Routine Deodorant Firsthand Review by a Smelly Person

Routine Deodorant is an all-natural deodorant made in Canada (but sold on Amazon in the US) that I have been using.

As someone who has super bad body odor in my armpits, I’m very invested in the topic of which aluminum-free deodorant truly works.

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I use Routine Deodorant over a magnesium spray and it actually works to get rid of body odor for the whole day.

I apply the magnesium spray at night after showering, and again in the morning after washing my pits. After that dries, I apply the putty Routine Deodorant.

I like that it has very clean, non-toxic, and aluminum-free ingredients.

Routine has two formulas: Maximum Strength formula is a baking soda formula for non-sensitive skin, without magnesium. The Like a Boss Scent is the only scent in the maximum strength formula.

The Classic formula has reduced baking soda and magnesium.

They also have vegan Classic formula and baking soda free options.

It comes in a putty or a stick.

Common Active Ingredients in Natural Deodorants:

1. Magnesium – magnesium functions super well as a deodorant and antiperspirant (the Doctorly doctors classify it as an antiperspirant that can stop sweat).
2. Baking Soda – baking soda creates an alkaline environment which inhibits bacteria growth. Though it is controversial for being harsh on the skin.
3. Charcoal – charcoal can absorb odor molecules.
4. Zinc Ricinoleate – zinc ricinoleate neutralizes odor-causing molecules. It binds to and encapsulates these odor molecules, preventing them from being released. It also has antimicrobial properties that help inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
5. Cornstarch, Arrowroot, and Kaolin – these are moisture-absorbing and therefore act as natural deodorants to decrease sweat and odor. Kaolin is not a source of free aluminum ions and doesn’t act like an aluminum-based deodorant, as the aluminum is locked into the silica structure.
6. Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Glycolic Acids – these acids make the environment much less hospitable to bacteria, reducing bacteria and therefore odor. You will generally see natural deodorants either with these main ingredients or with magnesium as the main ingredient.
7. Essential Oils – many essential oils do more than mask the odor from armpits, many of them are antibacterial including Tea Tree Oil, Pine/Spruce/Fir oils, citrus oils, and Rosemary among many others.

Ingredients in Routine Deodorant

Ingredients in “Like a Boss” (Maximum strength formula, no magnesium):

• cocos nucifera (coconut) oil
• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• kaolin clay
• zea mays (corn) starch
• maranta arundinacea (arrowroot powder)
• cera alba (beeswax)
• butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter
• calendula officinalis (marigold) infused olea europaea (olive) oil
• tocopherol (vitamin e)
• theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter
• cetearyl olivate
• sorbitan olivate
• brassica glycerides
• aroma: citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pelargonium roseum asperum (rose geranium) oil, citrus reticulata (mandarin) oil, citrus sinensis (sweet orange) oil, mentha viridian (spearmint) leaf oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, citronellol*, linalool*, limonene*, geraniol*, citral*. *Naturally occurring in essential oil.

Ingredients in “Blackberry Betty” – (Classic formula, with magnesium and reduced baking soda)

• cocos nucifera (coconut) oil
• magnesium hydroxide (dietary magnesium)
• kaolinite (kaolin clay)
• zea mays (corn, non-gmo) starch,
• maranta arundinacea (arrowroot powder)
• cera alba (Canadian ethical beeswax)
• theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter
• butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)
• calendula officinalis (marigold) infused olea europaea (olive) oil
• tocopherol (vitamin e)
• flavor oils (organic blackberry, raspberry, citrus and vanilla)
• rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract

Review of Routine Deodorant

Effectiveness: After using their non-magnesium, baking soda version in “Like a Boss” fragrance for a while I can definitely say that this significantly reduces body odor and is better than using magnesium spray alone (I use Routine putty style deodorant over magnesium spray).

White marks: It did not leave white marks on my clothing.

Scent: It does not come in fragrance-free and the scents are natural and of moderate strength. Being natural, the scents do not last all day but do impart some antibacterial properties.

Price: It’s not the least expensive natural deodorant but it is made in Canada (and sold in the US) and you only need a little bit.

Amount: They say to use a dime-sized amount of the putty and I use less, the amount I use is pictured below.

Other: It also comes in a stick if a putty is not your style.

You can also use it on other sweaty parts of the body, not just your armpits.

Rating: 10/10 would buy again.