If you’ve heard of the Aesop brand, then you know that they produce some of the best-smelling perfumes in the world. Their unmistakable scents are worn by celebrities and influencers everywhere and have achieved cult status. That’s not all they do, however. Aesop also has a line of diverse personal care products that range from shampoo to facial exfoliant paste to eye serum. Each is laced with botanical ingredients that not only smell intoxicating but are also good for you. One such product is Aesop deodorant.

An In-depth Look at Aesop’s Deodorants

This product comes in two forms: a spray and a roll-on. Both are deodorants, not antiperspirants. Ergo, they’re designed to fight body odor but won’t stop you from sweating. The only substance that can do that effectively is aluminum salts which work by plugging your sweat ducts. Aluminum could potentially have health risks, though. In keeping with Aesop’s all-natural approach, they’ve ditched artificial and potentially harmful ingredients, and gone with effective but safer alternatives. Let’s take a closer look at them.

  Product Size Aroma Key Ingredients Price  
Aesop Deodorant Spray 50 mL (1.62 oz) Woody, herbaceous, earthy Vetivier Root, Zinc Ricinoleate, and Coriander Seed $48.00 Buy on Amazon
Aesop Deodorant Roll-On 50 mL (1.62 oz) Herbaceous, camphorous, fresh Sage Leaf, Zinc Ricinoleate, and Wasabi Extract $46.99 Buy on Amazon

1. Aesop Deodorant Spray

First, let’s talk about the ingredients listed by Aesop on their website as “key” for this product. Vetivier is a grassy plant that’s endemic to India. It’s related to lemongrass and citronella, which makes sense because all three are well-known for their distinctive and refreshing fragrances. The vetivier’s roots, in particular, are the source of an essential oil that not only smells amazing but is also used in ayurvedic medicine. Furthermore, studies suggest that it has antiseptic properties that can treat acne and sores.

The next ingredient, zinc ricinolate, is a powder derived from castor seed oil. It adsorbs odor-active compounds; in short, it blocks body odor molecules so that we can’t smell them. This chemical is purified to exclude any toxins and is proven to be a safe and effective deodorizer.

Finally, there’s coriander seed. You’re already familiar with it as a cooking ingredient, but did you know that it has a ton of health benefits? When it’s applied on the skin, the linoleic acid in it strengthens your skin’s natural barrier to keep irritants out.

So, this spray nourishes and protects your skin for sure. But, how effective is it as a deodorant? To be fair, Aesop’s only claim is that it “reduces and masks underarm odor”. They don’t say for how long. In fact, you are encouraged to reapply throughout the day as required, and the recommended dosage is a vague “desired amount”. Because it’s a deodorant mist and needs to dry quickly, it contains alcohol. That means it evaporates into the surrounding air and dissipates the scent sooner rather than later.

2. Aesop Deodorant Roll-On

Alcohol has gotten a bad rap for causing skin dryness and irritation, but it’s usually safe in small amounts. As it happens, alcohol can act as a skin penetration enhancer and allows the good stuff in skincare products to work better. However, if your skin is sensitive to alcohol, then you could opt for Aesop’s other deodorant, the roll-on.

Just like the Aesop Deodorant Spray, it contains zin ricinoleate as its primary odor-fighter. But, other than that, its formula is comprised of different fragrance compounds that make it smell very distinct from the spray. Your choice between these two products could just boil down to your scent preference.

Besides the different scent, this roll-on also contains sage leaf that has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants prevent premature aging of the skin by helping it repair itself. You might not think that your underarm area needs anti-aging benefits, but hey, skin is skin no matter which part of the body it is. Healthy skin is beautiful skin, after all.

The other unusual ingredient is wasabi extract. We all know that Japanese horseradish (wasabi) is a pungent condiment for sushi, but it can also kill bacteria in raw fish that could make you sick. This antimicrobial quality works similarly on your skin. It eliminates the bacteria that are feasting on your sweat and causing the stink.

The deodorizing effect of the roll-on is potentially longer compared to the spray. Since it’s a milky lotion, it could stick to your skin more. It’s not as quick-drying, though, so you need to give it a bit more time before you can put on your clothes.

To Sweat or Not to Sweat?

As mentioned earlier, Aesop’s deodorants aren’t antiperspirants. They won’t control wetness, so if that’s your major concern, then these might not be the best products for you.

Still, sweating has its benefits. The most important is it regulates body temperature. Without it, your body would overheat due to ambient heat or physical activity. When you sweat, your sweat glands release fluid onto the skin where they can evaporate. This process lowers your internal temperature.

Perspiration also allows your body to get rid of the alcohol from that glass of wine—or two—you drank last night. Other toxins and waste products such as heavy metals and even plastics are released, too. (Bisphenol A or BPA has been identified by scientists in human sweat.) Sweating helps your body to detoxify via your skin which acts as an extra kidney.

Speaking of your kidney, in addition to toxins, sweat also removes excess salt and calcium, thus lowering your risk of developing kidney stones. In short, sweating is actually healthy for you.

Are Aesop’s Deodorants Worth a Try?

By now, it can’t have escaped your notice that these products are pricey. As a matter of fact, they rank among the most expensive deodorants in the market. Nevertheless, like all natural deodorants, they have their limitations. If you aren’t bothered by perspiration—and you shouldn’t because it’s a good thing—then go for it.

The bottom line is, Aesop deodorants just smell so fantastic that they’re near impossible to resist.