This is such a hot topic for me, having struggled with both shaving due to very sensitive skin and also finding a deodorant that doesn’t irritate my skin.
I have spent HOURS researching this, so I thought I’d share my findings with you guys. I hope it helps. For transparency, I’ve not used all of the below, but some I have tested and loved. Bionsen was my go to for years and I love their products. Switched to FitPit during TSW but have also used Salt of the Earth. Currenlty testing MooGoo and love it!
The following are mostly UK based companies but I will try to expand to cover other brands in time. Please pop a comment below if you have a product I’ve not featured!
| No | Brand | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bionsen | £8.30 for 100ml | Aluminum free, no parabens. One of the first natural deodorants to come onto the market. Japanese ingredients. | Plastic packaging |
| 2 | FitPit | £12.47 for 100ml | Fragrance free Glass jar Natural and simple ingredients | Heavy for travel, but you could decant a small amount. |
| 3 | MooGoo | £10.90 for 115ml | Lovely ingredients, currently testing and love this one. 15% off if you sign up for their newsletter. | Plastic packaging |
| 4 | Wild | Get started for £25 | Really cute cases, refills. Aluminium and paraben free and single use plastic free. They offer plans, sensitive and are vegan. | Does use plastic but also sell refills so you don’t throw it out. Expensive to get started but refills are affordable. |
| 5 | Salt of the Earth | From £5 | They do crystal salt sticks and a whole range of others. 10% off your first order. | Can sting and also become sharp |
| 6 | Nuud | Starter pack £12.95 (lasts 6-7 weeks). | Get 10% off when you sign up to the newsletter. No stains, absorbs quickly. You just need a pea size blob of cream. Subscription service. Available across Europe. They say it costs less than £8 per month per person. | |
| 7 | Get Fussy | £15 starter pack and £18 refill packs. | As seen on Dragon’s Den. Plastic free refillable and reusable deodorant sticks. Subscribe for 25% off. | Pricey! |
| 8 | Lume | Starter pack $44 | Claims to work on the whole body; pits, privates and beyond! Though I’m not sure I’d use it everywhere. Subscribe to get 15% off. Free Shipping in the US. no aluminum, baking soda, or parabens. Lume is clinically proven to BLOCK body odor all day and continues controlling B.O. for 72 hours. | Seems more expensive |
| 9 | AKT | £28 for a starter pack. Currently discounted to £22 | Plastic free and recyclable. Aluminium free natural deodorant. 15% off when you subscribe and free shipping on orders over £35. | |
| 10 | Natural Deoco | £12.50 | 100% natural, aluminium free cream deodorant. Apply once for 24 hours of protection. Delivered in plastic free, refillable, sustainable packaging. Comes in a glass jar. They also do minis for travelling. | |
| 11 | Weleda | From £8.50 | This brand is well respected in the skincare community. Range includes roll-ons and sprays. Free from antiperspirants including aluminium salts, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants and raw materials derived from mineral oils. | |
| 12 | No pong | $8.95 for 35g | Available in the US and Canada. Award-winning natural deodorant, made from a blend of all-natural, delicious ingredients. | |
| 13 | Green People | £12.50 for 75ml | They have a range of products to choose from, all alluminium free | Plastic packaging |
| 14 | Kind-ly | £11 | An Australian brand. 100% Natural Deodorant collection enriched with probiotics and magnesium. 10% off your first order. 1 time purchase and subscribe and save options. | Plastic packaging |
| 15 | Dr Organic | £5.99 | 10% off your first order. organic deodorants are aluminium-free, contain non pore clogging formulas and include soothing Aloe Vera, nourishing Manuka Honey and purifying Tea Tree Oil. Recycled and recyclable packaging. | Plastic packaging |
| 16 | Vico | From 12.99 Euros | Irish brand. Get 10% off your first order. Free shipping if you spend over £30. Vegan, cruelty free and sustainable! No nasty chemicals like aluminum or paraben. Plastic free packaging. |
I really hope you find this list helpful.
Things I’ve learnt about deodorants
- Maybe we don’t even need them – Having Topical Steroid Withdrawal forced me to stop using soap to wash and stop using deodorant too and since doing that for years now I notice I no longer have smelly armpits, my sweat doesn’t smell and I could almost go without using any deodorant at all!
- It’s an obsession – As a nation we are obsessed with how we smell and have lost sight with how humans used to interact – where someone’s natural odour may have been what attracted us to them.
- Too many fragrances – Bedlinen, clothes, fabrics, furniture all has to ‘smell fresh’ so people spray them with toxic chemicals to achieve this…what on earth is that all about? Plug in fragrances are my nemesis and I have to hunt them down, unplug and hide them. We should clean stuff if it smells and try to live a simpler life. Consider also some people are allergic to perfumes yet most people are out there covered in them.
- So much plastic – All the recycling and constant waste we all produce is destroying our planet. Even small changes to products that use less packaging can really help and there are so many companies out there doing this. Many of those listed above are using recycled, recyclable or more ethical packaging so do your research and do your bit to save our planet,
Switching to natural deodorant
You might find your armpits smell more when you stop using mainstream antiperspirants and deodorants, but persevere. It can take the body about 30 days to adjust to being allowed to do its thing! If you’re washing your body and clothes this shouldn’t be too much of a hardship and I’d say it’s well worth the effort in the long run.
Can we also talk about shaving our armpits?
This has been infuriating me lately. I am horrified about anyone seeing my hairy armpits but am unable to shave them, due to it just making my skin inflamed, itchy and painful. But why do I care so much? I remember getting my first razor when I was in my early teens, so what is this obsession with removing all body hair? Why do we think it’s so disgusting? I am trying to embrace my hairy body because it’s a damn sight easier on your sensitive skin. But I still struggle. Girls do you shave? Boys do you? Should we feel comfortable with our own body hair?
What am I currently using?
I have FitPit at the moment, chosen after my extensive research for it’s no fragrance and very simple natural ingredients and glass jar. I find it works well. I use it when I run or exercise mostly and don’t generally use any on normal days. I have also been testing MooGoo which was gifted to me and is also very gentle and kind to my skin.
Other reviews of natural deodorants
There are quite a few blogs and reviews on the internet of the best natural deodorant products. Check out the following:
- Holland & Barrett – 6 of the best natural deodorants
- The no BS guide to homemade deodorants
- The effect or habitual and experimental use of antiperspirants on armpit microbiome
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