Natural Product Review: Primal Pit Paste’s Thyme & Lemongrass Deodorant Stick

Reader Contribution by Gina Debacker and Associate Editor
1 / 2
2 / 2

I love using natural beauty products. I live for lotions, lip balms, moisturizers and facial cleansers enriched with organic, nourishing ingredients. But if I’m being totally honest, natural deodorants have always eluded me. As someone who sweats a lot (TMI? Sorry.) I’ve had a difficult time committing to natural deodorants on a regular basis. (Read “Why You Should Use Natural Deodorant.”) Thankfully, my job has allowed me to try and discover a number of natural deodorants that I really like. A few have even become staples for me on low-impact days. (Read “Natural Deodorant Options” for a list of the deodorant products I am currently digging.) The natural deodorant that I’ve been enjoying most recently is Primal Pit Paste’s Thyme & Lemongrass Natural Deodorant Stick.

Primal Pit Paste’s Thyme & Lemongrass Deodorant Stick Ingredients

Before I dig into this natural deodorant stick, here is a full list of its ingredients:

Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Beeswax, Aluminum Free Baking Soda, Essential Oils

That’s it folks! This is as natural as it comes—all of the ingredients listed on this product are easy to pronounce and zero of them have been flagged on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, so use the product to your heart’s content.

My Thoughts

Primal Pit Paste offers an array of natural, handcrafted deodorant products, from sticks and creams to extra-strength blends. But I chose to review this particular paste stick for one main reason: It smells amazing! It’s infused with thyme and lemongrass essential oils, two natural antiseptics that are great-smelling and wonderfully healing oils for deodorants. I love citrus-smelling anything, so this “pit paste” had already won me over with its scent alone.

The working ingredients in this stick deodorant include arrowroot powder, baking soda, shea butter and coconut oil. Arrowroot powder is a great thickening agent; baking soda has natural antibacterial properties that kill odor-causing bacteria and neutralize the smell of sweat; and shea butter and coconut oil are antimicrobial ingredients that soothe skin.

The product can be a little difficult to apply without knowing what needs to be done: You can’t just start rubbing it under your arm, as it needs to use your natural body heat to soften up. Place the stick directly on your armpit and let it sit for five to 10 seconds. This will soften it, making it easier to apply. Two to three swipes are all you really need to use. Just make sure that the blend feels soft enough to apply or it will leave small chunks under your armpits that are sure to show up on your clothing. If this is something you worry about happening, just use your fingertips to fully wipe the deodorant blend into your skin.

Even though I still sweat just a little with this product (a natural process that your body needs to go through anyway), my sweat didn’t stink. So if you love anything citrus-scented and are looking for a natural deodorant, try this 2-ounce paste stick for $11. Visit their website to buy it online or find it at a store near you. You’ll smell great all day long! Primal Pit Paste also offers paste sticks in Lavender, Orange Creamsicle, Lemonade, Primal Spice, Coriander Sage, Royal & Rogue, Jacked-Up Jasmine and Unscented.


Gina DeBacker is the associate editor at Mother Earth Living. She loves that part of her job entails testing beauty products enriched with natural ingredients. 

  • Published on Feb 23, 2015
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-456-6018
Free health and natural beauty tips from Mother Earth News!