Last Updated on April 1, 2021

Looking for eco friendly and sustainable all natural deodorants? It can be difficult to find one that actually works. I’ve tried a bunch to hopefully make that decision a little easier!

Deodorant is one of the first things I switched when moving to a more natural lifestyle because it can be full of questionable ingredients like aluminum and parabens that I’d personally rather avoid.

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Beyond that a lot of deodorant is packaged in single-use plastic pushup containers that you can’t recycle curbside. Don’t forget, the smaller the container, the more likely it is to get lost in recycling facilities. Check out my recycling series for more tips on how to recycle the right way!

A few brands are partnered with Terracycle which is a step in the right direction, and more innovative packaging is hitting the market every day.

But, no matter how good the packaging or how clean the ingredient list – it still has to, ya know – work.

I’ve tried the first seven of these all natural deodorants and will be giving you my honest review.

how much do you sweat?

Just so we have a base line. When I was going through puberty I was an over-active sweater. I used prescription strength deodorant that was so strong it stopped ALL sweating under my arms. My pores were blocked with so much aluminum, it was undoubtedly contributor to my hormone imbalance.

I detoxed my armpits almost 10 years ago and switched to natural deodorant. Now, I think a combination of detoxing, ditching toxins, choosing natural fibers and getting older all resulted in me sweating less.

Plastic fibers like polyester are not breathable which makes you sweat and more often than not – stink! Read more in my post about plastic fabrics and microplastics.

I work out almost daily. I do a broadway workout class twice a week, Jazz dance class once a week, hit the gym for weight lifting and HIIT 2-3x a week, and walk Nala an average of three miles a day.

I’m pretty active so these all natural deodorants have to keep up. I’ve tried seven of them on the list and will continue to try more and update this blog post.

And, feel free to let me know in the comments which one you’d like for me to try next.

how to choose an all natural deodorant:

Before we get into the sustainable deodorants I’ve tried, or would like to try, let’s talk about what I look for because there are A LOT of natural deodorants on the market, and they’re not all created equal.

naturally derived ingredients:

I always like to check my ingredient labels, and look for things like certified organic, ethical and/or local sourcing, and naturally derived ingredients sourced from plants like trees, fruits, flowers, or clays, etc.

I Avoid parabens you can spot them pretty easily because that’s what they end in. For example a few common ones in beauty products are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.

I also avoid aluminum, sulfates, and phthalates. Everything I’ve included on this list meets that criteria.

thoughtful packaging:

Packaging is important to me, but it’s not the only thing that’s important to me.

There’s a lot of factors to consider when making a purchase. Sourcing, ethically made, workers being paid a fair wage, ingredients, etc. Packaging, of course, is one of them. But, something being packaged in plastic isn’t an automatic no for me if it’s excelling in every other area.

That being said, most of the products listed in this post are low waste if not completely plastic free. There’s a mix of all natural deodorants in glass jars, metal tins, cardboard push up containers, even refillable options!

a quick note on skin sensitivity:

Lots of natural deodorants have baking soda, which can irritate sensitive skin so I’ve made sure to note if a brand has baking soda free option available!

And, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to try making your own deodorants try out a few of these DIYs:

• Homemade Extra Strength Deodorant
• DIY Deodorant

and a note on scent:

Coconut formulas don’t work super well with my body chemistry. I try to avoid that scent, and that’s worked really well for me! So, if you’ve only tried a natural deodorant that didn’t work well for you in that scent, I’d recommend another one.

the best all natural deodorants that actually work!

Have you tried any of these all natural deodorants? Would love to hear your favorites in the comments below!