Finding an eco-friendly and natural deodorant sucks. Some have eco-friendly packaging but don’t hold up to body odor. Others work great but come in wasteful plastic packaging. PAPR might just be the best of both worlds.
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Look, I’ll pay good money for a natural deodorant that has the following qualities:
- Natural, non-toxic ingredients
- Plastic-free packaging
- Long-lasting odor protection
- Cruelty free (no animal testing)
Oh, and I want a nice, natural scent that my wife and I both enjoy. You know, a pleasant aroma that actually exists in the world. (Despite what Old Spice believes, I have no desire to smell like “Krakengaard”).
Finding a natural deodorant that checks all these boxes hasn’t been fun. There’s been some smelly days weeks and more than a few packaging let downs. But, I think I may have found something worthwhile in Paper Cosmetic’s vegan deodorants.
Why Natural Deodorant?
As a guy, deodorant is one of the few things I rub on my body every day. According to TIME, there are five toxic ingredients to watch out for in deodorant:
- Parabens
- Aluminum
- Triclosan
- Phthalates
- Fragrance
There is evidence that these substances contribute to “gene instability,” tumor growth, asthma, reproductive impairment, and allergic reactions. That’s not to mention the unseen issues during animal testing, or on environment and water supply.
So, natural deodorant it is. And PAPR goes out of its way to avoid toxic compounds. Instead, it uses natural ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils.
They also choose not to test these ingredients on animals and got PETA to certify their efforts.
A Natural Deodorant That Actually Works
Frankly, not all natural deodorants work, at least for me. Between playing softball, running my dog, and occasionally summiting mountains, I’m a relatively active person. And there’s no quicker route to all-consuming self-consciousness than catching a whiff of your own B.O.
I’ve been using PAPR Coastal Forests Cedarwood and Cypress deodorant for nearly a month, and my wife hasn’t thrown me in the shower once. That’s basically the highest compliment I can give a deodorant. This stuff really holds up and it smells wonderful.
And, there seems to be no end to this deodorant. I’m using it every day and it just keeps coming and coming — it’s like the magician’s scarf of deodorants.
I also had my sister in law try the From Dusk Till Dawn scent featuring Bergamot and Lemongrass. She said it smells great and holds up fine, although she mentioned some smearage.
In terms of performance, this is one of the best natural deodorants I’ve tried. Check out some of my other reviews to compare:
Finally, Plastic-Free Packaging
The thing that really sets PAPR apart is its Forest Stewardship Council certified paper packaging. Remember push pops? Yeah, it’s basically the same concept except natural deodorant instead of delicious sugary ice cream.
Better yet, I love how PAPR owns the fact that the paper packaging might get greasy and worn down. It hasn’t happened to my stick yet, but I imagine I will prefer a worn down paper tube than the sharp edges of plastic cartridges.
There’s a few companies out there using paper packaging, but not nearly enough. And the ones still using plastic are starting to look ridiculous, especially since plastic recycling is a worthless attempt at greenwashing.
Bottom line:
Finally, a natural deodorant that meets all my criteria. Even at $14 per stick (less if you bundle or subscribe), this product is worth every penny for its performance and eco-friendliness. And I’m happy to support PAPRs sustainability efforts, including their donations to Ancient Tree Archive, which plants Redwoods and Sequoias. (How freakin’ cool is that?)
Although I love my Coastal Forests scent, I’m excited to try PAPR other unique and natural scents in the future.
