
For when you want to beat the heat (optimistic in England, we know) and feel super fresh without resorting to chemicals and synthetics, it's worth considering a switch to natural deodorant.
These aluminium-free deodorants allow you to sweat naturally while minimising body odour, unlike traditional antiperspirants, which stop sweating by plugging the pores. Natural deodorants are becoming increasingly popular with those looking to introduce more natural ingredients into their skincare, haircare and make-up routines.
To help you make the swap, our experts in the ELLE Beauty Lab put a range of the market leaders to the test. From Necessaire's eucalyptus-scented gel roll-on, to Drunk Elephant's soothing deodorant cream, there's a texture, smell and format to suit everyone's natural needs.
Best natural deodorants 2023
1
Best scented natural deodorant
Necessaire The Deodorant Gel Eucalyptus
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2
Best packaging design
Caudalie Vinofresh Natural Stick Deodorant
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3
Best natural deodorant for no irritation
Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti™ Deodorant Cream
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4
5
Best luxury natural deodorant
L'Occitane Verbena Deodorant Balm
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6
Best detoxifying natural deodorant
GOBO Natural Aluminium Free AHA Deodorant
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7
Best for long-lasting coverage
Dr. Hauschka Sage And Mint Deodorant
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8
Best affordable natural deodorant
Dr Organic Aloe Vera Deodorant
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9
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Green People Aloe Vera & Prebiotics Deodorant
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10
Best travel-friendly natural deodorant
Weleda Pomegranate 24h Roll On Deodorant
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Is natural deodorant better for you?
Despite the headlines, there's no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that the aluminium in antiperspirant deodorants increases your risk of disease. However, many people choose to switch to natural formulas because they're free from some of the ingredients that can be irritating to sensitive skin. For example, most are free from alcohol, parabens, phthalates and other drying, synthetic ingredients.
Natural deodorants also allow the growth of immune-boosting bacteria, which means they could be considered healthier than their antiperspirant counterparts.
How we test
In the ELLE Beauty Lab, we asked 200 testers to try a range of natural deodorants and report back on how effective they were. Over a period of two weeks, they assessed each one on its ease of use, design and ability to neutralise odours and combat sweat.
These are the ones that put in a sweat-free performance.
This cult brand is loved by beauty editors and influencers, and for good reason. Not only is it super soft on underarms, but the gel formula glides on effortlessly. Our experts awarded it top points for a clear finish that didn’t leave any tell-tale white marks.
Our testers agreed and found it easy to use, long-lasting and kind to skin. They also praised its scent, with one describing it as ‘fantastic’ and like nothing they’d tried before.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
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Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
2
Best packaging design
Caudalie Vinofresh Natural Stick Deodorant
Scoring top marks for its clean-cut and chic design, this solid natural deodorant from Caudalie not only looks great, but testers loved how easy it was to use and dispense, with no dragging on the skin.
Importantly, it gave testers long-lasting protection and didn't leave any pesky residue on underarms or clothes either. Fragrance wise, testers really enjoyed the scent, with one describing it as 'calming', while others said it has an 'earthy, fresh smell'.
Key specifications
Size: | 50g |
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Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | No |
Cruelty-free: | No |
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If you're worried about sensitive underarms, then natural deodorants – which are free of chemicals that can be harsh on skin – could be the way to go. This cream balm from Drunk Elephant is pleasingly soothing and none of our testers suffered any irritation after use.
Our panel was pleased with how well the product worked and didn't notice any body odour, with one commenting that they were pleasantly surprised by how dry they felt. Some said the square shape of the bottle made it a little harder to use. And while some liked the sweet almond-like scent, others found it too much.
Key specifications
Size: | 60ml |
---|---|
Format: | Balm |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
4
Best all-over body natural deodorant
AKT The Deodorant Balm
We don't only sweat from our underarms – it's something that naturally occurs all over our bodies, so why not protect these areas too? From chests to feet, this balm can be used all over. It's also plastic free, as it's dispensed from a metal tube (like an old-fashioned toothpaste tube) and comes with a little key to wind up the end and push out the product more easily.
Testers particularly liked the super fresh eucalyptus and mint scent and found it deodorised well, too. The only niggle was that it becomes much harder to dispense when it’s cold, as the balm comes out quite thick.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
---|---|
Format: | Balm |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
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This balm from L’Occitane was highly praised by our testers for how moisturising and nourishing it felt on their underarms, while keeping them dry throughout the whole day, with zero stickiness. It also scored top points for its citrus fresh lemon and lime scent.
While many found the balm easy to apply – it's best done with your fingers – some said they would have preferred a little spatula to help with the job.
Key specifications
Size: | 50g |
---|---|
Format: | Balm |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
Just like we detox our skin with a weekly face mask, we need to do the same for our underarms. This deodorant uses AHAs – which are used in many exfoliating skincare products – to clear pores of any product build-up.
The rollerball design made it a breeze for gliding across armpits and it immediately got to work at masking odours, leaving our testers with fresh, dry underarms throughout the day.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
---|---|
Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | N/A |
Fragrance free: | Yes |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
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7
Best for long-lasting coverage
Dr. Hauschka Sage And Mint Deodorant
This sage and mint-scented roll-on worked wonders on our testers, who said it kept them protected throughout the day without needing to apply an emergency top-up. The herbal scent might not be to everyone’s taste, but our panel did love the instant cooling and hydrating effect it had on skin.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
---|---|
Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
8
Best affordable natural deodorant
Dr Organic Aloe Vera Deodorant
Switching to a natural alternative usually means you end up paying twice the price, but not with this little roll-on. It’s formulated with soothing aloe vera and vitamin E, which our testers found was on the wetter side to apply, but it wasn’t greasy or sticky once dried.
The majority of our panel reported sweat-free armpits and loved that it didn’t leave any stains behind on clothing.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
---|---|
Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | Yes |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
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9
Best fast-drying natural deodorant
Green People Aloe Vera & Prebiotics Deodorant
If you’re running late, the last thing you need is to have to wait for your deodorant to dry before you can even get dressed, which is where this Green People number comes in.
Our panel found it was quick to dry, and it left armpits with some added freshness. It also provided all-day protection. But the best bit? It’s designed to promote healthy bacterial growth, too.
Key specifications
Size: | 75ml |
---|---|
Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | Yes |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
10
Best travel-friendly natural deodorant
Weleda Pomegranate 24h Roll On Deodorant
The compact packaging of this little roll-on made it a winner in our testers’ books. They said it took a while to dry, but once it did, it left a sweet orange and pomegranate scent behind.
Two-thirds of our panel also said it made them feel fresher after use, with most finding it successfully masked odours.
Key specifications
Size: | 50ml |
---|---|
Format: | Roll-on |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
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Join the eco-friendly movement with this natural deodorant bar. It doesn’t contain any plastic packaging, and our testers said it left them with softer armpits, which were kept dry from AM to PM.
Testers did find it a little scratchy at times to apply, and there was some crumbling involved, but overall, it dried fast and didn’t stain white clothes.
Key specifications
Size: | 90g |
---|---|
Format: | Solid bar |
Suitable for sensitive skin: | Yes |
Fragrance free: | No |
Vegan: | Yes |
Cruelty-free: | Yes |
Florence Reeves-White
Senior Beauty Writer
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.