Refillable Deodorant: How It Works and Why It Cuts Plastic

Refillable deodorant, in one sentence

Refillable deodorant is a reusable applicator (a spray, roll-on or stick) that you top up from a larger refill bottle or pouch, instead of throwing the whole thing away and buying a brand-new one. You keep the bottle. You replace the contents. Less plastic goes in the bin, and your deodorant routine carries on exactly as before.

We are Salt of the Earth, a family-owned brand making natural deodorants in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire since 1993. Our deodorants are certified 100% COSMOS Natural by the Soil Association, registered with the Vegan Society and approved by Cruelty Free International. We were one of the first companies to offer deodorant refills, launching our spray refill back in 2013, so this is a subject we have been slightly obsessed with for over a decade.

How does refillable deodorant work?

Refillable deodorant works on a simple two-part system: a bottle you keep, and a refill you buy when it runs low.

Here is the whole thing, start to finish:

1. You start with a refillable applicator. For example, our Unscented Refillable Roll-On is a 75ml bottle that arrives full and ready to use.
2. You use it as normal until it is empty. Same formula, same protection, no change to your morning.
3. You top it up from a larger refill. Our roll-ons refill from a 225ml pouch or a 525ml bottle. Sprays refill from a pouch or a larger bottle. Unscrew, pour, re-seal, done.
4. You repeat. One 525ml refill bottle tops the 75ml roll-on up to seven times before you need another.

That is the entire idea. The clever part is not the chemistry (though we are quietly proud of that too). It is that the expensive, resource-heavy bit (the moulded applicator, the cap, the roller ball) gets made once and used for years, rather than made, used and binned every few weeks.

If you would like a step-by-step walk-through with pictures, we have a separate guide on how to use our refillable roll-on.

How much plastic does refillable deodorant reduce?

Quite a lot, and we would rather give you the specific numbers than wave a green leaf at you.

Across our range, refills use roughly 65% to 85% less plastic than the equivalent single-use bottles, measured by packaging weight. At the top end, choosing a 225ml refill pouch instead of buying three new roll-ons uses up to 85% less plastic. A 525ml refill bottle, which tops your roll-on up to seven times, sits in the same band.

Those individual swaps add up. Since 2013, our refill range has reduced 23.66 tonnes of plastic and the equivalent of 2.3 million bottles, calculated by multiplying refill units sold by the packaging weight difference versus single-use alternatives.

A quick note on honesty, because the rules (rightly) expect it. These figures compare packaging weight, and the savings are "up to" figures, so your real-world total depends on which sizes you buy. Refills are not zero waste: the pouch and bottle still exist. They simply use a lot less plastic than starting from scratch every time.

Does refillable deodorant save money?

Yes, and this is the part people are often surprised by. Refilling is usually cheaper per use than repeat-buying the whole product, because you are not paying for a new applicator every time.

Take our unscented roll-on. A brand-new Unscented Refillable Roll-On is £6.49. The 525ml Unscented Roll-On Refill is £24.99 and tops that bottle up to seven times. That works out at roughly £3.57 per refill, compared with £6.49 for a new roll-on each time. So you buy the bottle once, then pay less to keep it going.

Why is refillable deodorant suddenly everywhere?

Because the category has grown up fast. According to Unilever's UK newsroom, refillable deodorants have "surged 45% in growth over the past year and now represent 4% of the UK deodorants market". When a big player validates a niche, you know it has arrived: Unilever confirmed its acquisition of the refillable brand Wild on 1 April 2025, a deal widely reported at around £230 million (Unilever did not disclose the terms), describing Wild as "the UK's No. 1 refillable deodorant brand".

We are cheerfully biased, but we think the appeal is obvious. People want their bathroom habits to create less waste without becoming a chore, and refills deliver exactly that.

Our own refill credentials are a matter of record rather than marketing. We launched refills in 2013, and we have just been recognised with the King's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development 2026. It is our second King's Award, following the King's Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2025, which recognised our international sales growth and exports to 35 countries.

What can you refill at Salt of the Earth?

Our refillable sprays, roll-ons and sticks all work on the same keep-the-bottle, top-up-the-contents principle, and they all use the same COSMOS Natural certified formula with 100% natural origin ingredients. Whether you prefer a quick spray, a classic roll-on or a solid stick, there is a refillable version and a matching refill.

You can browse the full range on our Refills collection. If you are new to it, the Unscented Refillable Roll-On paired with a 525ml refill is a straightforward, good-value place to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is refillable deodorant as effective as regular deodorant?

Yes. The formula inside a refill is identical to the formula in the original bottle, so refilling changes the packaging, not the protection. Our deodorants are natural deodorants that work with your skin to tackle odour. They are not antiperspirants and do not claim to stop sweating.

How do I refill a roll-on deodorant?

Gently remove the roller ball from the top of the bottle, pour in your refill to the fill line, then click the ball firmly back into place. It takes a few seconds. Our step-by-step guide on how to use the refillable roll-on shows each stage.

Are Salt of the Earth refills natural and vegan?

Yes. Our refillable roll-ons, sprays and refills are certified 100% COSMOS Natural by the Soil Association, registered with the Vegan Society and approved by Cruelty Free International. 

Is refillable deodorant actually cheaper?

Generally, yes. Because you buy the applicator once and then pay only for the refill, the cost per use tends to be lower than repeat-buying the whole product. Our 525ml roll-on refill, for instance, works out cheaper per top-up than buying a new roll-on each time.