Smelling great can go hand-in-hand with being kind to your body, I promise. 🙌 And with this guide, I hope that finding your best natural deodorant can be as simple as possible!
To be honest, I’m still looking for the best deodorant for me. One that actually alleviates any smells and doesn’t have any allergen-filled fragrances. But every time I talk to someone else about what my idea of the best natural deodorant is, I feel like I at least want to give them a list they can start from (even though none of them are perfect for me, yet!).
Let’s dive into the problem with regular deodorants and some alternatives you can try out. I’m telling you right now that everybody is different. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a crap shoot to see which ones work for your body and which ones don’t.
I’m hoping at the bare minimum, you have a great list to start from here when you explore which one will work for you!
The Problem with Conventional Deodorants
For the longest time, I never really considered the ingredients list of something that important.
But if you’ve looked at the ingredients on your deodorant, and realized that your skin is extremely absorbent, you’ll probably quickly realize that it’s important what you put on it.
Aluminum and parabens are the biggest chemicals that people realize they don’t want in their deodorant.
This study from the NIH shows that prolonged exposure to aluminum can cause neurological issues. It also shows that those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have elevated aluminum content in their brain.
Not to mention anti-persperants, which literally prevent you from detoxing. Or fragrances, which typically score higher on the allergen scale according to EWG.
Related: The Best Acupressure Mats to Melt Away Your Tension
Benefits of Using Natural Deodorants
Now, let’s talk about the good stuff— finding your best natural deodorant! These products skip the harsh chemicals and use ingredients from nature that are gentle on your skin.
Ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter not only help control odor but also care for your skin by keeping it smooth and moisturized.
Plus, many natural deodorants come in biodegradable packaging and use ingredients that are sustainably sourced. So, you’re doing your part to keep the planet clean while staying fresh.
People who’ve made the switch often say they wouldn’t go back. They love that these deodorants keep them smelling fresh without the harsh chemicals. Plus, they feel good about using a product that matches their values for health and sustainability.
Even though I’m still constantly on the search for a better natural deodorant for me, I hope this list helps you find one that works for you!
Note: I’ll often read things like “best natural deodorant for women” on product pages, but I don’t look at this when it comes to brands. Even if one deodorant claims to be the best all-natural deodorant for a certain gender, it’s about the ingredients as a whole, not whether the smell is more masculine or feminine. That’s just me!
The 7 Best Natural Deodorant Types for Good Smells & Clean Vibes
#1. EcoRoots Unscented Natural Deodorant
The ECO ROOTS Natural Deodorant Cream is a baking soda-free, vegan, and organic product that effectively neutralizes underarm odor and absorbs wetness. It’s also made with nourishing ingredients like arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and unrefined shea butter.
What I Love
🧴 Utilizes natural ingredients like shea butter for skin nourishment.
✨Baking soda-free formula prevents dryness and irritation.
🐮 Organic, vegan ingredients and aluminum-free
What I Don’t Love
🙈This was a little messy/annoying to put on, because you have to dip your finger in it and then put it under your arms. It can especially be messy if you have longer nails because it’ll get under your nails!
#2. Thai Deodorant Stone Crystal Mist
This is a natural and chemical-free deodorant option that effectively eliminates body odor without harmful ingredients. It’s actually made by using natural mineral salts to kill odor-causing bacteria.
What I Love
💎Made from naturally occurring bauxite ore and refined into pure alum crystals, a natural compound present in nature.
💧Free of synthetic oils, alcohol, emulsifiers, synthetic perfumes, and propellants
💦Super easy spray bottle (no aerosol) for a simple application
What I Don’t Love
🙈Like all deodorants, this simply doesn’t work for some people! Some say that it’s a little bit itchy after a few days (I got that feeling, too) and that its effectiveness would go away after a few weeks (same here).
#3. HiBar Plastic-Free Deodorant
This is a natural deodorant is made specifically for those with sensitive skin and who love sustainability. They’re very open about their ingredients and where they’re sourced, and have thoughtful packaging for the environment and aesthetics!
What I Love
🥣Basic, natural ingredients with no parabens or aluminum — and cruelty-free (only tested on willing humans)
👍Easy to apply – just like regular deodorant
🙌Plastic-free packaging (and super cute, I might add!)
What I Don’t Love
💨Some say that the smell is a little overwhelming and that they get rashes if they use this
#4. Native Charcoal Deodorant
No aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and talc. You might have heard of Native with other products like lotions, haircare, and other skincare products. It has naturally derived ingredients, such as baking soda, coconut oil, and shea butter. This also might be the best natural deodorant for sensitive skin because of the coconut oil.
This is currently what I’m using as of writing this blog article — it’s the only one that’s worked (so far!).
What I Love
🥣 Made with coconut oil, shea butter, probiotics, and tapioca
💨 Has a really nice and clean smell that’s not super overwhelming
😌 Doesn’t seem to irritate skin like others might – it’s probably because of the coconut oil
What I Don’t Love
⬜️ It really easily leaves white marks on my clothes, which is annoying because I basically wear all black
#5. Schmidt’s Vegan Charcoal & Magnesium Deodorant
This is perhaps the first deodorant I found that has magnesium in it. It’s certified vegan and cruelty-free and has all natural ingredients sourced from essential oils.
What I Love
🌸I remember this having really nice smells with lots of different ones to choose from: bergamot and lime, charcoal and magnesium, fresh fir and spice, rose and vanilla, or fragrance-free
💧Made with natural essential oils
What I Don’t Love
😔This was very clumpy the last time I used it which is why I switched
#6. Humble Brands Texas Cedarwood & Grapefruit
This is the simplest ingredients to date, with lots of fun scents and super cute packaging (although it’s plastic!).
What I Love
4️⃣ The deodorant contains only four simple ingredients: corn starch, baking soda, baking soda, and MCT oil along with essential oils.
🌈Super cute and fun scents, like bergamot and ginger, frankincense and fir, lavender and holy basil, moroccan rose, and mountain lavender
🫓It effectively absorbs and neutralizes body odors, moisturizes skin, and keeps users dry without clogging pores
What I Don’t Love
👚This literally ruined some of my clothes because of how thick it was, the stains wouldn’t even come out in the wash
🙈Essential oils under the arms can cause allergic reactions, rashes, etc. so if you’re sensitive, you might want to find an alternative or scentless option
#7. Crystal Deodorant Stick
Its unscented, mineral-based formula, offers a one-ingredient deodorant solution that is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free, and safe to use. This is great for people who have lots of allergies to scents (even if they’re natural essential oils).
What I Love
😌Gentle ingredients, made with just potassium alum (just like the Thai Deodorant Stone Crystal Mist)
⬜️ No white marks on your clothes!
What I Don’t Love
🙅♀️I could not put this on dirty, it had to be directly out of the shower, or else the entire stick would absorb the smell. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense, because if you need to reapply, you’re basically screwed
💦You have to add water to this in order to make it work, which can be a pain if you’re out and about
How to Make the Transition to Natural Deodorants
If you’re thinking about finding your best natural deodorant, it actually takes a bit of a transition.
The most important part of this is the detox period. During the first few weeks, you might sweat more or feel a bit smellier. This happens because your body is getting rid of the residues left by chemicals from your old deodorant. This period can last a few weeks, but once it’s over, many people report feeling fresher and less smelly.
Many people recommend doing a “cleanse” from your old, toxin-filled deodorant with bentonite clay. Here’s a nice tutorial on how to do it:
And it might be really, really frustrating (like it has been for me 🙋♀️) but I’d say keep experimenting as much as you can. Every body is different. What works for someone might not work for someone else.
I might struggle a lot with scents, while essential oils is exactly what you need to keep things fresh. Your body’s chemistry is unique and your own, with different aversions (or good responses) from different ingredients. And more likely than not, your best natural deodorant will be different from mine — and that’s okay!
Follow My Journey As an (Imperfectly) Holistic Artist!
I’ll be the first to say that I’m not expert in health or holistic medicine. But I will say that as a musician, living a holistic lifestyle – including finding the best natural deodorant for me – has been the only way I find myself with more energy, inspiration and wholeness to write and perform!
Explore my blog for more holistic lifestyle tips, like some great vegan drinks, healthy vegan snacks, and other tools that keep me going.And, if you’re a creative girlie (or person, or human) and like talking about other ways to creatively look at life, I’d love to see you over on my YouTube channel for more in-depth creative lifestyle tips as a whole!
