Baking soda

Carrageenan

Chamomile (German)

Fluoride

Ginger

Glycerin

Glycyrrhizin

Glyceryl laurate

Hectorite clay

Hops

Lemongrass

Lichen

Natural flavors

Poloxamer 335 and 407

Potassium nitrate

Propolis

Propylene glycol

Sage

Silica, hydrated

Silica shells

Sodium lauryl sulfate

Sorbitol

Sucrose cocoate 

Xanthan gum

Xylitol

Zinc citrate

Zinc ricinoleate

Further ingredient research:

Search the databases of the American Botanical Council for the latest research on herbal ingredients.

Ingredient Fact Sheet: Hops

What is it?

The hop plant is a perennial herb that grows in vines. Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North America, it is known for the speed and persistence of its growth. Most people are familiar with hops because of its role in beer-making, although it also featured in ancient kitchens and the medical recipes of herbalists.

First widely used in beer by monks in 9th- and 10th-century Germany, the hop didn’t gain popularity because of its flavor. Instead, the “bitter principles” of hops exhibit antimicrobial behavior, making the ingredient an effective preservative and stabilizer. In 1516, Wilhelm IV, lord of Bayern, ordered that hops be one of the required ingredients in beer in his Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law). That law led to similar enactments in other countries and helped to standardize the use of hops in brewing. Hops’ distinctive bitterness has now become one of the familiar attributes of a typical beer.

Only the female flowers, known as cones, are used in beer-making. For our deodorants, we use hop resins extracted from the cones.

What does it do?

Unpleasant odor is caused by skin bacteria when we sweat. The “bitter principles” that help hops to preserve beer also, it turns out, fight odor. Hops inhibits the growth of bacteria by causing leakage in the bacterial cell membrane, which impairs bacterial function and therefore prevents odor. We use hops in our Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Sticks and our Natural Original Deodorant Sticks.

What are the alternatives?

Lichen (Usnea barbata) has been in our (and many other natural) deodorants since 1991, and it provided effective and natural odor protection. However, a minor percentage of the general population—often, those who tend to have fragrance allergies—may experience a skin reaction to lichen. Even though it’s a relatively uncommon reaction, we weren’t satisfied, and our scientists continued to search for ingredients with less irritancy potential.

We also felt increasingly uncomfortable with the environmental drawbacks to using lichen. Studies have shown that the large-scale harvesting of lichen may not be sustainable given its long regeneration rates.

What are the risks?

Hops are believed to have sedative properties, but topical application in the amount found in our deodorant will not cause sleepiness.

Tom's of Maine recognizes that no two people are alike, and even with pure and natural ingredients, some individuals may develop an allergic reaction that is unique to them. As with any product, be sure to discontinue use if you experience discomfort or other indications that the product may not be appropriate for your individual body chemistry.