Myro vs. by Humankind
Comparing Two Natural Deodorants
I have been taking my time wearing my way through various natural deodorants for several years now. As aluminum-free deodorants with healthy ingredients continue to gain popularity, new brands have entered my awareness, and each seems to offer something a little different. Two notable brands along the way have been Myro and by Humankind.
While these two deodorant sticks are unique from one another in many ways, they have one main feature in common: both are gentler on the environment thanks to a reusable case that you replenish with low-waste refills.
Myro vs. by Humankind
If you're perpetually looking for ways to lessen your environmental impact like I am, you may have come across the natural brands Myro and by Humankind. Like I mentioned above, each offers a different deodorant experience in terms of the feel, the scents offered, and even the refill mechanism, but in my early research both seemed to have their own merits. Rather than taking a chance on just one of these natural deodorants and forever wondering if I had made the right decision, I opted to try both. Read on for my comparison of Myro and by Humankind to learn the answers to some of your big questions: Do these natural deodorants really work? Which refillable deodorant is better? You'll soon find out!
Myro
Myro is a natural deodorant brand that considers itself pro-person and pro-planet, meaning only gentle, healthy, and natural ingredients are used.
The Details
How much does Myro cost?
- The Myro Starter Kit costs $10. This includes one reusable plastic case—meant to last forever!—and one refill. (Note that the case doesn't come pre-filled, so when they say "refill" they mean just 1 tube of deodorant to insert into your case.)
- Shipping costs $5 for every one-time purchase and is free for subscribers. They ship to the US, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- You can customize your case for $6.
- Subscription refills cost $30 (3 refills at $10 each) every 3, 4, or 6 months. You can adjust this frequency at any time.
What does Myro deodorant feel like?
Myro goes on really smoothly thanks to an aloe-based formula! From my experience, it's important to apply this deodorant on super-dry skin, or else it will feel a little wet under your arms and not be as effective throughout the day.
Does it smell nice?
I tried the Cabin No. 5 scent (vetiver, patchouli, and geranium) and it smelled so nice. It's subtly pine-scented, not overpowering at all, and a great gender-neutral option.
Myro also offers the following scents, and they're typically all available at any given time:
- Solar Flare (orange, juniper, and sunflower)
- Big Dipper (bergamot, lavender, and vetiver)
- Chill Wave (cucumber, jasmine, and spearmint)
- Pillow Talk (violet leaf, ylang ylang, and wild amyris)
- Open Air (unscented and fragrance-free)
How's the odor protection?
From my experience, it's decent in low-exertion situations and mild air temps. When I got moving or stepped into the heat, I found that a little bit of body odor peeked through.
What's the refill process like?
It was a bit tricky for me! I had to jiggle things around for a few minutes to figure out how to secure them, but after that, everything felt sturdy and worked smoothly.
Does Myro offer any other natural personal care products?
Nope. Just deodorant cases in a variety of colors and refills in 6 scents (including fragrance-free).
Check out my full-length Myro review to learn more, or buy Myro here.
by Humankind
Personal care brand by Humankind is committed to reducing single-use plastic and providing clean, healthy products. This effort starts with their supply chain and extends to the products themselves, plus the packaging they're shipped in.
The Details
How much does by Humankind cost?
- A by Humankind deodorant bar costs $12 with a one-time purchase. It costs $10 when you sign up for a subscription. This includes one reusable plastic case that's meant to be reused forever and one refill. (Same as with Myro, the case doesn't come pre-filled, so you just get 1 tube of deodorant to fill your new case with.)
- Shipping is always free! They only ship to the US.
- Subscription refills cost $20.40 (2 refills at $10.20 each) in 4 weeks from your first delivery, then every 8 weeks after that. You can adjust the frequency at any time.
What does by Humankind deodorant feel like?
by Humankind deodorant sticks are on the firmer, waxier side. The benefit of that is that I found there to be absolutely no wetness under my arms when applying; a potential downside may be if you have sensitive skin and require a smoother application. I found that holding the deodorant to my armpit for a few seconds before gliding softened it enough to make it a comfortable application.
Does it smell nice?
When I placed my by Humankind order, the only option available was unscented. I can confirm that it did not have a scent! That's true when you smell the deodorant itself, when you apply it, and later in the day after living your life in it.
by Humankind does offer four scents, but their availability is unreliable. Here they are:
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary-Mint
- Coconut
- Lavender-Citrus
How's the odor protection?
I was really impressed with by Humankind's odor protection! From my experience, one morning application combatted my body odor all day.
What's the refill process like?
Easy peasy! I found refilling the by Humankind case to be intuitive.
Does by Humankind offer any other natural personal care products?
Yes. by Humankind carries the following additional eco-friendly personal care products:
- Hand sanitizer in a few scent options (they come in 8 oz bottles meant to be used to refill smaller bottles).
- Shampoo bars
- Conditioner bars
- Body wash bars
- Hand soap bars
- Mouth wash, sold in tablet form
- Cotton swabs with bamboo sticks (100% biodegradable)
- Dopp kits made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles
Check out my full-length by Humankind review to learn more, or buy by Humankind here.
Which one is right for you?
I gave both of these natural deodorants a fair shake and I like them both for different reasons (though I did rate by Humankind a smidge higher—4.6/5 stars, as opposed to 4/5 stars for Myro—because I personally preferred the dryness offered by its more firm, waxy consistency). Below, I break down some of the key details of each deodorant so that you can easily compare and choose the right one for you.
Cost
- If you're game to try out a subscription plan, both Myro and by Humankind cost $10 + free shipping when you subscribe!
- If you want to start with a one-time purchase, by Humankind costs $12 (includes free shipping), whereas Myro costs $15 ($10 + $5 shipping).
Ingredients & Odor Protection
Good news: both of these deodorants are aluminum-free, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free. Note that neither Myro nor by Humankind is an antiperspirant, so neither will prevent moisture under your arms like a mainstream deodorant would!
- If you have sensitive skin and need a deodorant that's baking-soda-free, Myro is a better option. There is no baking soda in any of their scents.
- If you don't mind baking soda in your deodorant—it is said to help reduce odor—it's present in all of by Humankind's scents. Of the two deodorants compared here, I found by Humankind to stave off odors more effectively.
Fragrances
Both Myro and by Humankind use all-natural ingredients (essential oils) for their fragrances. However:
- If having a variety of fragrances to try month-to-month is important to you, Myro's fragrance options are more reliably in-stock.
- If you value odor protection over fragrance, by Humankind will be the better choice for you.
The Feel
- If you prefer a smoother deodorant application, you'll like Myro's super-soft consistency better.
- If you like a firmer deodorant, you'll prefer by Humankind.
The Environmental Aspect
- If you're serious about lessening your impact, by Humankind may be a better choice—they are an entirely carbon neutral company. Their deodorant refills come in a compostable paper lining with some #5 recyclable plastic components (you have to break the refill case apart to recycle & compost the respective parts).
- If you're looking for a quick and easy way to reduce waste, Myro's refills come in #2 recyclable plastic pods that can be tossed right in the bin.
Which natural deodorant do you think you'll go for? Tell us in the comments!
More Natural Deodorants to Consider
Want to read all our reviews of popular natural deodorants? Here are our thoughts on by Humankind, Myro, and more!
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