7 years of working for Whole Foods Market as a Marketing & Community Relations Specialist, Healthy Eating Specialist, and Private Events Coordinator, Alex has a unique perspective on big and small businesses. Alex is a co-founder and board member of the Independent Medical Retailers group. Alex graduated with a BA degree from Columbia College Chicago in 2009. Alex has spent most of his life in Naperville and Chicago. He currently lives in Aurora, Il with his wife and 2 children (Oswald's 7th Generation!)