Does Natural Deodorant Expire?

Ingredients 411

<b>Does Natural Deodorant Expire?</b>

Traditional antiperspirants (deodorants containing aluminum salts) can and do expire, and are required by the FDA to have an expiration date printed on the packaging. While natural deodorants aren’t required by the FDA to have an expiration date, depending on the ingredients used, there is a “best by” date. But how do you know if your natural deodorant is past its prime? We can’t speak for other brands because all natural deodorant companies use different ingredients, but here’s the scoop about SmartyPits natural deodorants expiring. 

How to Tell if your Natural Deodorant has Expired:

How does it look?

-Is it starting to crumble?
-Does it look dried up?

How does it smell? 

-Does it have an “off” odor? 
-Has the smell changed at all? 

If you answered yes to any of those questions, it’s probably time to replace your deodorant stick.

Is it ok to use expired deodorant?
The butters and waxes we use in our deodorants will eventually start to go rancid, just like any natural cooking oil would in your cupboard. How do you know if an oil is rancid? Well--it just doesn’t smell right. While they’re totally safe to use after their expiration date (typically 18-24 months after manufacture for the oils we use in SmartyPits), it probably isn’t the ideal experience for your odor-fighting efforts. It’s a good idea to keep an eye (and nose) out for any of the changes we listed above. And, if your natural deodorant is more than a couple of years old, or you can’t remember when you purchased it, you’ll want to toss* it. If you’re concerned, it’s time to replace it. 

*By “toss it” we definitely mean dispose of the deodorant product in the trash, and then recycle the plastic container ;-).

How long to SmartyPits Deodorants Last?
SmartyPits deodorant sticks have a shelf life of 18 months after purchase. 

Suddenly stink, but your deodorant’s not expired? 
If you feel like your deodorant is suddenly not working, it may not be because it’s past its prime. Certain skin chemistries can sometimes become less responsive to natural deodorant after a while, so switching up to a different scent might be one way to tackle that. 

How to store your deodorant: 

  1. If you’re like a lot of people, you have one or two extras on-hand “just in case.” Keep them in a dark, cool place.
  2. Don’t keep extra in your car - if you need to reapply throughout the day, consider storing in a place that is more temperature-controlled environment, like your desk drawer at work.
  3. Don’t open a deodorant until you’re ready to use it. - popping it open for a quick sniff when you first get it is fine, but make sure you put that lid back on tight until you’re ready to use it!
  4. Don’t buy more than you think you’ll use in a 12 month time period.
  5. Keep the lid on it when you’re not using it. - keeping your deodorant capped between applications is probably the biggest factor in how long your deodorant will last. Prolonged exposure to air will cause oxidation of the ingredients making it go bad faster.

With daily use, wondering whether or not your deodorant is expired shouldn’t ever be an issue. Most of our subscription customers reorder every 6-8 weeks. But by following these storage best practices, your pits should be happy for as long as your deodorant lasts!