With the growth of the green movement, people are examining all aspects of their lives to find changes they can make to protect their health and the environment. Health and body care products are no exception, and many people are turning to green deodorants as a safe and effective means of combating body odor.

“We have always sold a lot of green deodorants,” says Alexis Friskil, health and body care buyer for the Community Mercantile. “There are a lot of reasons for this, but the most important is probably the press on all the negative effects of aluminum in conventional deodorants.”

The aluminum base in traditional deodorants has been linked in several studies to serious illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, a concern that outweighs any performance advantages they may have over green deodorants, Friskil says.

“A lot of people say (green deodorants) don’t work as well, but they allow you to sweat, like the body is supposed to,” Friskil says. “(The green deodorants) aren’t anti-perspirants, but they present a barrier to odor-causing bacteria. I use them, and I really like them.”

As for environmental benefits, both green and conventional varieties come in recyclable packaging, but when rinsed off, the all-natural ingredients in green deodorants are much safer for the ecosystem, Friskil says.

“Some of our most popular (deodorants) are mineral salts,” Friskil says. “They’re cheap and they last a long time. And these brands, rate really low on Cosmetic Database’s environmental rating scale.”

This scale, listed online at www.cosmeticdatabase.com, rates cosmetic and body care products based upon their impact on health and the environment, Friskil says.

Also popular are brands that use essential oils, which neutralize odor-causing bacteria, Friskil says.

“A great one is by Weleda,” Friskil says. “They are a European brand, so they have higher standards on this sort of thing. I really like their sage deodorant, which is naturally drying and smells great.”

Many of the green deodorants, particularly the mineral salt varieties, are affordable, at around $3 per container, and supposed to last for up to one year, which makes the switch to green deodorants practical, Friskil says.