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Are you looking for an all-natural, plant-based, eco-friendly and plastic-free deodorant? Coconut Matter‘s Mood deodorant range could be just what you’re after. There are lots of reasons for it and not much against it. And by the way, although some of the advertising and marketing seem geared towards the female audience, the more neutrally scented choices can also be used by males.
But before we jump into the details, let’s explain why I reviewed a deodorant.
How did this review come about?
We always look for ways to reduce plastic waste at home or on the road. Travelling with only carry-on packs has made toiletries challenging, as using smaller quantities often results in increased plastic waste. We’ve been replacing fluids (packaged in plastic containers) with solids (wrapped in cardboard or unwrapped) as much as possible, from soap and shampoo bars to toothpaste tablets.
One toiletry we hadn’t been able to find a more sustainable alternative for was our deodorant… until we came across Coconut Matter.
Looks familiar? Supermarket deodorants usually come wrapped in plastic and full of harmful ingredients
Our opinion can't be bought
Wanting to reduce our plastic use, we approached Coconut Matter through an Ethical Influencer campaign they ran in 2019 to trial their deodorants and provide an honest review. They sent four different deodorant sticks in the mail, and over the months that followed, we tried them on and tested them in real-life situations. Then, I wrote this review.
And with all our reviews, you can’t buy our opinion.
Who is Coconut Matter?
Based in Hong Kong, Coconut Matter makes coconut-based products that people can use every day without compromising their health, the environment, or the communities from which the raw materials are sourced.
Coconut Matter’s founder, Diane van Zwanenberg, started with virgin coconut oil lip balm in 2015. Over the past four years, she has also created soaps, body balms, body butter and deodorants. And we can expect to see more Coconut Matter products over time.
Using only a few all-natural, plant-based ingredients, Diane sources virgin coconut oil for her products from Fairtrade small-hold farmers in the Solomon Islands. Their production process retains most of the oil’s bioactive ingredients. Coconut Matter was introduced to the Solomon Islands farmers by Kokonut Pacific. This Australian-based organisation works with rural populations in the South Pacific to improve their lives one coconut at a time.
We told you the story behind Coconut Matter intrigued us… But let’s check out the product – that’s what you’re here for.
What’s different about Coconut Matter deodorants?
Ingredients
As mentioned, Coconut Matter‘s products only contain a few all-natural, plant-based, sustainably sourced ingredients. For example, its deodorants don’t contain water (who would have thought that what keeps us hydrated internally isn’t needed to hydrate our skin), aluminium, baking soda, parabens, silicone, phthalates, toxins, or alcohol. This is excellent news for people with allergies and hypersensitive skin.
Coconut Matter deodorants are currently available in four scents (Coconut Matter calls them moods) and as one unscented product (aptly called Coconut):
- Bliss
- Coconut
- Hero
- Spring
- Zen.
Combining a variety of essential oils (and no artificial fragrances) gives each of the different moods its unique scent:
| Bliss | Coconut | Hero | Spring | Zen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass Lime Frankincense | Coconut scent | Peppermint Eucalyptus Rosemary | Geranium Lavender Lime | Cedarwood Bergamot Vetiver |
The story of Coconut Matter starts here at the coconut tree | Image by Pexels from Pixabay
As with other standard deodorants, Coconut Matter deodorants comprise the actual deodorant stick and the tube that protects the stick. The deodorant stick weighs 30 grams. The whole product (stick and tube) weighs 52 grams and is a bit smaller than the core of a toilet paper roll.
Packaging
According to the manufacturer, the Coconut Matter deodorant sticks are packaged in cardboard tubes that are zero-waste and biodegradable. The tubes contain food-grade wax paper inside and biodegradable laminate on the outside.
Food-grade wax paper is an organic and inherently biodegradable packaging material. Cardboard and wax paper decompose at the same rate as forest leaves. The biodegradable laminate takes three to five years to decompose, which may sound long, but it’s significantly shorter than the decomposition time of plastic packaging.
Coconut Matter's Zen is just one of five moods in its range of zero waste deodorants
How did Coconut Matter’s deodorant perform in our test?
What and how did we test?
Beginning in September 2019, we tested the moods Hero, Zen, Coconut and Spring, assessing the following:
- Ease of Use
- Effectiveness
- Longevity
- Customer Service and
- Value for Money.
Given that we are consumers, not scientists, we did not do laboratory testing.
For those who don’t know us, we are full-time travellers who enjoy an active lifestyle. We eat a balanced diet and sweat lightly to moderately during regular exercise. We don’t have any health conditions that make us sweat more or cause our body odour to be significantly more pungent than that of the average person.
When we tested our first scent, Hero, for 14 days, we applied Coconut Matter deodorant under the left armpit and our usual deodorant under the right armpit. For the following 14 days, we continued applying the Coconut Matter deodorant under the left armpit but left the right armpit without any deodorant. After this initial comparison, we applied Coconut Matter deodorant to both armpits and continued to do so as we tested the other scents.
Every time, we only applied deodorant in the morning after showering as usual.
Coconut Matter's Hero deodorant was the first one we tested, and we were very impressed right from the start
What is our verdict?
After ten months of using the Coconut Matter Deodorant, our test results are as follows:
Ease of UseRating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Once you realise that you don’t need to twist the bottom of the tube but push the stick upwards, the deodorant is applied just like any other. Others also have this twist habit, as the push, glide, shine instruction on the tube indicates—a charming and subtle hint.
The deodorant stick is smooth and super easy to apply. It’s sufficiently moist that it doesn’t pull on your skin, yet firm enough that it doesn’t fall apart. It absorbs immediately, without any residue. It doesn’t stick at all, and there are no stains on our base layers. Beauty.
EffectivenessRating 5 out of 5 stars
All scents (or moods) we tested were very pleasant and not at all overwhelming. We started our test with the Hero mood as we thought it was suitable for both females and males. If you’ve ever been to a sauna in Europe and witnessed the Aufguss (or infusion) when they pour herb-infused water over the hot sauna stones, that is how we would describe the Hero scent.
Coconut Matter’s deodorants pleasantly surprised us right from the start of our test. Our usual deodorant left us smelling quite unpleasant by the end of the day, even after a typical day of exploring a new place for several hours without any significant exercise. With Coconut Matter’s deodorant, on the other hand, our armpits smell pleasant with just a faint body odour at the end of the day.
The best proof of the noticeable difference is our clothes: As we travel with carry-on luggage only, we usually wear the same base layer for up to three days. With our usual deodorant, three days would be a real stretch, especially for Sandra (anyone who’s heading towards menopause may be able to relate).
Wearing the Coconut Matter deodorant, she could wear her base layer longer than three days. She doesn’t break a sweat in the middle of the day (as she did with our usual deodorant), and her armpits stay dry all day long.
LongevityRating 4.5 out of 5 stars
We have used the Coconut Matter deodorant in all four seasons, as well as cold climates (Norway, Iceland) and warmer climates (Greece). The stick’s consistency has not changed.
We only noticed that after a few weeks of use, a bit of oil penetrates the top of the cardboard tube (the part closest to our armpits when we apply the deodorant). However, the tube remains sturdy, which doesn’t impact the product’s use or effectiveness.
One Coconut Matter deodorant should last up to five months. Given we share a deodorant (and Paul applies deodorant quite generously), each of the scents we tested lasted around two months.
Customer ServiceRating 5 out of 5 stars
While the product is sent from Hong Kong, Coconut Matter’s approach appears to be under-promise and over-deliver. Our deodorant was sent to Germany and arrived much faster than expected.
A handwritten note was included in our package of deodorants, an unexpected personal touch in Coconut Matter’s communication with its customers.
Value for MoneyRating 3.5 out of 5 stars
When we tested the deodorants, they retailed at USD19 on the Coconut Matter website. That’s a hefty difference from the USD2-3 we pay for our usual deodorant.
Considering that the Coconut Matter deodorant doesn’t contain harmful ingredients, supports farming communities in the South Pacific, and does not create plastic waste, we would happily pay more for it. Diane’s effort and dedication to developing these products also warrant a higher charge.
Would we pay USD18 regularly, though? Given our budget of USD50 per person per day, that’s a difficult question.
What did other people say?
Don’t take our words as the be-all and end-all. Here are some snippets from other bloggers who have checked out Coconut Matter deodorants:
- The Honey Combers tested the product in various situations in Hong Kong. They concluded, “Coconut Matter has done a great job creating a range of great-smelling, eco-friendly prebiotic deodorants.”
- Canadian blogger Sandra Nomoto attested, “The cruelty-free ingredient list gets an A grade – it’s free of aluminium, triclosan, baking soda […], paragon, phthalates, alcohol, fragrance, and plastic.”
- Ciara from Sassy Hong Kong discusses the pros and cons of natural deodorants and lists several options, including Coconut Matter.
So, what do we conclude?
Does the Coconut Matter deodorant deliver on its promises? We think so. The deodorant’s main advantage is that it contains no harmful ingredients and generates no plastic waste.
Would we be happy to recommend Coconut Matter deodorants to our friends and family? Absolutely. We love the story behind Coconut Matter and the deodorant.
Is the product worth the regular price of USD19? Yes (but). If we still worked in corporate careers with salaries that matched, we would not hesitate to buy Coconut Matter deodorants regularly. While we do not (earn that much anymore), we will still replace our usual deodorant. But we’d look for special sales and other opportunities to save – like the sets available on the Coconut Matter website.
Where can I buy Coconut Matter products?
All Coconut Matter products can be purchased online directly from the website. The company currently ships to 44 countries and offers free shipping for purchases over USD50. Plus, if you subscribe and become a #CocoTribe member, you get a 10% discount on your first purchase.
How do I contact Coconut Matter?
Would you replace your current deodorant with one from Coconut Matter or are you already using one?
I wrote this review of Coconut Matter deodorant based on my own experience. If you have used the product and have something to say about it, please feel free to contact me.
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