Salt & Stone Deodorant Review: Is It Worth the Splurge?
How We Researched ThisThis review is based on Salt & Stone's published ingredient lists and product pages, UK and US retailer listings (Sephora, Sephora UK, Space NK, Nordstrom, Kohl's), Consumer Reports' published panel test of aluminium-free deodorants, reporting on the brand's ownership, and patterns across thousands of public customer reviews. It is not based on our own product testing.
Salt & Stone deodorant went viral on looks and scent, and at £20 or $20 a stick it costs several times more than a supermarket deodorant. So is it worth it? We looked at what's actually in the two formulas, what independent testing and thousands of buyers say, and who should spend the money.
Quick Verdict
Worth it if you want your deodorant to smell like perfume; not if you only want odour control. Salt & Stone works well for most people and smells far better than most deodorants. But you pay heavily for the scent. Also note that the Extra Strength stick contains baking soda, so sensitive skin should start with the gel, and like any aluminium-free deodorant, neither will stop you sweating.
Strong user reviews for odour control, and Consumer Reports' panel found it nearly matched its top pick. It's a deodorant, so it won't reduce sweat.
The brand's real strength: perfume-like scents such as Santal & Vetiver and Black Rose & Oud are what most buyers praise.
£20 or $20 for a 75g stick, several times the price of a supermarket deodorant. Easy to buy in the US; in the UK mainly at Sephora UK and Space NK.
The Extra Strength stick contains baking soda, a common cause of rash. A baking-soda-free gel is available, but there's no unscented option.
Pros
- Some of the best-liked scents of any natural deodorant
- Independent panel testing by Consumer Reports rated its odour control highly
- Baking-soda-free gel option for sensitive skin
Cons
- Expensive: about five times the price of a high-street stick
- The Extra Strength stick contains baking soda
- No unscented version, and it won't reduce sweat
How we score. Scores are our editorial judgement from research, not a lab or wear test. Effectiveness: how the product works (antiperspirant or deodorant), the strength of its active ingredient, and how consistent large numbers of user reviews are. Scent: the range of scents, including a fragrance-free option, and how users rate them. Value: price, and how easy it is to buy in the US and the UK. Skin Safety: known irritants in the formula, sensitive-skin options, and how often irritation is reported. The overall score is the average of the four. We will update scores if we test products ourselves.
1Who Makes Salt & Stone?
Salt & Stone was founded in Los Angeles in 2017 by Nima Jalali, a former professional snowboarder. It started with natural deodorant and now sells body wash, lotion, body mist, hand cream and candles, all in the same handful of signature scents.
The brand has grown fast. Investment firm Humble Growth backed it in 2024, and in March 2026 private equity firm Advent International agreed to buy a majority stake. Advent said Salt & Stone made more than $165 million in revenue in 2025 and sells one deodorant every five seconds. Jalali stays on as CEO. We haven't seen any announced formula changes linked to the deal.
2★ Stick or Gel? The Two Formulas Explained
This is the most important choice, and it's easy to miss because both products come in the same scents and similar packaging.
| Extra Strength Stick | Deodorant Gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Odour control | Magnesium hydroxide, baking soda, prebiotics | Fermented ingredients and fragrance; no baking soda |
| Baking soda? | Yes | No |
| Aluminium? | No | No |
| Texture | Solid balm stick | Clear gel, goes on invisible |
| Best for | Most people, and anyone wanting the strongest odour control | Sensitive skin or a past baking-soda rash |
The Extra Strength stick is based on caprylic/capric triglyceride, tapioca starch and ozokerite wax, with magnesium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to neutralise odour. It also contains coconut oil, shea butter, niacinamide, seaweed extracts, hyaluronic acid and a probiotic ferment.
The Deodorant Gel is a completely different formula. Its first ingredients are propylene glycol, water and sodium stearate, which is the classic clear-gel base, with fermented ingredients, arrowroot, aloe and seaweed extracts. Space NK describes it as working "without baking soda".
Some retailers describe the Extra Strength stick as safe for sensitive skin, but its ingredient list includes baking soda, which is the most common cause of rashes from natural deodorants. If your skin reacts easily, buy the gel. Our guide to the best deodorant for sensitive skin has more gentle options.
3The Scents
Scent is the whole point of Salt & Stone, and the most praised feature in buyer reviews. The deodorants come in five main scents, each matched by a body wash, lotion and mist.
| Scent | Character | Key notes |
|---|---|---|
| Santal & Vetiver | Warm and woody; the bestseller | Sandalwood, amber, cedar, vetiver |
| Black Rose & Oud | Dark and floral | Black rose, oud, vetiver |
| Bergamot & Hinoki | Citrus and woody | Bergamot, hinoki wood |
| Neroli & Basil | Crisp and green | Neroli, bergamot, basil, lavender |
| Saffron & Cedar | Sweet and ambery | Saffron, cedar |
There's no unscented version, which Consumer Reports also noted. The scents use fragrance allergens such as limonene and geraniol, which matter if you're sensitive to fragrance. If you can't decide, the Mini Deodorant Discovery Set has all five scents in travel sizes for $44 or £44.
4Does Salt & Stone Actually Work?
For odour control, the independent evidence is good. Consumer Reports had three testers wear nine aluminium-free deodorants over several days, each including at least one session of moderate or vigorous exercise. The testers rated Salt & Stone highly: two of the three loved it, and the Black Rose & Oud scent nearly matched the odour control of CR's top pick, AKT's deodorant balm. The Santal & Vetiver scent gave weaker odour protection in the same test. That's a small panel, but it's real wear testing by an independent organisation.
Buyer reviews point the same way. When we checked in November 2026, Santal & Vetiver had an average of 4.4 out of 5 from more than 6,800 reviews at Sephora UK, and Black Rose & Oud averaged 4.6 from nearly 4,000 reviews at Space NK. The recurring complaints:
- Rash or irritation, usually with the Extra Strength stick. That fits the baking soda in its formula, and switching to the gel helps some people.
- It doesn't last during heavy exercise for some users, and some heavy sweaters say it doesn't block sweat smell when they're very active.
- The price, which comes up even in positive reviews.
- Marks on clothes from the balm stick if you apply too much. The gel goes on clear.
Remember that Salt & Stone is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. If you're switching from an antiperspirant, expect a couple of weeks of adjustment. Our best natural deodorant guide explains what to expect.
5Is It Worth the Price?
Here's how a Salt & Stone stick compares with other deodorants we've reviewed, using typical prices from our research.
| Deodorant | UK price | US price | Aluminium-free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt & Stone Extra Strength (75g) | £20 | $20 | Yes |
| Native stick | Import only | $14–$15 | Yes |
| Wild refill (40g) | About £6 | Starter pack $16.99 | Yes |
| Old Spice aluminium-free stick | £3.75 (often £2.50) | $7–$8 | Yes |
On price per gram, Salt & Stone is one of the most expensive mainstream deodorants. But it's priced more like a fragrance than a deodorant, and that's how many buyers use it. If a cheaper natural stick works for you, you won't get much better odour control by switching. If you'd rather a refillable option at a lower ongoing cost, read our Wild deodorant review.
Salt & Stone says its packaging is made from recycled materials and is recyclable, but unlike Wild, it doesn't sell refills for its deodorant.
6Where to Buy Salt & Stone in the UK and US
In the UK, Salt & Stone is sold by Sephora UK, Space NK and its own UK website, saltandstone.com. When we checked in November 2026, the 75g sticks were £20 at Sephora UK and Space NK, and Sephora UK also sold a 28g mini for £12. Space NK sometimes runs discounts, and Harrods and some independent shops stock it too.
In the US, the sticks were $20 at Sephora, Nordstrom and Kohl's, and on saltandstone.com, which also sells sets and the Mini Deodorant Discovery Set.
Our buy link is in the score card near the top of this review.
Want to compare Salt & Stone with every other pick we rate?
See Our Best Deodorant Picks7Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy Salt & Stone
- Anyone who wants a deodorant that smells like a niche fragrance
- People switching to aluminium-free who want strong odour control
- Sensitive skin: the baking-soda-free gel, not the stick
Heavy sweaters need an antiperspirant. Anyone reacting to fragrance needs an unscented product, which Salt & Stone doesn't make. Budget shoppers will get similar odour control from much cheaper aluminium-free sticks; see our best aluminium-free deodorant picks.
8Our Verdict
Salt & Stone deserves its reputation for scent, and independent testing suggests the odour control is genuinely good for an aluminium-free deodorant. The price is the catch: at £20 or $20, you're paying mostly for the fragrance and the packaging. If that matters to you, it's one of the best natural deodorants you can buy in both the UK and the US. Choose the gel if your skin is sensitive, because the Extra Strength stick contains baking soda. Overall, we give it a research score of 6.8 out of 10.
9Salt & Stone at a Glance
- Founded: 2017, Los Angeles, by Nima Jalali
- Owner: Advent International (majority stake agreed in 2026)
- Formulas: Extra Strength stick (with baking soda) and Deodorant Gel (baking-soda-free)
- Price: £20 or $20 for 75g; £12 for a 28g mini in the UK
- Vegan and cruelty-free: yes, according to the brand and its retailers
10Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Salt & Stone deodorant worth the money?+
It depends on what you value. For odour control alone, cheaper sticks work well for most people. What you pay extra for is the scent, which is closer to a niche perfume than a typical deodorant, and the packaging. If you want a deodorant that doubles as a fragrance, many buyers think it's worth it. If you just want to smell neutral, it probably isn't.
QDoes Salt & Stone deodorant contain baking soda?+
The Extra Strength stick does. Its ingredient list includes sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) alongside magnesium hydroxide. The clear Deodorant Gel, sold for sensitive skin, is made without baking soda. If you've had a rash from a natural deodorant before, choose the gel.
QIs Salt & Stone deodorant good for sensitive skin?+
The gel is the better choice for sensitive skin, because it doesn't contain baking soda. The Extra Strength stick is marketed as safe for sensitive skin, but it does contain baking soda, which irritates some people. Every Salt & Stone deodorant is fragranced, so if fragrance is your trigger, choose an unscented product from another brand.
QIs Salt & Stone an antiperspirant?+
No. Salt & Stone deodorants are aluminium-free, so they don't reduce how much you sweat. They control odour with magnesium hydroxide, baking soda (in the stick) and prebiotics, plus a strong fragrance. If you need sweat control, you'll need an antiperspirant.
QWhich Salt & Stone scent is the best?+
Santal & Vetiver is the brand's bestseller, with warm sandalwood, cedar and amber notes. Black Rose & Oud is darker and more floral, and it was the scent Consumer Reports' testers singled out. Neroli & Basil and Bergamot & Hinoki are fresher, and Saffron & Cedar is sweeter. The Mini Deodorant Discovery Set lets you try five.
QWhere can I buy Salt & Stone deodorant in the UK?+
Sephora UK, Space NK and Salt & Stone's own UK website all sold it for £20 (75g) when we checked in November 2026. Sephora UK also sells a 28g mini for £12. Harrods and some independent stores stock it too.
QWho owns Salt & Stone?+
Salt & Stone was founded in Los Angeles in 2017 by former pro snowboarder Nima Jalali. In 2026, private equity firm Advent International agreed to buy a majority stake. Jalali stays on as CEO and remains a shareholder.