If the thought of swapping your deodorant or antiperspirant for an all-natural version makes you perspire – take a deep breath. A few years ago natural deodorants would’ve been viewed as a hippy marketing ploy, but today more and more people are vigilant about what’s going into and onto their bodies.
Why natural deodorants?
In the past there were speculations that normal deodorants were linked to cancer. With little evidence to support these claims, Cancer Research has categorically ruled this out as a possibility. With normal deodorants and antiperspirants not posing any health threats, why then opt for natural deodorants?
While antiperspirants use active ingredients, like aluminum salts, to inhibit the formation of sweat which is a normal bodily function. Natural deodorants are typically made without aluminum. Their bacteria-stopping ingredients such as coconut and tea tree oil and natural absorbent ingredients like baking soda, cornstarch and arrowroot keep you smelling fresh for hours by minimizing body odor. With most of the ingredients coming from natural sources one thing is sure, you can be sure of a healthier underarm microbiome. Many of the natural deodorant options come in reusable or recycable package which means they are also healthier for our planet (which is a big plus for me).
Curious about how well aluminum-free deodorants work I rounded up five natural, proudly South-African deodorants and added them to my skin-care routine over the period of two months.
How I tested the products
I ditched my normal deodorant for almost two months to try five natural, earth-friendlier and proudly South African deodorants. I used each product for a week or two putting them through their paces at home, work, while exercising, and even on a primitive trail in Botswana. I rated each product on five points: ease of application, scent, feel, packaging, and, ultimately how well it combated body odour.
Here are the products and my experience of each one.
Natural Yogi deodorant – 5/5
Ease of application: Excellent. The soft balm easily melts between your finger tips making it easy to apply.
Scent: Natural Yogi have six essential oil variations. I chose their Cedar-Lime option and I love the fresh smell.
Feel: I liked the feel of it on my skin. the deodorant is almost like rubbing moisturiser onto your skin.
Packaging: I love the fact that is comes in a little glass jar. The glass jar is super convenient and easy to pop in your hand or sports bag. And they have a compostable refill option.
Body odour: It kept under my arms dry and sweet-smelling all day long. It even combatted BO during exercise.
I loved this soft, easy-to-apply and invisible balm (even on black clothes), with its light scent. Because it is made from simple and natural ingredients of bicarbonate of soda and other salts in a base of natural oils and waxes it is healthier than conventional deodorants. I am joining the list of fans.
gonn. natural anti-odorant – 4/5
Ease of application: Excellent. In a classic roll-on-style, it can be applied like a usual deodorant roll-on making it incredibly easy to use.
Scent: gonn is scent-free, so instead of smelling of your deodorant’s fragrance, gonn allows you to smell like yourself. Because gonn is perfume-free it allows you to choose whether you want to smell of nothing or your favourite perfume or aftershave.
Feel: Goes on easy and isn’t sticky at all.
Packaging: Unfortunately the packaging is not plastic-free, but it 100% recyclable. gonn natural anti-odorant is also in the process of researching plastic-free packaging options.
Body odour: I must confess I was sceptical about using a unscented deodorant. So I put this product through its paces. I used it while on a primitive trail in the Okavango Delta and it works! It kept me completely odourless in very hot conditions.
I would definitely recommend gonn natural anti-odorant if you don’t like strong smelling deodorants, but you are looking for a natural deodorant that works.
Msulwa natural deodorant – 3/5
Ease of application: Although it is similar to a regular roll-on, I found it difficult to apply the creamy textured deodorant especially in cold weather.
Scent: Geranium and Rose scent often gets a bad rap of being ‘old lady-ish’, but that isn’t the case with this light and fresh-smelling deodorant. I think this subtle scent is best described as flowery yet earthy.
Feel: It has a creamy feel on your skin making it ideal for dry skin.
Packaging: Full-marks for the packaging. As far as I can tell the whole roll-on stick is made from cardboard making it eco-friendly and compostable.
Body odour: It kept under my arms dry and sweet-smelling for twelve hours plus.
I love the idea of a creamy roll-on that is packaged in an earth-friendly stick. If the application was easier this product would be my go-to. The company’s name Msulwa is from the African isiZulu language. In English, it has meanings of Pure, Innocent and Clean. The name is point on as the brand focuses on natural biological products, choosing only anti-cruelty with non-animal based materials and using plant-based elements.
Holisteeq natural deodorant – 3/5
Ease of application: I found it difficult to apply the balm, especially in colder weather.
Scent: I liked the subtly sweet-earthy scent.
Feel: Once you manage to apply the balm it has a nice feel on your skin.
Packaging: I love the fact that the little tin it comes in can be reused once empty.
Body odour: It kept me smelling fresh the whole day long.
Holisteeq has an amazing range of eco-friendly and vegan products.
The Apothecary natural deodorant – 3/5
Ease of application: Soft and easy to apply under your arms. Although the balm has a grainy texture, it was the easiest of all the deodorants to apply.
Scent: It is difficult to describe the scent. I think the best description would be ‘earthy’. If I am being brutally honest I wasn’t crazy about the smell.
Feel: Looking at texture of the balm I expected it to feel sticky, but it wasn’t sticky at all. I enjoyed the feel.
Packaging: Full marks for packaging. It comes in a cute glass jar with a screw-on lid that can be reused when empty.
Body odour: I used it during very hot weather and it kept me smelling fresh the whole day.
Last thoughts
I enjoyed doing this review. I love the the fact that there are a bunch of South African small businesses that are taking the health of people and our planet seriously. All the products impressed me. Obviously some worked better for me than others, because like many other things in life it’s all about personal preference.
If you are in two minds about whether to give natural deodorant a go then I’d certainly encourage you to go for it. With the majority of ingredients coming from natural sources you really have nothing to loose.
xxx
