Natural deodorant is certainly having its moment in the spotlight – and for good reason. Kinder to our skin than traditional deodorants and often made by brands that really care about the planet, natural deodorants are regarded as the better choice by health and beauty experts. But what are natural deodorants, and how do natural deodorants work? Here’s your guide to everything you need to know, and some of the best natural deodorants to try today…
What are natural deodorants?
While there is no set definition of a natural deodorant, they tend to feature an ingredients list mostly made up of natural products (i.e. not synthetic ingredients).
Most people choosing natural deodorants are making a conscious choice to avoid those containing aluminium and any product that works to prevent sweating by blocking your pores (more on this below).
Many natural deodorant brands also have a strong focus on ethical and sustainable processes, with their products coming in recyclable packaging and using cruelty-free or vegan ingredients.
Are natural deodorants as good as normal deodorants?
First of all, it’s worth answering another question: what’s the difference between deodorants and anti-perspirants?
While anti-perspirants work to prevent sweating (by blocking sweat glands), deodorants aim to protect against odour and wetness, and mask unpleasant scents instead. Essentially, they don’t stop you from sweating, but they make your sweat less noticeable.
Technically, a natural anti-perspirant doesn’t exist as the active ingredient used to do the job in anti-perspirants is aluminium – a chemical which has been under much scrutiny in recent years. A key concern has been that aluminium in products such as deodorants could be cancer-causing, but organisations such as Cancer Research has said there is ‘no good evidence’ to suggest a link between the two. Even so, many people have decided to look at alternatives.
In terms of asking whether natural deodorants are as good as normal deodorants, then, it’s worth noting that they do different jobs and so the results aren’t necessarily comparable.
It’s also important to know that natural brands have really stepped up their game in recent years and the products available nowadays are far more advanced than those offered 10 or 20 years ago. While they are not anti-perspirant as such, many do an excellent job as a deodorant. Testament to this is the amount of people who have made the switch, and stuck to it!
How do natural deodorants work?
Natural deodorants work by absorbing moisture and neutralising unpleasant odours. You’ll usually find ingredients such as arrowroot, kaolin clay and tapioca starch, which are typical natural moisture absorbers included in the formula, as well as essential oils to create fragrance.
The best natural deodorants to try today
Here are some of our favourites….
Here at Natural Health, we’re big fans of Evolve’s organic beauty and skincare range. The brand has won countless awards in the Natural Health Beauty Awards over the years (including a Gold award for the Sensitive Skin Range in 2024) and we have long been impressed by the team’s commitment to only using the best formulations in their products.
This hard-working deodorant is a great example of how they get things right. Delivered in a glass jar in a cream format, you simply apply a fingertip-sized amount onto your underarms. Its ingredients list is impressive – with nourishing shea butter and coconut oil to help protect your underarms, sage oil for its anti-microbial, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, and bicarbonate of soda alongside natural oils to keep you feeling fresh, and the result is an effective and easy-to-use product.
One great point is that its naturally soothing, meaning it’s ideal if you often find your underarms irritated post-shaving.
We love the fact the packaging is all recyclable too, and that it’s certified COSMOS organic, vegan and cruelty-free.
Another Natural Health Award -winning brand, Green People is well-known for its clean and organic products and is a firm favourite among skincare experts.
We love the team’s range of natural deodorants, which have just been revamped and are now presented in a 100 percent recyclable bottle that’s made with repurposed plastic.
As a roll-on, these are an ideal choice for those who find it hard to get to grips with applying a cream, and the addition of prebiotics sets it aside from others on the market too. These prebiotics support the skin’s natural flora and keep odour- forming bacteria in check.
Other key ingredients include zinc ricinolate from castor oil, which works to trap bad odours and stops them from becoming airborne, alum, a natural mineral salt, which prevents odour-forming bacteria from breeding, a nourishing blend of organic shea butter and aloe vera, and pure essential oils used to delicately scent the skin.
Our favourite is the Quinoa and Prebiotics Deodorant, but there are other options to choose from too, including the Rosemary and Prebiotics and the Aloe Vera and Prebiotics alternatives, as a well as a Scent-Free Deodorant for those who prefer to steer clear of fragrance.
If you like a natural deodorant with a fresh, zesty and uplifting scent – this one is for you. Using essential oils such as mint and eucalyptus to boost energy and relieve tension, we found it gave us a great boost at the start of the day.
Created by Arran Naturals (an award-winning brand that has won big in our sister awards: the Health & Wellbeing Awards and Veggie Awards ), this is a vegan-friendly natural deodorant that’s suitable for all skin types including those with sensitive skin.
Key ingredients include zinc for its odour absorbing actives, which don’t interfere with the natural flora of the skin, and milk thistle which helps to moisturise, soothe and protect the delicate underarm area.
We also love the packaging – contained in a fully recyclable cardboard encasing, it uses a simple push-up mechanism which is really easy to use. Plus, the deodorant stick kept its shape through continued use – which isn’t always the case with other products using this sort of packaging.
As well as the Awaken version (which was our favourite), Arran also offer Calm and Mindful options, with different scent profiles.
This is a great non-sticky, effective option from a team which cares passionately about the ingredients they use.
The natural formulation includes organic arrowroot powder to naturally wick away sweat without clogging pores, magnesium to banish odour, organic coconut oil, cacao and sweet almond oil to hydrate skin, vegan wax to ensure a smooth application and bergamot and lavender essential oils for a fragrant scent.
This natural deodorant is super gentle on sensitive skin and great for people who find their underarms can feel irritated.
You only need a small amount (about the size of a pea) for a full day, and the jar itself lasts for ages, meaning it’s great value for money.
We were also impressed with the brand’s Pure Pits Armpit Detox, which the team recommends using before switching to a natural deodorant, as it helps give your armpits a proper cleanse and remove any toxins remaining from non-natural anti-perspirants.
This is a really lovely, light option that doesn’t feel sticky or heavy on skin, and showcases a skin-loving, vitamin-rich blend of organic coconut oil, aloe vera juice, calendula tincture, plus zinc oxide, and the soothing lotion actively nourishes the skin throughout the day.
It also includes prebiotic chicory extract which provides optimal conditions for skin health, and balances your delicate microflora.
In its recyclable roll-on bottle (made in the UK from recycled plastic), it’s really easy to apply and the fact it’s unscented will appeal to those who prefer to steer clear of fragrance.
This one’s a little bit different from the others on our list as it’s a serum spray deodorant – and according to the brand it’s the world’s first plant-based one of its kind. It makes for easy application (and won’t leave a mark anywhere), and feels like a light-weight oil serum on skin, which dries quickly.
The botanical ingredients work to rebalance the skin’s microbiome for clean, natural underarms, and the formula also aids skin cell renewal and exfoliation rate. The result is a dry and odour-free feeling that really impressed us.
Stylish and compact, we love the glass bottle, and the fact you only need one spray per armpit means it lasts a decent amount of time.
It’s also vegan-friendly and suitable for all skin types.
Over the years, Salt of the Earth has become known among green skincare circles as the place to go for natural deodorants, and for good reason.
With an ethos centred around natural origin ingredients, sustainability and long-lasting protection you can rely on, Salt of the Earth’s products are trusted and effective.
There’s a huge range of natural deodorants offered by Salt of the Earth – from spray and roll-ons to crystal, stick and balm deodorants, all in a variety of scented options – and as an extra benefit, the majority of Salt of the Eart deodorants are refillable, meaning you can be happy that you’re doing your bit for the planet.
We particularly love the Clary Sage and Mint Roll-on, which features refreshing bursts of mint and the soothing properties of clary sage, alongside ingredients known for hydration, their quick-drying effects and odour-eliminating properties.
For something with a fun and extra sustainable twist, look no further than the Ben & Anna Deodorant Creams. These come in funky packaging made from potato starch which is 100 perfect compostable.
Part of what we like about this natural deodorant is the fact it is so soft and creamy and absorbs easily without leaving any sticky or greasy residue. It’s really easy to apply and smells appealing too.
The natural and vegan formula contains sodium bicarbonate, which works to prevent odour formation, as well as nourishing shea butter and valuable vegetable oils to hydrate your underarms.
As well as the Love Me option, there’s also a Green Balance option for those who have sensitive skin, with added magnesium complex.
Handmade in Wales, this offering is gentle on skin while still getting the job done. At the centre of the ingredients is diatomaceous earth – a naturally occurring fine powder formed from the fossilised remains of algae that can help eliminate odour and absorb excess moisture. It’s almost pH neutral, meaning it won’t irritate, and is a good choice for those with sensitive skin.
Also included is coconut oil for its soothing and antibacterial properties, zinc oxide and ricinoleate, which are great for reducing odour, arrowroot to absorb excess moisture, sweet almond oil to calm skin and vitamin E
We really loved the blend of neroli and citrus in this particular option, but there are other scents available too including options with lavender and tea tree, lemongrass and peppermint, and mandarin and bergamot.
