I’m going to be honest. I do not sparkle; I sweat. I am a sweater. If the temperature rises above 80 degrees, you had better believe that I have slathered on deodorant (I promise I do all the time, though). My sweaty tendencies and the fact that I live in Atlanta mean that I’ve got no time for natural deodorants. Honestly, I didn’t think they’d work on me, but as it turns out, some of them may just be worth considering.
There are several reasons to consider switching to natural deodorants. Typical antiperspirants can clog your pores, leading to skin conditions like razor burn and pimples. Then there’s the fact that by making yourself not sweat with these formulas, you could actually be increasing your sweat production. Talk about a nightmare, right? Then, of course, there are theories regarding the aluminum compounds present in deodorants potentially leading to certain diseases. Altogether, there’s not actually a reason to not give a natural deodorant a go, and that’s why my sweaty self did.
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I tested six natural deodorants, and while not all are created equal, some of them were much more impressive than I thought they would be. If you’ve been considering making the switch, here are my thoughts on six natural deodorants you can find at your local store or snag online.
Kopari
Kopari is a brand you’ve likely heard of thanks to its use of coconut oil. It’s kind of the brand’s signature, so obviously one of the deodorant’s main ingredients is coconut oil, and you can tell. There is a slight coconut smell to this deodorant because of the oil, but that wasn’t the issue. The problem was that when applying, this deodorant basically made you feel like you were sweating when you weren’t due to the oil inside. The smell was actually the best part.
As for its effectiveness, I’d give it a six out of 10. While it did work for the first few hours, it’s a natural deodorant you’ll need to reapply, especially if you live in a hot climate. Plus, if you’ve got issues with smell (shout out to hot temps), there’s no fragrance here to help balance that out.
Schmidt’s Rose + Vanilla Natural Deodorant
Let me introduce you to my favorite of the bunch. Prior to testing the deodorants, I’d never heard of Schmidt’s. Sure, I may have glanced past it in Target, but I’d never paid enough attention to really remember the name. That has changed now.
The pro column for Schmidt’s is long, but it starts with the smell. Despite being a natural deodorant, this product will make sure you stay fresh all day. While I can only vouch for the Rose + Vanilla smell, it definitely worked to keep odor away. As for sweat, there were no issues there either. I was fresh as a daisy (or rose) every day with no touch-ups.
The con column is definitely shorter but notable. First up, like a lot of natural deodorants, this product is oily which means it can leave residue behind on your shirt, and it’s tough to get out. Watch out for that. Secondly, there are reviews online detailing irritation and darkness after use. This is not something I personally experienced, but it’s worth noting, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Native Cucumber & Mint
Coming in second place in this competition is Native. You’ve likely seen commercials for this brand on television, and it’s got a major presence in Target. Plus, with its annual pumpkin spice scent, it’s been a viral sensation before as well. All of that aside, though, this natural deodorant is a great choice.
First, let’s talk dryness. Should you wear this deodorant to a theme park in the middle of summer? Probably not. However, if you’re just living your everyday life, you’ll be fine, and that’s coming from someone who, like I’ve mentioned, is prone to being a little extra sweaty and lives in a hot climate. Secondly, there’s the smell. The Cucumber & Mint Native deodorant has an incredibly light smell, but it works. You won’t have to worry about body odor, but you also won’t have to worry about your friends or partner catching a wave of deodorant smell either.
As for the cons, this product is a bit more expensive than some of the others. Retailing for $11.99 at Target, it’s certainly up there in price compared to traditional deodorants. However, Target does offer a travel size if you want to give it a go before committing to the full price. But, hey, if you’re committed to cleaner products, it’s definitely worth it.
Crystal 24 Hour Unscented Deodorant
I have to be honest here. I despise a roll-on formula, and that hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s the biggest negative about this deodorant. There is certainly a dry-down time you’ll need to take before putting on clothes, and that wet feeling you’re trying to avoid during the day, you’ll feel it during application.
However, as for dryness after the fact, it’s a winner. Once this natural product does dry, it’s actually a pretty solid option. I had a bit of breakthrough sweat throughout the days I tested it, but I didn’t touch up to see how it would fare. While I was just slightly sweaty at the end of the day, it wasn’t terrible. As for the smell, well, there’s not one. That’s where the problem was for me.
I honestly never thought I’d be talking about my body odor on the internet, but here we are. This unscented deodorant wasn’t effective at stopping smell. It didn’t matter if I applied it immediately after showering before anything could start happening or not. My BO was a bummer. However, if you don’t suffer from a strong odor or you don’t mind a roll-on formula, it’s truly not a bad option.
Tom’s of Maine Powder Scent Antiperspirant for Women
Tom’s of Maine is a tricky natural deodorant to talk about. Why? Because it technically does contain aluminum, and that makes it difficult to judge against some of the other products that don’t. The aluminum inside the deodorant does make it a better choice for those who are sweaty, but if you’re looking to eliminate that specific ingredient, this one isn’t for you.
However, if you don’t mind the presence of aluminum, this is a clean deodorant, and by clean, I mean that it’s free of many of the chemicals found in other products, such as parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrance, and more. While, yes, aluminum (specifically recycled aluminum to lower your environmental waste) is in the product, it’s still great in other ways.
Overall, this one was a winner. While it’s the aluminum that helped me to stay dry, it’s also quite effective at preventing odor as well (likely because of the lack of sweat). Honestly, I’ve got nothing bad to say about this natural option. Its biggest miss is the aluminum.
Secret Aluminum Free Rosewater Deodorant
Unfortunately, the brand you’ll likely recognize the most was the poorest performer of the group. The Secret Aluminum Free deodorant was kind of a dud. However, let’s start with some of the positive things about this product.
First, it’s totally clear. You won’t experience any sort of staining on your clothes, and it stays clear throughout the day. Second, the price is certainly right. At $4.99, it’s definitely one of the more affordable natural deodorants.
Now, it’s time for the negatives. Mostly, it’s just not effective. Within three to four hours of each day, I needed to reapply this product due to sweating. Honestly, it was just a hassle. As for the smell, it’s really not bad. It’s a soft rosy scent that’s not too overpowering, but it’s not body odor neutralizing. While you’ll smell rosy for a bit after application, that soon fades, and you’re left with your natural scent, which, let’s be honest, isn’t always great.
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While you may be tempted to snag this deodorant thanks to its recognizable name, it may be best to skip it.
Overall, if you’re looking to switch from a typical deodorant to a more natural option, there are some great choices out there. Ultimately, though, everyone’s body will react differently to these products. Still, it’s worth it to take a test run of these options and discover which ones work best for you.
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