9 Natural Deodorants That Actually Last a Full Day, According to Our Editors
Dermatologists also debunk myths about natural deodorants.
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We'll admit that deodorant isn't the sexiest beauty product — but it's one of the most essential parts of any getting-ready routine. The only problem? Most traditional antiperspirants are full of questionable ingredients. Thankfully, natural deodorant is a clean-beauty option that will keep you feeling fresh and smelling good throughout the day — and it's having a major moment right now. TikToks about natural deodorants have amassed more than 97.5 million views, and thousands of people are discussing the topic on Reddit.
With all of the hype around natural deodorant, we researched and spent almost 2 months testing a slew of products to help you discover the ones that deserve all the hype. We also tapped two of our favorite doctors to debunk myths and misconceptions about natural deodorants.
Best Natural Deodorants
What Is a Natural Deodorant?
The Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate natural cosmetic products, so standards will vary across companies. For some, it may be that their product is aluminum-free, or they only use organic, locally sourced ingredients. Regardless of how brands define natural, dermatologists say natural deodorants contain odor-eliminating and antimicrobial ingredients like baking soda, corn starch, activated charcoal, arrowroot powder, essential oils, and shea butter. They also come in various formulations like gel, roll-on, cream, spray, and solid.
Erica Murphy
“Natural deodorants are great for people who do not want to use chemical deodorants and prefer a more natural fragrance. The downside is that they’re not as effective as reducing and preventing sweating from your armpits,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group.
While some traditional deodorants pride themselves on providing 24-7 coverage, Lal and fellow board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D., agree that natural deodorants don't offer a crazy amount of odor-eliminating protection. But if it's any consolation, they say that's because they don't form a plug in the eccrine sweat ducts — which is kind of gross to think about, especially when there are questionable ingredients involved.
Is Aluminum Safe to Use?
Aluminum is known for controlling and reducing sweat production, so it's a key component of antiperspirants. However, rumors have circulated that aluminum causes health problems, which prompted many people to switch from antiperspirants to natural deodorants. But if aluminum is found in such a readily available product, does that mean it's safe to use?
“There has been a concern in the media that aluminum may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer, but at this time, we have no evidence to support those claims,” says Lal. King and the American Cancer Society also agree that there is very little scientific evidence to support the rumors.
Although the negative claims about aluminum are just unsupported rumors, there are still plenty of reasons to use natural deodorant:
• It can be better for sensitive skin
• Natural deodorants are free of parabens
• They use natural, recognizable ingredients
Because of the rising natural-deodorant trend, there are so many options available that it can be hard to find ones that actually work. So, we took it upon ourselves to test the most popular brands and determine the best natural deodorant to add to your daily routine.
How We Tested
Each natural deodorant in this story went through a meticulous testing process. Over 6 weeks, our team swiped on more than 20 natural deodorants, and we can confidently say these nine recommendations are 100% worth your money.
To ensure they satisfy their claims, we wore these natural deodorants everywhere, including the office, gym, and even on dates. Testers shared feedback on all characteristics of the deodorant, including odor protection, scent, residue, texture, price, and overall quality.
Here are nine natural deodorants that are editor-approved and guaranteed to help you finally eliminate stinky pits without potential health risks.
After testing more than 20 different natural deodorants, this is the one we keep picking up every morning — so you know it’s legit. The smell is calming and not overwhelming. It glides on easily, applies clear, stays clear, and feels like “regular” deodorant. Plus, we can actually make it through a whole workday without needing to reapply.
We love that it's made with only ten ingredients, including eucalyptus oil, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also doesn't irritate our sensitive skin, which has been a problem with other natural deodorants that didn't make this list.
The one caveat: This pick does foam a little with excessive sweating, so you might want to keep a heavier-duty deodorant in your gym bag if you’re an exerciser who pushes the limits.
More: Organic Body Washes Our Beauty Editor Won't Shut Up About
We're always on the hunt for a natural deodorant that doesn't leave embarrassing white stains on our black clothing, and Dove's 0% Aluminum is it. The stick goes on clear and stays clear throughout the entire day, and it does a decent job at covering up odor, too. But you might want to consider throwing it in your bag to reapply before post-work plans.
The texture can feel a little tacky, but it's the longest-lasting natural deodorant stick we've ever used, which earns it high praise in our book!
Its ingredient list is also impressive. Notably, the non-irritating natural deodorant is infused with Dove's signature one-fourth moisturizer, which features a proprietary blend of ultra hydrating and gentle ingredients safe for sensitive skin.
Soapwalla is one of the OGs in the natural deodorant market, so they’ve had years to perfect their cream formula.
Unlike popular stick deodorants, this natural deodorant comes in a cream formula that gets applied with a swipe of your fingers. The formula uses vegetable powders, clay, and essential oils to absorb moisture and combat bacteria. While we think the cream is a little bit rough to apply, the odor protection is amazing. We took this for a spin during an outdoor run and returned with pits fresh as daisies.
PĀPR's natural deodorant lives up to its namesake and truly lasts from a.m. to p.m. We're most impressed that the cream-tinted solid deodorant glides on clear and stays clear throughout the day.
In our experience, most citrus deodorants have an overwhelmingly strong, almost artificial scent, but PĀPR's combination of lemongrass and bergamot is noticeable but in the best possible way. You won't walk around smelling like you live in a lemon garden in Capri, Italy, but you can feel confident knowing your odor is successfully camouflaged with a faint citrus scent.
The packaging is also noteworthy, especially if you're into a zero-waste lifestyle. It's made from 100% biodegradable paper that is surprisingly sturdy — coats and shoes haven't crushed it during long-haul flights.
Our biggest problem with using natural deodorants before going to the gym is that they tend to foam and turn white when any kind of underarm sweating happens.
It’s a little awkward when you notice it on yourself but even more uncomfortable when someone else looks at you and says, “Hey, what’s on your arms?” But we’re happy to report that this pick from TOMS doesn’t foam at all and does a decent job at covering up odor, too.
We adore the soft and fresh scent but love the combination of moisturizing and soothing ingredients like organic sunflower seed oil and aloe vera even more.
We've always been hesitant to use spray deodorants for fear that they would sting if applied right after shaving, but we’re happy to report that this one didn’t sting at all.
The formula is made with a blend of essential oils designed to reduce perspiration and control underarm bacteria. Well, the blend works. We wore this pick to the gym and found it was better at covering up odor than several of the stick deodorants we tested.
It comes in two scents: lemon sage and jasmine grapefruit. Both smell amazing! It’s also worth noting that this spray comes in a glass bottle that’s not TSA-approved, so it’s a deodorant that will have to stay in your medicine cabinet.
We were a little skeptical of charcoal deodorants when we first set out to test but were pleasantly surprised with the results.
According to both dermatologists, activated charcoal is used in natural deodorants to draw out toxins from your pores and help prevent odor even more. We thought that the extra ingredient would cause some irritation, but after several days of use, we saw nothing but happy, odor-free pits. The product dries to a powdery finish, but since it does go on a little thick at first, be careful with putting on clothing immediately.
We’re partial to the mandarin pomelo scent, but it also comes in Black Oak and Bourbon, and Sakura Blossom.
By Humankind is the first company to make a refillable deodorant cartridge — and we think it’s nothing short of genius. When you place your first order, you get to choose your deodorant container, your deodorant scent, and if you want to sign up for a subscription or just order ad hoc. Plus, the deodorant actually works pretty well, too!
It got a 5/5 for odor protection, but can feel a little rough when applying. We’ve also noticed that the formula can get a little dry if you’re not using it every day.
The fun packaging and sunny, citrusy scent are some of the best things about this deodorant. It goes on clear and is overall another solid pick for a daily deodorant.
If you're someone who loves coconut oil in your skincare products, then this is the natural deodorant for you. It's also made with corn starch that kept us dry while the combination of sage, sandalwood, and horsetail plant tackled odor-causing bacteria.
We also just love Megababe’s mission for creating products as a whole: “...a line of thoughtfully conceived and expertly crafted products that take the Ouch and the Ugh out of being a woman.” Amen to that.
We love how this deodorant smells, and it feels like butter when you put it on — but it just wasn't as effective as masking odor as some of the others on our list.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
Erica is the Senior Director of SEO and Content for Hearst's Enthusiast Group; Prior to that, she worked at New York Magazine and Levo League, where she received several bylines on various topics like finding your dream job, being spontaneous, and how women think about perfection. Outside of work, Erica can be found running around Central Park, browsing the cheese selection at Murray’s, or playing soccer at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
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