Words: Jonathan Wells
Roll up, roll up! It’s the roll-on revolution; a twisty-turny deodorising wave of sustainable sticks-and-stones. It’s a delicately-scented, lightly-formulated uprising, where aerosols aren’t deigned to spray and the soft touch wins out. From Le Labo to Floris, some of the biggest, most fragrant names in grooming have uncapped roll-on deodorants — and we’ve discovered the best below.
There’s an ozone-friendly offering from Salt & Stone; packaged in a tube itself created from recycled ocean plastic. There’s an aluminium-free alternative deodorant from Baxter of California, packed with calming ingredients from chamomile to yarrow. And there’s a non-polluting, eucalyptus-infused roll-on from Malin + Goetz; the brand’s best-selling product of the last ten years. So shirts off, roll-up and let’s see what all the eco-forward fuss is about…
Grown Alchemist Roll On Deodorant
If you’re looking for eco-friendliness, the clue’s in the natural name. Grown Alchemist is as green as grooming brands come, and this roll-on uses an aluminium-free formulation to bind and blend together a handful of super-sustainable ingredients. Think ‘Icelandic moss extract’, ‘Tamanu seed oil’ and ‘Glycyrrhizinic acid’; a potent compound found in liquorice.
Baxter of California Deodorant
Another aluminium-free offering, Baxter of California’s ‘Citrus and Herbal Musk’ deodorant is formulated specifically for sensitive skin. Packed with calming ingredients including chamomile and yarrow, it also employs refreshing, natural extracts such as tea tree and witch hazel. And, unlike many drying deodorants, this one actually keeps your skin hydrated. It sounds counter-intuitive — but it works.
Aesop Herbal Deodorant Roll-On
We’ve featured the roll-on here so it fits with our smooth, deodorising theme, but you could just as easily and effectively pick up Aesop’s spray version of this ‘Herbal Deodorant’. Like the Baster of California roll-on above, it features a couple of eyebrow-raising ingredients (Wasabi? In a deodorant?), but the left-field oils and compounds pair perfectly with zinc, sage leaf and lavender to create a protective, potent product.
Le Labo Deodorant
While most deodorants can stuff in a sage leaf here, or some geranium extract there, the real challenge is delivering these ingredients in a sustainable, safe way. That’s why roll-ons are greener than aerosols; and it’s why Le Labo’s deodorant stick is perhaps the best of this bunch. Created with plant-derived glycerin, the active mineral salts, tonic bean and bergamot are suspended in a lightweight, long-lasting and eco-friendly delivery system.
Floris 'Cefiro' Deodorant Stick
From Floris, the heritage British grooming brand, the aromatic credentials of this deodorant were never in doubt. And, indeed, it sings with scents of mandarin, cardamom, nutmeg and sandalwood. But it’s also incredibly effective; no alcohol or aluminium ensures your pores won’t be blocked, and added Vitamin E works to maintain the elasticity and suppleness of your underarm skin.
Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant
There’s a reason that this ‘Eucalyptus Deodorant’ has been Malin + Goetz‘s best-selling product for over a decade. Few roll-ons come close to its versatility; working as it does on practically every skin type. That’s down to odour-neutralising citronellyl; a compound that synthesises with the natural eucalyptus extract and probiotic enzymes to create a clean, cruelty-free, vegan — and utterly efficient — deodorant.
Salt & Stone Formula Nº 2 Natural Deodorant
It would probably be quicker to list everything that’s not in Salt & Stone’s bio-based roll-on. Free from baking soda, aluminium, alcohol, parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes, this is a deodorant packed with probiotics, shea butter and tons of other sustainably-sourced goodness. Designed for sensitive skin, it’ll work for anyone looking to reduce their sweat marks and/or carbon footprint (even the packaging is recyclable, and made from reclaimed ocean plastic).
D. R. Harris Alcohol-Free 'Twenty Nine' Deodorant
For a final, fragrant flourish, we turn to royal-warranted chemists D.R. Harris. This scented stick deodorant is infused with the brand’s ‘Twenty Nine’ scent; a heady blend of rose, geranium, cinnamon and clove. It’s a unisex offering, and one that ensures not to aggravate sensitive skin with an alcohol-free formulation.
Looking for more grooming wisdom? Freshen up with the best men’s face washes…
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