Nearly all animal species – of which we homo sapiens are one – produce some serious body odor. For non-humans, this odor serves important purposes, like marking territory, repelling enemies, and attracting mates.
For humans, serious body odor leaves a mark and can repel, but it rarely attracts. That’s why we need deodorant. And it only makes sense to choose a natural formulation for something you’ll be using on your body daily.
How Deodorants Work
Human sweat doesn’t smell. It’s when sweat mixes with bacteria that it releases an odor. Deodorants work primarily by killing the bacteria on your skin.
Contrary to popular belief, deodorants don’t reduce the amount that you sweat. Some do contain glycerin, which can absorb moisture to make you feel drier, but they don’t reduce how much sweat you produce.
Only antiperspirants make you sweat less. Antiperspirants contain an active ingredient (usually an aluminum compound) that reacts with the electrolytes in your sweat to contract your sweat pores and block your sweat glands with a thick gel. Doesn’t sound too good for you, does it?
You can’t buy a completely natural antiperspirant, but some of the 10 deodorants listed below work so well that you might be fooled into thinking that’s what they are.
Top 10 Natural Deodorants
Here’s a list of the 10 best natural deodorants based on their effectiveness, ingredients, ease of use, and scents.
1. Brothers Artisan Oil Magnesium Deodorant
In various scents like Eucalyptus & Lime, Brothers Artisan Oil contains arrowroot, magnesium, coconut oil, shea butter, and kaolin clay, among other natural ingredients. That makes it a good choice for those with skin that’s sensitive to baking soda. Very effective at reducing odor, Brothers Artisan comes in a mess-free stick – easy and convenient to apply and reapply as needed.
2. Blume Hug Me Probiotic Deodorant
With the rise of microbiome-focused skin care, probiotics have become more common in natural deodorants. They introduce healthy bacteria into your armpits, counteracting the bad bacteria that cause your sweat to develop an odor. Blume’s Hug Me is among the best. It’s unscented, paraben-free, and contains baking soda to help absorb sweat.
3. Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Stick
If you’re new to natural deodorants, this may be where you want to start. Dove is a familiar brand, and you may already have a favorite scent, such as Cucumber & Green Tea, from using their antiperspirants. This long-lasting stick deodorant goes on smoothly and moisturizes, thanks to a substantial amount of glycerin in the formula. Dove is also one of the lowest-priced natural deodorants.
4. Native Deodorant
Native’s natural stick deodorant comes in various scents (paradoxically, mostly created using synthetic fragrance ingredients) – our favorite is Eucalyptus & Mint. They also occasionally release seasonal, limited-edition scents. Super-moisturizing, Native deodorant contains coconut oil, shea butter, and baking soda. It’s been known to require reapplication on particularly hot days.
5. Piper Wai Natural Deodorant Cream
Those who sweat heavily but can’t tolerate baking soda swear by Piper Wai’s deodorant cream, claiming that a pea-sized dab smoothed into each underarm lasts all day, even in the hottest weather. Piper Wai contains coconut oil, tapioca starch, activated charcoal, and essential oils such as mint and citrus. Together, they control odor, absorb sweat, and give off a pleasant, light scent.
6. Real Purity Roll-On Natural Deodorant
Real Purity is a fragrance-free roll-on containing essential oils, vegetable glycerin, and aloe. The glycerin acts to absorb moisture, making you feel like you’re sweating less. Many users claim this is the longest-lasting natural deodorant they’ve ever used, with no need to reapply unless exercising rigorously on a hot day.
7. Routine Superstar Deodorant Cream
Routine’s Superstar is a bit pricey, but it’s worth every penny if you have a serious odor problem. Ingredients like activated charcoal, baking soda, magnesium, and kaolin clay make this long-lasting deodorant very effective at stopping the stink. As a cream, it’s applied with your fingers, and a little goes a long way.
8. Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant
With a fresh, rosy scent and no baking soda, Megababe is a favorite among those with sensitive skin. It uses corn starch and glycerin to absorb moisture and glide on smoothly. This is a non-staining stick deodorant that lasts and lasts, although you may need to reapply it during the hottest days of summer.
9. Taos AER Deodorant
Taos AER starts as a silky gel and dries as a powder, thanks to essential oils, baking soda, and tapioca starch powder. Mess-free and easy to use, Taos comes in several delightful but uncommon scents, like Palo Santo Blood Orange.
10. Ursa Major Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant
Ursa Major‘s gel-like, super-smooth consistency will remind you of synthetic formulations. It comes in an easy-to-apply stick that doesn’t stain. It’s also longer lasting than many other natural deodorants. Ursa Major reduces odor and absorbs moisture thanks to baking soda. The scent is unisex, clean, and earthy.
If you want to smell great without the added chemicals, you’ve come to the right place. Our list of the top natural deodorants covers all the bases for scent, application, and longevity.
Read Next:
