robinthehippie

Recommendations on earth friendly deodorant?

I've been trying to find something a little less artificial/harmful whatever's on sale at the grocery store. First I got a deodorant rock. FAIL. I think I smell better not using anything. Then I tried Tom's of Maine, it looked promising. "No artificial or animal ingredients, not tested on animals." Looks like deodorant. I smell like old gym socks.

I had been using Degree. It worked fine. And yes I do shower.

I know it depends on the person, body chemistry, etc., but if anyone has any suggestions send them my way!

thx
Robin

making

Varnish

bsyptak

Since you're in Denver, you might check out what they sell at Vitamin Cottage stores. They have a large selection of earth friendly products. Don't quote me on this, but I believe they will take back something you are not satisfied with.

Vitamin Cottage has to be the about best store of it's kind anywhere. They only sell goodness. Only organic produce, vitamins are clean (they get manufacturers to sign a guarantee to that effect, if the manufacturers refuse, products get pulled or never stocked). It's a place where you don't actually have to look at the ingredient list to determine whether to buy it or not. They've already done that for you. They gladly get all of our grocery store money.

Oh yeah, their prices are competitive too. Not like Whole Paycheck.

LastPlace

You could of course just wipe with alcohol, since it is the alcohol that kills the bacteria which causes the odor.

JustBrowsing

Here's a whole article from a few years ago on the earth-friendly deodorant issue. On the 'solutions' page there's a link to a chart that goes into more than you ever wanted to know about 50 or so different options.

colo. 3spd man

See the suggestions on the Rivendale Bicycle works website about waring pure wool and seersucker shirts (which I have found at ARC and Savers) this has helped for me. I quit drinking, I think that helped too.

Tabor

What are the specifics of your problem? No sweat = no smell. Get to work, wipe off with some sort of wipe, change your shirt and you should be good to go.

Feathers

when do deodorants harm the earth? is it when the aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly enters the water supply via the shower drain?

thorsteno

I like this one.
https://shop.weleda.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=6355
I'm sure the above suggestions will work well too.

zeytoun

The main harm to the earth among conventional deodorants, is probably animal testing.

The other reason a "hippie" might choose to avoid them would probably be because of personal health reasons.

Fredmertz51

Deodorant stone from your health food store.

keisatsu

My fiance and I use this Jason stuff you get at Trader Joe's. Though I usually go without 'cause even when I used to use the nasty stuff with aluminum in it I still stink (yes I shower daily), I guess I just have a strong BO so I am destined to smell like a hippy.

Link>>> JASON <<<

Jeffbeerman2

If the natural products don't work for you, even after you take measures to keep extra-clean through occasional towel-showers, perhaps you should just be more environmentally aware and use regular consumer products.

The worst thing about deodorant sticks is the packaging. You can be sure to recycle the packaging.

Keep your eyes open for alternatives, and just recycle the packaging on what you're using (or be a smelly hippie).

Sheik_Yerbouti

I don't think it's that bad compared to the enormus amount of waste created by the plastic containers.

pluc

Get anti-perspirant (deodorant doesn't work) and cut off some of that armpit hair.

plodderslusk

That's funny, this is the one I was going to recommend too, they have one with sage that is a bit more "manly".

bikebuddha 

I use the alcohol method and it works really well. It can dry out your skin a little in winter or your dry western climate but here in the humid south it works really well.

stevo9er

Since you mentioned you were a hippy.....

Up here in Flagstaff it is pretty popular among hippies to simply dab some patchouli oil on their sweat spots. I am guessing a lot of them put some in their dreadlocks as well.

becnal

Wear a light, merino wool t-shirt when you ride, and you won't smell.

delegado zero

Like pluc said, shave or at least trim your pits if you don't already. I sweat an unusual amount and it helps a lot more than you'd think.

BCRider

I've found thru "selective scientific experimentation" (read forgetfullness) that your typical antipersperant is quite effective on the second day despite morning showers. In the cooler temperatures it's only on the third day that it won't work and then things are a little skanky by the end of the day.

So if you only use the commercial anti persperant every other day you should find that it works well enough.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it......

vrkelley

what does it do?

vrkelley

uh No offense here but if you shower, how can you smell? Are you showering before you leave for work or after the commute?

I shower every time I get off the bike(because the route is over 10mi each way). Both showers are under 5mins...with plenty of deoderant soap. No deoderant stick because it's in the soap. No oder problems.

If I worked construction, I'd probably use the deodorant stick also. The office is climate control so extra deodorant is overkill - and probably ungood.

Sixty Fiver

I haven't tried this but regularly mix up a 1/10 mixture of tea tree oil and a neutral moisturizing base and use this as a moisturizer,after shave, and balm for small scrapes/cuts since the tea tree oil has some powerful anti bacterial properties and using it straight up is a little messy.

I bet that it would work as a deodorant too.

timmhaan

i don't think most people have the luxury of showering at work.