Skin irritation and allergies are the most common health complaints associated with deodorants and antiperspirants, but some ingredients found in these products are associated with more serious health effects, including hormone disruption and cancer. Furthermore, all these chemicals wash down the drain and interfere with the health of aquatic organisms.

Ingredients like astringent salts, triclosan, synthetic fragrances and various types of preservatives are often found in conventional deodorants and can cause health problems including skin irritation and allergies, eczema and hormone disruption. Triclosan has been implicated in the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and also builds up in waterways—where the ingredient has been found to cause thyroid disruption and interfere with the growth and development of frogs.