The 18 best natural deodorants that really work

The one that minimises ingrown hairs:

Saltair Pink Beach Serum Deodorant, £14

This is a standout hit with a few members of the GTG team. Available in a number of scents – this cheery coconut and vanilla version being the latest version, however sexy, sultry Santal Bloom, £14, is also worthy of your attention –  Saltair’s 5 per cent AHA Serum Deodorant is a light liquid roll-on serum with acids that minimise ingrown hairs and discoloration. It really does keep odours at bay for longer than many other natural deos, while being baking soda and aluminium-free, in a recyclable glass bottle – and pretty to look at!

The one you can use all over your body:

Luna Daily The All Over Deodorant in Hydrating Soft Cotton, £14

Thanks to its pH-balanced formula which means it won’t aggravate or irritate even your most sensitive and delicate areas, this solid stick natural deodorant from UK indie brand Luna can be used all over the body, wherever you sweat. We’re talking feet, necks, thighs, tummy, as well as pits. It contains enzymes that absorb bad smells as well as an ingredient called Symdeo that prevents odour-forming microorganisms. There are also probiotics to keep the skin barrier happy and healthy. As well as this laundry-fresh cotton scent, there is a zesty ylang ylang and a jasmine option.

The one that smells like perfume:


Phlur Deodorant in Father Figure, £20

When cool fragrance brand Phlur (of Missing Person fame) announced they were launching natural deodorants, we hoped they would be good – and we weren’t disappointed. Formulated without aluminium or baking powder, they rely on salicylic acid to neutralise the odour-causing bacteria and a natural arrowroot powder to absorb sweat. There isn’t a deo to match every one of their scents (yet), but, thankfully, there is one in their best-selling fig fragrance, Father Figure, which is deliciously green and slightly sexy, as well as Vanilla Skin, which is a bit more skin-like and musky. 

The one from Dragon’s Den:


Fussy All At Sea Start Pack, £16 (includes the case and 1 refill) 


When Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones are both vying to invest in the same company, you know it must be good. Fussy is on a mission to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in our bathrooms so their deodorants come in reusable (and stylish) cases with refills that simply pop in. The formula contains a probiotic to obliterate bacteria and tapioca starch to absorb sweat, with natural butters to hydrate the skin. But it’s the scents that are standout. They release limited edition collections, normally in line with the season and with a fun and whimsical theme adding a bit of joy to the everyday.

The high street one:

Sure Whole Boy Deo in Wild Rose, £2.62

You know how popular natural deodorants have become when Sure launches a collection. It containts a solid stick and an aerosol, but we think this cream is the best. It can be applied under the arms, on thighs, under boobs – wherever you get sweaty, and it has a lovely light rose scent. There’s also a citrus version.

The cute refillable roll-on:

Wild Roll On Deodorant, £15 for a case and refill

If you’re looking for plastic-free beauty, Wild should be on your radar. It started with natural solid deodorants where you could customise the scent and the design of the case, and has now expanded into a roll-on variety. You choose from one of four fragrance options and then pick the case you like. When it lands on your doorstep it’s packaged in paper and the refill itself will fully compost within six months and biodegrade within twelve. Sodium bicarbonate controls odour, and citric acid helps stop the growth of odour-causing bacteria while tapioca starch absorbs moisture to keep armpits dry. There’s also moisturising ingredients in the mix, including sunflower seed wax and shea butter.

The best unisex natural deodorant:

Malin + Goetz Otto Deodorant, £23

Cool New York unisex skin and bodycare brand, Malin + Goetz led the way with high performance natural deodorants. This smoky rose scent is the latest one.  It feels smooth, moisturizing and not at all sticky. We trialled it over several hours on a crowded tube commute under an armpit-hugging T-shirt. We perspired a bit, but there was no eau-de-bacteria. It says not to use it on broken skin, but we used it an hour or so after shaving without a sting. The brand advises: ‘If transitioning from a pore-clogging antiperspirant, please allow two weeks as your body adjusts.’ They say you can expect to sweat a bit more until your body gets used to it, but that’s not something we experienced.

The cool beauty brand one:

Glossier Deodorant, £23

From the cult NYC beauty brand, this comes in a refillable outer with recyclable inserts and is available in three scents, one of which is Glossier You, the iconic scent that is a firm GTG favourite. There is also an unscented version. It uses potato starch to absorb moisture and magnesium hydroxide to help reduce sweat. Our tester enjoyed the dry texture and reported no odour when she tested the unscented one, which, pleasingly does not clash with your perfume.

The best roll-on:

Evolve Beauty Pure Prebiotic Roll On Deodorant, £11

Unlike many other natural deodorants, this comes in a roller ball format and has a light gel texture, which may make changing from your regular deodorant to a natural one an easier switch. There is a very subtle scent which smells of clean laundry, fresh air and a hint of lemon zest. The formula consists of prebiotics that help control odour and sage oil, which soothes the skin. We really put it through its paces by wearing it for workouts and runs, and it matched any regular deodorant. Whilst the rollerball component is not recyclable, every other section of this is.

The best one to nourish skin:

Necessaire The Deodorant Gel, £20

Luxe-looking and very effective, this is the natural deodorant that doesn’t scream about being natural. It contains niacinamide which not only neutralises sweat but minimises any bumps you may have under the arms from shaving or skin rubbing, leaving your skin looking and feeling healthier. It also helps prevent staining on clothes. There are four scented options to choose from plus an unscented option; this eucalyptus-scented version is one of the best-sellers, but we’re also fans of the soft woody Santal version.

The best balm natural deodorant:

Akt The Deodorant Balm in Sc. 01, £21

In trendy minimalist ‘toothpaste tube’ packaging, Akt was created and put through rigorous testing by two (sweaty) West End stage actors. It comes in five scents (there’s also an unscented option), but we always come back to this gorgeous zesty fragrance. It’s a cream that is applied with the fingers and feels like dabbing on a fine fragrance rather than a deodorant. It was also tested on theatre dancers – if it can withstand hours of exertion under hot lights, then it will make light work of a regular day.

The best budget option:

Mitchum Natural Power, £5

Mitchum is a deodorant name we know we can trust – and the fact that all three versions of their natural deodorant sold out on launch in Boots is testament to how good this is . It promises to neutralise odour with botanical extracts and absorb wetness with bamboo powder, and we were impressed from our first try. It’s invisible, doesn’t leave marks on your clothes and comes in coconut, cedarwood and eucalyptus scents, all without aluminium, and glides easily under our armpits. You can find it in supermarkets too.

The Gen Z favourite:

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Deodorant Cheirosa 59, £16

You may think of the cult Brazilian Bum Bum Cream when you see the name Sol de Janeiro, but its solid aluminium-free stick deo is very much worthy of your time, attention and money. There isn’t a deodorant available in all of the brand’s popular scents, but there are four to choose from. Our team has tried them all but ‘the purple one’ came out on top. It has a mix of sandalwood, vanilla and violet, and manages to be oudy and a little bit sweet all at once. This is how you want your pits to smell when you’re dancing all night at the Copacabana with your arms in the air. Tapioca starch is the hero sweat absorber here and it also helps keep ingrowing hairs at bay too.

The celebrity-endorsed buy:

The Natural Deodorant Co Clean Grapefruit + Mint Deodorant Balm, £12.95

Fearne Cotton sang the praises of this deodorant on her Instagram Stories and it’s one of our favourites too. The 100 per cent natural formula is vegan and comes in zero-waste packaging. Palm oil, mineral oils and artificial fragrances are banished too; instead it’s made with antibacterial magnesium, sodium bicarbonate, white clay, shea butter and coconut oil to keep odour at bay. You apply this with your fingertips, which might not be for everyone, and it dries instantly – perfect for when you’re in a rush.

The best one for teens:

Kopari Natural Aluminium-free Deodorant, £20

Our sibling teen testers have been duelling over this deodorant and say categorically it’s the “only one that works”. They have tried many over the years but none had met with such rapturous praise as this one by US coconut-oil skincare brand Kopari. It’s a clear gel with odour-absorbing charcoal (it’s baking soda-free, which can irritate some people and leave white flakes) and is very mildly scented with natural fragrances and sage. There’s a Beach scented version that we also like and a Performance Plus version.

The one for gym bunnies:

Salt of the Earth Spray Effective Natural Deodorant (Unscented), £5.99

We put this salt spray through its paces, wearing it in PT sessions, in a back-to-back running and HIIT session and on a 90-minute bike ride and you know what? Absolutely no smelly armpits. Amazing! How it works we’re not quite sure (it’s a concoction of natural ingredients including mineral salts, organic aloe vera and baking soda), but it is fragrance-free (although there are 13 scents to choose from ranging from melon and cucumber to amber and sandalwood), it doesn’t leave marks on your tops, is suitable for vegans and has won many awards. You can even spray it on your feet if they get sweaty.

Best everyday natural deodorant:

Weleda Citrus 24hr Roll-On Deodorant, £8.95

If you like a strongly scented deodorant for extra reassurance, the botanical fragrance of this roll-on will be right up your street. It’s formulated with natural liquorice root extract, known for its soothing, antimicrobial properties, and natural astringent witch hazel distillate, which helps calm the skin. If you’re not a citrus fan, there’s a pomegranate fragrance and a sea buckthorn scent too.

Best everyday natural deodorant:

Make Waves Refillable Natural Deodorant Starter Pack, from £12

Make Waves’ natural deodorants come in a range of great fragrances (our favourite is bergamot and amber) and are packed with skin-friendly ingredients like coconut oil, caprylic and sunflower seed wax to naturally neutralise odour while soothing sensitive underarms. The packaging is impressively sustainable, with fully recyclable refill capsules made from 100% recycled plastic, and a rather innovative applicator. Its simple twist-and-click mechanism makes swapping refills effortless, combining sustainability with everyday convenience to keep you smelling fresh.