9 best natural deodorants that are kinder to your skin

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 my tests. It goes the distance in the gym, on long hikes and summer evenings and is easy to throw in your bag.

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, the plastic is recycled and recyclable and I’ve found that the plastic case is tougher and better to travel with than glass, for obvious reasons.

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.

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.

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.

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 make 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.

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 might not be the best product for launching into your gym bag – however, the glass is reinforced so it would be hard to break.

The biggest drawback is that at £35 for about a month’s worth of product and the glass and crystal roller, this deodorant is among the more expensive picks on this list. Subscribing for more refills saves you money which works out at around £6 per month, but obviously, it’s a higher one-off cost to start with. With that said, Rollr has really nailed the sustainability credentials, looks gorgeous and our testers loved using it.

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.

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.

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.

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.