Greenwash Alert: Arm and Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant

15 by Becky Striepe on January 10, 2011

Arm and Hammer Natural Deodorant contains triclosan

Not too long ago, we talked about Tom's of Maine 24 Hour deodorant and its questionable green-ness. I also mentioned there that it was working really well for me. After a few weeks of using it, my husband decided that it wasn't working so well for him, so he came home with a tube of Arm and Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant.

Now, you know I love baking soda for everything from cleaning the house to washing my hair, so maybe you can understand why I didn't look too closely at it for a little while.

The other day, I was using some and noticed that it has a pretty strong orange smell. Curious, I turned the tube over and finally read the back. Turns out the orange scent is from orange essential oil (yay!), but that after a long list of essential oils (yay!) was a not-so wonderful ingredient: triclosan (boo!).

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an anti-bacterial in many soaps and hand sanitizers that contributes to bacterial resistance and contaminates soil and waterways.

Food and Water Watch has quite a bit to say about this nasty chemical:

Further studies specific to triclosan have shown that it affects reproduction in lab animals, produces toxic chemicals such as dioxin and chloroform when it reacts with other chemicals like the chlorine in water, irritates skin in humans and might even cause cancer. New laboratory studies on rats and frogs show that triclosan can disrupt thyroid hormone, alter development and impair important functions at the cellular level. And a study by British researchers found that triclosan has estrogenic and androgenic hormone properties and exposure could potentially contribute to the development of breast cancer.

Not a very natural ingredient, if you ask me.

Arm and Hammer Natural Deodorant

I get why Arm and Hammer would use triclosan in deodorant - bacteria are the real culprits behind body odor, so adding an anti-bacterial makes the deodorant more effective. What I don't get is how, in good conscience, they can then slap the word "natural" on the front.

My first clue that there was greenwashing afoot should have been the claims on the front of the package. "Aluminum Free! Paraben Free!"

It may as well have said, "Don't turn me over and read what is in this product!"

So, the search for an eco-friendly deodorant that my family can agree on continues. Any suggestions?

badhousebob

have you guys have tried at least on eof the various deodorant [ salt ] stones on the market? i can’t say they ALL work well … but i know the pure stones work very well.

Becky Striepe

I’ve tried the crystal before, and it didn’t work so well for me, unfortunately. Maybe I wasn’t using it properly? If you’ve got tips, I’d love to try them! I still have the crystal in the medicine cabinet.

http://mmmarilyn.net marilyn

I’ve also used the Crystal and Tom’s on occasion and some days they work quite well, and some days I have to change my shirt when I get home from work because of how well they are not working. Haven’t bit the bullet yet but I do have some of this in my shopping cart at Sephora.com:

http://thehairpin.com/2010/10/my-quiet-mostly-disgusting-adventures-with-natural-deodorant/

Becky Striepe

Marilyn, that article was hilarious. My favorite line was, “half believing that if I could just leave myself alone long enough, body odor would somehow work itself out of my system (I’m a scientist!) and I’d be like some natural, scentless tree sprite. Well, it didn’t, and I just smelled like shit all the time.”

If you try that $18 deodorant, let me know how it goes!

http://gogreenbaby.ca Christine

Try not using anything. Masking one smell with another can create a “point of no return”; you’ll always need to use it.
Using deodorant can actually make people smell because the skin can’t breathe. Fresh air, whole foods diet, and the most basic hygiene, should keep anyone smelling fresh.
I stopped using deodorant ten years ago. There was an adjustment period, in which I was convinced I smelled all the time – which I didn’t – and while my body got rid of what was trapped beneath the skin, but I’ve never needed it since.
Of course, every body’s different. . .

Becky Striepe

How long was the adjustment period?

http://steadyhappy.blogspot.com/ christina

i’ve been through every natural deodorant and i finally found the best one on etsy. soapwalla is a small company that makes natural products. i love this deodorant & i’ve been through 2 los angeles summers with it and it’s great! IT WORKS!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/35641572/deodorant-cream

http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapwallakitchen?ref=seller_info

the only ingredients:
Organic jojoba, sunflower, and rosehip seed oils; shea butter; a combination of all-natural and gluten-free vegetable clays and powders; aluminum-free sodium bicarbonate; organic vegan kosher glycerin; a combination of organic lavender, peppermint, sweet orange, bergamot and tea tree essential oils.
http://condo-blues.blogspot.com CB

I have a hard time finding any deodorant that works all day long. I tried one natural deodorant and it gave me a rash under my arms – not fun. I tried baking soda and that left me stinky. Apparently my body really wanted those parabens in the only conventional deodorant that works for me. I tried the liquid Crystal roll on and it worked! I haven’t tried the Crystal rock which I’ve heard some people had had issues with it so I’m sticking with the roll on.

Becky Striepe

Was the natural deodorant that gave you a rash Tom’s of Maine by any chance? I have a girlfriend who can’t use Tom’s for that reason, but she has used other natural deodorants without problems.

Which Crystal roll on did you use? I tried one, and it was OK, but not great. I’d be up for giving another brand a go, though!

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Paul

Good luck with your natural deodorant / anti-persperant. Unfortunately, none of them work as well as good old Aluminum Zirconium, and unless you want to smell like shit, you should consider using real deodorant, just not on newly shaved armpits, and in SMALL amounts. A little goes a long way.

But with natural, ALOT goes very ltitle way, and it wont stop you from sweating, which defeats the purpose, at least for me.

Becky Striepe

I’m confused, Paul. This article was about triclosan, not aluminum zirconium. Are you advocating triclosan, as well?

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http://olddominionwildlife.com/ Spgass

I actually was having the same issue. I’m now recommending Crystal as a natural choice deodorant that works. See: http://lowtechtimes.com/2012/04/25/natural-deodorant-that-works/