Natural Deodorants I Would Recommend to a Friend

I love natural products. From head to toe, I slather myself with anything that touts itself as being all natural. There’s one area where I tend to keep it all chemical everything. That’s the armpit region. I know my body and I know that when it comes to underarm odor, it is best for me to err on the side of caution. It’s fine and dandy to test out these natural deodorants in the comfort of my home, but taking it to the streets? That’s a whole ‘nother level of bravery. BUT in the name of efficacy and real deal product testing, it’s what must be done.

 

I tested these 5 deodorants in the middle of summertime Chicago, just for you! And I took public transportation, went out for walks, went to concerts, lived my life and finally I can share the natural deodorants I could and would recommend to a friend. Because if you’re my friend that means we’re hanging out and we need to be able to enjoy each other’s company.

Let’s chat about natural deodorants for a quick second, before diving in.

Some people turn to natural deodorants because of their concerns about aluminum. Some believe aluminum to be carcinogenic and many have expressed concerns about breast cancer, although research around the topic isn’t exactly definitive. Some have allergies or an aversion to mainstream deodorants with their laundry list of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Others don’t like mainstream deodorants because they can cause stains on clothing (apparently caused by “a chemical reaction between aluminum-based antiperspirants and laundry detergent.” Who knew?). And some are turning to natural deodorants because of a general interest in a natural, healthy lifestyle, inside and out.

Natural deodorants don’t include aluminum. Some natural deodorants rely on baking soda as their active ingredient, but some people have sensitive reactions to baking soda. Others use corn starch or arrowroot powder. They might come in a jar or in a traditional stick, or a blend of the two. I’ll explain that one further as I get into my picks!

Nourish Organic deodorant cream – Like I said, there are natural deodorants that come in a jar, and there are those that come in a stick. Nourish Organic’s deodorant cream is a cream that comes in a stick and oozes through tiny holes. It’s kind of thick and TBH mine has gotten a bit messy with use. You can rub it in so there’s no topical flakes or residue after application. The almond vanilla fragrance I reviewed is super mild, light, and the formula does a decent job of keeping me dry. You may need to reapply mid way through your day if you’re paranoid about body odor like I am, but in general I liked this product and would recommend it to a friend. I also really like Nourish Organic’s rosehip and rosewater body mist, BTW).

 

Nubian Heritage deodorants – If you’re looking for a natural deodorant stick that glides on easily and moisturizes your skin too, definitely check out Nubian Heritage’s range. The combination of glycerin, corn starch and shea butter makes for a moisturizing underarm experience that takes a bit to absorb and dry, but is never unpleasant. I really like their fragrances – coconut & papaya is my favorite, with honey & black seed coming a close second. Indian Hemp and Haitian Vetiver is also lovely, and African Black Soap has a fresh, clean fragrance.

 

Schmitdt’s Natural Deodorant –  Schmidt’s has become a heavy hitter in the natural deodorant space, because it works well and comes in a variety of grown and sexy fragrance combinations. It comes in a little glass jar with a tiny spatula to apply the perfect amount – and as with many natural deodorants, intimacy with your armpits is encouraged, because you’ll have to massage it in. Schmidt’s does have substantial staying power, thanks to its combination of shea butter and baking soda. Ylang Ylang + Calendula is my favorite fragrance, soft, clean and floral.

 

Oyin Handmade Funk Butter  – Full disclosure, everything Oyin makes is WIN in my books. The main ingredients of their Funk Butter are the usual natural deodorant suspects, baking soda, shea butter and cornstarch, plus coconut oil and kaolin clay amongst other healthy skin ingredients. It’s texture is soft, spongy and massagable (that’s not a word, but you get it). Coco Mango is my favorite of their three varieties.

 

Meow Meow Tweet – I recently discovered this small batch vegan beauty and bodycare brand at the fabulous A Night For Green Beauty event here in Chicago. They’ve got whimsy, love cats, and make a variety of great all natural products including deodorant cream in 3 varieties, one of which doesn’t include baking soda, for those who have a reaction to it.

There are a few other brands I’ve got my eye on to try, like Lush and La Vanila, but those are the all natural deodorants I’ve used personally and liked enough to recommend to a friend. Have you tried any? Tell me your favorites!