Yep, we found Natural Deodorants that actually work. And they smell fantastic, too.
I jumped on the natural deo bandwagon about 18 months ago. I mean, we’ve all heard about the benefits of switching to an aluminum-free, Paraben-free, natural variety. Right? And switching to natural makes us feel better about our life choices.
But let’s get real for a moment.
Natural deodorants don’t always hold up their end of the deal. You’ve been there. You shower and swipe on your natural deo in the morning and head to work. Hours later you’re sitting in a heated meeting with a client and feel yourself begin to sweat.
Am I alone here?
Well, let’s just say I’ve had a few meetings over the last year that involved a subsequent trip to the ladies room to freshen up. (and a minor panic attack during the meeting, obviously)
So my sister Katrina and I teamed up to find one (or five) that we could count on, after several let us down.
And good news, we found several natural deodorants that actually work.
These natural deodorants have been tested under the most rigorous conditions: stressful work meetings, excessively hot days, sweaty workouts. And they held up. Even better, all of these deodorants are aluminum-free, Paraben-free, cruelty-free, and completely non-toxic.
5. type:A
Buy on Amazon | $13.95
THE GOOD: type:A is the best alternative to anti-perspirant. Their patent pending formula is powered by sweat-activated technology for extended protection against wetness and odor. Every time you sweat, the high-performance, technology-driven formula releases odor and wetness fighters so, the more you sweat, the harder it works.
I especially like type:A for workouts. It works as well as it claims to and performed very well under the sweatiest of conditions. After an hour spin class, my under arms still smelled floral-fresh and were less sweaty than with others.
THE NOT SO GOOD: The applicator for type:A is not our favorite. It has a squeeze tube design that makes it a bit messier than the rest and also makes getting all of the product out of the container difficult. But, these are minor issues and overall it’s a fantastic product.
2. Native
Buy on Amazon | $12
THE GOOD: Native has become a household name over the last year, and for good reason. They offer a wide variety of scents to suit every individual, and are conveniently available at your favorite retailers like Target.
We love Native’s scents. I have personally tried 5 different scents and couldn’t pick a favorite. We also love the simplistic, traditional design of the applicator and the light, dry feeling when applied.
THE NOT SO GOOD: Native contains baking soda, which helps to neutralize odor-causing bacteria. This is awesome. Unless you are like me and have sensitive skin. I experienced mild irritation when using Native, even their sensitive skin version. My sister, however, did not experience this at all. So, if you’re sensitive to baking soda, this may not be the pick for you.
3. URSA MAJOR
Buy on Amazon | $18
THE GOOD: Ursa Major makes products that are gender-neutral with fragrances suited for all genders. We love that. We also love the fresh scent of this deo (similar to their face wash – citrusy and earthy).
The deodorant glides on very smoothly and is awesome for sensitive skin thanks to ingredients like Aloe Vera. Ursa Major uses odor-fighting hops in place of baking soda to keep you fresh all day.
THE NOT SO GOOD: While the scent is fresh and clean at application, we found that it did not last as long as the others on the list. At the end of a long day, there was literally no scent at all under my arms. Ursa Major is also a bit pricier than others on the list.
2. MYRO
Buy at Target | $9.99
THE GOOD: MYRO wins as a top pick thanks to it’s invisible formula and amazing scents (our favorite is Solar Flare if you need help choosing). We also like that they use an aloe-based formula and cornstarch to keep you dry and fresh. No baking soda here. But there are two key features that make MYRO stand out from its competitors.
First, the scent is a time-released formula. This means you’ll have the scent when you need it, not all at once.
Second, MYRO offers a reusable case that is dishwasher safe and TSA compliant. The refills are 100% recyclable and save you $$ too. This makes MYRO the most wallet and environmentally friendly option we’ve tried. Huge bonus points for this.
This is a natural deodorant that works for us on many levels.
THE NOT SO GOOD: Some users have experienced mild skin irritation when using MYRO. Others have mentioned the case leaking or the product crumbling. We have not experienced either of these issues, but found them commonly mentioned in reviews and think they are worth disclosing.
1. KOPARi
Buy on Amazon | $14
THE GOOD: Kopari is made with Organic Coconut Oil. It has the smoothest application of all that we tried and glides on completely clear. The light coconut scent is amazing and lasts well.
Kopari’s unique blend of coconut oil, coconut water, and sage oil fight odor-causing bacteria yet are gentle to the most sensitive skin, making it a top choice for me. I did not experience any irritation with Kopari (a huge win). Kopari was the clear winner for me among the natural deodorants that work.
THE NOT SO GOOD: As a lover of all things cardio, I break a serious sweat daily. Kopari performed decently during my toughest of workouts, but the scent faded significantly and I was left feeling like I needed to reapply before it would be socially acceptable to run errands. This is a very minor issue, but worth mentioning as others on the list held up better to intense cardio sessions.
Tried any of these Natural Deodorants and they work? Or maybe you have a favorite that didn’t make our list? We want to hear about it! Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Looking for more clean beauty products? Check out our Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos here!
