Schmidt’s
Quick verdict: Schmidt’s holds something no other deodorant in this directory does: Ecocert certification, the only natural deodorant in the US to earn it. Ecocert doesn’t stop at the ingredient list. It audits sourcing, the factory, waste handling, shipping and even the packaging artwork. It’s also cheap, it works, and Unilever bought it in 2017. The baking soda in the original formulas is the thing that catches people out. Our rating: 3.8 out of 5.
Who they are
Jaime Schmidt started the company in her Portland kitchen in 2010, making batches of about twenty sticks on the stove. It grew fast enough that Unilever acquired it in December 2017, putting it in the same house as Dove, Axe and, since 2025, Wild.
We state that plainly rather than burying it. Under our current policy, conglomerate ownership is disclosed rather than disqualifying, and it costs the brand on criterion 2 rather than costing it a place here.
What they get right
Ecocert certification is the headline and it’s rare. Most “natural” claims in deodorant are self-declared. Ecocert audits the whole chain, from ingredient sourcing through manufacturing, waste and packaging, and it’s the reason this scores highest on certification of any deodorant in the directory.
It’s cheap. Around $9 to $11 a stick puts certification within reach of anyone, which matters more than it sounds in a category where the certified options usually cost triple.
The formula performs. Coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba and arrowroot, with essential oils for scent. Odor control holds through a normal day and better than several pricier competitors.
Wide availability, including most drugstores, so it doesn’t require a subscription or an online order.
Where they fall short
Unilever ownership is the main cost here. If your reason for buying natural deodorant is to route money away from the multinationals whose conventional products fill the same shelf, this doesn’t do that. Each & Every and Salt & Stone remain independent.
Baking soda is in the original formulas, and it’s the single most common cause of the underarm rash that makes people quit natural deodorant. There’s a sensitive-skin line without it, and if your skin reacts at all, that’s where to start rather than the classic.
The essential oil scents are strong, which some people love and others find overwhelming in a product worn all day.
What they sell and what it costs
Deodorant sticks and jars, bar soap, toothpaste and body wash. Deodorant typically runs $9 to $11, with the sensitive-skin range at the same price.
Who it’s actually for
Anyone who wants third-party certification without paying a premium for it, and who is comfortable buying from a Unilever-owned brand. On certification-per-dollar it’s the best value in the category.
Start with the sensitive-skin version if baking soda has ever burned you. If independence is your priority, Each & Every. If you sweat heavily, Salt & Stone.
Deals and discounts
No affiliate program on our side, so nothing here earns us anything.
Related reading
- 10 Natural Deodorants That Survive a Full Day
- 7 Skincare Ingredients to Avoid
- How to Spot Greenwashing: 4 Tactics Brands Still Use
Frequently asked questions
What does Ecocert certification actually cover?
More than most people assume. Ecocert verifies the ingredients, then audits how they arrive at the factory, the manufacturing process itself, waste management, shipping, and even the claims on the packaging and marketing. It’s a whole-operation audit rather than an ingredient check, which is why it’s the strongest certification in this category and why almost no deodorant brand holds it.
Who owns Schmidt’s?
Unilever, which acquired it in December 2017. Jaime Schmidt founded it in her Portland kitchen in 2010 and the brand grew from there. The Ecocert certification and the formulas carried through the acquisition, but the profit now goes to a multinational.
Will Schmidt’s give me a rash?
It might, if you buy the original formulas, because they contain baking soda and that’s the usual cause of underarm irritation with natural deodorant. The sensitive-skin line leaves it out and is what to buy if your skin reacts to anything. This trips up a lot of people who then blame natural deodorant generally.
Is Schmidt’s good value?
On certification per dollar it’s the best in this directory. Around $10 for a product audited end to end by Ecocert compares well against uncertified brands charging twice that. What you’re not buying is independence.