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9 Natural Deodorants That Really Work

orange and white Hume deodorant/image of woman applying Kosa deodorant to her underarm/white and blue Kopari deodorant on the sand
Hume/Kosa/Kopari

Thinking of making the switch to a natural deodorant? You might have to experiment a bit to find a good one, but reviewers swear by these options and claim that they really do work!

First, what’s the difference between antiperspirants and deodorants, anyway? Antiperspirants actually block sweat glands to prevent you from sweating, while deodorant (natural or not) merely masks odors.

Unfortunately, antiperspirants almost always contain aluminum, which has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. That’s where natural deodorants come in. Made with ingredients like essential oils, they block the odors that come with sweat.

Although they will never be exactly like an antiperspirant, not all natural deodorants are terrible. When made with the right ingredients, they can be effective, and some people swear by them. Let’s look at some of the most popular options.

Native Deodorant

white bottle of Native deodorant
Native

With over 47,000 positive reviews on Amazon, Native Deodorant is obviously an incredibly popular option. The brand uses a great mix of ingredients (with no aluminum, parabens, phthalates, or talc) that can effectively help stop odor from sweat. This includes things like baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, and cyclodextrin, all of which help neutralize odor.

The deodorant is also hydrating and great for your skin thanks to ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and caprylic/capric Triglyceride, all of which help it go on smooth and stay smooth for hours. It comes in a variety of different scents (Coconut & Vanilla is my personal favorite because it’s subtle but good.), and they offer a plastic-free line as well.

Megababe Rosy Pits Natural Deodorant

woman in white t-shirt holding a Megababe deodorant
Megababe

Megababe Rosy Pits Natural Deodorant is so popular that it’s often sold out (although you can join a waitlist to be the first to know when it’s back). It’s made with a blend of natural ingredients that prevent odor-causing bacteria from forming on the skin, and it smells good on its own to boot.

It’s made with coconut for moisturizing and antifungal properties, green tea, an antioxidant that promotes healthy skin, vitamin E, which acts as a natural inflammatory and can prevent razor burn and skin irritation, and sage, sandalwood, and horsetail plant to protect against certain bacterias.

Megababe Rosy Pits Deodorant

Finally, a clean deodorant that swipes on clear and actually works! Megababe’s Rosy Pits is a plant-powered deodorant that uses enzymes and extracts to break down odor and fight wetness. The aluminum-free, baking soda-free stick glides on like a dream — no tugging or sticky residue!...

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant

brunette girl in green top holding a green and white Schmidt's deodorant and smiling
Schmidt’s 

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant is made with plant-based ingredients, and the products are vegan and cruelty-free as well. You won’t find any aluminum, artificial fragrance, filler ingredients, phthalate, or parabens, but this stuff works and has a pretty good reputation.

It’s made with coconut oil for a smooth feel and hydrated skin, magnesium hydroxide for odor control, and a blend of essential oils that make it smell great—this Bergamot and Lime scent is refreshing without being overwhelming.

Kopari Aluminum-Free Deodorant

white and blue Kopari deodorant on sand with tan sunglasses next to it
Kopari 

Kopari Aluminum-Free Deodorant is one of my personal favorites because it feels really hydrating on your armpits, and I love the scent. This is probably because it’s made of a blend of coconut milk, coconut water, coconut oil, and sage oil, all of which conditions and soothes the skin, and has a lovely tropical scent.

This one goes on very smooth and clear and doesn’t leave behind any white residue. It uses a mixture of ingredients, including sage oil, to control odor and work at warding off odor-causing bacteria.

Each & Every Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

each and every deodorant in black and white packaging on white background with limes and coconuts around it
Each & Every

The Each & Every Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant has nearly 12,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is both effective and sustainable. It’s made with just six clean ingredients and essential oils, and lasts all day long to fight odor. Instead of baking soda, which many might find irritating to the skin, this brand uses dead sea salt.

Coconut oil and citrus essential oils make up this particular kind, giving it a refreshing scent that will make you feel like you’re at the beach. It’s also placed in recyclable, plant-based packaging made from sugarcane, which is a 100% renewable plant that’s carbon negative and Earth positive. In other words, you can feel good about using this one on your body and just in general.

Kosas Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant

woman putting kosas deodorant on her underarm area
Kosas

The Kosas Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant is definitely a little different than any of the others on this list. This clean, stain-free deodorant features a unique AHA blend that fights odor and hydrates. You can think of it as skin care and deodorant combined.

The AHA blend, which includes shikimic, mandelic, and lactic acids, deodorizes, exfoliates, hydrates, and addresses visible dullness and discoloration. There’s also aloe vera juice and hyaluronic acid for softer, smoother skin. It also doesn’t include baking soda and will visibly brighten and prevent ingrown hairs.

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant

white Lavanila deodorant laying on a wood table with yellow flowers next to it
Lavanila

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant was one of the very first natural deodorants that I heard about years ago, before going natural with your pits was a trend. It’s been around for a long time and has always been a personal favorite of mine.

Lavanila uses their Beta Glucan Technology, which they call a “breakthrough in natural deodorant protection.” It’s derived from the cell walls of oats and yeast. Beta glucan is blended with high-powered antioxidants and antibacterial agents to break down sweat molecules. This prevents odors before they even start.

The SportLuxe version also uses Smartsport technology, which is a blend of all-natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, and nourishing actives to protect you even when you’re really working up a sweat.

Ursa Major Hoppin Fresh Deodorant

white and green bottle of Ursa Major deodorant on a bathroom shelf in front of a mirror
Ursa Major

The award-winning Ursa Major Hoppin Fresh Deodorant is made with clean, naturally derived ingredients and will help eliminate underarm odor, absorb excess moisture, and soothe sensitive skin. It’s non-toxic and aluminum-, cruelty-, fragrance-, and paraben-free.

It’s also a non-staining deodorant, so you don’t have to worry about those pesky white streaks. It goes on silky and smooth. The scent is a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils, and it’s very refreshing and clean.

Hume Supernatural Deodorant Amber Woods

orange and white bottle of Hume deodorant on a piece of wood in the sand
Hume

Hume Supernatural Deodorant in Amber Woods is fairly new, but don’t be afraid to try it out. This plant-based deodorant is made with microbiomes and probiotics found in desert flora to help block odor. Ingredients like fossilized algae and tapioca starch have microporous structures that give them high absorbency powers, which means no more wet T-shirts.

Other ingredients include ethylhexylglycerin, which stops odor before it can even start, and prebiotic and probiotic-derived ferment, which support the skin’s microbiome to protect good bacteria while also lessening odor-causing bacteria.

Then, there’s bright agave, prickly pear, rose, orange blossom, and cactus flower, all of which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients to keep your skin smooth and soft. This has a gentle, woodsy smell that just makes you feel good as well.

Jessica Booth Jessica Booth
Jessica Booth is a freelance writer for LifeSavvy. She has been working in the editorial world as a freelance writer for over two years and previously worked as an editor for over eight years.  Jessica writes about travel, beauty, wellness, health, food, home decor, and parenting, and has reviewed and tested out products for all of those verticals over the course of her career. Read Full Bio »
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