How to Make the Switch to Natural Deodorant

What is Natural Deodorant Anyway?

Natural deodorant refers to products that deal with sweat and odour using only natural, usually botanical ingredients. Natural deodorants are really stepping into the limelight now that people are thinking seriously about what goes into the smorgasbord of creams, lotions, balms and potions and we slather onto our skin. Fabulous news in our opinion, as this shift can only be a good thing, for both our bodies and the planet. 

Still, let’s be real. The word ‘natural’ gets bandied about a lot these days, often as a generic term used to sell products. But it’s not just marketing here at AKT. We are 100% committed to ensuring all our formulas come directly from naturally derived ingredients and active botanicals.  

Getting Started with Natural Deodorant

If you’ve decided to go natural, all you really need to do is pick your product and start applying it to your skin. As with all new products, natural or otherwise, it’s best to start out with a patch test on a less sensitive area (hint, not your delicate underarms!), just to check what you’ve chosen works for your body. 

There’s lots of types of natural deodorants to try, from classic twist-ups and roll-ons, to balms (like AKT’s award-winning The Deodorant Balm) and slightly psychedelic-looking crystals. Obviously, we think ours is the best, largely due to our unique 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. That deserves a little applause in our opinion…

Some natural deodorants also come as sprays, although it’s rare to see these in aerosol form as natural deodorants also tend to have more eco-friendly packaging – and aerosols are the no.1 biggest contributor to air pollution in the UK. Yep, more than cars. 

That’s just one of the reasons we opted for 100% recyclable aluminium tubes, which you can put straight into your normal recycling bin once empty – just as you would for a can of fizzy stuff.

Benefits of switching to natural deodorant

• Many people find their skin is calmer and less irritated

• Doesn’t block sweat glands so your body can still sweat out toxins

• Eco-friendly as often comes in greener packaging

• Usually more sophisticated and delicate fragrances

• Means you avoid putting questionable ingredients like parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrances and aluminium salts on your skin 

Scaremongering doesn’t help anybody, so we’re not going to claim any protection against illness from switching to natural deodorant – at least not until there’s definitive medical consensus on the subject. 

In the meantime, we’re proud to offer a deodorant that works as well if not better than mainstream deodorants and antiperspirants – without having to fall back on synthetic ingredients. (Psst, don’t take our word for it! Take a look at our tens of thousands of glowing reviews…)

Side effects of switching to natural deodorant 

Switching to natural deodorant doesn’t cause any side effects per se, though there is talk online about the ‘natural deodorant adjustment period’, especially if you’re switching from an antiperspirant (which blocks pores and prevents sweating) to a natural option. 

The ‘natural deodorant transition’ is a period of 1-4 weeks in which some people find they perspire and pong more than usual as their body adjusts. This is understandable, after all those pits could be releasing decades of blocked up sweat glands and toxins!

In our experience, AKT users are able to enjoy the dry and delicious-smelling armpit experience right away – but if you do find yourself in a ‘transition period’ we’ve got some tips. Persevere dear audience, your skin and your planet will thank you. 

Natural deodorant and sensitive skin

Generally, natural deodorants are better for sensitive skin because the ingredients are less abrasive than mainstream deodorants. However, some people can face issues, usually with the essential oils used in many natural products to provide fragrance. 

While this shouldn’t be the case with AKT (our entire range meets IFRA standards of fragrance), we advise anyone with extra sensitive skin to try our 100% fragrance free deodorant balm, SC.00 NO NOTES. 

We’ll say it again because it’s important: always do a patch test on a less sensitive area of skin before diving into any new product, wherever you get it from. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but skin is our special interest and we want everyone to give theirs the love and care it deserves. OK?!

AKT: 6 key differences to look out for

Thinking of switching to AKT? Fabulous choice. 

Now, AKT is quite unlike your standard deodorant – and in fact it’s also very different to other aluminium-free and natural deodorants on the market. Here’s 6 key things to look out for.

• Texture. Our deodorants are meant to be applied (and feel) like a moisturiser. That means instead of spraying or rolling, you smear the sumptuous balms into your skin either with your fingers or our trusty Gua Shua-inspired The Applicator. It’s like a mini massage – think of it as your daily ritual of self-care.
  
  

• Application. The Deodorant Balms are small but mighty. Start with a small pea-sized amount per armpit, once a day to clean, dry skin. This is plenty for most folks, and each balm usually lasts at least 1-2 months. Re-apply throughout the day if you feel the need, but don’t go overboard as this will make it harder for the formula to soak into your skin and do its sweat and BO-busting job. 
  
  

• Scent. Warning, you may experience an immediate addiction to our subtle but sophisticated fragrances. They took 2 years to create, and are probably quite unlike any others you’ve tried. More like high-end perfumes and colognes than standard deodorants, they blend beautifully with your existing fragrance, and you may even decide they provide all the scent you need on their own.
  
  We also have a fragrance-free option, SC.00 NO NOTES, for audience-members with extra sensitive skin.
  
  

• Packaging. Our award-winning formula (which took 3 years to develop) comes in a 100% recyclable aluminium tube – the kind you find in drinks cans, not the dreaded aluminium salts. This means The Deodorant Balm can go straight into your recycling bin when it’s finished. You can pierce the seal with something sharp, like a pen, or with the help of The Assistant, which can also lend a hand in squeezing every last drop of luxurious balm from your tube.
  
  

• Price. Yes, we are priced higher than your standard, run-of-the-mill deodorants. But if you’ve ever heard the phrase, “buy cheap, buy twice”, it definitely applies here. A £3 high street deodorant seems like a good deal in the moment, but it may only last a few weeks and has a high chance of wreaking havoc on your nice white-t shirt.
  
  The Deodorant Balm lasts 1-2 months, doesn’t stain clothes, and is made with high quality, highly-effective natural ingredients – so no more shopping around for a natural deodorant that actually works.
  
  

• Sweat. Our DEO-BARRIER COMPLEX™ absorbs perspiration without blocking your sweat glands. We believe sweating is an important bodily performance, so while we’ve created our nourishing formula to help you stay dry and smelling fabulous, we do not completely stop sweat. And that’s just how we like it. After all, who wants all of those toxins trapped inside their bodies?

Bonus benefits of AKT’s The Deodorant Balm 

A round of applause for making it this far, we’re so glad you’re considering switching to natural deodorant. We might be biased, but we think our plastic-free, aluminium-free, cruelty-free, vegan, natural and actually effective deodorant balms might be a good place to start.  

• No plastic, ever

• 100% recyclable packaging 

• Local UK manufacturing wherever possible 

• Exquisitely crafted fragrances using pure essential oils

• Nourishing, natural ingredients like Shea Butter, Calendula Oil, and Diatomaceous Earth 

• None of the synthetic ingredients or fillers often used in ambiguous “fragrance” in other products

All the best on your natural deodorant journey. Don’t forget to stay dry, smell dazzling, and exit, stage fresh.