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Of all the personal hygiene products out there, natural deodorants have to be one of the most debated. People tend to have opinions on whether or not natural alternatives to the more traditional odor-eliminating products even work. But it's been years since brands first unveiled natural deodorants to the masses, and with one swipe of the latest products available, you might consider making the switch to something with less ingredients—and more freshening potential.
A bonus: Most natural deodorants are considered eco-friendly (i.e., they aren't formulated with chemicals that could harm the environment, such as parabens or "forever chemicals," aka per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances or PFAS), and they have less chance of causing skin irritation or rashes.1
So if you need help keeping smelly sweat at bay, here are our favorite natural deodorant sticks, wipes, and sprays that we think are totally worth the purchase.
The 13 best natural deodorants, at a glance
- Best overall: Corpus Naturals Deodorant ($20)
- Best spray: Weleda Sage 12h Deodorant Spray ($12)
- Best scented: Curie All-Natural Deodorant Stick in White Tea ($12)
- Best aluminum-free: Kopari Aluminum-Free Deodorant with Coconut Oil ($19)
- Best cream: First Aid Beauty Whole Body Deodorant Cream ($20)
- Best cooling: Ursa Major Hoppin' Fresh Deodorant ($18)
- Best wipes: Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes ($9)
- Best refillable: by Humankind Natural Deodorant ($31)
- Best vegan: Humble All-Natural Vegan Deodorant ($13)
- Best mineral: Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick ($7)
- Best gel: Megababe Rosy Pits Deodorant Gel ($14)
- Best exfoliating: Kosas Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant ($18)
- Best for sensitive skin: Violets Are Blue Baking Soda Free Magnesium Deodorant ($20)
What to look for in a natural deodorant
Everyone's skin is different, which means that not every natural deodorant formulation is going to fit with your specific skin type and needs. For example, even though essential oils are natural, if you have sensitive skin, any type of fragrance (whether natural or not) may cause skin irritation and dryness. If this is the case for you, you might want to stick with an unscented variety.
Another thing to note: Most natural deodorants you reach for will be free of aluminum—the main ingredient in traditional antiperspirants that help stop sweating. While some claims have been made that aluminum can cause things like breast cancer, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove this connection. That said, if you're still looking for something that's "natural," you'll want to read to label to see if it's aluminum-, paraben-, or sulfate-free (i.e., chemicals typically found in cosmetics to preserve them). You'll also want to check if it's dermatologist tested or approved.
Lastly, if you are not allergic to the following ingredients, you may want to look for things like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or shea butter in your natural deodorant, as they can keep your skin moisturized and fresh.
Pro tip: If you are unsure if a certain product is going to work well with your skin, dermatologists will often recommend something called the "patch test," (i.e., where you apply a small amount of a certain hygiene or skincare product to your skin to see if you develop an adverse reaction before using more). This can help you determine whether a natural deodorant will be good for your skin before applying it all over.
With all this in mind, here are the top natural deodorants that we are loving recently.
The 13 best natural deodorants
Unlike other natural deodorants with baking soda that tend to have a pasty texture, this pick from Corpus Naturals is light, goes on smoothly, and smells great. The gel-like texture dries quickly and stops odor in its tracks. Plus, the packaging is so cute that it makes a great accessory to throw in your bag and use anytime throughout your day.
If you aren't a fan of the way that deodorant sticks feel, a spray is a great alternative. And the name doesn't lie: This pick from Weleda offers 12-hour odor protection and is also dermatologist-tested and approved for all skin types. Plus, the sage scent is not only pleasant, but it's also free of synthetic preservatives, and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Users of this product also report that this spray is great for neutralizing odor from sweating related to menopause and other hormone changes.
If you're a naturally sweaty person and typically steer clear of anything advertised as "natural," you might want to rethink your previously held notions of deodorant alternatives when reaching for this stick from Curie. Not only are the ingredients (like baking soda, zinc, and vitamin E) great at keeping you dry, the scents it comes all smell amazingly fresh. The white tea is light and airy, but there's also warm vanilla, coconut nectar, and orange neroli, to name a few.
Another note: Some users have even said they skip perfume or body spray some days because these smell so good!
Kopari’s deodorant is made with organic coconut oil, which is antibacterial and naturally hydrating. It has a non-toxic formula and uses no aluminum or parabens, and it comes in three scents that will make you feel like you’re on vacation: beach, driftwood, and original coconut.
Deodorant won’t stop sweat, but this one works double time to keep you fresh once you start. It has sweat-activated technology and a touch of baking soda to absorb sweat and eliminate odor-causing bacteria. And because it's a cream instead of a solid, it can be applied anywhere on your body and comes in a handy squeeze tube for easy application. The light citrus scent will keep you odor-free for about 24 hours and is safe for sensitive skin.
With mint and eucalyptus as key ingredients, this deodorant will feel cool as soon as you swipe it underneath your pits. It’s also formulated with only naturally-derived ingredients, including kaolin clay (a soft white clay mineral used in some personal care products) to help absorb moisture, aloe vera, and baking soda to keep odors at bay.
These wipes are a great solution when you’re on the go (or if you need to share with a friend) and want a quick freshen up. They’re made with a blend of coconut milk and essential oils to neutralize odors for hours, are aluminum-free, and each pack comes with 30 pre-moistened, biodegradable towelettes. Plus, the first ingredient on the list is plain ol' water, which is always a good sign when searching for natural products.
While some users say the scent of these wipes is a little overwhelming when first applied, it mellows out throughout the day for a more pleasant aroma.
If you're looking to transform your hygiene routine to become a little more eco-friendly, investing in natural deodorant from a brand like by Humankind will serve you well. The container that the product comes in is refillable, so once you're done with your first batch of deodorant, you can order refills for less money—and with less packaging—than more traditional options.
When you order on the brand's website, you can choose a "cool" or "warm" variety pack of scents (or single scents), customize your refillable container color and style, and even choose the delivery frequency depending on how often you'll need more supply.
Humble’s vegan deodorant only contains four clean ingredients (corn starch, magnesium hydroxide, MCT oil, and candelilla wax) plus essential oils that give it a relaxing lavender scent (you can also get it in bergamot + ginger and palo santo + frankincense, FYI).2 It’s made in small batches and designed to be gentle—it doesn't contain alcohol, parabens, or artificial fragrance, which is great for sensitive skin.
Some users of this product say they have to reapply a few times throughout the day to stay fresh, so keep this in mind if you have a particularly busy day planned.
This deodorant stick from the brand Crystal is as simple as it gets: It's made from potassium alum, a type of mineral salt derived from mineral crystals that naturally block odors for up to 24 hours without clogging your pores. Instead of aluminum, which blocks your armpits from sweating, mineral salts allow your body to do what it naturally does—sweat!—without causing a stench.
Users say this unscented version glides on easily, leaving no white streaks or residue that could easily transfer to your clothes. Plus, it's hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and because it's primarily made of salt, one stick can last for up to a year of use.
It’s hard not to love the cute packaging on Megababe’s aluminum- and paraben-free deodorant, but what’s inside is also impressive. It’s made with natural ingredients like sage, coconut, and green tea to protect you from odor-causing bacteria, as well as vitamin E, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. Plus, the gel-like consistency of the stick makes it swipe on discreetly, leaving no icky residue.
Just keep in mind: Some users of this product say it can make skin dry or slightly irritated if you are prone to sensitivity from fragrances.
Instead of just covering up any body odors, Kosas’ clean deodorant aims to prevent them in the first place by helping create a pH environment where odor-causing bacteria can’t survive on the skin. The AHA blend (short for alpha hydroxy acids) also gently exfoliates skin and removes dead skin cells, brightens your underarms, and helps prevent those dreaded ingrown hairs. There are two options to choose from: fragrance-free or a serene, clean scent.
Some users say they apply this product right after they get out of the shower for all-day odor protection.
If your skin is prone to dryness, flaking, or irritation from personal care products like deodorant or lotion, this simple option from Violets Are Blue is worth the buy. It's only made with nine ingredients, including magnesium hydroxide, which is great for neutralizing odor while keeping skin hydrated and healthy. The unscented version is likely your best bet for ultimate protection, but it also comes in a eucalyptus or lemongrass and tea tree scents if you prefer a slight aroma.
Users of this product say it's great for keeping you smell-free while running or working out, and doesn't cause rashes like other scented natural options might.
How to use natural deodorant
Just like regular deodorants, natural deodorants are best applied to clean skin so they can properly absorb. More isn’t always better when it comes to applying deodorants, either. There are different kinds of formulations (stick, cream, wipes), both with and without scents, so you have options depending on what you prefer.
One thing to note, however, is that unlike anti-perspirant, which blocks your pores and prevents you from sweating, deodorant only covers up odors. And despite what your nose tells you after an intense cardio session, it's not the sweat itself that smells; it's the buildup of bacteria on your skin that leaves pits ripe.
Ultimately, if you've been using antiperspirants for a while, when you switch to a natural alternative, your skin essentially "detoxes" from the aluminum it's used to receiving every day when you swipe on your deo.3 This might cause you to smell less-than-ideal for a few days until your body adjusts. Once your skin is used to the product you're using, you'll continue to sweat (which is natural!), but without the accompanying unpleasant stench.
- HARDIK B., and DR. NIKUNJ. “Natural deodorants: A way towards sustainable cosmetics.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH CARE, vol. 3, no. 11, 2021, https://doi.org/10.26808/rs.ph.i11v3.01.
↩︎ - St-Onge, Marie-Pierre et al. “Medium chain triglyceride oil consumption as part of a weight loss diet does not lead to an adverse metabolic profile when compared to olive oil.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition vol. 27,5 (2008): 547-52. doi:10.1080/07315724.2008.10719737 ↩︎
- Urban, Julie et al. “The effect of habitual and experimental antiperspirant and deodorant product use on the armpit microbiome.” PeerJ vol. 4 e1605. 2 Feb. 2016, doi:10.7717/peerj.1605 ↩︎
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