Human Essentials makes a zero-waste deodorant featuring biodegradable packaging and natural ingredients. 

Sweat is a good thing. Smelly pits or toxic deodorant? Not so much. Human Essentials was created for the aware athlete; someone who knows that the health of our body and the well-being of our planet are forever intertwined. We understand that a healthier, happier life requires fresh air and regular doses of heart pumping, leg burning action. We exist to help you get sweaty and to fix your stink along the way.

Damian Van Zyll De Jong

Human Essentials

Eucalyptus & Mountain Pine

Personal Care

Bath & Body

So, I have my main deoderant I use ("The Curator" by Routine), but every now and then I like to try new products when my jar is low and I feel like being adventerous. Cue Human Essentials. I had great difficulty stripping the used paper to get to the next layer, and often ended up with a residual plastic (I thought the packaging was fully compostable??) hanging over the edge which led to a scrapy application. I really enjoyed the guava and sea salt scent, however, I went through this considerably faster than other deoderants of a similar make. I don't believe this lasted me more than three weeks, and when factoring in price, there just isn't enough product to justify. In terms of diffusing BO, this only seemed to mask very briefly and, by mid-day, created an offputting citrus-scented BO combo and required reapplication. Not compatible with dark clothing as it leaves ample streakage. I would also say this isn't the most travel-friendly as it melts in warmth, so best left at a stable room temp. One pro: baking soda free for all those sensitive pits. I had no reaction which was great. 

I really wanted to like this deodorant because of the innovative packaging but it just didn't meet expectations. I got the desert lime and guava scents, and while the scents were great, the formula itself didn't apply well, left stains and residue on my clothes, and didn't do its one job of keeping BO at bay. It also dried out while I was traveling in the winter making it unpleasant to use. If they change the formula here I might give it another go but otherwise would not repurchase. 

Having received a pair of Human Essentials as a gift a year ago, I've been exclusively using them ever since, and I've become a staunch advocate. Why? Firstly, the biodegradable packaging is a game-changer, aligning perfectly with my values of sustainability. Knowing that it's 100% natural provides peace of mind, especially considering the intimate nature of its use.

Moreover, the scents are simply invigorating, offering a freshness that lasts throughout the day. But it's not just about the fragrance; it's about the brand's overall ethos. The aesthetics are strikingly appealing, resonating with my passion for nature, running, and embracing the sweat of an active lifestyle. 

It's hard to find a natural deodorant that works. Human Essentials is one of them! It not only has a lovely smell, but the packaging is sustainable which makes this a perfect combo. The texture is nice and smooth, I'll certainly be buying another one once mine is done.

Product is a bit expensive overall and seems it will be used up pretty fast, meaning this is definitely not the most affordable product if you plan to use a lot of deodorant every day.  The product also does not get absorbed by the skin very fast so I have accidentally wiped my underarms and have lost a lot of the product that way. Also the bottom part does tend to slide out if you hold it from the top piece (the cover).

I was really excited to try out this deodorant, as I absolutely loved the packaging. It seemed so fun to be able to pull off a little park of the wrapping the more you used the stick. I had the choice of three scents when I purchased this, and as I am not a fan of guava or citrus, I went with bergamot. Little did I know that bergamot is also a citrus fruit, meaning that when I first opened the stick the smell was really unpleasant to me. Thankfully this is something that I got used to over time, and really just smells like super-strong fruit loops if you ask me haha.
And at first, I was a bit worried. I had used deodorants with aluminum for many years now, as I sweat at the slightest inconvenience of going outside or feeling a bit nervous. And that sweating leads to me smelling super quick. I had to use the strongest stuff I could buy, which meant clinical strength antiperspirants. Those worked decently well until I started sweating (since after a while I would still sweat some) and then would inevitably smell. So if I still smelled after using a very strong product, how could an all-natural one with no sweat-absorbing ingredients work on me?
Well, initially when I first used this product I started to smell quite quickly and I was not too happy about that. A bit nervous about how long this would last if it didn't last forever, I read through the website's FAQ. It said it could take up to 14 days to detoxify a person's armpits, and then after that the bad bacteria in your armpits that cause such smells should supposedly be gone. I also sent an email to customer support detailing my worries, and someone quickly got back to me telling me their story of how this product ended up working for them, though there are days where refreshing is still a good idea. So feeling a bit more positive about things, I kept using this deodorant. And eventually things did start to change! Even though I still sweat a bunch, the sweat does not immediately smell. And that to me is life-changing. I do definitely think a refresh is necessary sometimes if I go outside and it's really hot out. Do note that I am not the most active person so if you run or play sports it's possible you will have a very different experience than me. I'm going to keep using this product for sure and monitor if things get better or worse. But for now, I am very glad I tried this deodorant out, and will keep using natural ones in the future!

The price is a bit high for how quickly I went through it - I'd love to see discounted bundles of three to make the price more manageable and to save on shipping emissions, costs, etc. 

It's hard to find a natural deodorant that works well and smells great and Human Essentials has done it! I love knowing that everything is biodegradable and I am doing my part to save the planet. 

The first couple of days I had some pain in my armpits but it subsided (there was no visual rash so idk what was happening lol) 

Maybe make it a bit more solid... it gets a bit soft in the summer!

Brilliant packaging and a delicious scent make this a great, all-natural alternative to BO!

So....it did melt. The whole thing turned into a squished mess. I ended up composting the tube and putting the deodorant into a lil jar. Also shipping costs are kind of wild. 

I love the orange one and I love that it's compostable and already purchased again. 

I love the concept and mission behind this deodorant but sadly I didn't love the product itself. Leaves a white residue on clothing and while the scent was strong, it didn't seem to last too long or mask any natural bo. 

I didn't love the unwrapping experience of the stick. Often times the paper would rip off but not the opaque "plastic" wrapper under neath. The texture of the deodorant once applied wasn't smooth either. 

I am all about all-natural deodorants and products. I thought that the packaging was innovative and I did really like the smell, which was "Guava, Sea Salt and Coconut"

About Human Essentials