Unscented Deodorant - 2.5 oz

This is an aluminum-free, baking soda-free deodorant built around subtraction, not addition. Four ingredients total, and every one has a job: caprylic/capric triglyceride (MCT) as the base carrier, corn starch to absorb moisture, magnesium hydroxide to manage the underarm environment where odor-causing bacteria live, and candelilla wax - a plant-derived structural agent used in place of beeswax - to hold the formula together.

There's no added fragrance in this version, which means nothing is being layered on top of body odor to cover it - the ingredient list is doing the entire job. It also means one less category of common skin irritant (synthetic or essential-oil fragrance) for anyone with reactive or sensitive underarm skin.

Apply to clean, dry underarms. Because the formula skips baking soda, it's worth noting for anyone who has reacted to sodium bicarbonate-based natural deodorants in the past - magnesium hydroxide works through a different mechanism and is generally better tolerated by sensitive skin.

Suitable for vegan routines - none of the four ingredients are animal-derived, and the brand is certified cruelty-free with membership in 1% For The Planet, so a portion of proceeds supports environmental causes. Store at room temperature; no refrigeration required.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (MCT), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch**, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax.

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Common Questions

How does this compare to a conventional antiperspirant or deodorant on ingredient count and function?
A typical drugstore antiperspirant stick contains 15 to 20+ ingredients, including aluminum-based compounds (like aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly) that physically plug sweat ducts, plus synthetic fragrance, propylene glycol, and preservatives such as parabens. This formula uses four ingredients total and works differently: it doesn't block sweat at all, it manages the bacterial environment that causes odor. Aluminum compounds are effective at reducing wetness but have generated ongoing consumer interest in alternatives, which is the market this product is built for. The tradeoff is that this is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, so it won't reduce sweat volume, only the odor that develops from it.

What does magnesium hydroxide actually do to stop odor, and how is that different from baking soda?
Underarm odor comes from bacteria (mainly Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus species) metabolizing sweat compounds into odor-causing byproducts like isovaleric acid. Magnesium hydroxide is a mild alkaline compound that raises the local pH of the skin surface just enough to make that environment less hospitable to odor-producing bacteria, without the sharp alkalinity spike that baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, pH around 8.3 in concentrated form) can cause. That sharp pH swing is why baking soda deodorants are a common cause of underarm rashes and irritation for reactive skin. Magnesium hydroxide achieves a similar bacterial-management effect through gentler, more gradual pH buffering, which is why it's often better tolerated.

Is this actually vegan, and how are the four ingredients sourced?
Yes, all four ingredients are plant- or mineral-derived: caprylic/capric triglyceride (MCT) is typically fractionated from coconut or palm kernel oil, corn starch comes from corn, magnesium hydroxide is a mined or synthesized mineral compound, and candelilla wax is harvested from the candelilla shrub native to Mexico and the southwestern US, used here specifically in place of beeswax to keep the formula animal-free. There's no hidden fifth category like fragrance, which is often where non-vegan or synthetic components get added in other 'clean' deodorants.

What do the Cruelty Free and 1% for the Planet certifications actually mean?
Cruelty Free certification means the finished product and its ingredients are not tested on animals at any stage of development, verifiable through the certifying body's public database rather than taking the brand's word for it. 1% for the Planet means the company contributes 1% of annual sales revenue to environmental nonprofit partners, a commitment that's audited and tracked by the 1% for the Planet organization itself, which publishes member companies and giving records. Both are third-party verifiable rather than self-issued marketing claims, so you can check the brand's membership status directly on either organization's site.

Why is there no fragrance in this version, and will it actually control odor without one?
Fragrance is typically added to deodorants to mask body odor rather than address its cause, and it's also one of the most common triggers for contact dermatitis on sensitive skin, whether the fragrance is synthetic or essential-oil based. This formula skips that step entirely and relies on the corn starch and magnesium hydroxide to do the actual odor-management work: absorbing moisture and altering the bacterial environment, respectively. For most people this is sufficient for daily odor control, though anyone doing high-intensity activity or heavy sweating may notice it manages odor without eliminating the sensation of moisture, since it's not an antiperspirant.

How should this be applied for it to work effectively?
Apply to clean, dry underarms, ideally right after showering once skin has fully dried, since applying to damp skin can affect how the corn starch absorbs moisture and how evenly the candelilla wax base sets on the skin. A thin, even layer is enough. Because there are no aluminum compounds physically blocking pores, reapplication midday is more common with this type of formula than with conventional antiperspirants, particularly during the first few weeks as skin adjusts if you're switching over from an aluminum-based product.