Using noxious chemicals that are harmful to your long-term health and the environment, to block and mask body odour, does not make good sense. Using deodorant that irritates delicate underarm skin or that has to be reapplied often, does not make good sense.

The Apothecary Deodorant is a 100% natural and benign deodorant that is highly effective and soothing to skin. Only benign, high quality ingredients that do GOOD both on your skin and in the wider environment are used.

The Apothecary Deodorant eliminates bad odour, inhibits bacterial growth and pampers the skin. It’s a luxurious cream deodorant that comes in four varieties delicately scented with therapeutic essential oils.

Ingredients

organic coconut oil, organic cornstarch, natural bentonite clay, food grade baking soda, Cape fynbos beeswax, ethically sourced olive oil, food grade vegetable glycerine, selected organic essential oils

Each and every ingredient that goes into making The Apothecary Deodorant is chosen to do only good. While some add fragrance, others soothe the skin, and several inhibit the bacteria that cause bad odours. Together, the natural ingredients that make The Apothecary Deodorant not only completely prevent bad underarm odour, they also nourish, soothe and protect the delicate skin of your underarms. The Deodorant absorbs moisture but does not interfere with your skin’s natural processes of sweating and respiring. It feels smooth and pleasant to apply, and each deodorant features a delicate and completely natural fragrance.

Organic coconut oil

Coconut oil deodorises and sanitises because of its anti-bacterial action. It softens, heals, smoothes and protects the skin. You can read more about coconut oil here.

Non-GM cornstarch

Cornstarch adds a silky feeling, helps distribute the baking soda and zinc oxide, and absorbs moisture without interfering with the skin’s natural processes. Unfortunately most maize products in South Africa contain genetically modified organisms. To make The Apothecary Deodorant we’ve sourced a non-GM cornstarch.

Bentonite clay

Bentonite clay is a powerful detoxifying and odour-neutralising agent that is silky soft.

Food grade sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

Sodium bicarbonate effectively neutralises odours and is antibacterial. It is a cornerstone ingredient of natural and homemade deodorants. However, it can irritate skin if too much is used. The Apothecary Deodorant uses baking soda sparingly, and also includes several other ingredients that work together to effectively eliminate bad odour while also pampering the skin.

Cape Point fynbos beeswax

This very superior beeswax with its delicate natural scent, harvested from beehives in the Cape Point Mountains, adds skin softening and protective properties, soothes and encourages healing, is antiseptic, and helps hold the mixture together.

Local olive oil

Local olive oil, pressed from olives picked by hand, provides antiseptic and skin healing qualities and helps keeps the deodorant soft.

Food grade vegetable glycerin

Edible, plant derived glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated. It adds a creamy feeling and allows the mixture to be easily absorbed. Glycerin protects skin cells, assists healing and is antimicrobial.

Essential oils

Each essential oil has been chosen to add its own distinctive properties of fragrance, antiseptic and healing qualities and other aroma therapeutic benefits to mood and well-being. We use organic essential oils wherever possible.

All The Apothecary Deodorants come in a strong glass 50ml jar.

Why use The Apothecary Deodorant?

Deodorant is applied every day to the delicate skin of our underarms, at the site of major lymph nodes and breast tissue. We should think very carefully about what we smear or spray onto this skin, which is furthermore often compromised by shaving, waxing or chaffing.

“Ordinary” deodorants and antiperspirants are awash with dubious and downright dangerous ingredients, such as aluminium, propylene glycol and parabens among many others.

On the other hand, many safer alternatives are either not truly safe, or not particularly effective. Truly safe and natural recipes based on coconut oil, cornstarch and baking soda, are highly effective options, but can sometimes irritate the skin.

To develop The Apothecary Deodorant, I’ve refined a very effective recipe I used for years to make homemade deodorant (see here for details). I’ve added detoxifying, anti-microbial bentonite clay and hydrating vegetable glycerin as well as silky olive oil and protective beeswax. The result is a luxurious cream that absorbs well, pampers the skin, comes in a range of natural fragrances, and keeps you smelling fresh and clean all day long.

Why to avoid traditional deodorants

Traditional deodorants and antiperspirants generally work in one or more of the following ways:

blocking the sweat glands using aluminium compounds (antiperspirants), thus obstructing the body’s main organ of elimination (the skin);
killing the bacteria that cause bad odours, often using harmful pesticides that threaten our health and accumulate in the environment;
masking odours with artificial fragrances, many of which are toxic, irritants and/or undisclosed.

The list of dangerous or dubious ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants is long and frightening. It includes: Aluminium, Parabens, Propylene glycol, TEA and DEA, Triclosan, Fragrance.

These ingredients (and others) are linked to a range of health and environmental dangers and concerns, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, hormonal problems, respiratory problems and skin irritations. They continue to wreak havoc on water and soil systems and the plants and animals that depend on them when they are released into the environment.

The skin absorbs much of what is applied to it, and underarm skin is delicate, loaded with blood vessels, and close to lymph nodes and breast tissue. According to molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, at the University of Reading, up to 60% of breast tumours are located in the fifth of the breast known as the upper-outer quadrant, nearest the underarm.

You can read more in my blog posts on

as well as in many other articles online. I recommend this detailed review.

Ditching these dubious or downright noxious products is one of the easiest steps you can take to protect your health. There are several natural alternatives, some better than others. You can even make your own at home (here is the recipe). I truly believe The Apothecary Deodorant is the best of all – it is 100% natural, totally benign, skin soothing and brilliantly effective.

The Apothecary Deodorant Range

Rose and Geranium for a tranquil, floral fragrance
Lavender and Lemon for a fresh, herbal aroma
Orange and Neroli for an uplifting fragrance
Tea Tree and Cedarwood for a spicy, woody scent

Usage

A little goes a long way. Apply a half pea-sized amount to each underarm to remain odour-free all day.
Store your deodorant in a cool place away from direct heat. If separation occurs, mix thoroughly and cool off– it will be as good as new.

The Apothecary Deodorant will look after you all day, keeping you smelling sweet and pampering your skin, no matter how hot and flustered you may be.

What people have to say

“I’m the greatest fan of your deo… think its the best I’ve ever used”
“Love the deo. it works & smells great.”
“I am a huge fan of your deodorant, and I love the addition of the beeswax. ”
“Must say since using your deodorants I have no more allergy problems, yay!”
“I love, love your rose geranium deodorant!”
“LOVE. It works. I find the consistency amazing -well done on geting it just right.”
“The deoderant, I love – it’s all I’ve used since receiving it and it is great”
“I’m really liking the deo!! – it’s nice and soft, it’s so easy to apply!”
“I have to tell you I am very impressed with this deodorant.”
“Love this scent of Apothecary deo. A feminine deo which works does not itch remains smelling good throughout the day.”
“After a friend of mine survived breast cancer and warned me of the dangers of antiperspirants I went looking for a natural deodorant. I was skeptical that an all natural product would work as my antiperspirant didn make it 12 hrs never mind that it is supposed to work for 48 hrs.
Now I have been using this product for over a year and I will never go back to antiperspirants. I smell good all day long and I don have sweat/deo stains on my clothes. It is a great product.”