Plastic-Free Natural Deodorants

No. Crystal deodorant is potassium alum, which contains aluminium. You'll sometimes see crystals sold as aluminium-free. We don't describe ours that way, because it isn't accurate.

Potassium alum is a mineral salt with a long history as a deodorant. It's in our sprays, roll-ons and crystals, and it's the only ingredient in our crystals. It isn't the aluminium chlorohydrate used in antiperspirants, but it is an aluminium salt, so we don't call those products aluminium-free. An antiperspirant temporarily plugs sweat ducts so you sweat less; a deodorant works on the skin's surface, where odour forms, and you sweat as normal. More on our ingredients.

Crystals dissolve slowly in water, so the less time they spend wet, the longer they last. Apply yours to damp skin after a bath or shower rather than soaking the crystal, and dry it after use. Don't worry if it doesn't seem to get any smaller: you only use a tiny amount each time.

No. A crystal lasts a long time on its own, so we don't make refills for it. If you'd like a refillable deodorant, our sprays, roll-ons and sticks all have refills.