Finding a natural deodorant that actually works has been a life long quest. In this natural deodorant review, see if I finally make the discovery.

We all use different products every day and reviews are gaining more traction these days, so you know what to try and what to avoid. That is – if they are honest.

I will always give my honest opinion whether the product was provided by the company or not, as there is this little issue of integrity! Totally important to me.

I use natural products wherever I can. Having worked with organic company Miessence for about five years in their head office (Hi Narelle!), I know my Phenoxyethanol (bad) from my Butyrospermum parkii (good – just the scientific name for Shea Butter.) We used to proof read labels and go to all the Sales Representative talks about the products and why chemicals are bad etc.

So while there are quite a few different products I’d love to tell you about, today I just wanted to focus on a natural deodorant review because it’s something everyone uses every day – or perhaps some should and don’t!

I would rather read a natural deodorant review and know what to stay away from, rather than waste my money and be disappointed – but I can tell you, there’s been a bit of money wasting here! So at least you can benefit.

It’s just that what you use for deodorant is pretty important.  Most of the commercial ones contain aluminium and other nasties, as well as being an antiperspirant – effectively blocking you from sweating, building up toxins and being implicated in different cancers.

So finding the best natural deodorant has been a quest of mine for some time and here are the results in the natural deodorant review – joy or no joy? Let’s find out.

So first up…

Miessence Tahitian Breeze

In terms of natural/organic ingredients you can’t go past these guys, as they are meticulous about this stuff. Not exactly biased but because I used to work for them, I therefore got to try out most of the products and became well versed with what went in them. I used this deodorant for quite a few years and was happy, smelled lovely, totally worked…until it didn’t. Just one day something happened and it didn’t work any more. Could totally smell myself after about two hours, which was totally unpleasant all round.

Natural? – Totally, these guys are supremo in terms of keeping the nasties out of your products.

Does it work? – It did until it didn’t. So totally worth a try for a good few years.

Would I use it again? – It’s been a few years now since I last used it, so for sure I would try it again.

Crystal Deodorant Stick

So exploring more natural products, the crystal was my next option. So the first one I used was brilliant. Completely worked, didn’t have a problem. I used the whole thing and bought another. Then it started to make me itch, which I ignored but then this developed into a full-blown rash. So I discontinued using it. I went back to a commercial chemical one, just to get by and after a few months, went back to it to see if anything had changed but no, within two days, rash again.

Natural? – Yep, no problems there.

Does it work? – It did until the side effects of a rash popped up.

Would I use it again? – Nope!

Crystal Liquid Spray

Now I only tried this following a recommendation from a friend who swore black and blue that it worked for her. So I bought some from Coles and Duh Dong! No cigar. Totally didn’t work at all and basically had to throw it in the bin.

Natural? – Yes

Does it work? – Not for me at all

Would I use it again? – No way!

Dr Organic Rose Otto

I liked the sound of this one and Dr Organic is a big UK brand with lots of products, so I thought surely their ten or so different scents of deodorants must work or why would they make them? Look at all the ingredients in this one:-

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Aqua, Zinc ricinoleate, Triethyl citrate, Lauryl glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2-dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin, Parfum, Glyceryl caprylate, Cetearyl alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 stearate, Sodium stearoyl lactylate, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, Eugenia caryophyllata (Clove) flower oil, Rosa damascena (Rose) flower oil, Isocetyl palmitate, Cetraria islandica (Icelandic moss) extract, Glycyrrhetinic acid, Sodium bicarbonate, Citrus medica limonum (Lemon) oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Chondrus crispus extract, Rosa damascena (Rose) flower extract, Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) extract, Tilia europaea flower extract, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Chamomilla recutita (Chamomile) flower extract, Xanthan gum, Sodium phytate, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Citric acid, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Eugenol, Geraniol, Linalool.

Holy Cow!

Most of them are just natural extracts and some of the more scary looking names, I looked up and all are deemed safe – except what’s in ‘parfum?’ – they can put anything in that.

However for all this stuff in there, different formulations and testing, you’d expect this product to work. Only it doesn’t. Grand fail in a major way. So bad in fact that I had to resort to another chemical based one to tide me over.

The upside of it is though that it smells nice, so I’m using it as a roll on perfume until I use it up!

Natural? – Yes

Does it work? – No. Grand fail.

Would I use it again? – Not even if I had a free supply.

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant – Bergamot & Lime

Ok so I’d heard rave reviews about this one, and I think it’s pretty new to Australia – made in Portland, Oregon USA. Still searching for my holy grail of natural deodorants, I’m up for anything within reason.

So first up, it smells nice. Great first start. And after using it for about two weeks now, I’d say without a doubt it actually works to keep the odour away. First day I wasn’t so sure, but I think it was because I didn’t put enough on.

So this is brilliant right? You would think.

However the comfort of wearing this stuff is another matter. It feels like a combination of honey, sticky wax and sandpaper. Like if you got sand stuck in your thick white zinc cream at the beach.

And looking at the ingredients – its got wax in it!

Ingredients: Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil, Citrus aurantifolia (lime) essential oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E)

The blurb on their website says this:-

Fast-absorbing, non-greasy, non-sticky feel…

Truth – it doesn’t absorb anywhere, it sits on your skin, it’s not greasy but it is sticky – all day long!

Plant based powders protect against wetness…

Truth – perspiration was pouring out when I went walking. Not that this matters because you don’t want your deodorant blocking your perspiration, you just want it to take away the odour, which it does. But don’t claim it does something that it doesn’t.

And when I went walking, my armpits started to itch like crazy. And it wasn’t just a ‘that’s a bit annoying itch,’ this was a really piercing, stinging type itch and it can only be down to this deodorant.

Another few things I noticed too, at work I looked at my armpits to see how it was going, and a couple of pea-sized balls of the stuff had accumulated there! What??!! It’s just a desk job, it’s not like I am running around all day swinging my arms around, which may cause it to rub.

And worse, because it has the arrowroot powder and bicarb soda in it, it flakes all over your clothes and leaves definite white marks on your black sleeveless tops.

So while I will continue to use it until I use the whole stick, I don’t think it is one I will use long term. It’s just too uncomfortable. And time will tell whether continued use will develop into a full-blown rash but it’s looking very likely.

Natural? – Yes, great ingredients

Does it work? – Yes but with comfort issues.

Would I use it again? – I’m afraid not.

If however you have a definite need for no chemicals on your skin for whatever reason, then it’s worth trying Schmidt’s and Miessence to see if they work for you.

So this leaves me with no joy on the natural deodorant review front, especially since I just read another review that said Schmidt’s was better than Black Chicken and Fresca, which are two others I wanted to try. Doh!

However just like other positive reviews that have led me up the garden path, you never quite know until you try it yourself. And truth be told, some things work for some people and not for others.

So when I use up what I have currently, I will give a few more a whirl. And one thing I want to try that I haven’t yet, is that someone said – “mix a teaspoon of bicarb soda with your favourite moisturiser and rub that into your armpits.” Worth a try!

So let me know what natural deodorants you have tried with success or even without, so we can keep tabs and keep each other informed! I live in sunny, hot Queensland, I need it to work!

Here’s to sweet smelling pits without chemicals!

Blossom,

Kristy x

Note: If you are a natural products fan, also take a look at this post on natural skincare here. 

If you are after a diet and exercise program that really does result in optimal health and a fast metabolism – not one that says it does but then wrecks your health after a while – check out my books here.