I’m a fitness instructor and these are the best natural deodorants I’ve found

We've rounded up the best natural deodorants for women that actually work!

5 natural deodorants on a white background

by Becky Fuller |
Updated on

Natural deodorants have come a long way in recent years. Statistics show they’re gaining in popularity (and effectiveness) as many of us are moving towards more natural beauty routines. As well as writing for Yours, I am also a personal trainer and fitness instructor. As you can imagine, this involves quite a bit of sweat!

In my younger years I used to pick up any deodorant or spray without a second thought. But ageing and fluctuating hormone levels has meant my skin's become more sensitive. I'm also really conscious of the impact my beauty products of choice might have on the environment in a way I wasn't when I was in my twenties.

I made the switch from aerosol to roll-on many years ago, but I've switched to a natural deodorant more recently to take better care of my skin, and I've been pleasantly surprised. Given that I sometimes end up getting sweaty several times in a day, I'm really impressed with how well natural deodorants have held up.

The best natural deodorants at a glance

Best natural deodorant overall: Wild Aqua Case and Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt Deodorant Refill - Buy now on Boots.com

Best luxury natural deodorant: Aesop roll-on herbal deodorant - Buy now on Aesop UK

Best budget natural deodorant: Mitchum Natural Power Gel Cream - Buy now on Boots.com

Best aerosol natural deodorant: Bionsen Mineral Active Aerosol Deodorant - Buy now on Boots.com

Does natural deodorant actually work?

In short, yes! Take a look at our reviews of the most popular products below for more detail on how each performs individually, but overall, yes, they work. Granted, some work better than others, and some smell better too, but natural deodorants all work on a similar principle.

Sweating helps our bodies regulate temperature. Traditional antiperspirants use aluminium salts to prevent sweating by plugging up the sweat glands. Natural versions neutralise odours and mop up moisture while allowing your body to do its thing.

I will warn you, it’s normal to experience a ‘detox’ sweatier period while making the switch, but your body will adjust. For me, this meant a few days when I was aware I might smell of sweat - not too uncommon after teaching a fitness class for an hour - but it didn't take long for my body to adjust.

The best natural deodorants to try

Tested

Best natural deodorant overall

Yours

We love this Wild natural deodorant! It comes with a metal case, and you pop the refills into it as needed. There's different fragrances to choose from as well.
It's easy to use, you just twist the bottom to push the stick up, and that makes it economical too, since you can control how much you use.

When testing this, the fragrance lasted all day, and it dries quickly after application, meaning no unsightly white marks. Although we were aware we were sweating, there was no odour, and no wet patches after exercise, either.

Things we love about it: Easy to insert the refills, it's vegan, and the refills are plastic-free. There's not a lot we don't love about this; at £12.99 you could say it's expensive, but it lasts for months, and the refills are around £5.99 so it's actually pretty good value in the long-term.

Pros

  • Smells lovely
  • Smooth cream that glides on easily
  • Doesn't leave white marks

Cons

  • Initially pricey, but the refills are great eco-friendly option

Tested

Best luxury natural deodorant

Aesop herbal deodorant roll-on Yours

This roll-on deodorant from the Australian luxury cosmetic brand Aésop is alcohol-free and contains zinc ricinolate, wasabi extract, and vetiver root. It’s said to reduce and mask any unpleasant underarm odours when used after washing. 

We tested this deodorant every day for four weeks and were so impressed with the results. Not only does it have a lovely, aromatic woody aroma that is released throughout the day but it also has a delicate milky texture that is easily absorbed by the skin.

Our armpits were left feeling and smelling fresh all day long. It felt like a real luxury to put it on in the morning due to the intense spa-like scent.

Our tester exercises regularly and she found that even after a run or workout there was no unpleasant odour. It doesn’t stop you from sweating in the same way an anti-perspirant deodorant would, but it will hide any bad odours.

It is quite pricey at £27 but the 50ml bottle should last you from 4-5 months and because it is a real ‘luxury’ product our tester felt it well worth the money.

Pros

  • Easily absorbed
  • Beautiful fragrance
  • Stops odour

Cons

  • Expensive, but lasts a long time so offers value long-term

Tested

Best budget natural deodorant

Yours

There's a lot to love about the Mitchum natural deodorant, most notably the price. It's a fantastic product to have in your gym bag, or to keep at work if needed.

The smell is great, and it really works well at keeping your underarms odour free. I know this, because I made my teenage son try it when it was really hot, and if it can work on a sports-mad teenage boy, you know this is powerful stuff.

However, there is one flaw to this deodorant, and that's the white marks. Firstly, it states on the packaging 'non-sticky, non-greasy, no white marks.' However, as you can see from the photo below of my underarm, that wasn't the case.

The reason I found it sticky and leaving awful white residue was because I was using far too much, but the twist dial at the bottom makes the dosage really hard to control. The actual deodorant is a gel cream, and as I found out, when you apply the right amount, it does indeed dry quickly and there's no marks.

All of that said, I'd still buy this product, because the price, fragrance, and effectiveness of it makes it worth it. I'd just be really careful in applying it, and wipe away any excess on the top of the deodorant stick before applying.

At 3.75, though, and for such a well known deodorant brand (synonymous with making very effective products), you can't go wrong.

Pros

  • Very effective at controlling odour
  • Excellent value for money
  • Pleasant and long-lasting fragrance

Cons

  • Very hard to control dosage, leaving white marks

Tested

Best aerosol natural deodorant

Bionsen mineral active deodorant Yours

If you want an aluminum free, vegan deodorant but prefer aerosol to roll-on, this is the right choice for you. We were really impressed by the price-point of the Bionsen deodorant, especially since it's one of only a few aerosol natural choices out there. While other brands have opted for more of a pump-action spray, this works just like any other spray deodorant.

It's got a lovely, clean scent but although the packaging said it lasts 48 hours, I definitely needed to reapply straight after a gym session. Like the Mitchum deodorant, this is a great option to keep in a a gym bag, or as a spare.

It didn't leave any white marks or powdery residue, as long as we sprayed it from a reasonable distance. Too close and it took a while to dry, leaving powder behind. Some reviews have mentioned that it irritated their skin, despite bing labelled as suitable for sensitive skin, but we didn't have this issue at all, and three of us tried it.

Pros

  • Lovely clean, fresh scent
  • Aerosol
  • Good value

Cons

  • Didn't last as long as other brands we tested

Closest to a regular deodorant

Green people natural deodorantAmazon
Price: $42.42

This deodorant is great for sensitive skin, and it’s the closest we've found to a regular roll-on deodorant. It's made from 98 per cent organic ingredients and is free from chemical nasties.

It allows you to perspire, but the ingredients work together to stop the growth of bad bacteria while stopping the causes of body odour. The scent is subtle, but it lasts. 

We also like that it’s designed for sensitive skin and has aloe vera and shea butter – both offer calming properties for the skin. It also has great green credentials, being vegan, cruelty free and sustainably sourced. 

Reviewers all praise this for the same reasons we do: it’s really hard to notice any difference between this and a regular deodorant.

Pros

  • Subtle but long-lasting scent
  • Very close to a regular roll-on
  • Suitable for sensitive skin
  • Vegan and sustainably sourced

Cons

  • It's one of the more pricey options, but it is long-lasting

Best smelling natural deodorant

Salt of the Earth Ocean & Coconut Deodorant Spray

Rrp: $19.78

Price: $17.00
Alternative retailers
Walmart$18.89View offer

Most aerosol cans are recyclable, but many end up in landfill. This Salt of the Earth deodorant comes in a pump-action bottle which is only 100ml, but you can save on packaging waste with a 500ml refill. To be honest, the refill will last ages as you only need one pump spray per armpit.
After spraying on, it's sticky and takes time to dry, but it really works, and it smells great. There’s a whole range of fragrances too. We like that it lasts all day with no need for re-application, and it’s eco-friendly, too. Some reviewers said it irritated their skin so if you have really sensitive armpits, please bear that in mind.

Pros

  • Pump action bottle that lasts a long time
  • Really lovely fragrance

Cons

  • Sticky and takes time to dry
  • Causes sensitivity in some people

Best balm deodorant

Formulated to prevent smells, this putty is designed to let you sweat naturally while masking the smell. It comes in a balm form which you can rub on your armpits or other sweaty areas, which makes it a great option for hot days as you can rub it underneath your breasts if needed, or anywhere else. 
A balm won’t be everyone’s choice, but reviewers rave about it, so it might be worth giving it a try to see if you’re also converted

Pros

  • Can be used on other areas of the body
  • Perfect for hot days

Cons

  • Balm format which not everyone will love

Best eco-friendly deodorant

Featured on Dragons' Den, Fussy is a natural deodorant brand that is on a mission to 'banish single-use plastic from your bathroom.' The case is made from waste material, is 100 per cent recyclable and 100 per cent compostable. As for the deodorant itself, it's completely natural, 100 per cent vegan and free from aluminium and parabens.

You can find out more about Fussy, how they work and what customers think, by taking a look at our Fussy deodorant reviews

Pros

  • 100% compostable
  • Eco-friendly

Cons

  • Expensive initial outlay

What's the difference between natural deodorant and a chemical deodorant?

Chemical antiperspirant deodorants stop you sweating by using aluminum to block pores. While this does a great job at keeping you dry, it's obviously not great for our skin, and the underarm is a sensitive area.

Over time, this constant blocking of pores can cause bacteria to breed, and it's this that causes us to smell. In effect, this is why you can smell if you don't use your regular product on a daily or twice daily basis.

Natural deodorants work on a different basis as they don't contain aluminum. They actually let your pores release the sweat, helping us to remove toxins and control our body temperature better. They usually contain absorbent powders to soak up the sweat (sounds disgusting but it does the job), and antibacterial properties to neutralize any odor.

Why are natural deodorants so expensive? Are they worth it?

Natural deodorants are more expensive because they use higher quality ingredients. A lot of them are also more eco-friendly both in the products themselves and their packaging, which comes at a cost. However, a lot are refillable, so although the initial outlay might be high, the refills aren't as much.

Are they worth it? For me, most of them are. I do think some are overpriced for what they offer - and you won't find those on this list. Some are really competitively priced, some are more pricey. But overall, knowing that I'm not putting more chemicals into my body, letting my skin breathe, and hopefully being a bit more eco-friendly too, is worth the extra pennies.

Becky Fuller is a senior digital writer for Yours.co.uk. She is also a fully qualified personal trainer and strength coach, specialising in fitness and wellbeing for over 50s. Prior to joining Yours, Becky was a fitness writer for Saga, and a freelance entertainment and theatre journalist. Becky is passionate about helping people to move well and discover the many benefits of strength training.

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