Hammond Herbs Natural Deodorant Bergamot Lime 2020 Review | Zero Waste Deodorant Stick
The Top Line:
Maybe — it’s on the price. Hammond Herbs is not only natural but zero waste and leaves no marks. We liked it way, way more when compared to Schmidt’s, whose texture is like rubbing gritty sandpaper against your skin. Comparing to Public Goods Natural Deodorant was unfair; their deodorant is so smooth that it’s like silk caressing your underarms. Hammond Herbs does have a major plus over the two - it’s zero waste.
Unfortunately, it’s also much more expensive. If you are willing to fork over the money, then Hammond Herbs is a good option. After mulling over the natural, zero waste or other plastic-reducing options, we realize that being green here costs a bit more over drugstore brands.
[Updated 4 September to change our recommendation from no to maybe yes.]
Also, check out our Big Deodorant Roundup Review.
The Breakdown:
Cost & Products: $11 for one deodorant stick; but can be $9.89 if you subscribe and save at the ZeroWasteStore; ($10 + $4 shipping on Etsy)
How ‘Clean’ Is This? As clean as it gets. Ethically sourced, no synthetic ingredients, paraben-free, cruelty-free. There are sensitive skin formulas that even skip baking soda.
Packaging: Biodegradable push up tube (paper)
Purchasing & Shipping: We got ours at the Zero Waste Store but Hammond Herbs has a shop on Etsy
Coupons: Some stores have a buy 2 deal, varies based on store.
What’s Your Impact? No plastic packaging that comes standard with typical deodorant/antiperspirant brands.
The Efficacy
This reviewer sweats. Certain Dri, Mitchum, and Secret Clinical Strength are still among the sticks present in the bathroom (as well as a closet with years of carefully curated clothing), but we have been trying to ween ourselves away from potentially toxic chemicals for about two years.
We’ll be honest: we still cannot rely on natural deodorant for that big days when we would need to stay dry (2-4 times per month)
Creamier and a little pastier than the natural Public Goods deodorant, but oh-so-much better than Schmidt’s deodorant
Like Public Goods, it does limit some sweating, but it is not an antiperspirant
Scent was fun, and they have several others that may be interesting like Cedar & Doug Fir or Lemongrass & Mint
The Cost
There seems to be no middle ground. The average user of underarm deodorant/antiperspirant uses between two and twelve sticks per year:
Hammond Herb Natural Deodorant $11 | Yearly: $22 to $132
Public Goods Natural Deodorant $4.25 | Yearly: $8.50 to $51
Dove $5.99 | Yearly: $12 to $72
Old Spice $5.50 | Yearly: $11 to $66
Schmidt’s $6.99 | Yearly: $14 to $84
Tom’s of Maine $4.99 | Yearly: $10 to $60
Native $11.99 | Yearly: $24 to $144
Money Thoughts: To cut to the chase: Natural deodorants can be expensive. Hammond Herb is no exception, we like it a lot but it’s about as expensive as Native (except it’s the only plastic-free option!).
The Good:
✔ Smells pretty great
✔ Natural ingredients
✔ Deodorant, not antiperspirant, even though it does absorb some moisture
✔ Zero plastic packaging
✔ Smooth texture
The Bad:
✗ It’s expensive
✗ Texture not as smooth as Public Goods Deodorant (plastic)
Our Recommendation:
We liked the smoothness and scent of Hammond Herbs Deodorant, but we have never felt anything as smooth as Public Goods Deodorant. Unfortunately, that is going to be the benchmark of smooth, which is tough to beat. Hammond Herbs does come in biodegradable packaging whereas Public Goods is sill in plastic, as are other natural deodorants, but unfortunately, the price point is just a bit too high for us compared to drugstore antiperspirants. We will continue to be on the lookout for a more affordable, natural, and zero waste deodorants
We're on a mission to reduce our personal carbon footprint with small, hopefully easy, changes in our home to fight against climate change. This means we're looking for products that may be all natural, ideally zero waste, reusable or compostable -- while still being affordable!
