From the rise in vegan diets to an obsession with “clean” beauty, low-tox living is in. Nowadays, many of us are more vigilant than ever about what is going into and onto our bodies, which means we care more about our choices.
Hormonal health expert Alexandria Smith says that eliminating hormone-disrupting chemicals from personal care products can be a critical but overlooked step in achieving better health. Deodorants, she says, are among the worst offenders when it comes to endocrine disruption, which is why so many people are switching to so-called “natural” products.
“We are exposed to countless endocrine disruptors every day, many of which are hiding in our personal care products. Switching to a natural deodorant free from parabens is one of the easiest and most effective steps to reduce toxic load, regulate the menstrual cycle and support fertility naturally.”
There has been speculation in the past that some deodorants were linked to cancer, but with little evidence to support these claims, Cancer Research has ruled this out as a possibility. Some people still prefer to avoid ingredients such as aluminium and talc, found in most regular deodorants, either for personal health reasons or possible allergies.
Yet natural deodorants have a bad reputation. There are horror stories of people switching out their regular deodorant for a “natural” option and showing up to work reeking of body odour. That’s why I put some of the best natural deodorants to the test.
From years of using natural deodorants, my personal favourite is the Fussy coconut milk deodorant, but I’ve found lots of other options that might be a better fit for you. Here’s how I got on.
How I tested
I’ve been using natural deodorant for years, putting a range of different products to the test after heavy gym sessions, long commutes and hot days abroad. I was joined by some other brave deodorant testers. Every deodorant was tested for at least a week by the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Our beauty and wellness experts know everything there is to know about natural product swaps, which brands to invest in and which to avoid. Emilie Lavinia, our fitness and wellbeing editor, is an expert on low-tox living and has tried every natural deodorant on the market to round up the best.
The best natural deodorants for 2025 are:
Fussy coconut milk deodorant
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Best: Natural deodorant overall
Size: 40g
Type: Stick
Scent: Coconut milk
Why we love it
- Creamy texture
- Sustainable
- Prevents sweat and odour
Take note
- Plastic case
In a hot-pink case with a coconut milk refill, Fussy’s deodorant is my forever favourite. It’s gentle, sustainable and has a gorgeous creamy texture and lovely sweet scent. Most importantly, it works. It’s stood up to all of our tests. It goes the distance in the gym, on long hikes and summer evenings and is easy to throw in your bag.
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The sustainability credentials are good, with refills available in a variety of scents. However, if you’re a real eco warrior, the plastic casing might put you off. However, I’ve found that the plastic is tougher and better to travel with than glass.
Buy now £15.00, Getfussy.com
Ineos Skin science antiperspirant deodorant mist
Best: Budget natural deodorant
Type: Spray
Size: 200ml
Scent: Mandarin and sandalwood
Why we love it
- Antiperspirant as well as anti odour
- Fresh neutral scent
- Works for several hours
Take note
- Not 100 per cent natural
- Plastic case
This was one of my top picks, because not only is it a great natural option, it’s also your best bet if you prefer a spray deodorant.
Aerosols are predominantly made up of a propellant gas that shoots your deodorant from the aerosol can. This means most spray deodorants are more gas than product. Ineos’ skin science is a mist spray that does away with the need for an aerosol – better for you and for the planet.
It’s also an effective antiperspirant. With castor oil, sage and rosemary, Ineos isn’t 100 per cent natural because it contains some synthetic ingredients. However, it is refillable, vegan, cruelty-free free and gender neutral, with a great fresh scent that isn’t too strong.
This was one of my favourite products – it kept me dry and smelling fresh all day, through workouts and on hot holidays. It’s hard to beat at such a low price point, too.
Buy now £3.50, Ocado.com
Malin + Goetz eucalyptus natural deodorant
Best: Natural deodorant for sensitive skin
Type: Gel stick
Size: 73g
Scent: Eucalyptus
Why we love it
- Unisex not overpowering scent
- Great for even the most sensitive skin
In a gel-like stick, this natural deodorant is quite a strange one to put on. It feels more like a dry gel balm than a classic melting stick. We’ve tested both the eucalyptus and bergamot options, and prefer the popular eucalyptus scent; it’s genderless, fresh and light with no overpowering fruity or floral aromas.
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Though it’s marketed as a natural deodorant, it contains propylene glycol, which is an ingredient that many people looking for an “all-natural” product may want to avoid. If you’re looking for an all-natural option, this might not be it.
Formulated for sensitive skin, odour-neutralising citronellal and refreshing eucalyptus oil are the core ingredients putting in the leg work. It feels luxe and looks great on the bathroom shelf while also getting the job done.
Buy now £14.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Luna daily the all over deodorant
Best: Best natural deodorant for the gym
Size: 70g
Type: Stick
Scent: Ylang ylang and jasmine
Why we love it
- Easy to use on the go
- Keeps you dry
- Lasts all day
- Moisturising ingredients
Take note
- Not 100 per cent natural
Luna daily’s pH-balanced body deodorant is aluminium-free and scored pretty highly. It did the job on slow days and high-intensity days, keeping sweat and body odour at bay after work and the gym.
A smooth stick deodorant with a slightly tacky texture, this deodorant uses saccharomyces ferment and corn starch to neutralise bacteria and keep your pits dry. It also contains hyaluronic acid and prebiotics to keep your skin moisturised and soothe inflammation. This was especially needed after working up a sweat in tight activewear.
The ylang ylang and jasmine scent is mild and not too overpowering, and the twist top and compact stick made it great for use on the go. I threw this in my bag for a week of meetings, workouts and trips to the office and found it one of the best options on this list for scent and dryness all day.
However, purists should note that it contains propylene glycol. The brand claims that this is from “bio based” sources, but we can’t confirm that.
Buy now £14.00, luna-daily.com
Rollr deodorant
Best: Luxury natural deodorant
Size: 40ml
Scent: Mandarin and cedarwood
Why we love it
- Probiotic formula
- One of the most sustainable brands
- Crystal or steel roller to choose from
- Savings when you subscribe
Take note
- Expensive
- Fragile glass bottle
Rollr is both a luxury deodorant and a sustainable one, so it ticks plenty of boxes. A refillable roll-on deodorant, the idea is to simply mix a sachet of your chosen scent with water, give it a shake and roll on.
Free from synthetic chemicals, the formula contains prebiotics and mineral salts for effective odour control. The mandarin and cedarwood were pretty gentle on the underarms and free from parabens, propylene glycol and aluminium. The stars of the show are arrowroot and radish root ferment filtrate, along with aloe and zinc oxide.
The most impressive thing about this roll-on is the roller itself. Instead of plastic, you can choose between steel or semi-precious stones to deliver the product. Emilie said, I loved the inclusion of rose quartz and aventurine. You don’t have to believe in crystal healing to be a fan of the cooling effects of stone on your underarms. My rose quartz deodorant felt like a treat every morning and smelled lovely too.
The bottle is glass and quite weighty, which gives it a luxe feel. However, this means it isn’t the best product for throwing in your gym bag.
The biggest drawback is that at £35 for about a month’s worth of product, this deodorant is among the more expensive picks on this list. Subscribing for more refills saves you money, but obviously, there are alternatives for less than £5 that work just as well. With that said, Rollr has really nailed the sustainability credentials, and our testers loved using it.
Buy now £35.00, Rollr
The Natural Deodorant Co clean deodorant balm lemon and geranium
Best: Balm natural deodorant
Type: Balm
Size: 55g
Scent: Lemon and geranium
Why we love it
- Not bulky plastic packaging
- Moisturising feel
As the name suggests, The Natural Deodorant Co specialises solely in natural odour busters, so it’s safe to say the brand is quite the expert on the topic. In a simple glass jar, this deodorant is sleek and sustainable with no bulky plastic tubes.
You have to get your fingers in to warm it up before applying, but it’s easy to rub in just like any other balm. However, I found that it can be a little harsh on sensitive skin, so bear this in mind if you have sensitive underarms or you’ve just removed your armpit hair.
With arrowroot powder as the main ingredient, it does have a drying capacity while coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter moisturise, and the lemon and geranium essential oils give it that crisp and clean scent.
While I loved the end result – a sweet-smelling underarm that stayed partially dry and no hint of body odour all day – it isn’t the smallest or lightest product to carry around for on-the-go top-ups.
Buy now £12.70, Amazon.co.uk
L’Occitane verbena deodorant balm
Best: Scented natural deodorant
Type: Balm
Size: 50g
Scent: Lemons and limes
Why we love it
- Best smelling
Take note
- Slight marks on black clothes
With a good whiff of lemons and limes, this natural deodorant smelled like a summer’s day. In a balm and pot format similar to The Natural Deodorant Company, this deodorant needs to be rubbed in with your hands.
Whether you’re happy to do this is down to personal preference – some prefer the ease of a roll-on. However, the other testers and I found that it melted into our skin like butter, with a slightly dry finish.
With no aluminium salts or alcohol, it’s verbena extract that provides most of the benefits (this is one of the core ingredients used throughout a range of L’Occitane products).
Although it claims it doesn’t stain clothes, there were notable white marks when getting it too close to dark clothing, but you can buff them out quite quickly.
Buy now £19.00, Loccitane.com
Wild mini deodorants, pack of three
Best: Natural deodorant for travel
Type: Stick
Size: 17g x three
Scent: Fresh cotton and sea salt; coconut and vanilla; jasmine and mandarin blossom
Why we love it
- Perfect travel companion
- Get to try it out before committing to the full-size
Take note
- Not an anti-perspirant so wont stop you sweating
This set of entirely recyclable pocket rockets comes from a heavyweight brand in the natural deodorant world. Wild is a company dedicated to reducing the throwaway culture of bathroom and hygiene products. Known mostly for their eye-catching refillable aluminium deodorant cases, this set offers a handy alternative.
Included in this set are three mini deodorants, each about the size of a large lip balm, with each scented with one of Wild’s bestselling fragrances: fresh cotton and sea salt; coconut and vanilla; and jasmine and mandarin blossom.
The deodorants are made from ingredients derived from plants, although some scents are synthetic, and it’s designed to fight off odour-causing bacteria. Perfect for on-the-go use and when travelling, simply chuck one of these in your handbag or hand luggage and off you go. I found that these are perfect for days at the office or using ahead of an exercise class or event at the end of the day.
The coconut and vanilla scent is a particularly fresh option, and the deodorant itself is smooth and moisturising for the skin. This brand is especially good for pits and the planet.
Buy now £12.00, Amazon.co.uk
Upcircle refillable deodorant
Best: Sustainable natural deodorant
Type: Stick
Size: 41g
Scent: Bergamot and lime
Why we love it
- Sustainable packaging
- Refillable
Take note
- Expensive
UpCircle’s refillable deodorant is bicarb and aluminium-free and has some of the best eco-friendly features. The stick comes in a refillable, recyclable case with no plastic in sight.
The cruelty-free and vegan deodorant is made with nourishing macadamia oil to keep skin soft and hydrated, while prickly pear extract offers anti-inflammatory benefits, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
The blend of bergamot and lime provides a light, zesty fragrance that’s stronger than most of the other products on this list, ideal if you like a more present scent. The addition of corn starch also keeps you dry, absorbing moisture and making this a great antiperspirant too.
Despite all its great features, this deodorant doesn’t offer 12-hour protection from body odour like some others on this list. I’d recommend topping up before the gym and reapplying in the middle of the day if you want to be smelling fresh for hours.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions on natural deodorants answered
Which is the best natural deodorant?
It can take between two to six weeks for your body to adjust to using a natural deodorant, so before you jump in thinking it doesn’t work, you need to have a bit of patience – and maybe schedule it in over WFH days or a holiday. But, to get you well on your way, my favourite pick was the Fussy coconut milk deodorant thanks to its nourishing formula, easy-to-apply design and BO-busting result.
For those wanting to just test the waters without forking out a fortune, opt for the Mitchum men’s pick. Although it wasn’t completely natural, it does cut out a lot of the core elements from normal deodorants and can’t be faulted in its result. And anyone looking to really battle the sweats on any part of the body should definitely pay closer attention to the Luna-daily all over deodorant.
If you want to splash the cash, Rollr is a definite must-have if you’re seeking a luxury experience that’s as kind to the environment as it is on your underarms. Looking for a spray? Ditch the aerosol and go for the Ineos mist for all day freshness guaranteed.
How to pick a natural deodorant
As the natural beauty market grows, natural deodorants are starting to shake off their bad reputation. When it comes to choosing a natural deodorant, there are no hard-set rules as to what can and can’t be included in the formulas, but Healthline suggests the following as three core foundations. Firstly, ingredients such as coconut or tea tree oil are included for disinfectant or antibacterial properties. Secondly, essential oils such as lavender, bergamot or sandalwood provide scents instead of synthetic fragrances, and lastly, naturally absorbent ingredients such as cornstarch, baking soda or arrowroot combat moisture.
These ingredients won’t necessarily prevent sweating like an antiperspirant does, but plenty of the options above do both, keeping you dry and smelling fresh.
So, with the majority of ingredients coming from natural sources, and many people implying this forms a happier and healthier underarm microbiome, if you’re in two minds about whether to give a natural deodorant a go, we’d certainly encourage you to go for it. But remember the research suggests it’s more of a personal preference rather than a necessity, and you should always patch test before, as with any product, to check for any possible reactions. Even naturally derived ingredients can cause inflammation if you’re sensitive.
“A simple swap can make a difference,” says Alexandria Smith. “The impact of harmful synthetic compounds is not irreversible. A recent study found that women who stopped using products containing parabens saw a 44 per cent reduction of these chemicals in their bodies within just three days.”
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