FAQs
~GENERAL *How do you pronounce Biode®? ^Hey, thanks for asking! It's By-Oh-Dee (as if you started saying "biodegradable" but got tired halfway through)
+ Where are Biode® products made? ^Our products are proudly made in Australia, from 100% natural and including some certified organic ingredients sourced from Australia wherever possible.
+ What other products will you be offering? ^We've got some great products to add to our initial launch of our hero natural deodorants, salve and body & hair bars, including perfume balms and face care.
Our aim is to gradually replace as many plastic body care and lifestyle products as possible with earth friendly options, removing plastic from landfill and giving you more options to be more autonomously responsible for your waste.
+ Does Biode® test on animals? ^Absolutely not! (Unless you count our handsome PT, Cam, who was the first road tester of our deodorants).
+ Do you sell in stores? ^ Initially, we made the decision to focus on making the highest quality products we could, and in order to deliver them to you at a competitive price, it means that always our best channel is direct - so that was where we started. Those following us on social media (@biode.official on Instagram and Facebook) will be the first to know about our discounts!
We are however pleased to advise we are now stocked in a few stores both bricks and mortar and online.
We are also a small business, so please tell your friends!
+How long do your products last once opened? ^Our products are at their best for 6 months after they have been opened and all are designed to last around 12-14 weeks with daily use, which is about how long the packaging will take to decompose in a home compost.
+Tell me about discount codes? ^Sure! From time to time we will advertise discount codes on our website or social media, or via our brand partners. Only one discount code can be used per order, so choose the one that gives you the greatest savings!
~DEODORANTS *Natural - will it actually work? ^Most definitely! We spent years trying to find a natural deodorant that actually works. We couldn't, so we decided to make one, therefore efficacy is important to us!
We use key odour busting ingredients like bicarbonate of soda, magnesium and tapioca powder in the highest quality and with essential oils in higher concentrations than many other products we could find and road test.
Check out our reviews to see what our customers have to say!
+ I've never used natural deodorant. What should I expect?^If it is your first time switching to natural, it can take a little bit of time for your body to adjust, particularly if you have been using anti-perspirant. So try to persist, your body (and the earth) will thank you!
To help speed up this process, you can choose to do a pit detox. Simply take some sea salt, or a clay mask (or if you have some bentonite clay add some apple cider vinegar to form a paste) and apply to your underarms ahead of showering. Leave for between 5-15 minutes and aim to do this once per week for a few weeks. This will help speed up the detoxification process and allow the deodorant to work more closely in harmony with your body.
Alternatively, use our exfoliating soap!
+ How long will a tube of deodorant last? ^If one person uses our 60g deodorant once a day, it will last approximately 12-14 weeks. That's about the same time it takes for our packaging to decompose in a compost.
+ Are your deodorants anti-perspirants? ^No.
Our bodies are incredible healing machines and sweating is a part of our natural detoxification process. Blocking this natural part of your body’s waste system can lead to toxins becoming trapped, finding their way into the lymph nodes, where they concentrate and contribute to the cellular changes that lead to cancer.
Biode® deodorant uses all natural ingredients that assist in eliminating bacteria which causes body odour to keep you healthy and smelling great, without harmful sweat blockers.
+ Usage tips ^Apply daily to your underarms after showering or bathing and most importantly, wait a minute or two to get dressed so the paste can warm to your body temperature. That's it, really. Reapply only if you've showered again (say, after exercise).
Remember less is more to start with. If you are noticing Biode on your clothes, remember to wait a minute or two after applying before you get dressed AND try and apply a bit less and see if that works better. Otherwise, drop us a line and let us see if we can help!
If you are finding you can notice your body's natural scent before the day is out, consider a pit detox. We like to do this once a month just to make sure our pits are happy and clean.
+ What is a pit detox and how do I do it? ^A pit detox is basically a flushing out of all built up toxins in your underarms.
Simply take some sea salt, or a clay mask (or if you have some bentonite clay add some apple cider vinegar to form a paste) and apply to your pits ahead of showering. Leave for between 5-15 minutes and aim to do this once per week for a few weeks. This will help speed up the detoxification process and allow the deodorant to work more closely in harmony with your body.
Alternatively, use our exfoliating soap!
+ What does "carb-free" deodorant mean? ^It means we have not used any bicarbonate of soda in the formulation, as some more sensitive skin types can find this ingredient irritating.
So if you feel like you might be a bit more sensitive, then choose our Into the Earth Carb-Free Deodorant. Smells amazing, and works just as well with our key ingredients magnesium, tapioca powder and kaolin clay.
+ Help me choose! ^If you feel you need a deodorant that’s more heavy duty, choose our original Into the Woods scent.
If you tend towards sensitivity, definitely try Into the Earth. The gentler active ingredients will still tackle the task head on!
+ I can’t push up my deodorant! Help me! ^ Our tubes are completely made from paper and our ingredients are natural and don’t contain any silicones or other lubricants so sometimes, usually depending on the weather, this can be more difficult for the initial uses. If you can’t seem to push up the deodorant, find a warm place to sit it for about 15-20 mins (like a sunny windowsill) and it should push up. Alternatively grab your hairdryer and put on medium heat and apply from about 15-20cm away checking every 15-20 seconds to see if you can push it up. You should only need to repeat this once before the waxes soften and you can push it up. Be careful not to over apply heat! Any other issues drop us a line on instagram DM or via hello@biode.com.
+ Initial Deodorant Money Back Guarantee ^If for any reason you do not love your first deodorant purchase with us, simply email us at hello@biode.com with the details of your order and we will work it out with you. Once we confirm the guarantee applies to you, the terms and conditions of the guarantee require you to send the unused portion back to us at 2 Shepherd Street Marrickville NSW 2204. Once received we will refund you the purchase price of your deodorant. Offer applies to one deodorant only per customer and money will be refunded back to the same payment method of the initial purchase. Shipping costs will not be refunded. Imperfectly Perfect stock not included within this offer.
~INGREDIENTS *What is in Biode® products? ^We use 100% natural ingredients, with many certified organic ingredients sourced from Australia wherever possible.
+ What is NOT in Biode® products? ^No parabens
No phthalates
No sulphates
No silicones
No petro-chemicals
No synthetic dyes
No synthetic fragrances
+What do you mean by "gender neutral scents"? ^We've used unique essential oil blends that suit every body, regardless of gender.
+I don't recognise an ingredient - what's it doing in the product? ^We are all about complete transparency, so check out our comprehensive Ingredient Glossary for a run down of what every single one of our ingredients is doing for you.
~PACKAGING *What is the difference between biodegradable and home compostable? ^Biodegradable materials are a much better choice for the environment, and can fully return to earth, however they can sometimes leave behind a metal residue.
Compostable materials are biodegradable, but they go one step further. They create something called humus that is full of nutrients and great for plants. So you can be confident that a compostable resource is fully returning to earth.
+Is absolutely EVERYTHING home compostable? ^Our aim has been to make all Biode™ products home compostable, and where this isn’t possible, they must be multi-use.
Where possible we are also looking for the packaging to be from post-consumer waste (i.e. it is already recycled). Our bags are made from cornstarch and all printing is with eco-friendly vegetable inks. Our seed tags have been made with recycled office paper and designed to go straight in the ground, so if someone has gifted one to you, plant yourself a tree!
We have almost achieved our 100% compostable goal, but for one small bit of coated paper on the back of the adhesive strip on our soap holders. We are working with the manufacturer of these holders to find a solution that offers the same strong bond that is important for the holders to give you years of use.
So, please do not put this strip in the compost. It can however, be recycled with your soft plastics.
Not sure how to recycle soft plastics? Most major supermarkets offer drop off for soft plastics, or check with your local council. This is another great way to remove inorganic matter from landfill.
+Exactly WHAT do I do with the packaging? ^You can put our empty tubes, cardboard boxes, cornstarch bags and soap holder boxes (including any labels) straight into your compost. Simply tear up into small pieces and put into the ground or a potted plant.
Under ideal conditions - moist and warm environment - these materials will break down in approximately the time it takes you to use your next deodorant, or bar, or salve!
Learn more about home composting here!
+Can I send Biode® as a gift? ^You sure can! We offer gift tags made from recycled seeded paper, and we can write a note for you on the tag and attach to your package with our compostable twine, just pop the details in the notes section of your cart.
If you don’t want to add a note, totally up to you, we never send printed copies of your receipt (added waste), so you can add the shipping details and your Biode® goodness will be on its way in no time.
~SUBSCRIPTIONS *Do you offer subscriptions? ^Not yet, but this feature is coming soon!
~SHIPPING & RETURNS *Where do you ship? ^We ship anywhere in Australia. We don’t yet ship internationally but we are working on it!
+How long will it take to process my order? ^We aim to process and fulfil your order within 3-5 business days and we generally ship Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Shipping is via Australia Post. Please allow sufficient time for your order to reach you if it is required by a certain date. Shipping delays may occur due to factors outside of our control. If you need something by a certain date, please contact us via email hello@biode.com and we will do our best to assist.
+How much is shipping? ^Shipping is based on weight up to $99, after which shipping is on us! Shipping is automatically calculated when you checkout.
+Tracking your order ^You’ll receive an email with tracking details so you can keep an eye on when your amazing Biode® products will arrive at your door!
+Returns ^We cannot unfortunately accept returns of personal care products that have been used, other than for our initial deodorant money back guarantee. If for any reason you do not love your first deodorant purchase with us, simply email us at hello@biode.com with the details of your order and we will work it out with you. Once we confirm the guarantee applies to you, the terms and conditions of the guarantee require you to send the unused portion back to us at 2 Shepherd Street Marrickville NSW 2204. Once received we will refund you the purchase price of your deodorant. Offer applies to one deodorant only per customer and money will be refunded back to the same payment method of the initial purchase. Offer does not apply to imperfectly perfect stock.
If you have an issue with how your product has been received though, please email us at hello@biode.com and we will do our utmost to help resolve your concerns. Your statutory consumer protections do apply.
~WHOLESALING *Do you wholesale? ^Due to the amazing level of enquiry since we launched, we commenced wholesaling in October 2020. Just email us at hello@biode.com with “WHOLESALE ENQUIRY” in the subject line and we’ll be back to you ASAP!
~GET IN TOUCH * Question, comment or concern? ^We'd love to hear from you, drop us a line at hello@biode.com.
Biode is a division of The Australian Natural Beauty Co. 2 Shepherd Street, Marrickville - Ph. (02) 9568 5264
+ I LOVE my Biode® product(s), how can I support the brand? ^First of all, so glad to hear that! A great way to support our small business is to leave a review on the product page for the item you'd like to review. This feedback is enormously helpful for us and we greatly appreciate it!
~LEGAL INFO *Privacy Policy ^You can read our privacy information here.
+Terms and Conditions ^You can read our Terms & Conditions here.