Beard Care Guide · Founder Experiment
Can I Use My Beard Butter as a Natural Deodorant?
Multi-purpose natural products are having a moment, and one day, mid-grooming, I found myself wondering: our beard butter is a blend of natural butters and oils designed to nourish and soften a beard, but could it double as a natural deodorant? So I decided to actually test it. Here's what I found.
The idea, and the ingredients I considered adding
My first thought was whether I'd need to tweak the recipe into a proper deodorant by adding a few classic ingredients. I looked at three:
- Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): effective at neutralising odours, but can be irritating for some. This immediately put me off, as I didn't fancy messing about with high-pH sensitivity issues.
- Magnesium Hydroxide: gentle on skin and effective at neutralising odours. A potential candidate.
- Activated Charcoal: absorbs odours and toxins, though I wasn't sure whether it would darken the product and stain white t-shirts.
But then a simpler thought: if the butter's existing ingredients already do the job, why change something that works? So I broke down what's actually in it.
Elements Metal Beard Butter: the ingredients, and their deodorant role
| Ingredient | Properties | Deodorant role |
|---|---|---|
| Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter | Moisturising, anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing | Creamy base; soothes skin, doesn't neutralise odour |
| Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter | Moisturising, emollient, nourishing | Adds texture and hydrates; not odour-neutralising |
| Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil | Anti-inflammatory, soothing, rich in GLA | Good for sensitive skin; not deodorising |
| Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil | Balances oil production, conditions skin | Maintains skin health; doesn't neutralise odour |
| Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil | Antioxidant-rich, nourishing, anti-inflammatory | Supports skin health; not odour-neutralising |
| Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter | Emollient, moisturising, skin-protecting | Creamy base, conditions skin; doesn't neutralise odour |
| Tocopherol (Vitamin E) | Antioxidant, skin-conditioning | Supports skin health; doesn't neutralise odour |
| Cinnamomum Camphora (Ho Leaf) Oil | Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, soothing | Reduces odour-causing bacteria |
| Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil | Antimicrobial, astringent, deodorising | Reduces bacteria; fresh scent |
| Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil | Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent | Reduces odour-causing bacteria, soothes skin |
| Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil | Antibacterial, antifungal, deodorising | Neutralises odour, reduces bacteria |
| Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Oil | Antimicrobial, deodorising, uplifting scent | Reduces bacteria; refreshing scent |
| Zea Mays (Corn) Starch | Absorbent, soothing | Absorbs moisture, reduces wetness |
| Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool | Fragrance components, some antimicrobial | Adds scent; mild antimicrobial activity |
What actually does the deodorising
The base butters and oils (Shea, Mango, Cocoa, Jojoba, Argan, Borage) don't neutralise odour, but they do moisturise and soothe the skin, and they're kind to sensitive skin. The interesting part is the essential oils and the corn starch:
- Ho Leaf, Lemon, Bergamot and Frankincense are potent antimicrobials that help reduce the odour-causing bacteria under our arms. They work together to combat the bacteria behind body odour.
- Patchouli adds strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, helping fight bacteria and hold a pleasant scent.
- Corn Starch absorbs moisture, reducing wetness and helping keep the area dry and comfortable.
The honest results
I tested the Elements Metal Beard Butter as a deodorant for a few weeks, and the results were genuinely decent. A few honest caveats:
- It didn't stop me sweating. Despite the name, it doesn't contain any actual metals, so it's not an antiperspirant.
- It did keep odour at bay effectively, leaving a reassuring sense of freshness through the day.
- You don't need much. A tiny amount under each arm is plenty, or use any excess left on your fingers after grooming your beard.
So yes: in a pinch, or as a natural alternative, a beard butter like this genuinely can work as a deodorant.
FAQ
Does beard butter work as a deodorant?
It can help. The base butters and oils moisturise rather than deodorise, but the essential oils (Ho Leaf, Lemon, Bergamot, Frankincense, Patchouli) are antimicrobial and help reduce odour-causing bacteria, while corn starch absorbs moisture. It controls odour rather than stopping sweat.
Is beard butter an antiperspirant?
No. It doesn't stop you sweating; it helps manage odour. If you want to reduce wetness specifically, that's a different job from odour control.
Is it safe to put beard butter under my arms?
The ingredients are skin-friendly and suited to sensitive skin, but as with anything new, patch test first. If you'd rather use something formulated for the job, our natural deodorant is designed specifically for it.
Do you sell an actual natural deodorant now?
Yes. After this experiment we added a dedicated natural deodorant to the range, so you can get the natural, aluminium-free approach without dipping into your beard butter.
Curious? Explore the beard butter collection or the dedicated natural deodorant.