Aluminum-free deodorant: what it does and does not do about sweat, and what to expect when you switch

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Researched. We have not used this one long enough to give you a verdict, and we would rather say so than invent one. What follows is how it works, who it suits, and what it will not do. When we have used it properly, this page carries the verdict and the date.

Salt & Stone Deodorant Santal & Vetiver

A deodorant in Amazon's top beauty sellers says a lot about how many people are changing what they put under their arms. Salt & Stone's Santal & Vetiver is an aluminum-free deodorant, and it helps to know exactly what that means before you switch.

Deodorant versus antiperspirant

They are two different products that often share a shelf, and a stick. An antiperspirant uses aluminum salts to temporarily plug the sweat ducts, so you sweat less. A deodorant does not change how much you sweat; it deals with odour. "Aluminum-free" means this is a deodorant only. You will still sweat, and that is how it is meant to work.

Where odour comes from

Fresh sweat has almost no smell. Odour appears when bacteria on the skin break down sweat. So a deodorant works by keeping that process in check and by adding a pleasant scent. According to the listing, this formula uses magnesium to help keep you fresh, alongside spirulina and niacinamide to smooth and soften skin.

What the listing says

An extra-strength formula with 48-hour protection, made without aluminum, parabens or phthalates. It glides on clear and the listing says it does not transfer to clothes. It is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, made with vegan ingredients, and suitable for men and women. The Santal & Vetiver scent is described as warm, woody and creamy.

Switching from antiperspirant

Expect to feel wetter for the first while, because you are no longer blocking sweat. Some people also notice that odour seems stronger at first, then settles after a couple of weeks. A few things help: apply to clean, completely dry skin; reapply after exercise; and choose breathable fabrics like cotton. If one aluminum-free formula does not work for your body chemistry, another might.

Sensitive skin

Underarm skin is thin and often freshly shaved. Wait a little after shaving before applying any deodorant. If you notice redness, itching or a rash, stop using it; some people react to fragrance or to particular ingredients, and baking soda is a common culprit in other natural deodorants. The listing does not mention baking soda.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants a deodorant without aluminum, anyone who prefers a warm, woody scent over a sporty or floral one, and anyone who wants a scent that works for men and women alike.

What it will not do

It will not keep you dry; that is the job of an antiperspirant. It will not suit anyone who needs to control heavy sweating, which is worth discussing with a doctor. And it may not work equally well for everyone, since body chemistry varies.

The product

An aluminum-free deodorant with magnesium, niacinamide and a warm, woody scent, in Amazon's top beauty sellers this week, sold by Salt & Stone's own store when we checked.

The one people are searching for is the Salt & Stone Aluminum-Free Deodorant, Santal & Vetiver.

Salt & Stone Deodorant Santal & Vetiver

We do not print prices here, because a price we typed last month is a price that is wrong today.

Written by JamieG in Garner Town, Tennessee.