So, I recently celebrated a “milestone” birthday. With this birthday came a realization: several friends my age have started facing some pretty serious health issues. One in particular was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic lymphoma. Fortunately, it’s in the very early stages, and her doctor recommended holding off on the heavy-duty treatments like chemotherapy. Instead, the focus is on “clean living,” which includes paying attention to everything from the food she eats to the products she slathers on her skin.
Hearing this was my personal wake-up call. Maybe it was time to finally say goodbye to my trusty Secret antiperspirant/deodorant combo, which I knew was probably doing me no favors with its aluminum content. I’ve known for years that antiperspirants containing aluminum are a big “no-no,” but after trying a few natural ones, I always crawled back to Secret Antiperspirant because—spoiler alert—nothing else worked! I vividly remember that awful crystal rock phase… let’s just say, the crystal and I didn’t exactly hit it off.
But these days, clean deodorants have evolved. There are way more options, which meant it was time for some serious testing. So, I embarked on an epic quest to find a natural deodorant that didn’t make me smell like, well, like I didn’t wear deodorant. Of course, I also had to consider other factors: Does it feel good going on? Does it leave marks on my clothing? How’s the price? Does it have a scent that doesn’t make me smell like a scented candle from the discount bin? And finally, is it actually good for you?
So, here are the winners and losers from my deodorant Olympics:
Tom’s of Maine Wild Lavender
This one is everywhere—grocery stores, pharmacies, you name it. It glides on easily, costs under $10, and has multiple scent options. It also didn’t leave any marks on my clothes and has a squeaky-clean and healthy ingredient list, which made me feel very virtuous. But… it didn’t exactly keep me smelling like roses and somehow didn’t keep my underarms feeling dry. I gave it a fair shot, but I had to move on.
Dove Aluminum-Free Deodorant in Coconut and Pink Jasmine
This one’s as easy to find as the original Dove, and it also glides on smoothly, costs under $10, and offers various scents. It didn’t leave marks, either. It does not score so well on the health scale, (still way better than antiperspirants with aluminum, but it could be better) and it failed the all-important “keep me smelling fresh” test. I just didn’t love it.
Native Deodorant in Coconut and Vanilla
I liked this one, and it was definitely an improvement over the prior two. It’s priced between $10-$15 and, after a little adjustment period, it seemed to do the job. But—there’s always a “but”—it contains Ozokerite, which falls in the moderately risky ingredient zone. I liked it, but not enough to ignore my inner health-nut alarm bells. So, I pressed on.
Lume Deodorant
This brand is all about full-body deodorants (yep, you read that right). The scents are a little unconventional—I opted for Peony Rose over Clean Tangerine or Minted Cucumber. It’s priced just under $15, and when I researched it, it got top marks on the health front so I ordered it. When it arrived I tried it and I actually really liked it, outside of a slight bit of white marks left on my clothing. I thought I had found the one I would probably stick with since it actually seemed to be effective but wait…then I did some more research and it turns out the scent I chose (Peony Rose) was actually not as healthy as the Warm Vanilla scent I had researched. In fact, the Peony Rose scented one that I chose gets poor marks for the Ozokerite it contains. Maybe I’ll try again with the Warm Vanilla scent but for the Peony Rose, I’ll have to pass.
Salt & Stone Deodorant
Okay, I got a little excited about this one. It’s like the designer handbag of deodorants—luxurious and just a little bit extra. At about $20 a pop (available at Sephora, Amazon, and Anthropologie), this felt fancy, and the scent options were chef’s kiss. I was torn between Bergamot & Hinoki and Neroli & Basil but eventually settled on Bergamot & Hinoki. It was really effective, felt smooth going on, and didn’t leave a trace on my clothes. I thought I’d found “the one”… until I checked the ingredients. It also contains Ozokerite. Womp womp.
Kopari Deodorant
At last, I found my holy grail! Kopari’s original coconut scent is light and lovely, and it glides on like a dream. Best of all, it worked fairly well and doesn’t leave any marks on my clothes. At just a few dollars less than Salt & Stone, it’s still a little pricey, but I was thrilled to see it really has no risky ingredients. You can find Kopari at department stores, Amazon, and other retailers, making it easily accessible. Hallelujah!
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So, what’s the takeaway? Any of these natural deodorants are way better than an aluminum-packed antiperspirant. If you’ve made the switch, congratulations—you’re already doing your body a favor. As for me, after trying them all, the Native, the Lume and the Salt and Stone all were effective at keeping the odor at bay. Kopari was very close on their heels with the effectiveness. I was tempted to choose Salt & Stone (because it really worked and who doesn’t love a bit of luxury?), but clean ingredients won out in the end. Kopari checks all the boxes, and my search is officially over!