Best Non Toxic Deodorant That Actually Works!

Last updated on February 5th, 2024 at 07:14 pm

This is a topic that most people would hesitate to discuss. Using deodorants, and switching to a natural, non toxic deodorant. But this is not just a personal body care issue, or a skin care issue, it’s also a hygiene issue. Let’s look into why.

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I remember a good friend of mine called me a hippie in grad school, because I wasn’t as into fashion and make-up as the other women. I was annoyed – I was certainly nothing like a hippie! I was more passionate about animal welfare and the environment than pretty much everyone in my class, but I was still very far from being the stereotypical unwashed, dreadlock-haired, stinky hippie.

Was I a hippie back then? Nope. I loved nature and animals, but I never looked into any details about their abuse in the beauty industry. I wanted to help the environment and animals, but this was just a well-meaning thought with very little action behind it. I definitely did not want to cause any harm. But I did cause harm, day in and day out, without realizing it.

And…I definitely used to spray on copious amounts of deodorant. I knew I was damaging the environment, but hey, who wanted to stink? I knew of no other options. So, let’s start off this post with some of the best non toxic deodorant options out there!

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Best Deodorant without Aluminum and Parabens

Here’s a helpful list of zero-waste, vegan and cruelty-free deodorants to try out (in no particular order):

1 // Hippie Skin Aluminum Free Deodorant Paste

2 // Meow Meow Tweet

3 // Kokomo Cream Natural Deodorant by Crunchy Betty

4 // Kopari Aluminum-Free Deodorant

5 // Ursa Major Natural Deodorant

6 // PiperWai

7 // Primal Pit Paste

8 // Milk + Honey

9 // Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant

10 // Bali Secrets

11 // Love Beauty And Planet

12 // Underarmed

13 // Auntee B Naturals

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Native Deodorant

Price: Starts at $13

Native Deodorant is a game-changer in the world of personal care products. What sets it apart is its commitment to being non-toxic, making it a healthier choice for both your body and the environment. Unlike many conventional deodorants, Native is free from harmful ingredients like aluminum, parabens, and phthalates. Instead, it harnesses the power of natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and tapioca starch to keep you feeling fresh and confident all day long.

Not only does Native prioritize your well-being, but it also cares about sustainability. The brand uses recyclable packaging and is cruelty-free, ensuring that no animals are harmed during the production process. With a wide range of delightful scents to choose from, such as Lavender & Rose, Coconut & Vanilla, and Eucalyptus & Mint, Native offers something for everyone.

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Schmidt’s Deodorant

Price: Starts at $9.99

Schmidt’s Deodorant is another non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative. Schmidt’s uses natural ingredients, so you can say goodbye to harmful chemicals like aluminum, parabens, and artificial fragrances. Schmidt’s majorly uses plant-based ingredients such as baking soda, coconut oil, and shea butter to provide effective odor protection.

The brand uses recyclable packaging made from responsibly sourced materials. Additionally, Schmidt’s is a cruelty-free brand, so you can feel good about your choice knowing no animals were harmed in the production process.

Try scents such as Lavender + Sage, Rose + Vanilla, and Cedarwood + Juniper.

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Aluminum free Deodorant

Aluminum-free deodorant is ideal. It eliminates the potential health concerns associated with aluminum-based deodorants. Aluminum compounds, commonly used as an antiperspirant ingredient, work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts, but they have raised concerns about their potential links to breast cancer and neurological disorders.

By choosing aluminum-free deodorants, you can avoid these worries while still effectively controlling body odor. These deodorants focus on neutralizing odor rather than preventing sweat, allowing the body to naturally perspire and release toxins. They often contain natural ingredients like baking soda, essential oils, and plant extracts that help combat odor-causing bacteria, leaving you feeling fresh and confident.

Another benefit of aluminum-free deodorants is their compatibility with sensitive skin. Many people experience skin irritations, rashes, or allergic reactions when using products containing aluminum. Switching to aluminum-free alternatives can alleviate these issues, providing a gentler and more soothing experience.

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Why is Aluminum in Deodorant Bad?

Deodorants function in two ways at once: they prevent growth of bacteria on the skin, and their fragrance helps to mask the odor. Antiperspirants work by reducing the amount of sweat on our skin. They do this by evaporating the water on the skin with the help of astringents, or by blocking sweat pores and preventing the sweating process – which is very important for the body – from occurring in the underarm area.

Both deodorants and antiperspirants are known to contain small amounts of aluminum and parabens. Exposure to aluminum is thought to increase risk of cancer, and parabens are thought to mimic estrogen in the body, confusing your system and possibly resulting in hormonal imbalance. There’s also the nasty propylene glycol which can damage the central nervous system.

I’m not linking to any specific studies, because most of them are deliberately vague and inconclusive regarding a direct link between one and the other, like this one. But here’s a recent article on aluminum toxicity and why you should be concerned.

But what did it for me wasn’t some damning scientific evidence gleaned from laboratory mice that deodorant use cases cancer.

It was a commonsense realization.

Changing Natural Behavior

I know it isn’t natural to block sweat pores; sweat performs an important cooling function. It isn’t natural to spray chemicals on to our skin, which, remember, is the largest organ of the body. Anybody who claims that what you put on your skin doesn’t affect your body is a liar. Beside, your lymph nodes and endocrine glands are located right in your armpit. Spraying right on them with strong, harmful chemicals is not a good idea!

It isn’t useful to release aerosols into the atmosphere so that we don’t stink.

And, perhaps most importantly, it is not natural to cage and torture mice and rats, and especially not for industry-funded university professors to experiment on them and then claim that “there is no link between deodorants and cancer (in humans)” or that “mice are different from humans, so we’ll never know.”

If you’re looking at it from the perspective of causing minimum harm to yourself, the environment and animals, then popular deodorants and antiperspirants made by the big brands are not the way to go.

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How to Switch to a Non Toxic Deodorant

My personal journey into the world of natural, non toxic deodorants was not smooth or easy. I jumped right into the deep end and, after reading this illuminating blog post, decided to make my own non toxic deodorant – with four ingredients: arrowroot powder, baking soda, coconut oil, and shea butter. I even made a video of it and put it up on youtube (nope, not linking it here). It smelled good cos I added a couple drops of citrus essential oil, but did not work at all on me. It made me feel sticky, uncomfortable and I was constantly suspicious that I smelled.

Not a successful experiment, all in all.

But I didn’t give up, or think that, hey, this natural deodorant doesn’t work for me. I’d read enough to know that it isn’t easy to switch from a potent chemical deodorant to a gentle, natural one without hitting some speed-bumps along the way. And I understood that I just needed the right substitutes for my body.

The thing is, our body gets used to how we treat it. If I use a chemical deodorant, my body ‘adjusts’ and ends up making more sweat, more bacteria, to counter this confusing outside influence. And if I don’t apply this daily deodorant one fine day, I’ll end up smelling much more than ‘usual’, because my body has gotten used to my daily deodorant use and merrily continued to make as much sweat as it did the day before.

Consistency is Key

So, don’t panic, and don’t get disheartened. I know that when switching to natural deodorant smell is a major consideration and fear. But this process actually involves some understanding of your own body, some modification of your diet (yeah, your sweat’s smell is partly dependent on what you eat!), and some patient trial and error, before you are successful in cutting loose from chemical deodorants.

In fact, you may have to detox your armpits.

(I did this, too, but without realizing it! I began a nightly routine that I followed religiously for a couple of months: I’d shower, scrub my armpits (gently), and after drying off, I’d dab some natural powder (non-talcum) on my pits. And that’s it – no deodorant, nothing. My reasoning was that I was allowing my pits to ‘breathe’ during the night. I smelled a bit in the morning, but I’d shower again and apply my chemical deo (initially) and then I slowly transitioned to trying out various natural pastes. Believe me: I could feel a gradual difference for the better. I stopped smelling so much in the morning, and my body adjusted to my new routine, spending nearly 10 hours a day without any nonsense in the pits. It’s almost like my body became comfortable with itself, without needing artificial sprays to hide stuff.

I still also shower at night and go to bed without any deodorant.)

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This post was about non toxic deodorant

After my home-made deodorant flopped, I ended up trying out a couple of store-bought natural deodorants (along with some amazing non-toxic perfumes). The second one has worked perfectly for me. It’s a sticky, creamy substance that comes in a flat little tin. I apply a pea-sized quantity to each pit every morning. And it keeps me feeling fresh all day long. I love it!

In my experience, it’s totally worth it. I feel much better now (not lying!), much ‘cleaner’, and I feel like my overall health has improved. I had a difficult hormonal situation to begin with, and after switching all my personal care products to organic, vegan, cruelty-free, it’s had an immense positive effect on my hormonal health. I’m never going back to regular deodorant brands. Plus, I’m not harming animals or the environment simply because I want to smell ‘good.’

Go ahead and try it for yourself.

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