The Best Natural Deodorants: Kind to Your Skin and Clothes

Natural deodorants seem to be having a moment. From Selfridges to the shelves of your favourite boutique fitness studio, you’ll spot dozens of new products on the scene – all claiming to be the “best natural deodorant” on the market. 

With a dizzying array of options, it’s often stressful working out what to look for in a natural deodorant. Are you looking for a chemical-free deodorant with clean ingredients? Does it need to be vegan and cruelty free? How do you feel about texture? Are you looking for a stick, cream, or spray? Ingredients-wise, are you sensitive to tea tree oil? Do you need a deodorant that’s fragrance-free?

…overwhelmed yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back – and your pits. Read on to learn what’s really important in a natural deodorant, and how to find The One for you. Less sweating, more swooning if you please!

Deodorants vs Antiperspirants 

If you’ve ever combed the online world for things like “what’s the best antiperspirant for women” or “natural deodorant for men that actually works” – you may have noticed there’s two main types of product out there: deodorants and antiperspirants.  

Deodorants and antiperspirants differ for one key reason; aluminium. Officially known as Aluminium Chlorohydrate and often called ‘aluminium salts’, it’s what puts the ‘anti’ in antiperspirants. This compound keeps you from sweating, by effectively trapping sweat inside your body. 

Deodorants, on the other hand, typically don’t contain aluminium salts, which means they don’t actually keep you from sweating. Instead, they tackle body odour, which is generally associated with sweat, but isn’t the same thing. Deodorants help eliminate “sweat smells”, antiperspirants prevent that sweat from coming out of your pits in the first place. 

At AKT, we’re not anti-sweat. It’s a natural bodily function after all, and nobody wants toxins trapped in the body. We’re just anti-stink, which is why our formulas are enriched with DEO-BARRIER COMPLEX™ – a blend of natural plant and mineral powders that sit invisibly on your skin, absorbing natural perspiration without blocking your sweat glands. 

AKT’s skin-friendly ingredients

So, what’s actually in our award-winning deodorant balms? 

When our founders Ed and Andy realised they were struggling to identify almost any of the ingredients in their mainstream deodorants, they decided it was time to make something better. 

After exploring the very best natural deodorant ingredients for 3 years, they came up with their own formula – full of skin-loving, nourishing ingredients made from active botanicals, minerals and florals. Here are some of the major stars in our lineup: 

• Calendula Oil: extracted from marigold flowers, this oil has antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties

• Shea Butter: deeply moisturising and soothing 

• Coconut Oil: contains fatty acids that may help heal and soothe inflamed skin 

• Vitamin E: an antioxidant that protects and repairs skin

• Diatomaceous Earth and a dash of Sodium Bicarbonate: natural ingredients that work together to form our DEO-BARRIER COMPLEX™, a super effective blend that rests invisibly on your skin and works like an antiperspirant without blocking your pores

When it comes to fragrance, we’re known for our irresistible scents that smell more like high end perfumes and colognes than typical deodorants. Delicately crafted with pure essential oils, we’re proud to say that every single one meets IFRA standards of fragrance. 

Got extra sensitive skin and prefer to swerve scented products entirely? Please welcome to the stage SC.00 NO NOTES, our 100% fragrance free deodorant balm. All of the protection, none of the scent.

PSA: Whenever you’re trying any new skin product, ours or otherwise, always do a patch test on a less sensitive area. Boring we know, but skin safety comes first!

Keeping your wardrobe stain-free with natural deodorants 

The great thing about natural deodorant ingredients that are kind to your skin is that they’re also gentle on your clothes – well, ours is anyway.

Did you know that aluminium salts can build up within the fibres of your clothing over
time, causing a chemical reaction between the fabric, your antiperspirant, and your sweat? That’s why, in addition to trapping sweat in your pores, ingredients in antiperspirants can also cause problems for your wardrobe.

After years of ruined costumes from long, sweaty rehearsals and shows, Ed and Andy had a grudge to settle with yellow stains, crunchy pits, and lingering sweat smells. That’s another reason they were so passionate about making The Deodorant Balm aluminium free, so you can avoid both sweat stains and marks on your precious clobber. 

That’s right, deodorant that doesn’t stain clothes means no more suspicious yellow stains or clothes that still smell like BO – even after a trip through the washing machine. Bravo!

Pro Tip: When applying, give our deodorant balm a chance to sink into your skin before getting dressed. That way, you’ll ensure the balm isn’t getting soaked up by your clothes – getting straight to work on your skin instead. 

Natural deodorant: how to find "The One"

We think deodorant is a little bit like dating. It takes time to find the perfect match. 

You may think an antiperspirant is your type on paper, but if you’re looking at anything claiming to be the “best UK natural antiperspirant” - you might want to take a closer look at what’s inside. It’s pretty likely that any product labelled as an antiperspirant probably contains aluminium chloride or aluminium salts. So if that’s something you’re trying to avoid, an antiperspirant probably isn’t the right pick for your pits. 

You’ll also need to decide what type of product you’re looking for - whether it's a cream, liquid, solid or spray. There are a few natural deodorants out there in spray form, but as sprays tend to come in aerosols (which are atrocious for the environment, causing more air pollution in the UK than cars) most natural brands avoid them at all costs. 

(Pssst! Even if you’re used to using a spray, we implore you to give our balm a try. You’ll feel just as clean and fresh, without resorting to blocking your pores or releasing nasties into the atmosphere. Wham bam, no thank you ma’am!)

If you’re into protecting the planet, you’ll also want to take a look at your proposed product’s packaging. A lot of deodorants unfortunately still arrive cloaked head to toe in plastic, which we now know leads to micro-plastic pollution in our rivers and seas, the air we breathe, and even inside our own bodies. Yikes. The Deodorant Balm, on the other hand, is totally plastic free, with aluminium tube packaging that can go straight in your recycling bin once it's taken its final bow. 

How to apply our natural deodorant

Ready to try AKT? Follow these steps for the performance of your life:

1. Make sure your pits are clean and dry. That means giving it a minute if you’ve just hopped out the shower. We recommend belting out a bit of Barbara Streisand while you wait. 

2. Lights, camera, AKT-ion! Time to carefully squeeze a pea-sized amount of The Deodorant Balm onto your fingers (or The Applicator).

3. Rub gently, sensuously, lovingly onto armpit number one. Your daily mini massage is nearly complete!

4. Repeat on the other side, wait for the balm to dry, and you’re good to go.

Pro Tip: you don’t have to stick to your pits! Our award-winning deodorant balms are safe for your feet, hands, back, chest – wherever and whenever you sweat. 

How long does natural deodorant last?

Most of our audience tell us they use AKT The Deodorant Balm once a day after showering, sometimes reapplying as needed before or after a tough workout. Some have said it lasts for 48 hours, others say 12. It really depends on your own personal body chemistry, and it may take a bit of experimentation to find the right routine for you. 

Fewer pitfalls? Sign us up! 

It might sound OTT to those who haven’t found their perfect match yet, but we really believe that a better deodorant can change your life. The right product will protect your clothes, nourish your skin, and keep you feeling calm, cool and confident – no matter what’s next on the programme. Tested on stage to be effective off-stage, AKT was truly Born to Perform.