Persimmon Tannin : The Deodorizing Ingredient Japan Figured Out Centuries Ago

Ok, so I may have mentioned persimmon tannin before (hi, yes, that was a big part of that soap post) BUT it’s one of those ingredients that’s just so cool and I wanted to give it it’s own spotlight. So tada, and away we go :

Persimmon tannin as an ingredient has been around helping with body odour centuries before any modern “natural deodorant” even existed as an idea. The Japanese culture has been using it for centuries literally, and I think it’s about time for Canadians to get into this too.

What IS Persimmon Tannin?

Persimmon tannin is a compound extracted from unripe persimmons. I work with a cosmetic-grade tannin that doesn’t carry the staining properties of fermented tannins traditionally used as a clothing and wood dye. It has the same odour-fighting power, no staining and perfect for soap.

The odour it’s targeting

This is where the science gets really cool… There is a specific compound called 2-nonenal, and it’s the molecule behind what people often describe as “old people smell”. It’s not the same as regular sweat odour because 2-nonenal isn’t very water-soluble. That means that a standard bar soap that’s great at rinsing away everyday dirt and grime, isn’t able to deal with 2-nonenal as effectively. You can wash and the 2-nonenal just keeps on sticking around.

Persimmon tannin is unique because it binds to the 2-nonenal directly to neutralize them, rather than just using a regular soap and hoping for the best. The deodorant industry has turned into a lot of cover-it-all-with-smells, so I wanted to work with something that could neutralize and leave skin a little more moisturized and cared for too.

Why it turned into a bar for all skin types and ages…

I had tried to source persimmon tannin for years before I actually was able to get my hands on a cosmetic-grade batch that I trusted. Sourcing reliably in Canada was the holdup, not for lack of wanting or trying. Once I finally did track it down (and completed my happy dance), I took it straight to the studio to turn it into the Persimmon + Mineral Deodorizing Bar Soap.

I started formulating it with mature/aging skin concerns in mind first (that 2-nonenal is a tough one!) but my brain did what it likes to do which is think : why would I make a product that is effective to only one demographic? Odour is odour. So it became a bar for everyone, with deodorizing minerals included too. The best part is that it’s formulated with our sensitive-skin safe soap bar recipe, rich in shea butter, coconut oil, avocado (palm-free) for a gentle soap too.

What of the minerals?

Persimmon isn’t holding it down alone in the soap formulation. It’s paired with the same magnesium hydroxide and zinc ricinoleate from our deodorant line, so you’ve got three great deodorizing ingredients working together :

• Persimmon Tannin binds and neutralizes odour compounds like 2-nonenal and neutralizes so they can wash away

• Magnesium Hydroxide works with skin’s natural chemistry to neutralize odour at the source.

• Zinc Ricinoleate absorbs odour molecules instead of covering anything up.

Three great ingredients working together for an effective bar.

Curious to try it? The Persimmon + Mineral Deodorizing Bar Soap is available here and pairs well with the natural deodorants for all day freshness.

A note from the formulator :

If you’re a fellow formulator wanting to work with tannins my word of advice is to always to request the COA - that’s a Certificate of Analysis. The COA is a paperwork trail to show that the product was tested and that what you are buying is the grade ingredient you need (and not like, a clothing dye). Also for the bar colour… it does come out quite dark. I recently ran a batch of soap with tannin blended into the oil phase, and then a batch where the tannin was blended in at trace. The soap batter looked totally different! (oil phase was light; trace batter was a grey green). Both bars cured to the very dark bar that is our Persimmon + Mineral Deodorizing Bar Soap. Tracing down a good tannin can be a bit of a challenge, but if you have a good supplier you trust (and get that COA), it’s worth the hunt.

- Andrea, Founder & Formulator, Lavish Earth