A Natural Deodorant that Works!

I have final found the holy grail of underarm odor protection!

(Insert ray of light from the heavens and ethereal choir voices here)



Arm and Hammer Essentials offers fragrance free and "fresh" options. I prefer the "fresh" simply because the added fragrance is a nice back-up on particularly stressful or warm days. I've been using the product for some time now and have worn it through heavy activity, so I know it really works. Awesome stuff, available at most drug stores, affordable...amen.

Ingredients

Note: This list was taken from the back of the bottle of product. The manufacturer added some of the explanations of an ingredient (the oils and baking soda), and I added explanations (after research) for the chemicals we often see but may not understand their origin.

Dipropylene Glycol (derived from natural gas from the earth), Water (purified), Propylene Glycol (derived from natural gas from the earth), Sodium Stearate (derived from palm nut/fruit), Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Coriandum Sativum (Coriander) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Triethyl Citrate (derived from citric acid), Triclosan (anti-bacterial agent), Tetrasodium EDTA (improves product stability as a preservative), Allantoin (a skin protectant with moisturizing properties).

Triclosan is used for the inhibition of bacterial growth. The controversy surrounding Triclosan is such: some believe its inclusion in anti-bacterial products such as hand soap is causing so-called "super viruses." However, its inclusion in such products helps to stop the spread of infections such as E. Coli, MRSA, Influenza, SARS, etc.

The CDC and the FDA have publicly said they do not believe Triclosan is harmful (although, they say the same thing about the aluminum in anti-perspirants). So I guess one must make up their own minds about it. I personally feel more comfortable with these ingredients and a natural deodorant that is NOT an antiperspirant and does not inhibit the sweat glands. This also means it doesn't completely stain the heck out of all my clothing.


When asked the question..."Does Arm & Hammer's parent company, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. test its products on animals?"...this is the answer they provided:

We seek to use only materials already known to be safe, and we avoid animal testing whenever complete and satisfactory information exists to show that our products are safe. As a result of these policies, animal testing has become a last resort, and Church & Dwight has experienced considerable success avoiding such testing through this practice, especially on our Consumer Products.