Image from LuckyVitamin.com.
One day I looked at my stick of conventional deodorant and noticed that the main ingredient was aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY. (Check yours, it's probably the same ingredient.) I thought this was quite a fancy and intimidating name, and then I thought about its purpose: "anti-perspirant". Wait a minute. Didn't we learn in health class that perspiring is GOOD for you? What are the implications of a chemical that suppresses a natural body reaction? (What it actually does is BLOCK the pores. This can sometimes result in cysts, which can worsen to a point where they have to be surgically removed.)
Scientific research hasn't figured that out for certain yet -- possibly because there is not enough interest, and there is probably pressure against such research by the pharmaceutical industry that wants to keep selling us these products. Consumers that think for themselves are dangerous, from a money-grubbing standpoint.
Although it is not 100% certain, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex has been linked, possibly, to cancer (in particular breast cancer) and Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum compounds are a known neurotoxin and also thought to be a respiratory toxicity hazard (meaning a spray deodorant containing aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex is even worse).
For me, whether or not it's CERTAIN that it causes cancer or disease is not important; the possibility, plus the other implications of the product, are more than enough. One thing we often forget when using cosmetics, fragrances, and other "beauty products" is that everything we put on our skin -- even just the surface -- goes IN to our bodies. I don't know about you, but I don't want an aluminum compound in my body. Unfortunately, avoiding these compounds entirely is extremely difficult, since they are in tap water and processed foods. But at the very least, I could avoid deliberately rubbing it on myself, right?
Then there is the fact that aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex is an Anti-Perspirant. That does not sound good to me. The purpose of perspiration is to cool you down; your body wants, probably needs, to do it. We have adapted that response for a reason. What doctor or scientist would ever advise you to suppress a natural body function?
Thus began the search for THE PERFECT DEODORANT -- that is, an affordable deodorant without aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex, without propylene glycol, without anti-perspirant of any kind, and yet one that functions efficiently as an odor inhibitor.
I started at the Davis Food Co-op, where I went through almost of the deodorants marketed as "natural" over a period of about 8 months. Sadly, many of these "natural" deodorants contained propylene glycol, which might actually be WORSE than aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex -- it's a possible carcinogen (linked to cancer); has limited evidence of respiratory toxicity; classified as "expected to be toxic or harmful" on the organ system; has some concerns regarding persistence and bioaccumulation in the body; a classified skin irritant for many people; "one or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses"; and much more.
What's more, none of these so-called "natural" deodorants were as effective at odor control as aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex is. Some of them barely worked the length of half a day.
I had just about given up on my search when, about a month ago, I saw a little package on the top shelf of the deodorant aisle. It was called "Lafe's Natural and Organic Deodorant Stone". I had tried Lafe's stick deodorant and it hadn't worked. But this one appeared to be a stone of some sort? I was intrigued, and bought it.
And there the search came to an end! The deodorant stone is made of nothing but Potassium Alum, aka, natural mineral salts (think ocean). Potassium alum is often used in the natural dyeing of fabrics, as TheColorsOfNature.com could tell you. Instead of preventing perspiration, potassium alum inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor associated with perspiration.
It comes in two sizes, and is a clear, squarish stone with rounded edges. Each one comes with a little storage tray. The packaging is significantly less than conventional deodorant, which, when you think about it, is probably 90% plastic -- $6 for a big tube of plastic with a tiny cake of chemical deodorant in it! In addition, I've only had the stone for about a month, but I'm quite sure it's going to last a lot longer than the average stick of conventional deodorant. And buying less frequently means saving money!
Here are the odor tests that a deodorant must undergo to become The Perfect Deodorant, and Lafe's Deodorant Stone grades in the tests.
(A+ = No odor, A = almost unnoticeable odor that is undetectable unless a nostril is forcibly placed in the armpit, B and lower = some odor, F = AGGH!).
Lafe's Natural and Organic Deodorant Stone (3 oz)
12-hour Passive Test (Little to no activity): A+
12-hour Active Test (Moderate to strenuous activity, aka biking ~8 miles): A
9-hour 2nd-grade-Teacher Test (My mom. She bought a stone too, and loves it): A+
The Dustin Test (I made him sniff my armpits on multiple occasions, pity him. All in the name of science): A+
In addition, despite my body being used to having an anti-perspirant, I haven't experienced any noticeable amounts of sweat (which is very surprising) while using the stone, unlike with the propylene glycol products.
There you have it! Even aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex usually gets a C+ at best on the 12-hour active test. Get yerself one of these stone things. It's like magic.
Available at most co-ops and probably at whole foods stores. You can also purchase it at LafesNaturalBodyCare.com.
Sources:
CosmeticsDatabase.com; WiseGeek.com; http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiperspirants.html; personal research.
