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Making the switch to natural deodorant can be a bit like taking a driving test: If you’re not fully prepared for the road ahead, there’s a strong chance you might fail before you succeed—at least, that was my experience when I first tried to convert 15 years ago. I was persuaded to ditch my drugstore antiperspirant by a yoga teacher friend. “Don’t you know that stuff is full of poison?” she said when I whipped out a stick of deodorant after an Ashtanga class. Admittedly, I had no idea that aluminum, the active ingredient in most antiperspirants, is potentially harmful, with studies having raised questions about its link to cancer. And given that my mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, that potential truth, whether conclusive or not, hit a raw nerve. “You should use this stuff instead,” she said, thrusting a clear phallic object into my hands—a deodorant made from crystallized rock salt. This, she assured me, was Mother Nature’s answer to odor-free pits. “Layer up with a little perfume and you’ll be good to go,” she said.
What she didn’t tell me, though, is that no amount of salt can fully substitute for antiperspirant. Therein lies the fundamental difference between what you’ll find at the drugstore and the natural alternatives. Antiperspirant prevents you from perspiring, just as the name suggests. Deodorant, on the other hand, functions by zapping the bacteria that causes body odor; it won’t stop your sweat glands from doing their thing—and that’s kind of the point. So if, like me, you decide to go au naturel during one of the hottest New York summers in recent memory, then you’ve got to be prepared to sweat—a lot—at least in the few weeks that it takes for your body to adjust.
My interactions with other people became fraught with anxiety almost immediately upon making the switch; even a friendly handshake held the potential for disaster. What if my outstretched arm revealed an unsightly wet patch? Or worse still, a putrid whiff of B.O.? (Sadly, my fragrance-free salt wand had usually stopped working by noon.) Hugging and high-fiving were now completely out of the question. I remember one particularly steamy morning, emerging from the subway as if I’d literally gone swimming in the East River in my vintage silk dress. (Note to all natural-deodorant newbies: Never wear silk in the heat; it’s almost as insulating as a puffer coat.) In that moment, I felt so defeated that I would have willingly drowned myself in a pool of my own sweat. Needless to say, I was back to my drugstore-deodorant-using ways within a week.
“It’s really a matter of finding what works best for you. Not every natural deodorant works for everybody,” says Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, a body-positive beauty line. “I tried all the ones people were raving about when it first became a thing. A lot of them had baking soda, which I’m allergic to, so I ended up with pits covered in rashes.” Sturino, whose mother is also a two-time cancer survivor, decided to make nailing the perfect aluminum-free deodorant her personal mission. Megababe’s Rosy Pits deodorant was a year in the making, part of a new generation of products that bring the science of natural deodorants up to speed. Her brand replaces popular natural-deodorizing agents such as baking soda and alcohol, which can be irritants to sensitive skin, with a blend of antibacterial ingredients, like sandalwood and sage, as well as skin-nourishing coconut extract and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. Where traditional natural deodorants tend to pull from a repertoire of heavy herbal scents—eucalyptus comes to mind—Sturino’s has a light, floral note. “We went through a lot of roses—grandma, sugary, you name it—before I found the right one,” she says of her fragrant pick, Moldova rose. “Now, when I open it, I just want to stick my face in it because I love the scent so much.”
Admittedly, it’s a big part of why I like Rosy Pits too. I’m also a big fan of stick formulas, especially when they hold up all day like this one. Since my misadventure with the rock crystal, I’ve managed to get back on the aluminum-free deodorant wagon. In fact, ask my friends and family and they’ll probably say I’ve become a bit of a natural-deodorant zealot. Up until recently, I’d been relying on aluminum-free deodorants by brands like Vichy, which I discovered in Paris about nine years ago. Luckily, there are a ton of effective options on the American market now, so I no longer have to schlep all those products across the pond.
As far as roll-on natural alternatives go, Aesop has one of the best out there, in my opinion. Vetiver root, zinc, and Wasabia japonica are listed as active ingredients—no alcohol or baking soda to be found, so it’s pretty gentle. The biggest selling point for me, though, is the long-lasting fragrance, which is fresh and woody in a way that is appealing to both men and women (not that there aren’t men out there who want rose-scented pits—Sturino swears that her husband is her best guinea pig—but still!). For those nonsensitive types who are looking for something a little more zingy, there are solid options containing baking soda. Leaves of Trees has a paste formula that comes in a variety of fragrances, including Persian lime. Eir NYC’s fir-needle-scented version is in the same vein, pegged as “an antiperspirant for him and her.” It’s made almost exclusively from natural ingredients with names you will easily recognize—shea butter, arrowroot, rosemary oil, et cetera—music to the ears of hardcore natural-beauty purists.
Perhaps more satisfying than my own natural-deodorant journey, has been watching my mom’s embrace of the aluminum-free life. After her first cancer diagnosis, she was quick to make the necessary changes to her diet—she will readily wax lyrical on the benefits of turmeric, flaxseed oil, and her newfound love of kale, for example. And yet weaning her off the potentially toxic products lurking in her bathroom cabinet took a lot more coaxing. Like many women of her generation, she was raised on the old cliché: Women don’t sweat, they glow. So the idea of natural deodorant seemed somehow eek-y and unladylike, something she initially wasn’t on board with. (I remember catching her red-handed with a drugstore antiperspirant one morning, when she’d sworn blind off the stuff.) Now that there are actually natural deodorants that do the job, I’m pretty sure that, like me, she’s never turning back.
Below, the best natural deodorants to buy now from Kosas, Aesop, Nécessaire, and more.
Why We Love It: A Vogue editor favorite, Salt & Stone’s formula is enriched with seaweed extracts, hyaluronic acid, and nourishing oils to soothe and condition the skin. Then, there are probiotics to help balance skin’s microbiome and neutralize odor.
Why We Love It: The Kosas Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant was the brand’s first body product—a thin, nonstick serum deodorant that rolls onto skin, free of aluminum and baking soda. Not only do the AHAs fight odor, but the acids work to prevent ingrowns, soothe skin, and brighten underarms.
Why We Love It: Available in seven fragrant scents, Kopari’s Aluminum-Free Deodorant is suitable to keep you fresh all day long. Here, coconut oil naturally fights bacteria, while sage oil soothes stressed-out skin.
Why We Love It: The first deodorant from beauty powerhouse, Glossier, is refillable and aluminum-free. Available in four scents, the formula uses a blend of naturally sourced ingredients to keep you dry and odor-free.
Uni(sex) Nºs Deodorant
Why We Love It: Made by hand and housed in a sleek gold-stamped tube, Agent Nateur’s lightweight deodorant deserves a spot on every vanity.
Why We Love It: The shores of California are just a swipe away, thanks to Corpus’s vegan deodorant scented with notes of sea salt, bergamot, white musk, and jasmine.
Why We Love It: Megababe’s baking-soda-free formula is made with a trifecta of natural ingredients that help prevent odor-causing bacteria from forming on the skin.
Why We Love It: Malin+Goetz’s paraben-free stick provides odor protection, while natural bergamot extract offers an uplifting aroma.
Why We Love It: A mainstay at Parisian pharmacies, Vichy’s Dry-Touch Deodorant, which is powered by skin-strengthening French volcanic water, glides onto skin for clear, 24-hour coverage. Oui, oui.
Why We Love It: Stay fresh all day long with Aesop’s minimalist, milky roller, which is fragranced with a herbaceous blend of essential oils.
Why We Love It: Who could refuse Nécassaire’s cooling, gel deodorant, which not only keeps odor at bay but smooths skin texture and reduces the look of hyperpigmentation?
Why We Love It: Powered by prebiotic organic grape water and fragranced with eucalyptus, Caudalie’s Vinofresh Deodorant is crafted to combat odor without clogging pores for up to 24 hours. It’s free of aluminum, alcohol, silicones, and baking soda.
Why We Love It: Fans of Alo Yoga’s top-rated yoga mats and activewear should consider adding its natural deodorant to their workout regimen. Through antioxidant-rich ingredients, this baking soda- and aluminum-free formula should leave you smelling fresh.
Why We Love It: Sage and witch hazel extracts, two natural odor-controlling ingredients, meet in Dr. Hauschka’s chic rollerball design.
Sublime Sage Natural Spray Deodorant
Why We Love It: Hit refresh with Ursa Major’s innovative herbal-spray formula, which uses a high-performing blend of plants, minerals, and enzymes to fight odor-causing bacteria.
Why We Love It: O.G. lovers of Mario Badescu should add the brand’s aluminum-and-baking-soda-free stick deodorant to their beauty routine. It neutralizes odor while nourishing your armpits through a botanical blend of oils.
Why We Love It: Minimize underarm odor with the soothing, plant-based Briogeo deodorant—a blend of tea tree, eucalyptus, and coconut water that's free of aluminum, talc, zinc, and baking soda.
Why We Love It: Packaged in a sustainable push-pop-like stick, Eir’s fir-scented balm includes food-grade arrowroot to neutralize underarm odor and help absorb moisture.
“A natural deodorant is a product designed to minimize body odor without using synthetic chemicals,” says Margarita Lolis, MD, a New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. “Unlike antiperspirants, a natural deodorant does not prevent sweating. Generally, these deodorants are free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.”
While skin sensitivities or health concerns make natural deodorant a tempting choice for some, there is a prevalent concern amongst those considering a switch: Will I smell? “Ditching your antiperspirant for a natural deodorant does involve a transition period, during which your body may adjust to the lack of antiperspirants and begin to manage odor differently,” Lolis allows.
As such, “I always recommend easing into it,” she says. “If possible, start the transition during cooler weather because sweating and body odor can increase as your body adjusts.” Also, try to apply the deodorant on clean skin. “A thoroughly cleansed axilla [or armpit] is less likely to smell because washing removes odor-causing bacteria.”
Additionally, Lolis recommends wearing breathable natural natural fibers—such as cotton, linen, or bamboo—during the transition period. “These will allow your skin to breathe and reduce sweating or odor,” she says. Diet also comes into play, and steering clear of pungent garlic, onions, and spicy foods, as well as processed food, will help keep odor at bay.
“Last, detox your armpits!” says Lolis. “Before switching, do a mask made of ingredients like bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar to help remove impurities and residual particles from conventional deodorants.”
“Natural deodorants rely on moisture-absorbing and bacteria-fighting ingredients combined with botanical and essential-oil-derived fragrance that replace the aluminum and synthetic fragrances in typical deodorants and antiperspirants,” says Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of youth skincare brand BTWN.
“If you tend to experience dampness, look for products with baking soda, cornstarch, arrowroot, or clay to help keep dry,” Jeffy advises. “Aloe vera and coconut oil are great at helping to reduce odor causing bacteria.” The oil has additional benefits, too. “Natural oils and butters such as coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil are frequently used for their skin-soothing and moisturizing properties, and create a smooth application,” says Lolis.
“Another ingredient to look for is beeswax or other plant-based waxes like candelilla or carnauba wax—especially when using a stick formulation,” Lolis adds. “They solidify the deodorant, providing a smooth application.”
In terms of scent, “there are a wide range essential oils and botanicals that can be used to create a specific pleasant smell to help mask unpleasant odor,” Jeffy says. Tea tree, eucalyptus, sandalwood, and lavender essential oils are all popular additions. “However, these are the ingredients in a natural deodorant that are most likely to cause contact dermatitis,” Jeffy cautions.
The merits of natural deodorant are debatable. “Avoiding aluminum in antiperspirants is certainly a personal choice but there is no solid evidence that it causes breast cancer or Alzheimer's disease in any human study,” says Jeffy. “I do know that stinking affects self-esteem and social interaction and I would certainly deem those as more concerning to overall health and wellbeing than any known risk of applying conventional or non-natural deodorant or antiperspirant to the skin.”
She also cautions that “natural does not always mean better.” In her experience, deodorants that are labeled natural still have the potential to cause allergic rashes or irritation. “The worst contact dermatitis I have ever seen in clinic was to an essential oil being applied to the skin,” Jeffy says.
In the end, the decision to embrace or eschew antiperspirants is up to you (and your armpits.) “The choice comes down to personal preference, comfort, and individual health considerations,” says Lolis.
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