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Natural deodorant has recently made its way into the mainstream marketplace. As people are looking for natural shampoos and soaps, they’re also seeking out sustainable, aluminum-free alternatives to traditional antiperspirants and deodorants. But do they really work as well as their chemical-filled counterparts?
Aluminum is the ingredient in conventional antiperspirants that blocks your sweat glands. While this element was thought to be linked to breast cancer and other diseases, the American Cancer Society has stated there’s very little scientific evidence to support the claim.
Even so, natural deodorants are another great option for those who are looking for a product that won’t clog their pores or leave chemicals on their skin. Natural deodorants often use fewer ingredients and can even come in more sustainable packaging, making them a better choice for the environment.
Finding the best natural deodorant for you might take trial and error, but we have compiled a list of our favorites.
Our Picks for the Best Natural Deodorants of 2021
If you think of applying deodorant as part of your skincare routine, you’ll understand why it’s important to consider what products you use under your arms. The following eight products are our top recommendations for the best natural deodorants to get you through the day.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
- Best Overall: Native Natural Deodorant
- Best for Men: Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Deodorant
- Best for Women: Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant
- Best Scent: Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Deodorant
- Best Eco-Friendly Packaging: Each & Every Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant
- Best Fragrance-Free Deodorant: Kopari Fragrance-Free Deodorant
- Best Spray Deodorant: Ursa Major Sublime Sage Deodorant
- Best for the Environment: Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant
Best Overall: Native Natural Deodorant
Native deodorant is great-smelling, long-lasting and all-natural. This deodorant stick feels fresh and light but rolls easily onto the underarms because of its solid formula. Although it contains no aluminum and is not an antiperspirant, a few reviewers say it did leave them feeling dryer than other brands.
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 52,000 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: This vegan deodorant is gluten-free, paraben-free and aluminum-free. It includes natural ingredients including coconut oil, tapioca starch and soothing shea butter. As a brand, Native never tests on animals, is cruelty-free and supports 1% for the Planet.
Best Men’s Deodorant: Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Deodorant
If you can’t spend more time outdoors, at least you can smell like the wilderness. Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Deodorant comes in scents like Deep Forest, Mountain Spring and North Woods, and its formula is just as eco-friendly as you’d expect, with ingredients like aloe and sunflower seed oil. A perk of buying Tom’s of Maine deodorants is that 10% of all proceeds go to charities supporting children’s health, education and the environment.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with over 4,400 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: This great-smelling product is aluminum-free and offers 24-hour protection. It doesn’t use any artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives. Tom’s does not test on animals, making this deodorant cruelty-free. The company is also a certified B Corp.
Best Women’s Deodorant: Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant
The Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant is made using cornstarch instead of baking soda. It glides on smoothly compared to some other natural deodorants that use a sticky-textured application. Its vegan formula goes on clear, preventing clothing stains, and the scent leaves your pits smelling like fresh roses. (If you’re not a floral fan, there are also beach and soap scents.)
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 300 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: This deodorant is free of aluminum, baking soda, alcohol and parabens. Megababe’s deodorant is made from a blend of natural ingredients including sage and green tea and is not tested on animals.
Best Scent: Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Deodorant
Made with 100% natural, certified fragrances and essential oils, Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Deodorant both smells beautiful and keeps you fresh all day long. The scent — a blend of jasmine tea and green tea — is formulated with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances, and the product as a whole is made for those with sensitive skin, so you don’t have to worry about irritants.
Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars with over 1,700 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Schmidt’s natural deodorant is Leaping Bunny and Ecocert-certified natural. It’s not only free from aluminum, phthalates, baking soda and synthetic fragrances, but it’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
Best Eco-Friendly Packaging: Each & Every Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Each & Every’s Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant uses Dead Sea minerals instead to keep you fresh all day. The plant-based packaging is made from 100% renewable sugarcane, which is a net carbon-negative plant. Although sugarcane packaging isn’t accepted by most municipal recycling facilities, Each & Every has set up its own program through which you can recycle your used deodorant sticks.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with over 12,800 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: This vegan deodorant stick is made from only six ingredients and is free of toxins, baking soda, aluminum and parabens. It’s also a cruelty-free product, as Each & Every doesn’t test on animals. It offers body odor protection with its synthetic-free lavender and lemon scent.
Best Fragrance-Free Deodorant: Kopari Fragrance-Free Deodorant
For those trying to avoid fragrances, Kopari’s deodorant is non-toxic and aluminum-free, using natural-based ingredients like soothing coconut oil and sage oil. The company sources its coconuts from family farms in Davao, Philippines, and uses a portion of its proceeds to fund community projects such as building homes, donating school supplies and setting up clean water access.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 with over 140 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Kopari’s unscented deodorant is naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial, soothing and hydrating. It goes on clear, so you avoid stains on your clothing, and its formula is free from aluminum, parabens, toxins, phthalates and gluten.
Best Spray Deodorant: Ursa Major Sublime Sage Deodorant
For those who want their armpits smelling great without a roll-on formula, Ursa Major’s spray deodorant is an excellent option. It’s important to note that while making the switch from stick deodorant to spray, you may experience a two- to three-week detox period; a spray will reach its full potential after three weeks.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with 145 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: This vegan and cruelty-free deodorant is non-staining and non-toxic, absorbing excess moisture and soothing sensitive skin. It uses 23 natural ingredients including sandalwood, lemon myrtle and sage. Ursa Major is also a certified B Corp, so you can feel good about supporting this company.
Best for the Environment: Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant
Using natural scents of lime, cedarwood and eucalyptus, this deodorant smells rustic and lasts all day. The Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant formula also includes jojoba and sweet almond oil, which make for a smooth application, as well as bamboo, which can absorb up to 200% of its weight in sweat. Although this product is not an antiperspirant, the bamboo can help you stay drier, according to customers.
Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars with over 2,400 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: Ethique is a zero-waste, sustainable beauty brand. This vegan deodorant is certified Climate Pledge Friendly, using biodegradable ingredients and compostable packaging to create a minimal environmental impact. It is also free of baking soda, aluminum, plastic and palm oil.
Why Should You Switch to Natural Deodorant?
With natural ingredients, you can manage your sweat and body odor in an organic, eco-friendly way. Many natural deodorants also use sustainable packaging, ensuring a lesser impact on the environment. Natural deodorants don’t clog the pores of your skin, allowing good bacteria to do their job and help you to naturally be less smelly and sweaty over time.
Tips on How to Make the Switch
Before switching to a natural deodorant, it’s recommended to go au naturel for a few days. This allows your body to push out the chemicals from your previous deodorant or antiperspirant and minimizes the irritation that can come from changing products.
As you begin to use natural deodorant, you can expect an adjustment period of up to a month as your body regulates itself. (For some people, this detox stage can be shorter.) If the idea of walking around without protection makes you uncomfortable, try dabbing your armpits with tea tree oil, lavender or thyme essential oils that will help mask any unwanted smells.
After the initial transition, your natural deodorant will start to work as well as your previous product.