These are the aluminum-free formulas our beauty editors reach for time and time again for odor-free underarms.
If just the thought of swapping out your go-to antiperspirant for one of the best natural deodorants makes you perspire, take a breath. Antiperspirants, which are classified as over-the-counter drugs, inhibit a normal bodily function — in other words, the formation of sweat — using their active ingredient, aluminum salts, says David Bank, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westchester County, NY, and the founder and director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery.
On the other hand, natural deodorants are typically made without aluminum. As such, their main function is to minimize body odor and to keep you smelling fresh for hours with bacteria-sopping ingredients, including familiar favorites like baking soda.
So, yes, you may still sweat a bit after swiping on your favorite aluminum-free formula (because, again, deodorant doesn’t equal antiperspirant), but no, you shouldn’t smell sour after going green. Besides, a little musk is 100% normal. “Patients often think that if they have body odor they might be unwell, or that they might be perceived as having poor hygiene,” Rosemarie Ingleton, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told we. But in reality, she told us that body odor is simply a result of skin bacteria mixing with sweat.
To prove it, we’ve rounded up the best natural deodorants that you should consider adding to your skin-care routine.
Best Overall: Native Deodorant in Coconut & Vanilla
Some natural deodorants are too harsh for sensitive skin because of their ingredients (e.g. baking soda), but the Native Deodorant has won an impressive four Allure Readers’ Choice Awards — the latest in 2023 — because it’s packed with coconut oil and shea butter, antioxidants that keep the underarms moisturized, and tapioca starch to keep them dry all day long. The brand releases seasonal scents — we’re big fans of Desert Grass & Sandalwood right now — but Coconut & Vanilla is a constant favorite that will sings in Taylor Swift voice never go out of style.
P.S. This long-lasting deodorant also comes in a spray that dries upon contact and lends sweet smells (and vibes) to everywhere you want ’em — not just your armpits.
Best Deodorant Spray: By Rosie Jane Calm the Fck Down Deodorant
By Rosie Jane Calm the Fck Down Deodorant won a 2022 Best of Beauty Award in the clean beauty category, and for good reason. The spray formula makes reapplication a breeze and doesn’t leave streaks on your clothes. White residue, who? Lavender, neroli, chamomile, and yuzu essential oils create an irresistible combo you’ll be reaching for without even thinking — like your favorite perfume before you rush out the door.
Best-Smelling Deodorant: Donna Karan Aluminum-Free Cashmere Mist Deodorant
Made with luxurious, powderly-floral notes of lily of the valley, Moroccan jasmine, and sandalwood, you might mistake Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist Deodorant for a fragrance. Don’t be fooled because this deodorant, which now comes in an aluminum-free formula, deploys corn starch, magnesium hydroxide, and coconut oil to keep your underarms feeling dry and fresh all day.
Goes on Totally Clear: Caudalie Vinofresh Natural Stick Deodorant
Caudalie’s Vinofresh Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant comes by way of France. The buttery formula swipes on without blocking pores or leaving any residue, including stickiness or white cast). It relies chiefly on organic prebiotic grape water, which hydrates the sensitive underarm skin, and eucalyptus, which leaves a minty-cool sensation once applied. It’s also made from recycled materials with the environment in mind.
Best for Entire Body: Lume Whole Body Deodorant
Deodorant sticks are just not for your pits. Lume’s Whole Body Deodorant is meant to be applied anywhere you want it to go — including, but not limited to, armpits, private areas, underboobs, belly buttons, butt cracks, tummy folds, feet, and the list goes on. Want to know what you’re getting yourself into? Gladly. This baking-soda-free and cruelty-free formula boasts corn starch, arrowroot powder, mandelic acid, and caffeine to keep you smelling fresh and feeling comfortable. Choose from yummy scents like Clean Tangerine (pictured here), Toasted Coconut, Fresh Alpine, and Lavender Sage — but, if none of those float your float, there’s also an Unscented option.
Sweat-Absorber: Ursa Major Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant
Because it’s formulated with peppermint and eucalyptus, Ursa Major’s Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant has a cooling effect when you swipe it on your pits. The smell is refreshing and uplifting, so you’ll actually look forward to putting it on in the A.M. Kaolin clay absorbs sweat and moisture better than other natural deodorants we’ve tried, while saccharomyces ferment is a probiotic enzyme that has superb odor-absorbing abilities.
Best of Beauty Winner: Evolvetogether Natural Deodorant
Evolvetogether’s plant-based Natural Deodorant smells like a heavenly rose garden, spiked with notes of oud, patchouli, and mandarin. But that’s not the only reason it earned itself a 2023 Best of Beauty Award. Tapioca starch is the main sweat- and moisture-absorbing agent while hydrating glycerin and vitamin B5 smooth pits and curb irritation. As far as odor is concerned, DeoPlex, which is made up of sugarcane-derived fermented enyzmes, won’t let that ruin your day.
Best Exfoliating Deodorant: Kosas Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant
Kosas’s Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant goes the extra mile and does more than simply mask odors. A blend of alpha hydroxy acids (shikimic, mandelic, and lactic) gently exfoliates your underarms, both brightening those regions and preventing ingrown hairs from sprouting. They also lower the pH in those regions, so less odor-causing bacteria can take up residence in the first place. The cooling rollerball applicator is especially soothing for hot summer days and workouts.
There are three versions of the roll-on deodorant to choose from: Fragrance Free (for those sensitive to scents), Serene Clean (a spa-like scent pictured above), and Beachy Clean (for tropical vibes).
Best Refillable Deodorant: Dove 0% Aluminum Cucumber & Green Tea Refillable Deodorant
This compact deodorant glides on oh-so smoothly on your skin, but that’s not the only reason why it’s an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner. This aluminum-free deodorant contains calming, hydrating cucumber and antioxidant-rich green tea to help you feel (and smell) fresh throughout the day. Its hydrating formula provides odor protection for a full 48 hours, and it’s compact enough to pop in your bag.
Editor-Approved: Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant
Megababe’s Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant is beloved by multiple Allure editors because it’s as effective as it is adorably packaged. Infused with powerhouse ingredients like saccharmyces ferment filtrate, aloe vera, sage, green tea, and corn starch, the rose-scented deo works by preventing odor-inducing bacteria from forming on the skin. It’s also free of aluminum, alcohol, phthalates, and other common irritants, so it’s safe for sensitive skin types.
Most Nourishing: Glossier Deodorant
Watch out: Glossier’s body-care collection is growing. The brand’s debut baking soda-free Deodorant is available in four scents: Sandstone, Glossier You (yes, like the famous fragrance), Orange Blossom, and Unscented. In each scent lives superfruit elderberry extract and coconut oil to keep skin conditioned and odor at bay. Potato starch does some heavy lifting absorbing moisture, so your pits feel drier as the day goes by.
Fast-Drying: Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel
Necessaire’s The Deodorant Gel goes on clear and won’t stain your clothes, plus, the eucalyptus scent smells exactly like a five-star spa. The quick-drying formula goes on smoothly and doesn’t feel wet or slimy, as you might imagine, at all. The star ingredient in this roll-on deodorant is 5% alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which gently exfoliates skin, minimizes odor, and smooths out bumps. Additionally, niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier and chamomile extract soothes any sensitive areas.
Vacation-y Vibes: Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo
Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo is an aluminum-free deodorant that smells like the brand’s iconic Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. This formula features citrus acid ester that prevents body odor, papaya enzymes to exfoliate, and tapioca starch that helps absorb excess moisture so pits stay dry all day. The best part? When you run out of this deodorant, you can purchase a refill for $15.
Best Drugstore Classic: Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant
Consider dropping the 2022 Best of Beauty-winning Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant into your basket during your next drugstore run (online or IRL). This paraben- and talc-free formula comes in eight vibrant scents (like Real Coconut pictured here, and Cherry Blossom) that mask odor, even during the sweatiest workouts, for up to 48 hours. Thanks to coconut oil and castor oil, your pits stay soft and moisturized.
Never Sticky: Alo Supernatural Deodorant
Alo Supernatural Deodorant lives up to its name. For starters, the botanical-forward formula feels more like a hydrating, nonsticky salve rather than a powdery swipe-on treatment. It’s naturally doused in brightening alma (a potent superberry packed with vitamin C), antimicrobial tea tree oil, soothing prebiotics, and a helping of hydrating hyaluronic acid. Plus, it comes in both scented and unscented varieties to suit your personal preferences.
Best Unisex Scent: Agent Nateur Holi(stick) N3 Natural Deodorant
Agent Nateur’s Holi(Stick) N3 deodorant was developed in the founder’s quest to eliminate heavy metals from her beauty routine. Rest assured the ingredient list is 100% organic with hydrators like coconut oil, which contains fatty acids that restore the skin’s natural bacteria levels, and castor oil, which reduces odor-causing bacteria. It also has two forms of French-sourced lavender that smells much more pleasant than your average deodorant and will last all day.
The OG: Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant
Lavanila’s The Healthy Deodorant has been on our radar since it first hit the market — believe it or not, it won an Best of Beauty award back in 2013, so you know the love is real. The obsession is still going strong, too, and that’s because it does exactly what it says it will: prevents and protects against odor while soothing the underarm skin. It also comes in a variety of lovely scents, such as lavender, grapefruit, and coconut, so if pure vanilla isn’t your jam, you still have other options at your disposal.