What to look for in a natural deodorant
2022 update: Since writing this post, I’ve discovered another alternative. Enter the Biork crystal deodorant stick. It’s been the best performing natural deodorant I’ve tried and lasts forever. I absolutely love it 💛 but I know others prefer a more creamy based deodorant so take a look through this blog post and see what you think.
Over the years, I’ve gradually moved towards using beauty and household products which contain natural ingredients. Part of this is because chemically laced products can give me contact dermatitis, but a large part is also because I want to care for the environment and reduce pollutants.
My intent is in the right place, but there’s still a long way for me to go and when I’ve not been able to find a natural product which does the job well, I’ve stuck with the tried and tested ones which I’ve used for years.
Deodorants fell firmly into that category. I’d heard so many stories of natural deodorants not working (the funky smelling hippy), yet had some concerns about whether the aluminium salts used in antiperspirants led to an increase in breast cancer and Alzheimers. Whether or not that’s true, the more I thought about how antiperspirants work, the more I wanted to check out natural alternatives.
What’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?
Deodorants are designed to tackle odour whereas antiperspirants stop us from sweating altogether. However, the human body is designed to sweat - helping us to regulate our temperature and eliminate toxins - so using antiperspirant will block up our sweat glands and stop this from happening.
Interestingly, sweat itself has no odour. Yep, that’s the truth! When our armpits become smelly, it’s actually sweat mixing with bacteria or hormones. So the job of a deodorant is to reduce bacterial growth and neutralise the odour, meaning that our bodies are still able to sweat.
Which is a good thing but, if you’re thinking of switching to a natural deodorant, it’s worth bearing in mind that you may feel wetter than normal!
How to make the switch to a natural deodorant
If you’ve been doing your research on natural deodorants, you may have read about a transition period where you sweat (and smell) more.
Some people don’t experience this but, for others, the years of using antiperspirants containing aluminium salts have effectively plugged up their sweat glands. Removing this plug can put your body into overdrive, meaning that you sweat more.
So, if you’re dedicated to switching to a natural deodorant but want to save the olfactory glands of those around you, there are a few things you can do:
Apply deodorant more regularly - you may need to apply more than once a day, particularly during the first few weeks.
Shower often - the bacteria growth rather than sweat itself causes the smell, so washing your armpits (especially after exercise) can stop you whiffing!
Detox your pits - lots of people swear by using an exfoliator or mud mask on their armpits to detox and de-clog those pores.
What to look for in a natural deodorant
Do a Google search and you’ll find that there are literally hundreds of natural deodorants to choose from, so where on earth do you start?
Here are a few things to look out for:
Baking soda/bicarbonate of soda:
Deodorants containing baking soda can cause skin irritations for those with sensitivity. Some brands have reduced the amount of baking soda, some have sensitive skin ranges and others have eliminated it altogether. It may just be a case of trial and error to see if it affects you.
Eco-friendly packaging:
If you’re going for a natural deodorant because you’re concerned about the environment, check out brands with eco-friendly packaging. It’s been a revelation to use a deodorant in a cardboard container!
Nourishing:
Natural deodorants often contain skin nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, so if you’ve ever suffered from itchy armpits (due to shaving or the chemicals in antiperspirants), you’ll love the difference.
Clothing stains:
Surprisingly, the underarm stains found on clothing are usually a result of the ingredients in antiperspirants or deodorants. Some natural deodorants can leave product residue on your clothing so check reviews from other people before purchasing.
Your body chemistry:
Different deodorants work for different body chemistry so it might take several attempts to find one which you’re happy with. That was definitely my experience
5 natural deodorants reviewed
When I started researching natural deodorants, the sheer amount of choice was overwhelming. So to help narrow down your choices, read on for my review of 5 different brands.
Scence deodorant balm: mellow sage
Containing magnesium to deodorise and arrowroot to absorb moisture, this deodorant feels smooth and nourishing, I guess thanks to the coconut oil and mango butter.
Application is really easy, just like using a roll-on, and there was no product clumping or transfer onto my clothing. To get straight to the point, I loved this deodorant and it came out as a clear winner in my testing.
The smell was subtle enough not to overpower, but strong enough to stay all day. Importantly, there was no funky smell at the end of the day. To double check that it wasn’t just my armpits adjusting to going au naturel, I switched it for other brands periodically and always came back to this one as the favourite.
With such great results, I was glad to find that most of the ingredients are organic, there’s no bicarbonate of soda, it’s cruelty free, made in the UK (Cornwall) and comes in 100% recyclable/compostible tubes. My only negative is the price but I’ve found it so much better than the alternatives that it’s still going to be my go-to deodorant.
Wild: mint fresh
£12.00 first purchase (includes reusable case), then subscription for refills
https://www.wearewild.com/
Wild have an interesting business model - your first order contains a reusable case and then refills are posted out (in letter box size packaging) on a subscription basis. You can purchase on one-off but it costs more to do it that way.
The TrustPilot reviews are incredible: over 3,000 averaging 4.8 stars (excellent) so I had high hopes. I started out using the bergamot rituals which had a nice smell but very subtle and it unfortunately didn’t last throughout the day. My pits were smelling by evening and it couldn’t stand up to a day on the bike. I also struggled a little with the deodorant being a bit lumpy on application and some transfer onto my clothing.
Not content with giving up (I really wanted to love this deodorant), I had a chat with their fab customer service department who put my subscription renewal on hold and gave some recommendations to stick with it a bit longer. Having now tested the mint fresh, I’m a bit happier and may have stuck with Wild if I’d not found something which works better for me.
Having seen all the reviews and also spoken to a personal trainer who loves Wild (she obviously exercises lots), I’ve concluded that it’s just a body chemistry thing and Wild isn’t for me. I’d urge you to give it a go because you may just find that it’s perfect for you.
Aurelia: citrus botanical cream
Purchasing this deodorant feels like a luxury experience, with other beauty product samples included with the swish packaging. I guess the price is reflective of the luxury, but I was prepared to pay a premium price if it worked and also lasted a good 3 months.
I love the strong citrus smell, which lasted all day and have been pretty happy with the results which made it through a tough session on the bike. It’s classed as a cream to powder consistency and application is by fingertip on clean skin, so it’s not quite so convenient as apply and go. However, the cream dries quickly and there was no product transfer onto my clothing.
The cream contains arrowroot (antimicrobial), kaolin (to absorb moisture) and shea butter (to hydrate). It also contains sodium bicarbonate, but Aurelia do state that the cream is designed for sensitive skins.
Aside from the high price point, my only negative was possibly due to user error - applying to damp skin, or overheating before the product had dried, can mean white lumps forming, meaning it needed removing and reapplying.
It didn’t quite make 3 months, but I liked it enough to purchase again and plan to use less on each application this time!
Happy Holistics: citrus deodorant
By the time I discovered Happy Holistics, I was being much more specific in my search: looking for small UK producers, recyclable packaging, deodorant sticks (not cream) and the absence of sodium bicarbonate. It was no easy task so I was happy (pun intended) when I came across their website.
The ingredients include arrowroot (for dryness), shea butter and coconut butter, along with calendula and chamomile for irritated skin. They say that carnauba wax gives a protection from wetness but I have found transfer of the product onto my clothing and sometimes white lumps under my armpits, so wonder if it’s that or user error (applying too much maybe).
I’ve had mixed feelings about the results. It keeps me from smelling funky, but does have quite a strong smell (cloves?) and I’m unsure about the transfer onto my clothing.
I struggled pushing the tube up when I first tried using it, but their customer service was fab and they came back to me right away suggesting I popped it in the freezer to allow it to shrink away from the packaging (and offered to replace it if not). That worked, but then needed doing again the next day, making it frustrating to nip downstairs to the freezer every morning!
However, overall I’d suggest giving Happy Holistics a trial, especially with the price being much lower than many natural deodorants.
Schmdits: Here & Now sensitive deodorant
This was my first ever experience of a natural deodorant, which I found sitting on the supermarket shelf making it easily available. I also chose it because I’d heard that charcoal and magnesium were good for neturalising odour.
It’s a baking soda free deodorant, so great for sensitive skin, and has a lovely smell. However, that’s where my positive thoughts end!
Unfortunately, I found the application clumpy (it came off in lumps) and it didn’t last well at all throughout the day. It also felt mucky due to the dark charcoal colour and, even worse, my clothes suffered the effects of a greasy, dark, charcoal product transfer - which has never washed out.
I’ve read good things about Schmidt’s deodorants, but there are just too many negatives for me to recommend here.
Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, different deodorants work differently with our individual body chemistry, so if something’s not quite working for you, try another brand.
Having tested 5 products (each over a period of time to give them a fair trial), I can safely say that natural deodorants do not all react the same way. I’ve also had a different experience to other people using the same product, so it really is trial and error.
My top recommendation is to narrow down the features you want your deodorant to have and then hit the internet. A couple of the products with high online and Facebook group reviews weren’t available in the UK which was a shame. However, I’m really glad to have found some different deodorants which work and which support small UK producers.
I’d love to hear your own experience with natural deodorants and recommendations in the comments below.
On a final note, spare a thought for my husband who has had my armpits thrust under his nose for the last few months, just so that I could gain an independent opinion!!!
HEADS UP: Sometimes my blog posts include affiliate links or information about products which have been provided free of charge for testing and review. I only ever share things I actually use, love and trust (paid or not) and if you click on the link and choose to buy from there, it will never be any extra cost to you.
Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, a freelance writer providing content writing, copywriting and digital marketing services for businesses.
Visit www.jacquiebudd.com for more information.
