F.A.Q.
Mineralized Uses
We conducted a survey of our customers and found that Mineralized is used in various ways:
- Deodorant
- Body Powder (underboobs, or other areas that don't breathe well)
- Private areas
- Foot/shoe powder
- Face de-shiner (a light dabbing removes the sheen from oily skin)
- Dry shampoo
How to Apply Mineralized
Please see our application instructions.
Do You Test on Animals?
No, we do not, and we have confirmed with our suppliers that they also do not test on animals. Mineralized is also a vegan product.
Why a Powder?
We chose a powder to stay true to our values of selecting ingredients based on safety and effectiveness.
Synthetic chemicals are commonly used to create sticks, gels, and creams, and we wanted to avoid them. The resulting formulation is a powder to avoid these chemicals.
Where Is It Made? Where Do You Source Your Materials?
The product is made in Englewood, Colorado, USA, and ships from there. But we source our ingredients and materials from all over:
We buy the powder ingredients from an American distributor, but the origin of the powders is Japan (magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide) and China (calcium carbonate). Our ingredients page has the certificates of analysis if you are interested.
The packaging is sourced from China — we have looked around in the USA for packaging, but as a smaller business we have two headwinds: 1) USA-based suppliers don't want to deal in the "small" quantities we need, and 2) the prices are high compared to what we can get overseas. One day, hopefully, that will change.
The essential oils are from Canadian and French distributors, but they source them from many different countries.
Will This Deodorant Work with Hairy Armpits?
Yes! Many of our customers do not shave their underarms and use Mineralized with success. It is hard to get exact data on this, but we actually suspect two things: a) it might be slightly more effective for those with hairy underarms — the hair helps to trap the deodorant in the underarm for longer (vs rubbing off on clothes), keeping the powder where it is needed, and b) it might require slightly more powder (vs shaved) to get full coverage, since the powder will disperse through the hair.
How Should I Know How Much to Apply?
It will take a little trial and error, but as a starting point we think that about one "thin coating" of powder on the applicator for each underarm is reasonable. Dip the applicator into the powder, scrape a little bit off on the edge of the container, and leave yourself a thin coating.
What Are the Different Scents?
Worried you won't like the scents? Free exchanges — just contact us!
Vetiver — Leather, tobacco, grassy, elegant and primal
Cedarwood Atlas — Crisp, light cedar, hints of soft mint, subtle notes of dark fruit
Tea Tree — Fresh, herbal, antiseptic, similar to eucalyptus but more complex
Sandalwood — Creamy, gently warm, subtly spicy, sophisticated
Cherry Blossom* — Light, sweet and refreshing with notes of pear, rose, and vanilla
Blue Tansy — Earthy, slightly fruity, herbal with honey undertones, surprising depth and complexity
Lavender — Floral, clean, notes of rosemary and mint, calming and soothing
Pink Grapefruit + Bergamot — Crisp and fruity, fresh, bright and invigorating
Sage — Dry, herbaceous, peppery, hints of eucalyptus and mint, magical and cleansing
Wild Black Spruce — Freshly-cut pine, clean, sharp, musky, wild and ancient
Vanilla — Sweet, rich, freshly baked, warm and cozy
Rose — Graceful, exquisite, softly floral sweetness
Sensitive Unscented — Completely unscented, smell like yourself, and our most sensitive offering
Charcoal Unscented — Sensitive Unscented infused with organic activated charcoal
Charcoal in deodorant helps absorb moisture and neutralize odor-causing bacteria due to its highly porous structure. The darker pigmentation of our charcoal-infused formula also reduces the visibility on darker skin complexions.
*Cherry Blossom is technically a "fragrance oil", not an essential oil. It is free of parabens, phthalates, Lyrals and Lilials (all known to have negative effects on humans). All other oils are essential oils, organic when available.
What If I Don't Like the Scents I Chose?
We understand that choosing scents online is difficult.
If you try a new scent and really don't like it, email us — we can send a replacement, offer store credit, or provide a refund. We want you to love your scents, so we're happy to accommodate reasonable requests.
Is It an Antiperspirant? How Does It Affect Perspiration?
Mineralized is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant.
Antiperspirants contain aluminum, which clogs sweat glands to prevent sweating. Mineralized is aluminum-free and works by neutralizing odor.
That said, some of our ingredients are hydrophilic (water-loving) and absorb moisture, creating a slight drying effect.
Some customers with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) have found that Mineralized helps. We've shared some of their feedback on our Instagram here.
If you need to prevent sweating completely, you may still want to use an antiperspirant on certain days. However, using Mineralized on easy days or weekends can reduce exposure to antiperspirant chemicals.
Does Mineralized Contain Parabens, Phthalates, or Lilials?
No, Mineralized does not contain these.
How long does it last? Usage Statistics
We dug into our order data to answer one of the most common questions we get: how long does a full-size Mineralized deodorant actually last?
The short answer
Based on all data, the MEDIAN reorder gap is about 70 days, whereas the AVERAGE reorder gap is about 146 days.
But these numbers (being so different) hide a more interesting story.
There isn't just one type of customer
When we modeled the data statistically, distinct usage patterns emerged:
- RAPID (~8 day median, 11% of customers) — Up-sizing to full size, trying different scents, gifts, or other.
- MONTHLY (~33 day median, 24% of customers) — Frequent buyers, probably heavy daily users or households where multiple people are using the product.
- CORE LIFECYCLE (~98 day median, 43% of customers) — The largest group. About 2.5 months per full-size unit. This is probably the most accurate signal of how long the product lasts with regular daily use.
- INFREQUENT (~265 day median, 21% of customers) — These customers take around 6 months between orders. Perhaps some use the product more sparingly (we have had reports that it lasts multiple days from a minority) or some may rotate between brands.
Note that the standard deviations are all pretty wide on these groups, as shown in the graph.
What the data shows for loyal customers
Here is a graph for 3+ order customers, showing 2 fitted distributions within:
The bars show the actual data. The curves show the two groups we fitted that are potentially hiding inside it. Two clear patterns emerged:
"Deodorant +" (green, 28% of customers) — Reorders around 30 days. Likely dual use (deodorant + body powder) or multi-person households.
"Deodorant Only" (orange, 72% of customers) — Reorders around 93 days. Most customers fall here. One unit lasts about 3 months with regular daily use.
The bottom line
For a single person using Mineralized daily, we estimate one full-size unit lasts about 93 days, but with a standard deviation of about 54 days.
The overall average of 146 days (from the beginning of this section) overstates actual product lifespan. It's inflated by long gaps that reflect either lapsed customers or those that actually go through it very slowly.
What If It Doesn't Work?
Please see the section below our application instructions for common reasons why it might not work.
Can You Explain How This Works?
Body odor is largely caused by bacteria that live on your skin. These bacteria eat the sweat from apocrine sweat glands (which contain water but also a grab-bag of fatty acids, proteins, and other stuff), and the waste products from bacteria eating these other products are what have a bad odor.
Mineralized works by targeting and neutralizing the odorous byproducts from this reaction.
If you decided to go without deodorant until you started to smell, and then applied Mineralized, it will neutralize that smell almost immediately. The reaction between Mineralized and the odorous molecules on your skin is very fast. This is what we call the "true test" on the application instructions page.
We have years of data on customers now, and we know that Mineralized works for most people. However, we have learned that it simply doesn't work for about 5% of people, which means our assumptions about what the odorous byproducts are are not complete.
Some people just have a different (or additional) mechanism to produce odor, which Mineralized does not neutralize. (This is why we said "largely caused" above). We have a theory that natural fungus that lives on your skin could be a contributor in some people, especially those with stubborn body odor.
This also means that not just ANY magnesium and/or calcium products work: the formula is designed to work in concert, with the ingredients enhancing the effectiveness of each other.
What Is the pH of Mineralized?
Mineralized has a slightly basic pH of approximately 7.5 when mixed with 30ml of water.
For reference:
- Water has a pH of 7.0
- Baking soda (measured the same way) has a pH of ~9.0
Can the Applicator Be Washed?
Yes, the applicator can be washed. How often is up to you and depends on your personal preferences.
We recommend multiple rinses with water, and if necessary using a mild soap. If you use soap, be sure to rinse numerous times to make sure it is completely rinsed away. When wet, the applicator will expand in size, but will shrink to normal size after drying.
We have found that drying takes about 24–36 hours depending on how much water is squeezed out and the ambient heat and humidity conditions. We recommend drying in a well-ventilated area.
If you are in a tight spot and need it to dry faster, we have put it in the clothing dryer on low/medium heat (not with whites) and that seems to speed things up without degrading the sponge.
Why Are Some Scents More Expensive Than Others?
A few of the scents we sell have much higher-priced essential oils, and rather than average that cost over all the scents we just made different price points to keep the other scents more affordable.
What Is the Applicator Made Of?
The applicator is made from 70% biodegradable polyurethane foam (free of latex). This is similar to the foam found in furniture, mattresses, car seats, shoes, and yoga mats to name a few examples. It is inert and resilient and can be washed many times.
We consider this the largest shortcoming in terms of environmental impact at this time. But it is very durable, and can be washed many times before needing replacement. We have some that are going on 4 years old at this point.
We tested a 100% biodegradable version, but it was not resilient enough for regular use (it basically crumbled a bit too easily).
We do have some other ideas we are testing, and might have something soon!
Does the Aluminum Jar Leach into the Product?
Aluminum leaching into Mineralized is not a concern.
The reason is that metallic aluminum, after being formed, reacts quickly with oxygen in the air and forms a very thin layer of aluminum oxide. This nanometer-thick layer acts as a protective coating to the underlying aluminum, and is inert to chemical reactions except in certain circumstances.
This is similar to the process of iron becoming rusty (becoming iron oxide) in the presence of salt water, but it happens more rapidly and without needing the water.
This form of aluminum is chemically very different from the aluminum found in antiperspirants.
We did a little searching just to see if we could be wrong, and the conditions that are necessary for aluminum to corrode seem to require a strong alkaline liquid.
We also reached out to our manufacturers to double check, and they agreed that there isn't any reason to believe that the aluminum will leach into the powder.
Here are some resources talking about aluminum corrosion, if you want to read more yourself: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/aluminum-corrosion
Why Did You Switch to Jojoba Oil (from Coconut Oil)?
We learned that more people are sensitive to coconut oil than we initially thought (and many do not know it themselves). The jojoba oil was used in our "sensitive" version and seems to agree with a greater number of people, so after testing that it worked with scented versions we just switched it out. We still have an unscented coconut oil version available by special request.
Does Mineralized Contain Nano Powder?
We do not use nano-powders in Mineralized. We are aware of the potential negative effects of nano-sized powders and inhalation. You can find an example size distribution report of the ingredients here.
Is Mineralized Safe for All Skin Types?
Since 2020, when we first launched, we have had a handful of customers (1/1000 or so) that are allergic to something in Mineralized. The reaction has been a slight reddening of the skin. If this happens to you, please stop use immediately and contact us for further resolution.
Charcoal Unscented — Moisture Absorption and Staining
Early feedback and testing suggests that the charcoal unscented is more moisture absorbing. We would expect this due to the very porous nature and large surface area of activated charcoal powder. Water tends to work its way into the pores by capillary action, and the nanometer pore sizes trap water. If you want to see what activated charcoal looks like microscopically, you can see here.
Also note that the source of the activated charcoal is coconut. It does not contain any coconut oil, but if you are very sensitive to coconut then you might want to avoid.
We tested charcoal unscented with white cotton t-shirts for about 3 months and did not see any staining. The amount of charcoal is pretty low. But we do not know how it would behave yet with other fabrics, so advise some caution there. As of now we have not received any complaints or feedback of staining (late April 2025).
Is Mineralized Formally Tested and Regulated?
Regulation
Firstly, personal care products like deodorants are basically unregulated in the USA (assuming you are also USA based). You could ask that for virtually every product out there.
Here is the FDA page addressing some frequently asked questions on this topic: FDA Authority Over Cosmetics
The short summary of that page is:
- FDA Regulation vs. Approval: Cosmetics are not FDA-approved but are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). Color additives are the exception, requiring FDA approval before being used in cosmetics.
- Definition of Cosmetics: Defined by intended use, such as products for cleansing, beautifying, or altering appearance, excluding soaps.
- Safety and Labeling Laws: Prohibits adulterated or misbranded cosmetics in interstate commerce. Adulteration can involve harmful substances, unsanitary conditions, or harmful packaging. Misbranding involves false labeling or inadequate information about the product.
- Manufacturer Responsibilities: Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products. FDA does not require specific tests but expects manufacturers to perform necessary safety substantiations.
- FDA Enforcement: Can pursue legal action against non-compliant products or companies. Can inspect manufacturing facilities and test cosmetics. Does not have the authority to order cosmetic recalls but can request recalls of hazardous products.
Ingredient Safety
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) maintains an extensive database of ingredients and summaries of the tests done. You can find that list here: https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredients
If you dig into these papers, and go one layer deeper to read the papers that these summaries reference, you will see that many of the safety studies involve a variant of a few tests:
- Take a very large dose of the tested chemical and administer it to mice, multiple times per day, for a few weeks. If there are any acute reactions, note them and assume they probably apply to humans as well.
- Administer doses of the chemicals to small patches of human skin and see if any reaction develops over the coming weeks.
- In some cases, they can test these chemicals "in vitro" (tested on living cells in a lab, outside the organism). These are also short-term studies.
Our conclusion from digging deeper into this world is that the science for acute exposure for many of these chemicals is solid enough.
However, and this is important, there are no long-term studies in humans on the safety of these chemicals. We do not know (and might never know, due to the complexity of the problem) the true long-term effects of dosing these chemicals daily on humans.
Our view on this: we, as a society, are not weighing the unknowns here strongly enough. What makes us think that many of the chemicals are safe?
Mineralized Deodorant
Our answer is to try to create an effective product out of simple mineral compounds, with constituent ingredients that are already in our bodies (magnesium and calcium compounds in our case). Our reasoning is more from first principles: our body has these minerals in us already, and has machinery to deal with those minerals. Contrast this with the cocktail of foreign chemicals many of us are putting on our bodies every day.
Long-Term Safety
So to finally address the question: we do not know if Mineralized is truly safe in the long term. We know from those studies that acutely it is very likely to be safe. But for the long term, for all personal care products, we are in a sense running the experiment currently.
There have been a few of these "experiments" run already, with adverse outcomes. If you are not familiar, feel free to research talc/asbestos, parabens, BPAs, etc.
But for our bodies, we choose to bet on Mineralized, for the reasons stated above.
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