The evolution of Schmidt's Natural Deodorant

One of the first natural deodorant brands in the world, Schmidt's came to life in a kitchen in Portland Oregon in 2010. By December 2017 they had been acquired by Unilever for an undisclosed some of money, just one month after competitor Native Deodorant was purchased by Proctor & Gamble. It was clear that mainstream global conglomerates were interested in natural products and willing to pay to control a piece of the market. In 2017, Unilever also purchased the tea company Pukka which was founded in 2001.

When we added Schmidt's Natural Deodorant to the store, like the original products made in the kitchen, they were a paste in a jar that you needed to stick your finger in to and apply under the arm. Eventually, the range expanded in to deodorant sticks with plastic packaging and a winder to more closely emulate main stream deodorants and entice consumers to swap to a natural product. It was the first natural stick deodorant in our store with the coconut oil / shea butter / arrowroot / baking soda based formula that has made the rest of the paste's so effective.

Some people are a little put off with the whole 'fingers in the jar and rubbing your pits' while using a natural deodorant, so this was a welcome addition for them. There was a period of time where the winders on some of these were problematic, and in particular, the Bergamot & Lime scent pictured above.

At the height of their product range, there were 10 or more options available, some with bi-carb soda as the major active, and a new sensitive range that ditched the bi-carb for magnesium. Eventually the jars left the range completely and the number of sticks also dwindled.

Around 2014, Schmidt's Deodorant Sticks & Jars were available in 5 signature scents:-

1. Lavender & Sage
2. Bergamot & Lime
3. Cedarwood & Juniper
4. Ylang Ylang & Calendula
5. Fragrance Free

Following that, an extensive range of sensitive sticks along with a heavier duty Charcoal & Magnesium that used both bi-carb and magnesium for odour control. Sensitive scented included Coconut Pineapple, Fragrance Free, Geranium, Jasmine Tea, Lavender Tips and Tea Tree.

Fast forward to 2024, there are 7 sticks in the range in the USA and only 4 in Australia. It is the first 4 Schmidt's Natural Deodorant on the following list that can be purchased here in Australia.

1. Bergamot & Lime
2. Charcoal & Magnesium
3. Lavender & Sage
4. Rose & Vanilla
5. Coconut & Pineapple (not in AU)
6. Jasmine Tea (not in AU)
7. Hemp Seed Oil & Rose (not in AU)

Schmidt's Natural Deodorant is certified natural

According to the Schmidt's website, Schmidt's Natural Deodorant is the first natural deodorant brand to be certified natural by Ecocert. They wanted to show a clear distinction between a deodorant that doesn't use aluminium vs a truly natural deodorant, so they went to Ecocert and gained certification. A lot of customer in the natural realm were up in arms when Unilever bought both Pukka and Schmidt's, so we can only assume this certification was a part of the process to ensure customers that the deodorant wasn't changing its ethics in the brands of a large company who have participated in animal testing with other brands they own in the past. We always said to our customers that once natural brands sell like this, we would keep an eye on changes and de-range them if we felt it necessary.

We did de-range Pukka, purely because they achieved market saturation in mainstream stores and it wasn't worth us stocking it anymore. We still stock the 4 scents available in Australia.

From our experience, the scents boosted with essential oils do provide a little extra protection from any lingering odour that may try to pop up at the end of the day, but for those with sensitive noses, it's a little disappointing that they no longer make and unscented version.

Things to remember about Schmidt's natural deodorant and all other brands

1. They're not designed to stop you from sweating. They're designed to stop bacteria growth in your sweat.
2. There can be an adjustment period of a couple of weeks when you switch from an antiperspirant. Don't give up straight away.
3. If you are unwell or you're not eating well, your sweat will smell different (not just from your armpits) and this can be difficult to mask.