We Tried 6 Natural Deodorants So You Don’t Have To

Over the past year or two, deodorant has become a hot topic in the beauty world. Specifically, natural deodorant.

It’s not hard to pick a natural deodorant user – present company included – because they’re almost always willing to discuss deodorant in depth. Their favourite new formula; the pros and cons of going natural; how goddamn hot it’s been this week; that one product that absolutely did nothing. Regular deodorant users on the other hand, go about their day, no sweat chat necessary.

Here’s the thing: regular deodorants work – and they work really well. Nobody is disputing that. That bottle of roll-on antiperspirant that you’ve been repeat-buying for the past 15 years? It gets the job done by using some variant of aluminium to block your sweat glands. No sweat = no smell. It’s efficient. When it comes to natural deodorant, the current products in market vary wildly in their efficiency. 

So if stock-standard supermarket variety deodorants work so well, why make the switch? Well, there’s a bit of speculation about the long-term effects of using an antiperspirant. 

The ingredient in question is aluminium. Undoubtedly the most common active ingredient in antiperspirant formulas, there has been some speculation within the scientific community that aluminium can be absorbed by the body (via your pits) and have estrogen-like effects, potentially contributing to the development of breast cancer. Local brand Black Chicken Remedies cites this study on the link between breast cancer and aluminium-based deodorants.

Having said that, the evidence is not conclusive. On the Cancer Council’s I Heard website – a resource that dispels cancer myths – the organisation says that any link between aluminium and breast cancer is a myth. Over in the US, the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration all state that they do not have any conclusive evidence to back this cancer-causing claim.

Most standard antiperspirants also contain alcohol, synthetic fragrance and phthalates – all of which are similarly controversial.

Should you ditch your old school aluminium-laden formula? When it comes to the natural-vs-antiperspirant debate, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s an entirely personal decision.

What we will say however, is that if you do switch to natural deodorant, there will be a transition period. You’ll feel quite sweaty for a little while but eventually, your sweat levels will even out. You’re playing the long game here.

We know, we know: less chit chat, more reviews. With so much innovation underway in this relatively new category, not all natural deodorants are created equal. So we set about trying a whole bunch so you don’t have to:

The reviewer: Erin
The review: This formula really is quite something. Smells great, tick! Chic, non-hippie packaging, tick! Non-irritating, tick! Not too thick and paste-y, tick! Glides on, tick! And, importantly, it passes the post-run sniff test with ease. Megababe Rosy Pits does what a deodorant should do without any inconvenience. The only sting, however, is the wait time and the international shipping fee.
The score: 9/10
The price: USD$14 at Megababe (plus shipping)

The reviewer: Erin
The review: On par with Megababy Rosy Pits, this deodorant has a delightful botanical scent that will make you actually want to put it on. It has a balm-like texture that applies easily. It doesn’t quite counteract sweat to the same level as Megababe but it’s pretty bloody close.
The score: 8/10
The price: $35 at Mecca

The reviewer: Erin
The review: I’m in two minds about this guy. It does the job (and does it quite well) but it comes in a tub. Meaning, to apply, you have to scoop out the paste and swipe it on your pits. It’s not the most elegant process, you know?
The score: 6/10
The price: $18.50 at Black Chicken Remedies (but you can probably pick up at your local natural food store)

The reviewer: Rose
The review: The most effective natural deodorant I’ve tried to date, this formula not only smells divine but also helps keep your armpits dry throughout the day. The thicker, paste-like stick makes it easy to apply and quick-drying, with no white marks left on your clothing. Worn throughout many a pilates class, this stuff works a treat!
The score: 9/10
The price: $38 at Mecca

The reviewer: Rose
The review: With a refreshing eucalyptus scent, this bad boy leaves you smelling as fresh as a daisy, but not for as long as I would have liked. Lasting only around two hours, the formula was not quite up to scratch longevity-wise. However, for the time it was worn my armpits stayed dry and comfortable.
The score: 7/10
The price: $35 at Mecca

The reviewer: Rose
The review: More along the lines of your typical roll-on deodorant, this formula wasn’t my favourite. Despite smelling lovely (like roses), the deodorant was not effective in preventing wetness and didn’t mask any body odour for very long.
The score: 4/10
The price: $9.39 at Chemist Warehouse.