In partnership with Salt & Stone. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
I’m a big fan of little treat culture. Bringing home farmers market flowers, springing for the extra for guac at Chipotle, buying the fancy body wash to upgrade the 5-in-1 sitting in my shower. Indulging in little luxuries to spice up the more mundane parts of my routine is how I survive working full-time, living in Los Angeles, and trying to feel like I have it all together. Is my bathroom counter clutter-free and candle lit? No, but I aspire.
It didn’t take long before Salt & Stone landed on my radar (the brand is viral and often sold out). The LA-born brand makes daily essentials (think deodorant, body wash, body mists) that are clean, alcohol-free, and built around curated fragrance families. You can even shop by scent on their site—a feature that is both helpful and deeply enabling if you have strong opinions about bergamot.
I set out to test their best sellers—the editor-loved Aluminum-Free Deodorant, the Body Mist Discovery Set, a Hydrating Body Wash, and a Build-Your-Own Mini Set. Here’s how each product stacked up.
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The Skincare-First Body Wash
I have dry, easily irritated skin and a weakness for fancy bath products, which makes me both high-maintenance and hard to please. But Salt & Stone’s Hydrating Body Wash is one of the few that delivers on scent, texture, and skin benefits. Since my weekly everything-shower is the closest thing I’ll get to a spa day in this economy, adding this body wash to the lineup helps satisfy my urge to splurge.
The formula features seaweed extract for antioxidants, blue-green algae to calm and hydrate, niacinamide to support the skin barrier, and vitamin E to lock in moisture. And because it’s summer and I’m living in shorts, keeping my legs hydrated (and not flaky) is non-negotiable. This is one of the few body washes I’ve used that feels like it’s actually helping my skin, not just washing it.
I find myself gravitating to Bergamot & Hinoki most often. It’s fresh, woody, and feels like the scent equivalent of Japanese forest bathing — calming in a way I can’t fully explain.
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The Body Mists Made For Scent Wardrobing
If you know me, you know I love fragrance in all its forms. I don’t discriminate — there’s a time and place for a nostalgic fruity body spray and a niche perfume you have to special-order from Paris. But Salt & Stone’s Body Mists hit a sweet spot: nice enough for date night, easy enough for a quick refresh.They’re minimal, clean, and have just the right amount of scent payoff.
What makes them stand out — especially if you start with the Discovery Set — is how each mist is designed to layer. The scents aren’t just great on their own (though they definitely are), they’re complementary by design. You can mix and match based on mood, time of day, or outfit without ever smelling like you walked out of a department store’s perfume section.
My personal fave is Saffron & Cedar. Warm, woody, and a little spicy — the kind of scent that clings to your clothes just enough to leave a trail. Plus, no one would guess it’s technically a body mist…or under $50.
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The Deodorant That Made Me a Believer
I’ve tested enough “clean” deodorants to know the bar is on-the-floor low. Most either quit halfway through the day or leave my armpits feeling like I smeared on a gritty paste of essential oils — trust me, I’ve tried tons. But Salt & Stone’s Aluminum-Free Deodorant was the first to earn a spot in my routine. It’s smooth (not chalky), non-toxic, aluminum-free, and actually works. As in, 48-hour coverage through my meeting marathons, weightlifting gym sesh, and white-knuckling it through rush hour traffic on my way to dinner across town.
Even with the great formula, the scent is what keeps me hooked. I wear Neroli & Basil, and it’s bright, citrusy, and green with a grounding herbal background. It smells complex in a way you don’t expect from deodorant — more like a niche fragrance you’d find in a downtown boutique. (That’s probably the best compliment I’ve ever given to a deodorant.) People have stopped to ask me what scent I’m wearing, and I relish in telling them it’s actually my deodorant.
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The (Kinda Genius) Discovery Sets
Salt & Stone’s Discovery Sets are clutch if you’re indecisive or just scent-curious. They let you test-drive multiple fragrances before committing to a full-size bottle — whether you’re exploring body mists, deodorants, or both. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to figure out what you actually love.
Then there’s the Build-Your-Own Mini Set. You can customize a kit with deodorant, body mist, body wash, hand cream, or lotion — all TSA-friendly and designed to smell good together. I sprinkle them throughout my life in my carry-on, work tote, glove box. It’s a very low-effort way to feel like you’ve got it together, even when your week says otherwise.
The TL;DR
I’ve tried a lot of clean body products that either smelled great and didn’t work, or worked but smelled…not great. Salt & Stone nails both. These are products I actually reach for every day — because they feel good, smell amazing, and make my routine feel a little less nuts. If you’re looking for easy upgrades that don’t feel basic, this is where I’d start.
