The Best (and Worst!) Natural Deodorants Compared (Pros + Cons) (2025)

Welcome to our clean beauty deodorant master list where we try and review every deodorant on the planet so you don’t have to. Don’t see the deodorant you are looking for? Leave us a comment and we will add it in!

The Best (and Worst!) Natural Deodorants Compared (Pros + Cons) (1)

By: Lisa Fennessy

IN THIS POST:

  • TNK top picks
  • Natural deodorants I’ve tried

TNK top picks

The Best (and Worst!) Natural Deodorants Compared (Pros + Cons) (2)

Top Budget Pick: Schmidt's Natural Deodorant

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Best for Sensitive Skin: Hurraw! Balmunder Deodorant

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Best Spray: Mukti Botanique

Sometimes I love talking about deodorants but sometimes I hate it. Why? Because my efforts seem futile when everyone’s body chemistry and activity levels are different. What works for some people doesn’t work for others and when all is said and done we’re just all back where we started lol.

But just because efficacy is not a one size fits all metric, it doesn’t mean we are all left up sh*ts creek without a paddle. There are some broad guidelines or tools we can use to help narrow down the best natural deodorant for us. Here’s what some of those look like:

1. Deodorants that are third party verified. Third party verification requires brands to go through a process to ensure their claims are legitimate or that their formulas/ingredients meet a predefined set of guidelines. Certifications like NSF International, COSMOS-ORGANIC or COSMOS-NATURAL have some of the strictest standards and ensure unbiased ingredient due-diligence.

2. Not all brands (especially indie brands) choose to peruse third party verification so if you don’t see this marked on the deodorant you are considering, head to the full ingredient list to ensure the brand is formulating with healthy ingredients, or at the very minimum avoids using any of these red flag ingredients. (And no, it’s not just about finding the best aluminum free deodorant).

3. Ask yourself, is this brand being transparent with me? Transparency at its core represents a sense of pride. Pride in the work, the creative process and the brand. Pride will have a brand pulling back the curtain and answering consumers’ questions before they are even asked. Some things you can look for here are: Is this brand sharing full ingredient lists? Is their marketing misleading? Do you have to dig for information? Are their claims empty are are they backed up by clinical trials? Do they use greenwashing language?

Like always, all of these and more are considered when we review a product. We like doing the work so you don’t have to but more than that, we like giving you to tools so you can find the best clean deodorant for yourself on the fly too.

But, for conversation sake, and if you’ve liked my past deo faves (and current faves i.e. this, this and this) then, hopefully you find this master deodorant list even more helpful.

It’s a small list right now but every time we try a deodorant, we will review it and add it to this list. Our hope is that this becomes a massive resource where you can find our thoughts on every and any clean beauty deodorant you want. (We’ve done this for shampoo + conditioner too!).

Curious about a deodorant you don’t see here? Leave us a comment so we can add it in!

Natural deodorants I’ve tried

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I tried Hurraw! Balmunder Deodorant with cedarwood, vetiver, lime | $12

From Nicolle, our resident sensitive skincare tester: I’ve suffered through my share of natural deos, and am basically willing to try anything at this point. Now, what I’m about to say might sound like hyperbole, but it’s true: Hurraw!’s Balmunder might be the best natural deo I’ve ever used.

I’ve been using this deodorant from Hurraw! for three weeks (including in some MUGGY MN summer days) and here’s what I like and what I don’t:

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What I like:

  • It doesn’t stain your clothing with white streaks or oiliness.
  • I don’t have to reapply during the day to keep B.O. at bay.
  • The scent is all essential oils and they’re very light.
  • Somehow, even though this is JUST a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, it also keeps me dry!
  • The aluminum tube is 100% recyclable. Also, everything in the package I got from Hurraw! was recyclabletoo.
  • The ingredient list is 75% organic and its Ecocert – Cosmos certified.
  • It comes in an unscented, which I feel is key for some people.
  • It hasn’t given me any kind of rash, even if I use it immediately after hair removal—that’s a MAJOR win for someone with sensitive skin who usuallyhas to wait a day after shaving to use any kind of deo.
  • Feels creamy and dries down immediately after application—no wetness or oiliness.
  • Basically, it helps me forget about my pits during the day, and I’ll tout the effectiveness of anything that decreases my brain load.

What I don’t like:

  • You have to use your fingers to apply it, but that’s a small price to pay for how well this works!
  • One tube is supposed to last two months…that feels short to me, but that’s about $6/month, so not bad!
  • I wish they had a few more scents for variety!
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I tried Kinfield Baseline Deodorant: pH Balancing | $24

I love everything Kinfield so I was really excited to try their new deo. Straight out of the gate, this deo experience was a 10 /10 but then after a couple weeks I started wondering if it was even working.

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After using this deo for over a month, here’s what I like and what I don’t:

What I like:

  • The fatty packaging which makes application a one swipe breeze.
  • Plus guess what, it’s refillable!
  • The twist-up-for-more-product feature works and is easy to use.
  • Product transfers easily and smoothly leaving not too much but not too little product behind.
  • Goes on clear.
  • Love the scent which I’m describing as lemongrass icing.
  • The colors and branding is sharp and non-gender specific.
  • No baking soda formula (which can be irritating to some people).
  • TNK approved ingredients.

What I don’t:

  • It didn’t work consistently enough for me and by the end of most days I could smell myself.
  • Also, is $24 for a deodorant triggering for anyone else?

Overall: This one is a dead ringer if you are okay with applying more than 1x a day.

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I tried Cleo+Coco Prebiotic Deodorant Spray: Cucumber Mint | $19

You know I am a sucker for a spray deodorant. Sprays are clear and don’t transfer product to clothing. Plus, they don’t stain shirts as much because most of them don’t have oils. This one showed a lot of promise right off the bat.

I used this deodorant for over a month, here’s what I like and what I don’t:

What I like:

  • Love that it’s a spray.
  • It actually works, and works all day.
  • Doesn’t transfer to or stain clothing.
  • Can also be used as a vaginal deodorant, foot deodorant and anywhere on the body. (I really love this).
  • No baking soda formula (which can be irritating to some people).
  • TNK approved ingredients.

What I don’t:

  • The scent is very mild. I wish it was a little something stronger that I could enjoy. (This could be a pro for you).
  • I wish the spray was finer. It comes out straight and strong so if you miss your target you have to keep spraying until you find it. Eight pumps later and I’m like dammit!
  • Applies wet (which is an ick for me) but it does eventually dry down.
  • Honestly, there is nothing I hate about this deo BUT I will share that Claire on our team tried it and it didn’t work for her.

Overall: If you are a spray deo stan like me, this one is worth a try. Worst case scenario if it doesn’t work for you, you have a new sneaker deodorizer!

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I tried SALT + STONE Santal & Vetiver Natural Deodorant | $20

My husband picked this up for himself so…of course, I tried it. Immediately I hated the smell of it so I really couldn’t get much past that. I wore it one day to tennis and couldn’t wait to get home so I could wash my pits and change my shirt. However, my husband likes it so the fragrance issue is merely preference and they have other options as well.

In other words, their Santal & Vetiver scent is a HARD NO for me but I’ve since tried all their scents and I’m happy to report, the others are delightful. My top pick overall is Black Rose & Oud. That one smells amazing and fresh and like roses and powder and if I only had one deo to wear for the rest of my life, I would be happy with that one. Here’s my scent ranking for all their scents:

🏆Black Rose & Oud

🥈Neroli & Basil

🥉Bergamot & Hinoki

👎Santal & Vetiver

I was concerned about their use of “fragrance” so I reached out to the brand and they let me know that their “natural fragrances are made from essential oils and isolates that are naturally derived” and that the “scents have passed the EU, IFRA, and RIFM safety standards. They are also paraben and phthalate-free.”

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I’ve tried this deodorant for over a month and here is what I like and what I don’t:

What I like:

  • Not only negates odor but adds a pleasant fragrance so that I actually smell good.
  • Goes on clear.
  • The fatty tube and creamy formula makes application a one swipe breeze.
  • The twist-up-for-more-product feature works and is easy to use.

What I don’t:

  • This has baking soda in it (which can be irritating to some people). This may not be a con for you.
  • I hate the Santal & Vetiver scent which has undertones of vinegar to me🤢

Overall: Grab this if you are looking for a deodorant that doubles as a fragrance.

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I tried Mukti Botanique Deodorant | $28

I only have eyes for Mukti’s Botanique Deodorant. It’s a botanical spray that goes on clear and keeps odor at bay and nothing else compares! I know that what works for some doesn’t work for others BUT (!!!) I’ve been using Mukti’s deo for just about 3 years now and it’s revolutionized what deodorant means to me.

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I’ve worn this deodorant for three years, here is what I like and what I don’t:

What I like:

  • It won’t stain clothes or leave white marks on your shirts.
  • It’s easy to apply (no fingers dipping into jars or tugging or pulling on skin to get product to transfer).
  • No rolling up a tube or pushing out product.
  • Although this DOES have baking soda in it, I haven’t experienced any baking soda irritation.
  • Gentle, mild and it WORKS.
  • Packaged in post consumer recycled plastic.

What I don’t:

  • I don’t like that initial wet feeling of a spray deodorant.
  • Also, I realize $28 is insane for a deodorant but I will say this bottle lasts me a very long time.

Overall: Do yourself a solid and try this non-solid, life changing deodorant.

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I tried Prim Botanicals Mademoiselle Swell Baking Soda-Free Deodorant | $19

This has been our team member, Claire’s go-to deodorant for awhile. Here’s what she has to say: I discovered this deodorant after trying at least 10 that truly didn’t work for me and was ready to give up hope on natural deodorants (some actually made me smell worse?!). Instead of using baking soda, Prim Botanicals uses magnesium to deodorize and tapioca powder to absorb moisture. This one also has a slightly stronger fragrance that can potentially mask some body odor.

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I’ve been using this deodorant for over 2 years, here’s what I like and what I don’t:

What I like:

  • The balanced floral scent (jasmine, bergamot, neroli). It’s stronger than most natural deodorants I’ve tried, but as someone who is VERY scent-sensitive it doesn’t bother me at all and I actually love it!
  • It really works and works all day.
  • The twist-up-for-more-product feature works and is easy to use.
  • It absorbs most moisture (unless I’m stress sweating).
  • No baking soda formula (which can be irritating to some people).
  • TNK approved ingredients.

What I don’t:

  • The formula is very soft and you can easily over apply, especially in warmer climates.
  • White clothes end up with a slightly yellow residue in the pits.

Overall: If you are looking for a deodorant that not only eliminates odor but also makes you smell GOOD, this is worth a try!

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Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant | $10.49

This is such a good pick in so many ways. It’s widely available, a more affordable option, it works and it’s 3rd party vetted by ECOCERT COSMOS NATURAL—the best of the best.

This is our budget pick because you can get it at Target and Amazon for between $8-10. I’ve also found it as low as $4.99 at TJMAXX and Marshalls.

It also happens to be my husband’s go-to and therefore mine becauseI steal his most mornings. We’ve tried all the scents and Fresh Cucumber and Rose & Vanilla are my faves—but all thescents are pretty good so go nuts.

Pros:

  • Price
  • CertifiedCOSMOS NATURAL (the best!)
  • Fun fresh scents
  • Works for me

Cons:

  • Will leave marks on your dark shirts
  • Baking soda based so can be irritating to some (if so they do have a baking soda free option!)

Don’t see the deodorant you are looking for? Leave us a comment and we will add it in! What’s your go-to deodorant?

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P.S. Also be sure to check out The Best Skincare Routine for Your Skin Type (With a Printable Guide!)

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The Best (and Worst!) Natural Deodorants Compared (Pros + Cons) (2025)
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