In the past I put up post on why I made the switch to natural deodorants, which you can read here. In case you didn’t read my post, the in-a-nutshell of it is that I switched over because many conventional deodorants are fully of nasty chemicals that can disrupt normal hormone function and affect ones fertility factor, among other things. Also, sweating is completely natural and is the body’s way of eliminating those toxins that can wreak havoc. I know the switch can be a hesitant one because, you know- smelly BO, but some of them really work!! Since it can be overwhelming to decide which natural deodorant to try first I thought you might want to know which have been my favorites so far.

Now before you continue on I have to caveat that sometimes I’ve had a deodorant just quit working on me. Often I like a deodorant for several months and then for whatever reason, maybe weather changes, stress changes, my body adapting to certain ingredients, etc. – one day it all the sudden seems less effective. So many of these I’ve loved and then moved on to try another but would have no hesitation coming back to as they’ve worked for me in the past. Just had to point that possibility out so there are no crazy expectations that any natural deodorant will be a complete miracle worker for ever and ever. Half the battle with using a natural formula is accepting that you will sweat and if you smell that it’s ok! You are allowed to! How about that?

Now on with the show…

Captain Blankenship: Lime + Vetiver Deodorant

What it is:
This natural deodorant comes from Captain Blankenship, who’s mantra is “Beauty Wild with Nature”. It’s made with all-natural ingredients that are almost all organic and wild-harvested. It’s a luxurious cream that has powerful effectiveness.

Why I like it:
This stuff works! And it smells fantastic too, scented with lime and vetiver. Vetiver is an earthy, lemongrass smell so it gives it an earthy citrus scent. The organic arrowroot powder is a powerful ingredient that tackles keeping you dry. I’ve rarely noticed any wetness throughout the day with this one (only on stressful or super hot days) and even then I’ve hardly noticed any odor creeping in. This one isn’t sticky at all, rubs in easily, it absorbs quickly and I never notice residue transfer to clothing. This one is a little bit pricier at $16.99 + shipping, but for the performance I find complete value in it.

Who it’s good for:
Anyone with pits! And those who want max performance! This one has a unique ingredient of organic hops extract that fights against bacteria. Since bacteria are the source of odor, anything that fights it will keep those odors at bay.

When & How I use it:
I use this one in the AM after showering, even right after shaving (if I decide to do that). I’ve had no irritation or burning with it at all. Since it’s in a pot you have to scoop it out and apply with your fingers (I use the back of my fingernail but you could use a popsicle stick or something if that’s easier, or if you don’t have nails). I find that a pea-sized amount is perfect so even though the jar might look small, it lasts a lot longer than you’d think.

Where you can find it:
It’s sold online here.

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant: Bergamot + Lime

What it is:
Schmidt’s deodorant is an award winning formula made with only the finest natural ingredients that comes in stick or pot form.

Why I like it:
I like that this comes in a stick form because it’s an easier and less messy application. I haven’t tried the pot form of this one, but I assume it’s the same formula. I like that this formula isn’t sticky at all and it absorbs pretty well. I like the fresh scent of the bergamot + lime, it’s not at all overpowering. I also like that there are several scent options in the line to choose from in case you want a different vibe. Under standard daily use, this deodorant keeps me dry and keeps me smelling fresh throughout the whole workday. I say standard daily use because if I have a non-standard day, ie tons of stress or running around and my sweat is amped up I’ve noticed a bit of wetness or odor creeping in. I’ve been told by my husband that it’s still not noticeable unless someone has their face directly in my pit (which is not ok anyways) so it really isn’t a problem. Another thing I appreciate is that it’s easily found locally. It’s sold at Whole Foods and several other more health conscious shops.

Who it’s good for:
Again, this is good for anyone and especially those who are more budget conscious – this one is $8.99/stick. It also is good for those who don’t have sensitive underarm skin. This one contains baking soda, which can sometimes irritate that delicate area. If you happen to have sensitive skin don’t worry! Schmidt’s has sensitive formulas you can try too.

When & How I use it:
I use this one after showering in the AM too and have also had no problem using after shaving (I’ve had no irritation and no burning). It’s a bit thicker than conventional deodorant so I just swipe a couple of times and then rub in with my hands. It’s not necessary to rub in, although I do just to make sure I covered all areas since I swipe less than I did with conventional deods.

Where you can find it:
This is sold most widely of all the deodorants on this list. You can generally find it locally. You can find the stick form here.

Morton Essentials Deodorant: Pink Grapefruit

What it is:
This is an extra strength natural cream deodorant that comes in pot form. I discovered it on a trip I took to California and I’m so glad I picked it up on a whim.

Why I like it:
Just like those listed above, there are no nasty ingredients in this deodorant. It’s key ingredients are arrowroot powder and baking soda that both help tone the perspiration down and neutralize odors. I specifically like this one because it’s the lightest consistency of the four listed here, almost a whipped texture. It only takes a tiny pea sized amount (less than other deodorants I’ve tried) to feel like you’ve covered the necessary area, it rubs in very easy and washes off hands easiest too. That’s important to me because some deodorants require 2-3 soapings to get all of the residue off. This just takes one good scrub. The scent of this one is light and fresh. It generally keeps me feeling very dry too.

Who it’s good for:
Again, really anyone can benefit from this deodorant! It’s between the others with it’s price point – $10.99 + shipping unless you live in LA and shop at the local Whole Foods in Santa Monica that I found it at (it might be elsewhere in the area too – keep an eye out for it).

When & How I use it:
This one is used after showering too. Like I said I only use a small pea-sized amount and rub in completely before getting dressed. I have no irritation from this one either.

Where you can find it:
You can find it here or here.

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick: Lavender Bergamot

What it is:
This is one of my tops. Not knocking the others on this list at all, but this one is top notch. It’s made with potent but gentle ingredients to keep me smelling fresh. It comes in pot or stick form but I’ve only tried the stick so that’s what this review is based on.

Why I like it:
This deodorant is made with organic butters and plant oils that soothe and condition the skin and also help it glide on relatively smoothly. I’ll add that it’s quite not as smooth of an application as others since it’s a drier consistency but I’ve never had a problem with it. You only need a little product to do the job. If you over apply it can get a bit crumbly but is easy to wipe the excess off. This formula does have baking soda in it but it’s only a small amount since the magnesium is the key ingredient for keeping everything dry so it’s still pretty gentle in comparison to some other brands. It comes in two scents: lavender bergamot (I’ve only tried this one) and eucalyptus lemon. The lavender bergamot is a light floral and earthy scent – I love it! My other favorite feature of this product is that it’s packaged in a fully biodegradable cardboard push up tube- not a hint of plastic. The only downside to this is sometimes it’s been hard to advance the product up. I just push it down on top of a makeup bottle or something else hard to help. Bonus: it has cute cat doodles on the packaging!

Who it’s good for:
Everyone! The stick form comes in two sizes, a full size (3oz) that’s $20.00 + shipping and a mini size (1.8oz) that’s $14.00 + shipping. If you buy 2 or more of either there’s a discount of a $1 off each. The mini size is good for traveling or trial-ing before purchasing the full size since it a bit on the expensive side. Target recently started carrying this product so you could save on shipping costs if you’re ordering other things from there.

When & How I use it:
Same as the others, just swipe on after a shower and you’re all set. This one didn’t cause any skin irritation either. Since it’s a stick form it’s easy to reapply later in the day if at all needed.

Where you can find it:
You can find it here or at Target here.

I have more reviews to share that I’ll be posting later on so stay tuned. If you have any favorites to add to this list, do share!!