Do natural deodorants really stop odor? With the right ingredients, experts say yes

As the wellness movement gains momentum, so have my anxious sweats. It's hard to ignore the questions experts and influencers are raising about the ingredients in personal care products. And they have a point; what exactly are cyclopentasiloxane and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, and why am I applying them to my underarms?

This is where natural deodorants come in. While there is no official or universal definition of a "natural" product, natural deodorants typically claim to be made from materials that aren’t synthesized in a lab. And opting for a natural deodorant is one way to make more informed decisions about what we put on our bodies.

“On average, women put over 125 chemicals on their skin a day,” says Dr. Julie Greenberg, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Registered Herbalist at The Center for Integrative & Naturopathic Dermatology. “These are things like emulsifiers and preservatives, phthalates and endocrine disruptors. We really want to limit exposure where possible.”

There’s also a lot of talk about aluminum and the negative effects it might have on the body. While there’s no clear scientific evidence of its effects, we can make a conscious effort to lather ourselves in fewer substances we’re unsure of.

What to look for in a natural deodorant

Sweating is a natural bodily function that helps regulate body temperature, but it can also happen at less convenient times, like when we're nervous.

“You have no control over it. You sweat because the central nervous system says it’s time for you to sweat,” says Phil Klepak, an antiperspirant and deodorant technology consultant and member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

So, can going natural really help with sweat and odor? Experts say yes; just keep an eye out for these five key qualities when shopping.

Antimicrobial ingredients: Natural deodorants neutralize odors with antimicrobial ingredients, including essential oils, coconut oil and naturally derived baking soda. Sweat doesn’t have an odor — at first. According to Klepak and Greenberg, we have trillions of tiny microbes to blame for our BO. They live on our skin and decompose the organic materials found in sweat, which causes the stench. Natural ingredients with proven antimicrobial properties help eliminate microbes living on the skin of your underarms.

Absorption ability: Natural deodorants absorb excess moisture and reduce humidity with ingredients like activated charcoal, arrowroot powder, clays, tapioca starch and naturally derived baking soda. When it comes to stopping sweat, antiperspirants are the go-to. However, these products contain aluminum, which clogs pores to stop sweat from exiting. Deodorants don't prevent sweating; instead, they neutralize bacteria, mask odors and absorb moisture. Although some antiperspirants also act as deodorants, it's important to note that deodorants are not antiperspirants.

Natural scents: When pharmacist and nontoxic advocate Amy Enos shops for a deodorant, she says it can be easier to look for red-flag ingredients worth avoiding, like “fragrance.” According to Greenberg, "fragrance" can mean that a product may contain over 2,000 undisclosed chemicals that companies claim as proprietary. Rather than fragrance, opt for scents derived from natural ingredients like essential oils.

Consider the ease of application: Natural deodorants come in creams, sticks, gels, sprays, rollers and salts. Whichever you choose comes down to personal preference. With the exception of salts, the base of the deodorant is made of ingredients that glide or apply smoothly to the skin. Rather than mineral oil or petrolatum, which are byproducts of the oil industry, Greenberg says to choose deodorant sticks made with beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil or cocoa butter.

Active ingredients, not marketing buzz: While shopping for natural deodorants, we came across ingredients with unfamiliar uses, like probiotics. We asked our experts for their thoughts on these ingredients and reached out to the companies for their insight, too. We requested full transparency from the brands, which take seriously, but couldn’t confirm the legitimate benefit of probiotics in deodorant. Klepak and Greenberg express confusion about their role in minimizing odors, and studies caution that skin care products containing probiotics may not meet beneficial probiotic requirements.

How we chose the best natural deodorants

First, we spoke to experts from both sides of the industry to gain a comprehensive understanding of deodorants and their effectiveness. Then, we spoke to skin care influencers, combed through product reviews, reached out to brands for clarification, and personally tried out some of the products ourselves.