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I’ve tried so many natural deodorants over the years, constantly on the search for a product that doesn’t contain aluminum and other potentially harmful ingredients but that really works to keep excessive sweat at bay. Whether it’s routine barn chores or working on a major project, I’m constantly outside sweating – so finding a natural deodorant that actually works is a must.
After years of trial and error, I’ve found one stand-out product that I swear by and several runners-up that work pretty darn well, too. I’ve come up with this list after personally trying nearly 20 different brands of natural deodorants. Here are the winners.
Best Natural Deodorant for Women: Schmidt’s Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Schmidt’s is hands-down the best natural deodorant for women that I’ve tried. Not only does it really work to minimize sweat, but it also smells great, lasts all day, and is budget-friendly compared to a lot of other aluminum-free deodorant brands.
The one downside is that it has a paste-like consistency that can cause friction against the skin, so it’s not ideal for men with armpit hair.
Pros
- Lasts all day. You don’t have to worry about needing to reapply this deodorant throughout the day.
- Stands up to hard outdoor work. Schmidt’s is effective enough to work even when you are installing fencing outside in the sun or mucking a barn full of stalls.
- Smells great. Some natural deodorants don’t smell the best – this isn’t one of those! Not only does Schmidt’s have a pleasant, subtle smell, but it has lots of scents to choose from.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances. This natural deodorant checks all the boxes when it comes to avoiding harmful ingredients in your pits.
Cons
- Can leave white streaks on clothing. Most deodorants carry the risk of leaving a residue on your clothing, and Schmidt’s is no exception. In most cases, any residue left on my clothes has come out in the wash.
- Doesn’t always glide on smoothly. The only reason this deodorant isn’t also my “best for men” pick is because it doesn’t apply super smoothly and therefore isn’t ideal for men with hairy armpits.
Best Natural Deodorant for Men: Dr. Squatch
It’s hard to beat a natural deodorant that has been formulated and designed specifically for men for the “best for men” category. Dr. Squatch checks all the boxes that I love about Schmidt’s for women, but solves the problem of spreadability and throws in some added postbiotics benefits to boot. Plus, Dr. Squatch comes in a range of manly scents that last all day long, whether you’re wood splitting or weed whacking.
As for the downside? This deodorant is a bit pricier than other products marketed specifically toward men – but I will say it’s easy to snag a deal or coupon with this company, and you can save if you buy a two-pack or bundle.
Pros
- Lasts all day. This deodorant truly keeps you dry and odor-free all day, so there’s no need to reapply.
- Stands up to heavy outdoor work. This formula doesn’t skimp when it comes to heavy-duty sweat protection for men. Its postbiotic formula adds an extra touch of odor-neutralizing power while helping to maintain your skin’s natural microbiome.
- Smells great and comes in a variety of masculine scents, like maverick musk and fresh falls.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, silicones, and artificial fragrances. This natural deodorant for men avoids all harsh ingredients commonly found in traditional deodorants, but still offers lasting sweat protection.
Cons
- Higher price point. Dr. Squatch is a bit pricier than some other natural deodorants, but you can save with coupons and bundle deals.
- Can leave a residue on clothing. Like many other natural deodorants, Dr. Squatch isn’t exactly streak-free. That said, it typically comes out in the wash and doesn’t permanently stain.
Runner-Up Best Natural Deodorants
These natural deodorant brands are good enough to make my shortlist, but just didn’t quite eek out the overall win.
Native: Best Smooth Natural Deodorant
Native has a solid natural deodorant option that has a lot going for it – most notably how smoothly it glides onto the skin. This could be a good option for men with armpit hair or women with sensitive skin because of how smoothly it applies. It also comes in a wide range of appealing scents, as well as an unscented option for those who are sensitive to fragrances.
The downside to the Native deodorant, though, is that it didn’t last all day long. If you don’t mind reapplying after sweating a lot, this could be a great pick for you.
Pros
- Applies smoothly and easily.
- Smells great and comes in a wide variety of scents, including unscented.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, and phthalates.
Cons
- Doesn’t last all day when sweating intensely.
- Fragrances may not be naturally derived.
Toups & Co Organics: Best Tallow-Based Natural Deodorant
Natural tallow derived from grass-fed beef is one of the hottest trends in natural skincare right now. Toups & Co Organics is one of the frontrunners when it comes to incorporating natural beef tallow into its skincare products. The Toups & Co 100% grass-fed tallow deodorant is a high-quality product that uses a tallow base, natural arrowroot powder, and natural fragrances to effectively control sweat and body odor without irritating your skin or harming your health with harmful ingredients.
The main downside to this product is the fact that it isn’t vegan due to the tallow. If you’re not worried about your deodorant being plant-based, this is a really solid option.
Pros
- Lasts all day and stands up to intense sweating.
- Smells great and comes in a variety of scents, including unscented.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.
Cons
- Not vegan.
- High price point.
- Texture is firm compared to other brands.
Use code “HERDANDHOME10” to save 10% on your Toups & Co order.
Salt & Stone: Best Probiotic Natural Deodorant
Salt & Stone has become a bit of a cult favorite in natural deodorant, and it’s easy to see why. With clean, eco-friendly packaging and plant-based ingredients, Salt & Stone is a clear frontrunner. It also contains probiotic ingredients to help neutralize body odor and enhance your skin’s microbiome.
The most notable downside, though, is Salt & Stone’s price point of $20 if you buy it directly from the brand’s website (and don’t sign up for a subscription) or around $16 if you purchase through Amazon.
Pros
- Eco-friendly packaging and high-quality plant-based ingredients.
- Probiotics and hyaluronic acid to help neutralize body odor while lightly hydrating the skin.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, and phthalates.
Cons
- High price point.
- Fragrances may not be naturally derived.
- Doesn’t stand up to hard outdoor work.
Earthley: Best Mineral Natural Deodorant
Earthley offers a mineral-based natural deodorant that contains magnesium chloride flakes to help neutralize body odor. This formulation also contains apricot oil and mango butter, which give it a very smooth texture that’s ideal for people with sensitive skin. This product comes in a variety of scents, lightly fragranced using essential oils. It’s also available in a small trial size, in case you want to test it out before buying a whole stick.
The biggest downside to Earthley’s deodorant is that it’s not the strongest formula for protecting against intense sweat. While it’s great for daily use, it doesn’t exactly stand up to hard outdoor work.
Pros
- High-quality plant-based ingredients, including magnesium chloride.
- Smells great and comes in a variety of scents.
- Easily glides on the skin.
- Free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.
Cons
- Doesn’t stand up to intense outdoor work.
New customers can use code “HelloNatural” to save 10% on your Earthley order.
What to Look for in a Non-Toxic Deodorant
It can be a challenge to sift through ingredient lists and try to compare several different products apples to apples. In general, there are a few ingredients you absolutely do not want to see on the ingredient list for natural deodorants, and then there are some other characteristics that are nice to have but aren’t deal breakers. Here’s what to look for at a glance:
Ingredients to Avoid
- Aluminum compounds. Most traditional deodorants use aluminum compounds to block sweat glands, but these ingredients have been linked to breast cancer risks, Alzheimer’s disease, and other potential health risks.
- Parabens. These are widely-used preservatives that mimic estrogen in the body, which can lead to a whole host of health issues, ranging from increased breast cancer risk to fertility issues.
- Phthalates. Commonly found in fragrances, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors that can affect hormonal balance and reproductive health.
- Synthetic fragrances. Often made from a mix of chemicals, synthetic fragrances can cause allergic reactions and contain phthalates. If a label simply says “fragrance,” this could be a sign that it contains synthetic fragrances. Look for products that list essential oils instead of the generic term, “fragrance.”
- Triclosan. This is a common antibacterial ingredient that can contribute to antibiotic resistance and may affect thyroid function and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Nice-to-Have Extras
- Moisturizing ingredients like apricot oil, aloe vera, shea butter, and coconut oil help to soothe the skin and avoid irritation in the underarm sensitive area.
- Arrowroot powder instead of baking soda. Arrowroot powder is a gentler ingredient than baking soda and helps to absorb excess moisture. Baking soda is very abrasive and can irritate your skin and throw off your skin’s natural pH balance.
- Essential oils. As discussed in the “ingredients to avoid” section above, it is best to find a natural deodorant that uses essential oils as fragrances instead of synthetic fragrances. Note, however, that some essential oils can cause irritation or skin sensitivity, so make sure you choose a product without oils that you know you have bad reactions to.
Bottom Line
In my opinion, you can’t go with with Schmidt’s natural deodorant for women. It lasts all day long, stands up to heavy sweating, and doesn’t contain harsh or harmful ingredients. That said, because it can cause some friction when applying, it’s not the best pick for men with armpit hair. For the fellas, Dr. Squatch’s natural deodorant is the top pick, thanks to its smooth application and odor-crushing postbiotic benefits.
If you don’t love my overall best-of-the-best picks, no sweat. The other brands on this list are solid runners-up and worth a try if you are still searching for your new go-to natural deodorant brand.
