Should You *Really* be Using Natural Deodorant?

One of the biggest wellness calculations we make every single day? Deodorant. If you’re anything like…well, pretty much everyone I know, this is one of those questions that occupies tons of mental energy…not to mention money. Because when it comes to deodorant, the only way to really know if it works is to buy it and test it.

But do we really need to keep purchasing and sampling these natural deodorants…or are we just as safe to simply use that old aluminum-filled standby that we’ve been told is “toxic”....but also reliably covers up all the unpleasant smells?

I’ve yet to find someone who argues that “natural” deodorants work better than their aluminum-laden counterparts. But what’s more unclear is whether or not the natural stuff is actually any better for you, or less toxic, or filled with fewer carcinogens. 

The reality? According to materials from Cedars Sinai, there’s little research to support the idea that natural deodorant is any better for you. 

"Some of the enthusiasm for natural deodorants seems to be driven by fears and myths that have been repeatedly debunked,” says Nabeeha Siddiqui, MD, a Cedars-Sinai primary care physician, according to the materials. "You won’t find any solid scientific or medical evidence showing these deodorants are better for you.”

And as for the ineffectivity of the natural stuff? It’s not just in your head. Research supports the idea that it’s difficult to actually cover up odors without those aluminum salts, which actually work to form a gel plug at sweat pores. 

So there you have it. If you’ve found a natural deodorant that you love? Go ahead and keep using it. But if you really dislike every product you’ve found and find every natural deodorant ineffective? You’re probably just fine. Remember: There’s no legal standard around the term “natural."