Natural Deodorant - Is It An Eco-Step Too Far?

Learn more about Natural Deodorant

With so many commercial producers relying heavily on aluminium, artificial additives, palm oil, plastics, detergents and preservatives, which many of us prefer to avoid, what's different about our Cosy Cottage products and how do they work? After all, with deodorant, none of us want to take any risks!

Welcome to the next in our series of blogs going into more detail about why our Cosy Cottage products are different and how they work.

Will Natural Deodorant do the job?

Our natural deodorants follow a different approach to traditional antiperspirants and deodorants. Instead of forcing our bodies into sweat-free submission and covering up smells with even stronger, synthetic smells, our original natural deodorants work with your body and natural processes, to eliminate odour. Our gentle, natural, essential oil fragrances, made from steam distilled fruit and flowers, are the icing on the cake.

First things first; our natural deodorants are not designed to stop perspiration; one of our bodies' important, natural processes to regulate temperature and eliminate toxins. Interestingly though, people who have been using our natural deodorants for several months have reported that they have noticed a reduction in excessive perspiration.

Instead, our products use natural, simple ingredients to create slightly alkaline conditions under the arms, which discourage the growth of the bacteria which cause underarm odour. They smooth and nourish underarm skin too. Antiperspirants contain some chemicals, like aluminium, which have been linked to cancer although it's important to mention that scientists do not yet know how much aluminium is actually absorbed by the skin when we use antiperspirants. We prefer to sidestep that uncertainty entirely, with a luxurious blend of soothing butters, essential oils, gentle alkaline agents and vitamin E; no aluminium, no weapons-grade fragrances, no heavy preservatives and no antiperspirants suppressing natural processes.

We offer three types of deodorant in a range of four glorious, natural fragrances; our original formulation, containing bicarbonate of soda, in both a cream and a solid glide-on format, and our bicarbonate free version which is suitable for customers whose underarms are sensitive to bicarbonate of soda.

Sensitive Skin? Our Bicarbonate-Free Deodorant

Some people find that bicarbonate of soda, while highly effective at neutralising odour, can cause redness or irritation for sensitive underarm skin. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and we have you covered. Our bicarbonate-free natural deodorants use an alternative gentle alkaline system to do the same odour-neutralising job, without the bicarbonate. They are just as effective, just as natural, and just as free from aluminium, parabens and artificial fragrances, simply kinder to reactive skin.

Available in two beautiful natural fragrances:

• Citrus & Black Pepper — uplifting and fresh
• Lavender & Frankincense — calming and grounding

Natural Ingredients, No Heavy Preservatives and a Note on Storage

Because all of our natural deodorants are water-free as well, they do not provide the moist environment in which bacteria and mould thrive. This is the very reason that many conventional, water-based products require heavy-duty preservatives such as parabens to remain stable and safe. By removing water from the formulation entirely, we remove the need for those preservatives too; a genuinely cleaner, simpler product with a shorter, more transparent ingredient list.

The trade-off is that, like all natural butter and oil-based products, our deodorants do need a little care in storage. To keep them in the best condition, please:

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight
• Keep away from radiators, sunlit windowsills, and very warm bathrooms where temperatures fluctuate
• If the product softens in warm weather, simply pop it in the fridge for a short while to firm it back up; it will be perfectly fine

This is the natural way, no synthetic stabilisers, just a product that works in harmony with its environment. Read more about parabens and why we avoid them in our blog: The Preservative Paradox.

Making the Switch and What to Expect

If you have been using a conventional antiperspirant for some time, your body may need a short adjustment period when you first make the switch to natural deodorant. Antiperspirants work by physically blocking the sweat glands, and when that suppression is lifted, some people may find they perspire a little more than usual for a week or two while the body recalibrates. This is completely normal and temporary, it is simply your body doing what it is designed to do.

Stick with it. Many of our customers have told us that after a few more weeks of using our natural deodorants, they have actually noticed a reduction in perspiration over time, the very opposite of what they had feared. While this is anecdotal rather than clinical, it is a pattern we hear consistently and one that makes intuitive sense as the body finds its own natural balance.

The feedback from our customers about our natural deodorant speaks for itself. Since the launch of our original formulation in 2019, it has become our most popular product with a wealth of positive feedback from customers of all ages and genders.