What you need to know about natural deodorant

Why do I need a natural deodorant?

So let’s get right to it.  Conventional “deodorants” do two things – they are deodorants (scented to make you smell nice) AND antiperspirants (prevent you from sweating in the first place).  Why wouldn’t you want to sweat?  Bacteria grow when they break down your sweat, which causes odor.  No one likes to smell bad.  So stop the sweat, stop the odor – makes sense.  However, sweating is a natural and healthy function that rids your body of toxins and helps regulate body temperature.  Bottom line, it’s important to sweat.  Conventional deodorants/antiperspirants stop odor by clogging your sweat glands to prevent sweating.  Typically, chemicals, additives, and ingredients like aluminum are added to conventional antiperspirants to prevent you from sweating.  There are potential health risks associated with these ingredients.  That’s why there has been a surge of health-conscious people looking for an alternative.

colorful assortment of generic deodorant containers with no labels

A natural deodorant is made with, you guessed it, natural ingredients.  There are no harmful chemicals, parabens, or aluminum in natural deodorant.  Just like anything you put in or on your body, you should be aware of the ingredients and the effect they have on your health.  A natural deodorant is a step in the right direction to becoming your healthiest self!

woman with long blonde hair shopping for deodorant

Will a natural deodorant REALLY work?

A natural deodorant is not an antiperspirant (no pore clogging!), so it will not stop you from sweating like conventional deodorants/antiperspirants.  Remember - it’s healthy to sweat!  Natural deodorants do, however, contain ingredients like baking soda to help absorb sweat and kill the bacteria that cause odor.  Additionally, natural deodorants have a natural fragrance from the ingredients, or will contain essential oils to get just the right scent to help you smell good.  Natural deodorants can be very effective at helping to absorb sweat and leaving you with a clean scent.  Because of its natural, non-toxic ingredients, your new deodorant may not feel like, or have the same texture, as your old.  Don’t be alarmed and don’t expect your natural deodorant to work exactly like a conventional deodorant/antiperspirant.  Knowing this will help with your healthy transition to natural deodorant.

Why do some natural deodorants claim to be "baking soda free"?

Deodorants contain baking soda for its ability to absorb sweat. Baking soda also has antimicrobial properties to help kill the bacteria that grows in our armpits, reducing odor. This is an effective ingredient in natural deodorants. TruSelf Organics’ Natural Deodorant contains baking soda, and a short list of other natural and organic ingredients.

truself organics natural deodorant label

Baking soda can be an irritant for a small percentage of people with sensitive underarm skin, typically resulting in a rash. If this is you, consider a natural deodorant that is “baking soda free.”

How do I switch from my conventional antiperspirant to a natural deodorant?

Ready to make the switch to a natural deodorant?  First, pat yourself on the back.  Next, plan a detox for your armpits.  Stop using your conventional deodorant/antiperspirant and allow your pits to rid themselves of the build-up of toxins.  This could take 2-3 weeks.  You may experience no issues during this time, or you could experience issues like extra sweating and body odor.  Drink lots of water and rinse your pits as needed.  You can also speed up the process by using an armpit detox, which usually contains activated charcoal or bentonite clay.  Our Detoxifying Mask contains bentonite clay, and other detoxifying ingredients.  You can grab our Pit Detox Kit, which includes our Natural Deodorant and Detoxifying Mask, to get you started. Congratulations and enjoy your switch to natural deodorant!  Your body will thank you!