9 Best Plastic-Free Deodorant Bars and Sticks
Most deodorant available in stores comes in a plastic or aluminum container. Switching to a plastic-free deodorant is a great way to reduce plastic consumption and be more environmentally friendly.
Plastic-free deodorants come in many forms:
- Refillable deodorant in a metal or glass container
- Stick deodorant in compostable packaging
- Crystal deodorants made from naturally occurring minerals
- Paste deodorant that comes in a small metal or glass tin
The majority of the options below are stick deodorants in cardboard packaging.
Another plastic-free, cost-effective, and customizable option is making your own deodorant. There are recipes available online if you are the DIYing type. If you’re not too keen on making your own, read on for a round-up of options you can purchase.
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Adjusting to Natural Deodorant
Remember that everyone’s body chemistry and preferences are different. You may not find the right product for you immediately, and it may take a bit of trial and error until you find what works for you. Additionally, if you’ve been using an antiperspirant/deodorant combination today, there may be a short adjustment period when switching to natural deodorant.
Best Plastic Free Deodorant Bars and Sticks
- Attitude Deodorant
- Primal Life Organics Stick Up Deodorant
- Lafe’s Deodorant Stone
- Native Plastic Free Deodorant
- Ethique Deodorant Stick
- MAGSOL Plastic Free Deodorant
- Papr All Natural Deodorant
- Pack & Leaf Zero Waste Deodorant
- HiBAR Natural Plastic Free Deodorant
Attitude Deodorant
- EWG VERIFIED: clean ingredients and full transparency
- INGREDIENTS OF NATURAL ORIGIN : Formulated with 99.5% naturally sourced ingredients* including baking soda to combat unwanted odors
- GOOD FOR THE PLANET : Biodegradable packaging made from FSC-certified cardboard
This deodorant is packaged in biodegradable paper and comes in a variety of scents. To use the product, you push up like a push pop. The company is based in Montreal and claims to be EWG verified. Additionally, this may be a good option for those sensitive to natural deodorants containing baking soda.
When researching the company, I learned they were founded in 2006 and are grounded in the ethos of developing products better for health and the environment. They also have other personal care products, including innovative packaging to reduce plastic waste, including refillable items. They use cardboard that is FSC-certified, and their products are EWG Verified, Vega, & Cruelty-Free.
Pros:
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Biodegradable packaging
- EWG verified
- Hypoallergenic
- Not tested on animals
Cons:
- Push up style packaging doesn’t recede easily if you push up too much
- Some reviews claim the product is too dry
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Arrowroot powder, cornstarch powder, Coconut oil, Sunflower seed wax
- Scent Options: Lemon Leaves, Olive Leaves, Orange Leaves, Red Vine Leaves, White tea leaves, Unscented
- Packaging Material: Paper
Primal Life Organics Stick Up Deodorant
- STAY FRESH – Whether you’re looking for deodorant for women or deodorant for men, our natural deodorant will keep you smelling fresh. Hemp seed oil fights odor-causing organisms for the freshest…
Primal Life Organics began in 2012, and they offer a variety of natural products. This deodorant comes in biodegradable paper packaging in a variety of scents. To use, you push up like a push pop because the container is a cylindrical shape.
Their Black Lavender and Black Rouge variants contain activated charcoal, which may irritate some. Their deodorants seem to last a long time. In fact, some reviews state that with daily use the products lasted them over 6 months.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Not tested on animals
- Made in USA (Ohio!)
Cons:
- Not clear – may stain
- Push-up style packaging doesn’t recede easily if you push up too much
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Magnesium oil, zinc oxide, bentonite clay, arrowroot powder, activated charcoal
- Scent Options: Black Lavender, White Lavender, White Coconut, and Black Rouge
- Packaging Material: Paper
Lafe’s Deodorant Stone
- NATURAL WITH NO TOXINS OR BAKING SODA – Lafe’s deodorant contains no Baking Soda, no Aluminum Chlorhydrate, no Propylene Glycol, no Triclosans, no Petroleum, no Colors or Dyes, no Mineral Oils, no…
This product is a crystal rock deodorant stone, which is different from the usual stick deodorants most of us are familiar with. Crystal forms of deodorant have been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years, but they have only gained popularity in Western cultures recently due to interest in natural and low/no-waste alternatives. Our editor Kait learned about deodorant stones like these through Zero Waste Home, a website and a book you might want to check out for additional zero-waste information.
This particular deodorant stone arrives in a biodegradable paper box. To use it, you wet the stone and apply it to your underarms after the shower.
Since this naturally does not have a scent, this could be a great option for those sensitive to smells. According to reviews, the smaller option comes with a plastic base, but the larger option is plastic-free and a size that you can hold in your hand. A soap dish is a perfect holder for this when not in use. Note that you may have an adjustment period when switching to crystal deodorant.
Lafe’s Natural BodyCare is a family-owned, certified B-Corp that offers a variety of personal care products that are organic and natural.
Pros:
- 24-hour protection
- No staining residue
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Not tested on animals
- Long-lasting (1+ years)
Cons:
- Smaller option may contain a plastic base
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Potassium Alum (Natural Mineral Salts)
- Scent Options: Unscented
- Packaging Material: Paper; smaller size may arrive with a plastic base
Native Plastic Free Deodorant
- 72-HOUR ODOR CONTROL: Enjoy long-lasting freshness with Native Deodorant’s effective formula, designed to provide effective odor protection for up to 72 hours, keeping you confident all day long.
- PLASTIC-FREE PACKAGING: Packaged in paperboard sourced from responsibly managed forests
- ALUMINUM-FREE FORMULA: Enjoy peace of mind with a deodorant that is free from aluminum salts, parabens, and phthalates.
Native’s deodorants have graced many local store shelves, and I’m excited to see they’ve come out with a plastic-free option. They have a wide variety of scent options, including a charcoal version and a sensitive version that is baking soda free. I’m a fan of this brand myself and have used the Lavender Rose scent.
Our editor Kait has tried Native deodorants too — she likes the Charcoal and the Sandalwood & Shea Butter scents but felt other scents were too strong, so this may be a consideration if you prefer lighter scents.
The company uses naturally derived ingredients and is cruelty-free and vegan.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Not tested on animals
- Vegan
- Made in USA (San Francisco based)
Cons:
- Many of their formulations contain baking soda, so a consideration if you are sensitive
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda, tapioca starch
- Scent Options: Charcoal, Citrus & Herbal Musk, Coconut & Vanilla, Cotton & Lily, Cucumber & Mint, Lavender & Rose, Unscented
- Packaging Material: Paper
Ethique Deodorant Stick
- Derived from Non-Palm Sources
- Vegan
- Cruelty Free/Not Tested on Animals
Personally, this is my favorite looking deodorant stick. I love the fun colors. These deodorant sticks come in a cardboard container that you push up. There are various scents, and they are all baking soda free.
You may be familiar with Ethique’s shampoo and conditioner bars. They were one of the earlier options I used to see in local stores. I learned that the shampoo and conditioner bars were how the company started: Brianne West, CEO & Founder, started Ethique in her kitchen in 2012 when she began experimenting with solid shampoo bars!
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Not tested on animals
- Vegan
- Made in USA (San Francisco based)
Cons:
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, bamboo extract, magnesium hydroxide, zinc oxide
- Scent Options: Lavender Vanilla, Unscented, Citrus & Earthy
- Packaging Material: Paper
MAGSOL Plastic Free Deodorant
This is another push-pop style deodorant that comes in plastic-free cardboard packaging. Compared to some of the other products, I didn’t find as much about the founder of the company or the company ethos, though a little digging made it seem like the company is around 4 years old.
Overall, I was impressed by the variety of scents that are offered. Additionally, they claim that the deodorant is smooth glide and doesn’t contain grittiness, which can sometimes occur in natural deodorants.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Baking soda free
- Made in USA (Houston, Texas-based)
Cons:
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Almond oil, magnesium oxide, beeswax, natural oils
- Scent Options: Sweet Orange, Sandalwood, Lavender, Lemongrass, Jasmine, Rose, Hunter
- Packaging Material: Paper
Papr All Natural Deodorant
- PÃPR: Our all-natural deodorants are full of powerful ingredients and extracts, packaged in eco-friendly recyclable deodorant packaging. They work extremely well for you and our beautiful planet. We…
- HIGHLY EFFECTIVE & DERMATOLOGICALLY TESTED: Our natural deodorant formula was developed over years of R&D and continues to evolve. All ingredients are 100% natural and safe, ensuring long-lasting…
- PLANT-BASED PACKAGING: Say goodbye to single-use plastics. Our plastic free deodorants use FSC-certified paper from responsibly sourced forests with a thin PLA (cornstarch-based) membrane. For every…
This Los Angeles-made deodorant stood out the most to me visually, and when learning about the company, I learned that one of the co-founders is a graphic designer.
I was impressed to learn that their company is certified carbon neutral and their production process is fully solar. According to their website, they also give back and donate 1% of their revenue to the Ancient Tree Archive.
Some of the scents are described to be fairly strong, and it depends on your personal preference whether this is a plus or minus for you.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Paraben free
- Made in USA (Los Angeles based)
- Carbon neutral company
- Fully solar production process
Cons:
- Many of their formulations contain baking soda, so a consideration if you are sensitive
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Coconut oil, tapioca starch, shea butter, essential oils
- Scent Options: Cedarwood & Cypress, Grapefruit, Lemongrass & Bergamot, Musk & Ylang Ylang
- Packaging Material: Paper
Pack & Leaf Zero Waste Deodorant
The Pack & Leaf zero waste deodorant offers another option for a fully biodegradable deodorant. This company was founded on the ethos of reducing and eliminating plastic. They claim to donate 10% of their profits to marine conservation programs.
They offer a variety of scents, and the packaging is push-up style packaging. Something I love about this one is that they offer a mini size that you could take with you on the go to reapply. Throw one in your handbag or gym bag, and then keep a full size at home.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Paraben free
Cons:
- Many of their formulations contain baking soda, so a consideration if you are sensitive
- Not clear – may stain
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Magnesium Oxide, Arrowroot Powder, Candelilla Wax, Baking Soda, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Vanilla Extract.
- Scent Options: Coconut & Vanilla, Coconut & Lime, Peaches & Cream, Cucumber & Lavender
- Packaging Material: Paper
HiBAR Natural Plastic Free Deodorant
- PLASTIC FREE DEODORANT – Meet HiBAR’s natural, aluminum-free, paraben-free, Plastic Free Deodorant. This natural deodorant for men and women provides all-day protection and performance without…
- FRESH RAIN & CUCUMBER – HiBAR’s Plastic Free Deodorant is formulated to glide on effortlessly, ensuring it feels light and refreshing under your arms. Our Fresh Rain & Cucumber scent is made from…
- CLEAN INGREDIENTS – Our Plastic Free Deodorant, made with high-quality, natural ingredients like sunflower seed wax, shea butter, rice bran, and lime seed oil that create the perfect consistency for…
I’ve been a fan of HiBAR for a while now for their salon-quality shampoo and conditioner bars as well as their solid face wash. I was excited to come across the HiBAR deodorant in my local refill shop and had to try it. So far, I’ve been really pleased with the formulation. It glides on smoothly, and I haven’t experienced any stains on my clothing as a result. It was my first time using the push-pop style deodorant packaging, and once I got the hang of it, it was easy to use.
HiBAR ships with plastic-free biodegradable packaging – no plastic tape, no bubble wrap.
Pros:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Aluminum-free formulation
- Baking soda free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Paraben free
- Made in USA (St. Paul, Minnesota based)
Cons:
- N/A
Specs:
- Main Ingredients: Coconut oil, arrowroot powder, shea butter
- Scent Options: Fresh Rain & Cucumber, Bergamot & Cedar, Lavender & Jasmine
- Packaging Material: Paper
Deodorant Bar vs. Deodorant Paste
Deodorant bars and sticks are the typical roll-on type that we are most used to, and the type of deodorant that we’ve included many examples of above. Deodorant paste is another eco-friendly option that is less commonly known. While the application method of paste may seem unusual because you massage the product directly onto your armpits — there are benefits to this massage. Let me share a few features of each:
Deodorant bars
Pros
- Quick and easy to apply
- Best for travel
- Firm texture, if this is your preference
- Packaged in a biodegradable cardboard container
Cons
- Product may not last as long compared to paste
Deodorant Paste
Pros
- Lasts longer than a deodorant bar since only a small amount is needed
- Packaged in a recyclable tin
Cons
- Application requires massaging into armpits like applying lotion; not ideal on-the-go
- Can melt in hot climates
Deodorant Bar Usage Tips
How to Use a Deodorant Bar
You use deodorant bars just like usual stick deodorant. Swipe a few times (1-2 is all you need) on clean and dry underarms. Take care to avoid staining dark clothes since these options may have varying degrees of residue they may leave behind.
Best Times to Apply Deodorant
The best time to apply deodorant is when you are clean and dry after the shower. Wait a moment to allow your pores to be dry, and wait slightly longer if you shave your underarms so you don’t irritate your skin.
Since these are deodorants and not antiperspirants, you may in some cases opt to reapply before a workout to stay fresh.
How to Store Deodorant Bars
Keep your deodorant bar in a cool and dry place out of direct sunlight since many of these are made from natural butters and oils. Additionally, keep the lid closed for any of the bars that come in a cardboard container. This will help maintain the consistency of the bar.
Considerations Before Purchasing Deodorant
Adjustment Time
If you’ve been using an antiperspirant/deodorant combination, it may take time for you to adjust to a non-antiperspirant deodorant variety. You may feel like you’re sweating more than usual. Give it a time, a few weeks or so to adjust and see how you like the new deodorant product.
Allergies or Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you may opt for baking soda-free options. Another consideration may be selecting a fragrance-free option for sensitive skin, health reasons, or sensitivity to strong scents. Some brands also do dermatological testing and claim to have a hypoallergenic product. When stated by the brand, I’ve included this above.
Scented vs. Unscented
I noted this above, but choosing a scented versus unscented option is personal. I prefer scented deodorants, but many others may prefer unscented varieties due to sensitivity to smells or sensitive skin. Others may choose fragrance-free because they prefer to avoid fragrance in their personal care products for health reasons.
Plastic Free Deodorant Bar Comparison Chart
FAQs
1-2 swipes are usually enough. Make sure to apply the deodorant so you fully coat your underarm area.
Applying deodorant after showering is best since you’ll be clean and sweat-free. Wait a few moments to dry off and allow your pores to close up, especially if you shave your underarms. You want to avoid applying deodorant to freshly shaven skin, which is more sensitive.
With typical use, a stick of deodorant may last 2-3 months. Note that every product has a shelf life, but with daily use, most won’t have to worry about getting past the expiration date. There are some telltale signs of deodorant that has expired — a rancid smell, a change in texture, or a noticeable difference in effectiveness.
Clear deodorants are best if you’re concerned about stained clothes (it’s always those dark shirts!). However, if you get deodorant on your clothes, one quick solution is to use nylon tights to rub the stained fabric.
Why Trust A Clean Bee
Nageen Mir is a St. Louis-based writer who has contributed to A Clean Bee on sustainable living topics since 2022. In this article, she gathered and researched plastic-free deodorant options to recommend to you. She used A Clean Bee’s philosophy, selection criteria, and her personal experience with various products to develop her recommendations.
