I don’t use regular antiperspirant/deodorant anymore

Like most of you, I’d heard for years that regular deodorant/antiperspirant is possibly not the most healthy thing to be putting on my armpits. But I felt rather stuck because heaven knows I am a sweaty person.

Even WITH regular deodorant.

 

So, I couldn’t imagine what I’d be like without it.

I’d tried some natural deodorants before (Primal Pit Paste, to name one!) and my experience was…stinky. Bleah.

My friend Beth encouraged me to try an Arm and Hammer deodorant that was more natural, and she said if I stuck it out through an adjustment period of a couple of weeks, things would get better.

I did, and she was right! I feel like the stink got worse for a while, but then it improved and I felt pretty pleased with the results.  It wasn’t perfect, but I was certainly no more sweaty than I was with regular deodorant/antiperspirant.

(A doctor quoted in this Real Simple article says you need to allow a 3-4 week adjustment period.)

It’s been four years now since I’ve switched, and I have fewer sweat issues than I did before I switched.  I don’t think I’ll ever go back to regular antiperspirant!

How does natural deodorant work?

Underarm sweat does not actually smell bad on its own; the stink comes from bacteria on the surface of the skin.

Underarm skin contains apocrine sweat glands, which generally don’t begin secreting sweat until puberty. According to my Anatomy and Physiology textbook, this particular sweat provides food for the bacteria in the underarm area, and that bacteria is what causes the underarm funk.

(What a mercy that we don’t have these particular sweat glands all over our bodies. Imagine if our forearms had the potential to smell as bad as our underarms!)

Bacteria love to be warm and wet, of course, so natural deodorants usually include ingredients that are meant to keep you dry (like baking soda) and also fight the bacteria (for instance, coconut oil is antibacterial).

Antiperspirants actually block the sweat ducts, whereas deodorants work only on the surface of the skin.

Pros of natural deodorant

It’s safe for my body. I’m not artificially preventing the release of sweat, and I’m not putting potentially harmful substances on my skin.

My shirt armpits are cleaner. I didn’t realize that a lot of the residue and buildup on my shirts was actually deodorant, not sweat! Also, the yellow stains that white shirts get? Apparently, those are from deodorant too!

It’s easier to wash my armpits. Regular solid deodorant is a little hard to scrub off, even on skin.  But the natural stuff comes right off.

Overall, my armpits are drier. My traditional antiperspirant wasn’t really keeping me very dry! Ever since I got past the adjustment period, I have found that I am dealing with less armpit sweat than I ever was before.

Cons of natural deodorant

Nothing is perfect. 😉 So…

It doesn’t last as long. I sometimes need to reapply later in the day if it’s been a particularly hot one.

It doesn’t hold up to workouts quite as well. This doesn’t bother me a ton because I work out at home mostly. No one else has to smell me!

It’s more expensive up-front. The Arm and Hammer stuff isn’t pricey, but brands like Soapwall and Native do cost way more than regular deodorant.

Some brands leave oil stains on shirts. This effect is pretty faint, and it can be removed during laundering, but I still thought it should be mentioned.

It can irritate your skin. A lot of natural products use baking powder, and that can irritate some people’s skin.

Reviews of the deodorants I’ve tried

I’ve given a whole variety of deodorants a try, so I figured a run-down would be helpful.

Primal Pit Paste

This stuff did not work for me at all; I felt greasy and sweaty, and I threw my container away. Thumbs down.

Shop Primal Pit Paste

 

Schmidt’s

I wanted to like this one; it smelled good, it came in a handy dispenser, and I’d heard good things about it.

But nope; it doesn’t do a great job for me, and the texture of it is a little too soft. It made for a messy application experience.

Buy Arm and Hammer Essentials

 

Arm and Hammer Naturals

This does not contain antiperspirants, but it does have a few ingredients that are not considered to be 100% natural.

However, it’s inexpensive, easy to apply, and maybe a good thing to first try as you move away from antiperspirant deodorant.

Buy Arm and Hammer Essentials

 

Soapwalla

This comes in a little jar and you apply it with your fingertips.

It works great, is made of completely safe ingredients, and lasts forever (which makes it quite affordable).

However, it can get a little annoying to keep applying deodorant with your fingers. 

And it contains baking soda, which can be a problem for sensitive skin.

Shop Soapwalla

 

Meow Meow Tweet

This is a super cute deodorant with a super cute name, and it smells great!

It’s free of baking soda, and I think it works as well as the Soapwalla deodorant. Definitely a good option if you have sensitive skin.

I bought the glass container, which you apply with your fingertips. But I see you can now get this brand in a stick deodorant too, which is handy.

Shop Meow Meow Tweet

Native Deodorant

I ordered some of this after getting an in-the-mail coupon, and I have to say, I love it.

It’s as natural as can be, it works great for me, and it comes in a traditional deodorant dispenser, which I love!

Native makes several varieties of deodorant without baking soda, so check those out if you are sensitive.

Shop Native

Dr. Teals (2023 addition)

I tried this on a reader suggestion. It is quite affordable as natural deodorants go, and it works fine.

But the texture is so hard! I struggled to apply it, even in the summer, unless my armpit skin was wet from a shower.

Shop Dr. Teal’s

In conclusion…

• Give yourself some adjustment time before you give up on natural deodorant
• Try a bunch of different types; what works for you might be different than what works for me
• I give Meow Meow Tweet, Soapwalla, and Native the highest marks

Have you tried natural deodorant? I’d love to hear about your experience!

P.S. For the record, I think deodorant choice is not a matter of high importance, healthwise. My guess is that many other things, such as sleep, physical activity, and a balanced diet, have a much bigger impact on a person’s overall well-being and health. Deodorant is pretty minor, and I don’t think anyone should feel terribly stressed if natural deodorant is a no-go for them!