Yet, like me, I have trouble finding an effective non-toxic deodorant to replace the ‘not-so-sure’ other products.
To help you avoid this laborious search, we’ve rounded up the best vegan deodorant brands which are not only safe and all-natural, but they are also effective! Win-Win!
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks
- Primal Pit Paste All-Natural Deodorant
- Botanik Fresh Evergreen Natural Deodorant (Men)
- Nextrino Douglas Fir Aluminum Free with Coconut Oil (Men, Women)
- Each & Every Citrus Vetivert Aluminum Free Deodorant (Men, Women)
- Edens Garden Cedarwood Spruce Natural Deodorant (Men, Women)
- M3 Naturals All Natural Deodorant with Magnesium Green Tea and Aloe
- Herban Cowboy Deodorant Dusk (Men, Women)
- Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant Bar
Why Are Traditional Deodorants So Dangerous?
Having body odor is the pits! Even worse though are the toxic ingredients found in traditional deodorants. Thankfully all the products on our list are free of these nasty ingredients! Here we explain just how dangerous regular deodorants can be.
Aluminum
Natural deodorants will mention being aluminum-free, but why is this important?
Aluminum in deodorant, typically used as an antiperspirant ingredient for its pore-clogging ability, is now known for its link to Alzheimer’s disease and can disrupt estrogen levels.
If estrogen levels in your body are interfered with it could lead to prostate and breast cancer. Yes, men are at risk too!
Propylene Glycol
Not only does propylene glycol irritate your skin, but if used frequently (as you would a deodorant), the central nervous system, heart and liver could sustain damage.
Even more disconcerting, while very small doses may not be too harmful, there are usually high levels of propylene glycol in deodorants.
Parabens
Parabens act as an estrogen in your body and can also disrupt the hormone balance in your body leading to cancers of the prostate and breast.
If pregnant, this could negatively affect certain aspects of fetal development.
These are just a few of the dangerous chemicals in detail, but other carcinogenic chemicals found include triclosan, steareths, TEA and DEA, and artificial colors. So steer clear!
Antiperspirants
Lots of traditional deodorants have the ability to literally stop you from perspiring from your underarms. Sounds great, right? Well it isn’t.
Our body is designed to perspire to control our body temperature, and when we sweat we are also detoxing from the inside out.
Clogging up our sweat glands prevents our body from naturally expelling toxins leading to a chemical build-up.
Our armpits are also home to lymph nodes which are part of our immune system. Therefore, trapping toxins in the same area can only lead to undesirable outcomes!
Detox
You may be thinking – what can I do now to reverse the damage? Detox!
Detoxing your pits is a critical step when transitioning to natural deodorants and it will ensure the product’s effectiveness.
Watch this informative tutorial on how to detox your pits – it’s really easy!
Essential oils are used universally in natural deodorant products for their inherent ability to neutralize odor, but can also be used to detox as well!
What’s the Deal with Baking Soda?
When searching for natural deodorants it’s very important to determine if you are sensitive to baking soda.
Baking soda is an effective ingredient used to absorb odor, but if you are sensitive to it you’ll be left with more than you bargained for in the form of a painful rash and inflammation.
Unfortunately, often times the pH levels in baking soda clash with the natural pH level on your skin leading to complications.
Baking soda is far better than the scary chemicals in traditional deodorants, but if you do experience a rash, consider looking for a baking soda-free option.
Things to Look for That Differentiate These Products
All of the products in this roundup are all-natural, aluminum-free, non-toxic, and of course, vegan!
A few differences to note are in the specific ingredients.
You’ll notice some are baking soda-free, limited ingredients (only 6 or 8), or primarily essential oils.
Of course the scents differ as well, but most are derived from the essential oils which are used to neutralize odors and give the product its unique, natural fragrance.
If stick deodorant isn’t your thing, check out the roll-on option with lots of amazing properties and a rose water base!
8 Top Picks for Vegan Deodorants
We have rounded up the best all-natural, vegan deodorants effective at keeping you smelling great throughout the day without all the nasty chemicals!
Primal Pit Paste All-Natural Deodorant
Primal Pit Paste All-Natural Deodorant is a best-selling product that’s helped bring natural deodorants into the spotlight nearly a decade ago.
This formula uses baking soda to neutralize body odor and arrowroot powder to absorb moisture.
With no aluminum, chemicals, parabens, propylene-glycol, or toxins, Primal Pit Paste is good for your body and the planet.
Coconut oil, shea butter, and Vitamin E improve the health of armpit skin, and essential oils create natural fragrances like lavender, coconut lime, jasmine, and orange creamsicle.
Some Primal Pit Paste products contain beeswax, but candelilla wax keeps this jarred deodorant vegan and cruelty-free.
What We Like
- Safe for your body and the planet
- Available in several unique, natural scents
- Very effective for most users
What We Don’t Like
- Baking soda can cause allergic reactions
- Product sometimes has a gritty consistency
Botanik Fresh Evergreen Natural Deodorant (Men)
This eco-friendly natural deodorant by Botanik uses 6 essential ingredients to keep you fresh all day!
These ingredients include coconut oil, carnauba wax, arrowroot powder, shea butter, baking soda plus odor-neutralizing essential oils. That’s it!
The essential oils are as follows: douglas fir, scotch pine, sage, and eucalyptus lemon.
Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and anti-microbial to fight bacteria which can lead to odor; while the shea butter is soothing and healing.
This deodorant has no added fragrance and is formulated for sensitive skin!
The baking soda and arrowroot powder naturally absorb wetness without leaving a greasy or sticky feel.
As I mentioned, this is an eco-friendly product – the container is recyclable and BPA-free and the label is also tree-free.
Botanik also gives part of their sales to non-profit organizations to benefit outdoor spaces.
I love how this is a gender-neutral product and safe for everyone due to its limited ingredient, all-natural formula.
To use, hold on your skin for a few moments to warm it up, then apply a couple swipes to your underarms.
The company suggests allowing your skin to detox for about 2 to 3 days if you are transitioning from an antiperspirant to allow the toxins to release from your pores and reset.
What We Like
- Eco-friendly and gender-neutral
- No added fragrance and good for sensitive skin
- Limited, all-natural and safe ingredients
- Antibacterial and wetness absorbing
What We Don’t Like
- May wear off quickly and require reapplication
- Some skin types may experience rash depending on sensitivities
- Due to oil base it may leave a residue on clothing
Nextrino Douglas Fir Aluminum Free with Coconut Oil (Men, Women)
Nextrino’s mission is to ‘empower you to maintain an active lifestyle,’ and as part of this mission, they have created this aluminum-free and certified vegan deodorant for men and women.
Antibacterial and hydrating coconut oil is the base ingredient accompanied by moisture-absorbing arrowroot powder and baking soda.
Shea butter is soothing and calming to the skin in your armpit area, and there are several odor-fighting essential oils.
This is uniquely formulated with eucalyptus oil used to fight odor and keep you fresh!
The other oils are all well-known for being used as natural deodorants, and include douglas fir, scotch pine, sage, lemongrass, and lemon.
In addition to the featured scent, Douglas Fir, there are 4 other scents to choose from including Blood Orange, Lavender, Coconut, and for sensitive skin, Unscented.
Understanding the ‘struggle is real’ sometimes when finding the right deodorant, Nextrino offers an unconditional guarantee and 48 hour trial – they are only happy if you are!
What We Like
- Designed to support an active lifestyle
- Effective and long-lasting
- Water soluble and doesn’t stain clothes
- Odor-fighting essential oils
- Nice texture and weightless feel
What We Don’t Like
- Not clear; shows white and can get ‘goopy’ if too much is used
- Some may need a stronger scent
- Not suitable for people with baking soda sensitivities
Each & Every Citrus Vetivert Aluminum Free Deodorant (Men, Women)
Each & Every presents this aluminum and baking soda-free stick deodorant! If you have sensitive skin prone to irritation from baking soda, you’re going to want to check this one out!
In lieu of baking soda, it uses tapioca starch, an antioxidant salt called piroctone olamine, and Dead Sea-derived mineral magnesium hydroxide/magnesium carbonate hydroxide.
Earth-derived wax, ozokerite, combined with coconut oil act as carriers and provide for a smooth application.
The scent can be attributed to the carefully selected essential oils which include citrus lemon peel, sweet orange, and vetivert known for their odor-fighting properties.
Vetivert, sometimes referred to as Vetiver, smells close to lemongrass or citronella with a woodsy aroma. This essential oil is traditionally used for its unique scent, and it’s also calming and healing.
Other scent options are Lavender, Lemon and Cedarwood, and for all the varieties, each ingredient was selected based on effectiveness and EWG rating (overall rating for the product is 1).
What We Like
- No baking soda!
- 8 simple, effective ingredients
- Non-staining
- Safe, EWG 1 rating
- Good for sensitive skin
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Scent may be too woodsy for some people
- For some people, scent may change with body chemistry after application
- May not last as long for some people
- Could cause a rash on skin without prior detox
Edens Garden Cedarwood Spruce Natural Deodorant (Men, Women)
Edens Garden is a woman-owned and family operated company since 2009. Their goal is to ‘spread the word about the natural power of aromatherapy.’
The eco-conscious company creates only the purest essential oils free of synthetics, and have been voted as the #1 non-MLM essential oil company.
They offer over 200 varieties of essential oils which are carefully selected by experts and tested.
Edens Garden provides the GC/MS testing results regarding their products to prove the oil’s purity and therapeutic value.
Now on to the deodorant! Certainly a company well-versed in the beneficial properties of essential oils would develop an incredible product which targets odor in the purest way possible!
This natural deodorant is baking soda-free and combines powerful essential oils designed specifically to not only smell amazing, but offer effective results.
In addition to controlling odor, it is naturally detoxifying and yields benefits of aromatherapy.
There are 4 delicious scents available making this product suitable for both men and women.
These include the featured Cedarwood Spruce, along with Frankincense Lime, French Lavender Sage, and Lavender Magnolia.
What We Like
- Pure essential oil blends
- Developed by certified aromatherapists
- Eco-conscious
- Smells amazing and is effective
- Good for sensitive skin
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t control wetness
- Some may not like its texture
- Different than most deodorants and requires time to get used to
M3 Naturals All Natural Deodorant with Magnesium Green Tea and Aloe
No products found.M3 Naturals stays true to its company name with this all-natural deodorant as it relies on familiar, organic ingredients for long-lasting freshness.
This formula is free of alcohol, aluminum, baking soda, gluten, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.
Magnesium is an essential mineral with health benefits that can be enjoyed from topical exposure. It’s also an active ingredient which aids in odor protection.
Aloe vera, green tea, and essential oils fight odor-causing bacteria and provide a clean, fresh scent which can be worn by men and women.
This USA-made formula also features organic coconut oil, carnauba wax, arrowroot powder and fair-trade shea butter.
What We Like
- Completely natural and non-toxic
- Only six ingredients
- Health benefits of magnesium
- Light, unisex fragrance
What We Don’t Like
- Product can be difficult to apply
- Scent doesn’t always last
Herban Cowboy Deodorant Dusk (Men, Women)
Herban Cowboy is a PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free, natural deodorant. It goes on clear and dries quickly without leaving a greasy residue.
Parsley, rosemary, and sage extracts deliver odor-neutralizing qualities with aloe vera, as the second ingredient, provides a soothing base.
Made from corn sugar fermentation, propanediol is the first ingredient which acts as a humectant and natural preservative.
Rosemary, used for years for its various medical purposes such as improving memory and concentration, it is also healing and very effective at keeping you fresh!
Parsley’s rich chlorophyll content makes it a great supplement for fighting body odor and bad breath. This is because chlorophyll is an ‘anti-mutagen’ which reduces odor causing bacteria.
So naturally, when parsley is applied topically it offers the same odor-fighting abilities.
You’ll find sage extract in many natural deodorant products for good reason. It is well-known for its ability to fight odor extremely well.
The ‘Dusk’ scent is gender-neutral so it’s great for both men and women, and of course is free of any nasty chemicals.
What We Like
- Certified vegan and cruelty-free
- Bacteria and odor-fighting ingredients
- Great scent for both men and women
- Works great
- Safe, non-toxic, and aluminum-free
What We Don’t Like
- May not work well for labor-intensive days or heavy sweating
- Lasts a few hours before needing reapplication
Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant Bar
Ethique Rustic Solid Deodorant Bar is unique in more than one way. First, it’s a bar! Now this will take some getting used to for sure, but the end result is worth it.
Why no tube or plastic packaging? Simply stated, it’s wasteful. So much plastic ends up trashed in the ocean, and eventually in the bellies of our fish friends. Ethique is on a mission to change the way we do body care.
Next, this bar is crafted from 100% sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. “Better for you, and better for the environment.” Finally, a product line we can feel good about in every detail!
Lastly, it works! Like many other deodorants, this won’t keep you from sweating, but will leave you fresh. When you first start using it, give your body time to adjust.
The “Rustic” scent is pleasant and androgynous. It isn’t overpowering or artificial.
This deodorant bar is suitable for everybody! If you’ve got armpits, you need this!
What We Like
- Sustainable and 100% waste-free
- Pleasant and appealing scent
- No white or oily residue
- Easy to use (once you get used to it)
What We Don’t Like
- Learning curve, which may be off-putting for some
- May not be suitable for people who sweat a lot
- Your body has to adjust to this product
Top Choice for the Best Vegan Deodorant
All of the natural deodorants in our roundup are amazing! Whether you are looking for a solid or roll-on, one thing’s for sure – you are making the best decision to use a non-toxic deodorant.
All of the products have beneficial essential oils and smartly use ingredients such as arrowroot powder or tapioca starch to control wetness.
So finding the best combination of ingredients which meet your individual needs is important.
However, our top choice for this roundup is Edens Garden Cedarwood Spruce Natural Deodorant (Men, Women)!
The formulation is designed by a team of certified aromatherapists who ensure the purest essential oil blends go into their products.
In this deodorant you benefit not only from the odor-fighting and neutralizing ingredients, but it also yields aromatherapy benefits and is detoxifying.
What wins it for me though are the scents! After all, one of the first things most of us do when shopping for deodorants is pop the lid and take a whiff, right?!
For the pure essential oils, aromatherapy, and detoxifying qualities along with the amazing scent, this vegan deodorant brand ‘takes the cake’!