Deodorants with ethical food labels on the rise

For nearly 25 years Vermont Soap has been making bar soaps, personal care products, and household cleaners without synthetic ingredients. As a sort of outsider, Larry Plesent has an unconventional perspective on the larger industry that’s resonating with modern consumers looking for simple solutions.

The ground floor​

It’s well known that consumer goods trends often move from food to beauty. And that’s exactly what is happening now in the organic product space. The market research firm Organic Monitor just released data on the phenomenon, telling the press that “ethical labels are crossing over​ from the food to personal care industry because of transparency.” ​

Vermont Soap isn’t the only brand with a presence in this niche. Deodorants from Nourish Organic, ORGO, and Dr. Mercola are all made with USDA organic food ingredients. And several other natural and organic personal care brands have deodorants that compete in the space.

“In a perfect world all deodorants would be certified to organic food standards,” ​says Plesent in a media release about the company’s newest product.

The latest launch​

Late last month, Vermont Soap launched Lemongrass Zen Organic Deodorant, building the company’s underarm product portfolio out to three. “We’re pleased to offer yet another safe and healthy alternative to mainstream chemical-based deodorants,”​ says Plesent in the release.

“People often ask me what the active ingredient is, and I let them know that EVERY ingredient is an active ingredient,” ​added Plesent. “This is what natural formulation is about - there are no unimportant parts in a properly balanced natural formulation.”​

The counterpoint ​

The Vermont Soap business centers on the notion that safe products and environmentally harmless sourcing and production overlap: “Applying organic farming lessons to body care formulations will always produce a different result than extractive technologies and planet mining mindsets will come up with,” ​believes Plesent.

He goes on to frame the whole matter as more socialist than capitalist “We may be talking about creating a more sustainable, less irritating deodorant today, but this type of discussion must also take place regarding every aspect of our civilization: food, products, energy, medicine and how to fairly divide resources.”​