Is a deodorant paste right for me?

2014 was the year that natural deodorant paste and cream made a mark in Australia. They work really well, but they're not right for everyone. Today, we're giving a brief rundown on how they are formulated, how different they are than traditional roll-ons and whether they will suit you.

The History - Soapwalla

Deodorant creams first came to our attention with the Soapwalla Deodorant Cream. Soapwalla is a USA based company and while a handful of Australian companies had it available, stock was very hard to come by, so we kept looking. A little different than those we're stocking now, this one was based on jojoba oil, sunflower oil and rosehip oil and then using shea butter, corn starch, bi-carb soda and some essential oils. The fundamental ingredients are certainly here and it is this concept of ingredients in a formula that forms the basis for most other products that follow.

The internet is full of homemade recipes for deodorant pastes. Whether the homemade versions came first or Soapwalla, we're not sure. If you do some Googling, they're all based on oils (usually coconut oil), shea butter, baking soda, arrowroot (or corn starch) and some essential oils.

The first deodorant paste in our store - Black Chicken

If you read blogs and follow health & wellness guru's on social media, you will have heard about the Black Chicken Deodorant aka Axilla Paste. It's made by an Australian company and is based on the same group of core ingredients. This one has a strong essential oil blend and has an excellent reputation for being one of the hardest working natural deodorant products on the market today. We do have this one in store, but due to overwhelming popularity, production isn't keeping up with demand and we've been unable to get it on our shelves for a few months now. It will be back, so people pop your details in to our stock notification system.

Our newest addition - Erica Brooke

With so many customers wanting a deodorant paste, we went on the hunt for another locally produced version. After road testing a few, we came across a small label called Erica Brooke. Erica also makes a small range of natural skin care which we'll be looking at down the track, but for now, we instantly fell in love with her deodorant crème. While using the same principles and core ingredients as both the Soapwalla and the Black Chicken, the first deodorant crème in the range has a much more gentle essential oil blend, using Neroli & Vanilla. It's a warm citrus scent with a mild fragrance that lingers most of the day. On the sweatiest of days, even after the citrus aroma is gone, the deodorant is still working hard. We also have an unscented version coming our way for those who are sensitive to smells. It will be arriving in store next week.

Will I react to the ingredients?

We have had a handful of reports from customers who develop a rash using deodorant pastes. Sometimes it's just the Black Chicken Axilla Paste, other times, they'll react to any of them. There are two potential things that will cause this, despite them being a totally natural formula.

1) Essential Oils - they are potent and powerful and hard working in these deodorants, but they can also be a source of skin irritation in some. The Black Chicken deodorant has a strong formula, which is why it works so well. However, the combo of peppermint, cajaput, mandarin, clove, rose geranium, lime, lavender and cedarwood can be too much for some noses and some skin. This is why we have also sourced the milder Neroli & Vanilla from Erica Brooke and are having an unscented version custom made for our sensitive customers.

2) Bi-carb Soda - this is more likely to be the cause of the skin irritation and unfortunately, it's a common ingredient to all formulas. It's really quite rare, but it happens enough that it's worth knowing about and patch testing for several days before you end up with two completely itchy armpits. You can either patch test with one of the products, or make a rudimentary paste from some bi-carb, coconut oil and rub it on your skin in the same spot for a few days. If you react to the bi-carb, we suggest you visit our natural deodorant department and take a look at the Fresca range.

Cream vs Roll-on

While the creams are coconut oil, shea butter, bi-carb and corn starch based, other roll-ons and sprays are based on ingredients like aloe leaf juice, water, witch hazel, salts and more. They are totally different bases but both designed to stop the bacteria growth after you sweat. It is the bacteria that smells once you sweat, and the body needs to sweat for healthy detoxification each day. Your skin is the largest detox organ in the body and it's important to allow your body to sweat.

Whether you choose a spray, a roll-on, a stick or a cream, finding the perfect natural deodorant that suits your body can take a little trial and error. We have a really wide range to choose from and everything in the store sells well. The top of the pile (in no particular order) is the Fresca range, Dr Organic, Eco Tan and our two deodorant creams from Erica Brooke and Black Chicken.