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No one likes to smell bad, but a very real concern for many people is that the most popular deodorant products use artificial ingredients. In some cases, those ingredients – like parabens, sulfates, and other harmful chemicals – can be disastrous for your skin and its pores.
What if there were deodorant products made with natural, holistic ingredients that didn’t come with the same risks? Turns out, there are. Let’s take a look at the 15 best natural deodorants for men.
1. Blu Atlas Fragrance Free Deodorant
Blu Atlas prides itself on providing long-lasting, effective, holistic products, and this fragrance-free deodorant is no different. It utilizes a formulation that is totally aluminum-free, so it doesn't block your pores or cause skin issues, all for a great price.
More importantly, it neutralizes odor with a totally natural combination of sage leaf and bamboo extract. This is in keeping with Blu Atlas’ commitment to using almost entirely natural ingredients in the formulation of all its products. Make no mistake, this quality deodorant will last for a long time and won't annoy your skin – but it will stop you from smelling throughout the day.
It's an especially good choice if you like to wear cologne or other fragrances. Since this deodorant doesn’t come with any smell of its own, it won’t interfere with any other scents you may want to use. All in all, it’s one of the best natural deodorants for men – simple, no-nonsense, and effective.
2. Tom’s of Maine Mountain Spring Deodorant
Tom’s of Maine is another popular deodorant manufacturer and for good reason. Its deodorant products come with natural ingredients, like this Mountain Spring formula. It’s totally free of any artificial fragrance and of other harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde.
It’s not tested on animals and provides 24-hour protection against body odor. While it’s not an antiperspirant, that’s actually a good thing for the long-term health of your skin. On top of that, you can get a three-pack for a very affordable price, making it one of the best natural deodorants for men on a budget.
3. Dr. Squatch Natural Deodorant for Men
Dr. Squatch’s Natural Deodorant for men comes in a two-pack, so you get two different fragrances with one purchase. It's admittedly a little more expensive than some other natural deodorant picks, but it's still a good choice thanks to its aluminum-free formulation and its refreshing fragrances: alpine sage and fresh falls.
This deodorant should last for about 24 hours before you need to reapply it and each stick is made with 98% to 100% natural ingredients or elements. Plus, this selection is formulated specifically for men and their body odor, which tends to be a little different and more intense than that produced by women. All in all, it’s a great natural deodorant product to try.
4. Harry’s Odor Control Deodorant
Harry's Odor Control Deodorant is affordable, especially given the fact that you get a pack of three with each purchase. It's an aluminum-free deodorant choice, featuring scents like redwood, stone, and shiso, all of which are decidedly masculine and pleasing to the nose.
Whichever fragrance you choose, you'll benefit from this clear solid stick formula deodorant which provides 24-hour odor protection and applies to your skin smoothly without causing any stickiness. It's a good, natural deodorant for men if you are buying for yourself or for any other man in your life.
5. Every Man Jack Amber + Sandalwood Deodorant
At number 5 in our list of the 15 best natural deodorants for me is this favorite from Every Man Jack. The brand's Amber + Sandalwood Deodorant features a two-pack of stick deodorant with a really pleasant, masculine fragrance. Of note is that this deodorant is made with a vegan formula, so it never uses any aluminum, parabens, harsh chemicals, or dyes.
Instead, the product leverages natural ingredients like lichen extract, aloe vera, cotton extract, and witch hazel. The resulting deodorant does a great job of covering up body odor without irritating the skin. In some instances, it may even moisturize and soothe, making this one of the best natural deodorants for men with sensitive skin.
6. Native Coconut & Vanilla Deodorant
Native is one of the most popular natural deodorant brands, and there's a big reason why. Each stick of deodorant is made with totally natural and aluminum-free formulas. The sticks are travel sized, too, so you can easily take them with you on a plane or on any other long journey without worrying about them having to be thrown away or taken by security.
On the downside, each stick of deodorant comes on its own, so you pay a little more per stick of deodorant when you shop with this brand. That all said, this is a hypoallergenic men’s deodorant choice, so it could be a good pick if your skin tends to be sensitive or become inflamed when trying a new deodorant product for the first time.
Try this option if you’re fine with a unisex deodorant solution that provides consistently stellar results.
7. Bravo Sierra Tonka Bean and Lemon Deodorant
Bravo Sierra Tonka Bean and Lemon Deodorant has a lot to like, including its interesting fragrance. This personal-care company is built with and for the US military, making it a great choice for guys who want a natural deodorant product to go along with their masculine profession. Each product is tested with 2500 US military service members to ensure that the deodorant will last for a long time.
Indeed, this is an exceptionally long-lasting deodorant product that also helps to absorb sweat, all without aluminum or baking soda. Instead, it's formulated using a sweat-absorptive powder that is extracted using the root of the cassava plant. Ultimately, it's a great combination of natural deodorant and antiperspirant.
8. Each & Every Coconut and Lime Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Each & Every Coconut and Lime deodorant is aluminum-free, making it a stellar choice for guys who want a natural deodorant solution that won't clog their pores. The formula uses a simple and effective ingredients formula, including elements like sandalwood and black pepper.
On top of that, this deodorant is made with sustainable, plant-based packaging made from sugarcane. As a result, purchasing this deodorant can also be seen as doing a little bit for the environment as you won’t be contributing to environmental pollution for your purchase.
This is perhaps one of the best natural deodorants for men looking to buy products responsibly and eco-consciously.
9. Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick
Crystal’s mineral-based, non-sticky deodorant stick is a great choice for guys on a budget, as you get a lot of deodorant for each purchase. Even better, this deodorant is unscented, so it won’t clash with any cologne or other fragrance you choose to wear.
The aluminum and paraben-free formula helps you smell good naturally while blocking any body odor. This deodorant is also rated by dermatologists, marking it as effectively hypoallergenic and perfect for guys who have sensitive or easily irritated skin. It's gentle and dries quickly, without any white marks or stains on your clothes. Give it a try if any of these issues have been a problem for you in the past.
10. Schmidt Natural Deodorant
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant is pretty pricey, even for a two-pack, but there's a lot to like in this product. It's completely aluminum-free, vegan, and the fragrances of bergamot and lime are great at covering up body odor without being overly heavy on your nose.
Each deodorant stick is made with a compact design, reducing packaging and wasted materials. In this way, you can do your part for the environment and protect your body at the same time. It's an effective product that will keep odor at bay for up to 24 hours.
11. Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant
Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant is a great choice for guys on a budget. It’s one of the best affordable natural deodorants for men overall, featuring a completely natural formula that doesn’t use any aluminum.
Instead, this deodorant uses natural deodorizers, like rosemary and lavender, to cover up body odor and ensure you smell great throughout the day. However, it does use the brand’s classic Arm & Hammer baking soda in order to absorb sweat and help to minimize odors at the same time. If your skin is sensitive to baking soda, give this a swerve and consider one of our other recommendations.
12. Thai Crystal Deodorant Stick
Thai Crystal Deodorant Stick is affordable and completely unscented. As a result, it’s another suitable choice for guys who like to wear cologne or other fragrances and don’t want to worry about scents clashing. It’s also free of aluminum, so it won’t irritate your skin or block your pores.
Even better, this natural deodorant for men offers 24-hour protection without causing any streaks or white stains. The salt stick deodorant prevents body odor from cropping up in the first place and dries almost immediately. If you have naturally oily skin and find that other stick deodorants are a little too wet and uncomfortable, this could be just the ticket. Keep in mind however that this deodorant may require a period of about one week for your body to get completely used to it.
13. Native Sea Salt & Cedar Deodorant
Native is back with this natural and affordable sea salt and cedar deodorant stick. Like its predecessor, it's made without any cruel practices and with safe, sustainable fragrances. Some of these are natural, and some of them are synthetic, but they are all aluminum and sulfate free.
Of course, this is an award-winning formula meant for unisex applications, so it's suitable for all genders. It's a highly effective deodorant solution from a much respected brand, as Native tests thousands of ingredients before using them for any of its deodorant products.
14. Bevel Body Deodorant
Bevel Body Deodorant is formulated with natural ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. Thanks to this commitment to quality and safety, it won’t irritate your skin, but will do a phenomenal job of covering up body odor and making you smell good in the meantime.
It’s a fairly affordable stick of deodorant, though you don’t get a huge amount for each purchase. However, it’s totally free of aluminum, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, goes on clear, and won’t cause any streaking or staining on your clothes. Most importantly, this deodorant provides a whopping 48 hours of protection or more.
It’s one of the longest-lasting natural deodorants for men, all thanks to its natural and effective ingredients. It's also effective even if you have thick body hair.
15. Humble All Natural Deodorant
Our final choice in the 15 best natural deodorants for men is Humble All Natural Deodorant, which is aluminum and paraben free and made without any cruel practices. It’s available in a variety of different fragrances, including frankincense, bergamot and ginger, lavender and basil, and black spruce. It could be a great choice if you're a fan of the scents of natural herbs and spices.
This certified cruelty-free deodorant is also made with recycled containers, which are created using 75% PCR or reused plastic. The deodorant is made in small batches in the US and, all in all, it's a great all-natural deodorant for guys looking for something effective from a smaller, environmentally responsible brand.
What Is “Natural” Deodorant?
Natural deodorant is any deodorant made primarily or exclusively with “natural” ingredients. It’s important to note that the exact definition of a natural ingredient can vary from brand to brand. For example, some brands call their ingredients natural while still suffusing them with synthetic additives.
In general, though, a natural ingredient is one that can be found in nature and which doesn’t require any chemical alterations to be effective. Some of the most popular natural ingredients for deodorant products include:
- Spices
- Natural minerals
- Herbs
- Natural oils
Each of these ingredients typically comes with skin-bolstering properties or not unpleasant smells. As a result, they can be combined into stick, gel, or cream deodorants for men and women.
A natural deodorant is one that uses these ingredients to block body odor and, in some cases, to prevent perspiration (more on that below). Before using any new deodorant product, be sure to read the ingredient list of the stick you choose. That way, you know exactly what’s included in the product before putting it on your skin.
Why Is Natural Deodorant Important?
Simply put, natural deodorant is important because lots of other deodorant products (especially for men) are made with harmful and/or synthetic chemicals and additives.
Parabens, sulfates, and other synthetic ingredients can wreak havoc on your skin. They might smell decent at first, but they can potentially cause eczema or skin toxicity, leading to rashes, irritation, and even bad body odor in the long run.
Natural deodorant is simply better overall. It uses ingredients that won’t stand as much of a chance of irritating your skin or building up in your pores. Therefore, you’ll be less likely to see problems like excessive sweating, skin redness if you use a natural deodorant.
Furthermore, natural deodorant is usually better if you have normally dry or sensitive skin underneath your arms. The skin of your armpits is important for emitting sweat which helps you keep cool when you are exerting yourself (e.g., during exercise, walking outside on a hot day, etc.). But to do that job, it has to be relatively thin.
That thin skin is more susceptible to irritation or redness compared to other, thicker skin on your body, like the skin on your arms. Therefore, you might need to use natural deodorant more frequently if you are a guy with sensitive skin or skin that is prone to acne.
There's one last big benefit of using natural deodorant: the environmental impact, or lack of it. Natural deodorant products don't usually create as much pollution in the environment. On top of that, they are often made by brands committed to eco-consciousness. Therefore, you'll often find natural deodorant products with containers made of recycled and recyclable materials, like reused plastic or compostable paper.
What to Look for in a Natural Deodorant
There are dozens of different quality natural deodorants for men, so it can be difficult to know what to look for and what you should prioritize.
In our opinion, the best things in a natural deodorant include:
A great price
Some deodorant sticks are pretty expensive, and you only get one stick for your purchase. If you want to get deodorant on a budget, look for a two-pack or three-pack that includes several sticks of natural deodorant for a single purchase. That way, you'll get plenty of deodorant that will last you for a long time to come
Quality ingredients
As mentioned above, the best natural deodorants for men will include natural minerals, oils, and other ingredients. These ingredients can do wonders for improving your body odor and preventing you from smelling, even after an intense workout. However, be sure to read ingredient lists carefully so your chosen deodorant doesn’t include an irritant or allergen
A good brand
The best brands producing natural deodorant products for men often focus on eco-consciousness and natural wellness, so there's one big benefit of using natural deodorant: the environmental impact, or lack of it. Natural deodorant products don't usually create as much pollution in the environment. On top of that, they are often made by brands committed to eco-consciousness. Therefore, you'll often find natural deodorant products with containers made of recycled and recyclable materials, like reused plastic or compostable paper.
A fragrance that you like or, alternatively, no fragrance at all.
This is a big sticking point for a lot of guys and their favorite deodorants. If you wear cologne, use a scented shampoo, or apply any other fragrances to your body, keep in mind that those fragrances could clash with the fragrances of your deodorant. Therefore, it might be a good idea to look for an unscented product that doesn’t come with any fragrance whatsoever. That’s easier to find than you think as many of the best natural deodorants don’t come with artificial fragrances at all
Not sure where to start?
Keep all of these factors in mind as you search through the above natural deodorants for men. Odds are you’ll find at least one deodorant stick that fits all of your criteria, including your budget preferences, your fragrance preferences, and so on.
Should You Use a “Natural” Antiperspirant?
Generally, no.
Antiperspirant products don’t work the same way as deodorant, although they do result in odor blocking. An antiperspirant product prevents you from sweating by physically blocking your pores.
Aluminum is one of the most common antiperspirant ingredients, but it’s bad for your skin. Blocking your pores can cause toxins to build up over time, leading to possible skin irritation, and more.
Some natural antiperspirant products may use things like baking soda. Baking soda and other natural ingredients dry up sweat to prevent you from looking or feeling sweaty, but this can overly dry your skin, also leading to irritation and blemishes.
In our opinion, it’s not usually worthwhile to use a natural antiperspirant. If your underarms are very sweaty, dry them off and reapply your favorite natural deodorant. Sweating is a natural process and you shouldn’t prevent it unless absolutely necessary.
Remember, your body odor doesn’t come from the sweat itself, but from the bacteria that feed on the nutrients in the sweat. So long as you use the right natural deodorant, odor should be eliminated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is natural deodorant just as good as other deodorant?
Absolutely! All deodorant products for men and women alike work by doing one simple thing: blocking body odor. Body odor occurs when you sweat, then bacteria on the surface of your skin feeds on chemicals present in the sweat.
So, natural deodorant covers up that body odor by introducing its own fragrances, like cedar wood, citrus, and so on. The operation is the same. The only real difference between natural deodorant and other deodorants is the kind of ingredients used.
How often do you need to apply natural deodorant?
You only need to apply natural deodorant once per day on average. Most natural deodorant products should last about 24 hours before they need to be reapplied.
However, natural deodorant products don't have the artificial chemicals and preservatives that non-natural deodorants do. Because of that, if you sweat up a storm after a sports game, a hike, or some other physical activity, it's probably a good idea to reapply your natural deodorant of choice.
Mens’ natural deodorant is easy to apply and can usually be reapplied several times without any irritation. When in doubt, read the instructions or the back of your favorite natural deodorant.
Does natural deodorant stain your clothes?
No, not usually. Most deodorant stains come from artificial chemicals and preservatives. Since natural deodorants don’t usually use these ingredients, they are less likely to stain your clothes, leave white streaks, or cause other aesthetic irritations.
That said, natural deodorant can still stain your clothes from time to time if you use too much of it. For the best results, only rub your chosen natural deodorant stick once or twice under your armpits. That way, you’ll apply enough to cover up your body odor without leaving any gel to stick around and soak into your shirt fabric.
Does it take time for your body to get used to natural deodorant?
It might. Natural deodorant might come as a bit of a shock for your body, leading to a “detox” period. In some cases, your body may need to purge the artificial chemicals and potential toxins present in its pores and system. In that case, your natural deodorant might not be strong enough to overcome your body odor or might even irritate your skin for a week or so.
However, after that week passes, your body should be used to the natural deodorant and feel better than ever. More importantly, your natural deodorant should be more effective than an artificial deodorant, even without the parabens, sulfates, and other artificial chemicals present in its competitors.
Do you still sweat with natural deodorant?
Absolutely. In fact, this is a good thing; sweating is totally natural, and you shouldn't try to stop it unless you are recommended to do so by a doctor or dermatologist.
A deodorant does not block sweat, only an antiperspirant can do that. However, most antiperspirant products are not good for your health since they prevent the pores from functioning properly. If you sweat with an effective natural deodorant, there should be no smell at all.
What happens if your armpits turn red after using a natural deodorant?
If your armpits turn red after using a natural deodorant it’s probably just the detox effect mentioned above. When that happens, simply wash them with cold water and let your skin rest for a little while, even if it smells.
If the same thing keeps happening, it could indicate that your skin is allergic to one of the natural ingredients in your deodorant of choice. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pick up a different deodorant product and try again. There’s no way to predict this unless you have had a previous experience with one or more of the ingredients.