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Technically speaking, no deodorant contains aluminum—that would classify it an antiperspirant. But, semantics aside, users know exactly what they’re after when they look for an “aluminum-free deodorant.” And here are 15 of the best of them that actually work.
Aluminum has long been scrutinized for being suspect in causing health concerns. It’s common to find this ingredient in many personal items, most notably in antiperspirants. With frequent use of these products, aluminum can evidently build up in the breast tissue and it’s theorized this could be a potential correlate for breast cancer.
Though more research is needed in the field, there are too many stellar natural deodorants out there to warrant the risk. We rounded up and rated 15 of our top choices of aluminum-free deodorants.
01. Lume Deodorant & Deodorant Wipes
Lume deodorant products are safe to use for the whole body and don’t leave any residue. They provide a lengthy 72 hours of odor control, so go ahead and pull that all-nighter.
What we love:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- 72-hour odor control
- Great for sensitive skin
- Comes in great scents like Coconut Crush and Jasmine Rose
02. Paper Cosmetics Deodorant
This all-natural deodorant brand is top-notch. No plastic, all compostable packaging, and a cruelty-free constitution. This is a brand we can stand behind completely.
What we love:
- Completely plastic-free, even the shipping materials!
- Offers a subscription service or bundles for a discount
- Smells great and lasts all-day
- Fun branding and great scents, like Coastal Forests and Bright Shiny Morning
What we don’t:
- Scented with fragrance instead of natural oils
03. Beauty By Earth All Natural Deodorant
This lightly-scented natural deodorant is a great choice for a standard stick application. The Beauty By Earth brand is transparent about its ingredients and provides informative details about each one. It’s aluminum-free but still works to keep you dry and smelling good.
What we love:
- Free of aluminum, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, preservatives and synthetic fragrances
- Formulated for sensitive skin
- Lightly scented by natural oils
- Includes baking soda and cornstarch to keep you feeling dry
- 24-hour protection
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Goes on smooth
04. Duke Cannon Trench Warfare Natural Charcoal Deodorant
Activated charcoal keeps your underarms odorless in this classically masculine alcohol and aluminum free deodorant.
What we love:
- Smells manly
- Alcohol- and aluminum-free
- Cruelty-free, never tested on animals
- Long-lasting, for 12-hour days
- Portion of proceeds benefit U.S. Veterans
- Charcoal enriched for better sweat/odor control
What we don’t:
- Fragranced (but, at least according to one user, it’s what you’d expect of a “very handsome centaur.”)
05. SmartyPits Natural Sensitive Skin Deodorant
Smartypits is a woman-owned company that donates a percent of each purchase to breast cancer research. Every stick is hand-poured and comes in plastic-free packaging. It’s exactly everything you want an aluminum-free deodorant to be.
What we love:
- Women-owned and handmade
- Leaping Bunny Certified (vegan and cruelty-free)
- Plastic-free, biodegradable packaging
- Fragranced with essential oils
What we don’t:
- The deodorant is a bit fragile and might crumble slightly
- Stick is difficult to push up if cold
06. Salt & Stone High-Performance Natural Deodorant
This one is for the style minimalists. The packing of Salt & Stone is gorgeous and the recipes are simple. The skin-care star Hyaluronic Acid is included, so you can expect this deodorant to also give back to your skin by replenishing its moisture.
What we love:
- Elevated scents, like Lavender, Sage, Vetiver, Sandalwood
- Ingredients include hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing elements
- Free of aluminum, alcohol, baking soda, parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes
- Offers 48-hour protection
What we don’t:
- Packaging occasionally leaks
- May stain light-colored clothing
07. Primally Pure Charcoal Deodorant
Primally Pure put the time in to create their deodorant formula that is free of harmful ingredients and non-toxic. Their products are backed with loads of positive reviews. The company is woman-owned and they commit to using fewer, but organic and higher quality ingredients.
What we love:
- Simple singular scents
- Clear application, even from the charcoal deodorant
- Ingredients are organic and include fair-trade products
08. Bravo Sierra Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Turns out that macho and all-natural go hand in hand. This aluminum-free deodorant by Bravo Sierra is the perfect choice for the dude-identifying folks out there. It’s simple, but rugged, and will protect against odor and sweat.
What we love:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Free of baking soda, for those sensitive to it.
- Field-tested by the US military. Now that’s hardcore for you.
- Donates 5% to veterans
- Solid stick that won’t crumble
09. Doc Spartan Armpit Armor All-Natural Deodorant
Doc Spartan labeled their deodorant as Armpit Armor as it’s designed for “men and women who train like wild animals but don’t like to smell like one.” This is kind of like the Tough Mudder of deodorants and is reliable for intense users!
What we love:
- Small-batch and handmade
- Soothes irritated skin and won’t stain clothes
- Long-lasting and reliable
- Hilarious scent labels like “Sex Panther”
- The brand gives back. The staff is 100% composed of people in recovery.
10. Native Deodorant
A titan in the land of beauty products, NATIVE steals the show with their all-natural deodorant. They have a great range of scents and add more seasonally, so you can change up your smell each holiday. Come on, you know you want to smell like a cup of holiday cider!
What we love:
- Affordable compared to other natural deodorants
- NATIVE also offers a plastic-free option and donates a percentage of these purchases to environmental groups
- A great lineup of scents, including fun seasonal ones like “Candy Cane”
- Vegan and cruelty-free
11. Oars + Alps Natural Deodorant
This sleek branded deodorant is allergen-free, made in the USA, and dermatologist tested. It comes in cool scent options and lasts all day. The brand even includes a guide on their website for how to detox from conventional deodorants.
What we love:
- Very transparent about ingredients and offers details for each
- Great scents, including options for sensitive skin
- Includes directions to complete a 28-day detox
- Heaps of 5-star reviews
- Long-lasting odor protection
12. Jack Black Pit Boss Deodorant
Jack Black offers this natural and aluminum-free deodorant that is vegan and dermatologist tested. The gentle formula should be suitable for all skin types. It comes in a signature scent and goes on clear.
What we love:
- Vegan ingredient list
- Goes on clear and clean
- Gentle formula for sensitive skin
What we don’t
- Needs to dry after application
- May not last as all-day odor protection for some users
- Synthetic fragrances used
13. Myro, Refillable Deodorant, Plant-Powered Formula
If you’re a sucker for good branding and planet-friendly products, Myro has the deodorant of your dreams. This super customizable product comes in pods that you place into a modern and chic refillable container. You’ll use the website portal to build your perfect deodorant, case color, scent, and all!
What we love:
- Dreamy scents like Cabin No. 5, Open Air (fragrance-free), and Chai Sunrise
- Super affordable
- Customize your case color and add text. So load the family up with earth-friendly deodorant and add name labels
- Points program for subscribers
- Vegan and cruelty-free
14. Hardworking Gentlemen All-Natural Deodorant
Just as the name implies, this deodorant is for the workers out there. It features a masculine scent and easy application. Made in California with all-natural ingredients, this pinewood-scented deodorant is a great choice.
What we love:
- Baking soda free formula
- Great for all skin types, and won’t dry you out
- Goes on smooth and clean
- Improves skin condition with continued use
15. Taos AER Plant-Based Deodorant
This beautiful deodorant by Taos comes in a range of heirloom scents and a unique gel-stick application. It’s a wonderful option for those with dry and sensitive skin and only requires a very small amount to be effective. Also available in a mini-size.
What we love:
- Comes in a mini-size, so it’s easier to try out before committing to a full-size tube
- Creamy gel application
- Fragranced with essential oils
- Incredibly transparent about ingredients – even to the point of describing the sourcing of their Palo Santo
- Vegan and cruelty-free
As we become more aware of the impact that certain ingredients have on our bodies and the earth, our preferences begin to change. The world is shifting to favor goods that are natural, organic, and pure. This also rings true in the realm of beauty products, like deodorant.
Earth- and body-friendly. These are the two main goals in searching for an all-natural deodorant. We rounded up our favorite 15 aluminum-free deodorants and laid out all the details you need to make the perfect pick for you.
With this selection, you’ve got an excellent range of choices at your disposal. We thank you for making the switch to a more planet-friendly deodorant and your pits surely will too!
References:
- Healthline; What to Know About Aluminum and Deodorant
- American Cancer Society; Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk
- Alphabeautics; Aluminum Antiperspirants and The Kidney Connection
