Your Questions About Natural Deodorant, Answered (2024)

FAQs

What to know about natural deodorant? ›

Don't expect the same results as traditional deodorants when switching to a natural product. It could take a few days or weeks for your underarms to rebalance their ecosystem. You can try an armpit detox to potentially speed up the process, but keep in mind that natural deodorants won't halt sweat.

"Some of the enthusiasm for natural deodorants seems to be driven by fears and myths that have been repeatedly debunked,” says Nabeeha Siddiqui, MD, a Cedars-Sinai primary care physician in Culver City. "You won't find any solid scientific or medical evidence showing these deodorants are better for you.”

When you switch from antiperspirant to natural deodorant, your body needs a little detox time. You might sweat a bit more at first, but don't worry! Keep going and soon your armpits will be clean and balanced. After a few weeks, the smell will go away and you won't have to think about the bad stuff in antiperspirants.

The takeaway

No solid medical or scientific evidence supports the concept of armpit detoxing. It can cause irritation and negatively affect the natural bacteria balance on the skin. If a person wants to switch to a more natural deodorant, they can do so at any time, without needing any kind of “detox” first.

“Natural deodorant reduces the scent of the sweat, but does not reduce the amount of sweat the body produces,” Collins told Verywell. “So if your main concern is the appearance of sweat in the armpit area of your shirt, deodorant will be completely ineffective in reducing the dreaded armpit sweat marks.”

If you do switch, keep the following in mind: A natural deodorant will help with armpit odor, but not sweat. You may need to reapply natural deodorant after exercising, or throughout the day if you're a heavy sweater.

The first 2 weeks are the stage when most people begin to second guess transitioning to a natural deodorant. But don't give up! By the third week, you might notice that you're sweating a little more as your body is working harder to get rid of the last of the bacteria and chemicals.

This is a natural process as part of our body's built-in mechanisms, but it may contribute to releasing some slightly unusual body odor in comparison to what you are used to. So when you first make the switch, it's not that your natural deodorant isn't working—but your body is—and naturally!"

Most armpit detoxes use a homemade mask of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Some also include water to dilute the vinegar. Others use equal parts bentonite clay and coconut oil for a more soothing, hydrating mix that still has some antibacterial properties, thanks to the coconut oil.

Natural deodorant is not better or worse for your health than traditional deodorant or antiperspirant. “A lot of the claims that one product is better than another are just marketing claims that are not based on scientific evidence,” Dr. Chen said. “I don't think there's any proof that one is safer than another.”

Why is aluminum-free deodorant better? ›

Allow your body to sweat naturally

Aluminum-free deodorants do not block perspiration, so your sweat flows freely with no blockages or interruption to your natural body function.

Your body odor is probably going to smell different, and potentially stronger, than what you're used to. That's because your body is simultaneously purging its sweat glands and recalibrating the balance of microscopic organisms that live on your skin. It's establishing a new normal.

"When switching from an antiperspirant to a deodorant, you are removing the aluminum and releasing waste which has been blocked. This is a natural process as part of our body's built-in mechanisms, but it may contribute to releasing some slightly unusual body odor in comparison to what you are used to.

You may need to reapply natural deodorant after exercising, or throughout the day if you're a heavy sweater. Monitor your skin for rashes or other irritations as you begin using a new deodorant. Some people may be sensitive to ingredients in natural deodorants, particularly baking soda.