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Last week, on my way to meet a friend, I realized that I forgot to put on deodorant! Oops! It was too far to go back home, so I stopped at the only store before the highway, a small convenience store. I walked in looking for corn starch to use in place of deodorant, but they didn’t have any. This has always been one of my favorite natural alternatives to deodorant. I didn’t even try to look for deodorant because I knew they wouldn’t have any without aluminum in it!
So now I was desperately trying to think of what else I could buy to replace deodorant. I remembered coconut oil, but no luck of finding that there. Then I saw the apple cider vinegar, perfect! I used this and it worked wonderfully, no smell and it lasted throughout the day!
After this, I decided to write a post on natural alternatives to deodorant in case this happens to you!
Why You Should Give These Alternatives to Deodorant a Try:
Most kinds of deodorant that you find at your local store contain aluminum and many other harmful chemicals such as parabens and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals are harmful because they are easily absorbed through your skin. Many times, people shave under their arms and then apply deodorant quickly thereafter. Shaving your skin opens the pores, and even more of the chemicals in the deodorant will be absorbed into your body.
Aluminum is an ingredient in nearly all deodorants, yet it is very harmful as it is a known neurotoxin. It has also been found to be cumulative chemical as the more you use it, the more that builds up in your body. Aluminum has been linked to causing Alzheimer’s disease and DNA damage
Several studies have found that the chemicals in deodorants are related to breast cancer as they are applied frequently next to the breast area.
One study found that the breast cancer was diagnosed at significantly earlier ages in women who reported frequently shaving their underarms and applying deodorant. This is scary! So, making sure to avoid the chemicals in deodorant is very important.
The best part about all these natural alternatives to deodorant is that they’re same to consume! That’s the best way to know something is safe to apply to your skin.
Do These Natural Alternatives Really Work?
I’ve had great success with all of them. I’ve tried them all several times each experimenting throughout the past few years and they’ve always worked great. Not only are they great for every day use, but they also work comparable to store bought deodorants, even in stressful situations such as giving a presentation.
6 Natural Deodorant Alternatives:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar-
Apple cider vinegar has so many uses, but did you know you can use it as deodorant? I was surprised when I first read about using it as an option for natural alternatives to deodorant. It actually is a great alternative for deodorant because it neutralizes odor.
I mix ½ apple cider vinegar with ½ water. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and rub it under your arms. It will dry pretty quickly, about 20-30 seconds. The vinegar smell goes away after it dries on your skin.
2. Aloe Vera-
Aloe vera is a great option for natural alternatives to deodorant and is especially good for those with sensitive skin. It is very soothing and gentle yet, effectively prevents/reduces odor. Aloe also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Did you know that the reason your underarms smell is because of bacteria? It’s true, bacteria breaks down the sweat molecules, which results in the odor. So, by using a natural ingredient that’s antibacterial you can prevent body odor or at least lessen it.
This is a great one to use, because you don’t have to mix any ingredients either. You can use fresh aloe vera from the plant, if you have one or buy a bottle of aloe vera gel. Just apply it straight to your underarm area. That’s it!
3. Lemon or Lime-
Many people love using either lemon juice or lime juice as deodorant because it is really effective at deodorizing. Lemon juice contains citric acid which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which helps eliminate the bacteria on your skin which causes the odor.
Just cut a lemon or lime in half and squeeze out about ½ teaspoon of juice. Use a cotton ball to apply the juice to your underarm. Or you could just cut the lemon in half and then rub it under your arm. Either way will work. I keep the lemon in the fridge for a few days to help it last longer. Just be sure to remember that it’s used for deodorant or mark it with a sticker so you don’t forget and eat it.
4. Coconut Oil-
Coconut oil is always my “go to” for natural deodorant. I love how gentle, soothing, and great it works at minimizing odor. Coconut oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral. So all those properties help fight the bacteria that cause the odor under your arms.
To apply the coconut oil, take about ¼ teaspoon or even less and rub it under your arms.
5. Corn Starch-
I’ve been using corn starch in place of deodorant since I was a teenager, my mom told me about it. Corn starch is a gentle antiperspirant. It deodorizes and absorbs moisture on the skin.
You can use your fingers to apply corn starch under your arms. To get even more deodorizing benefits (if you need it to be stronger), just add a little bit of baking soda.
6. Milk of Magnesia-
This one is an excellent alternative to deodorant. It is effective at deodorizing and absorbing moisture. A little also goes a long way. So it’s a really inexpensive alternative to deodorant which is fantastic!
To use it, I pour about ½ teaspoon of liquid milk of magnesia on to a cotton ball (or you could use your fingers) and rub it under my arms. It will dry in about 30 seconds or so.
I’ve been using aloe gel with a few drops of lavender oil in it & it’s really soothing with a lovely smell too.
That’s great!
I too have tried most natural deodorants out there and nothing seems to work. The only thing that has worked so far is a mixture of coconut oil and baking soda but my super sensitive skin won’t allow me to use it all the time 🙁 I have since been drinking chlorophyll which does seem to help. I even told a friend about it and she drinks it everyday and doesn’t have to use deodorant. I on the other hand am more smelly than most. I’ll have to give that Lavalin a try. I just wish they weren’t so expensive. I’ve wasted sooooo much money on deodorant over the years.
Have you tried just plain coconut oil?
Someone told me about the ALOE VERA GEL years ago. I love people’s expressions when I tell them I don’t use deodorant. Then I hit them with the Aloe Vera Gel. I now know scientifically why it works. I’m a dancer and it holds me after hours of dancing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I almost never even have to freshen it up. Finally the word is out on the street about all these natural ways to deodorize. I don’t plan on trying the others since ALOE VERA GEL works perfectly fine for me.
Haha. So glad you like it 🙂
Do you use the plant or buy a bottle of the gel or juice? Do you spray on or just rub on?
I used the alum powder since I was a teenager, its work good.
Baking Soda is the best I have found. Add a little water to make a paste. But I also like to make my own spray with essential oils, water and some witch hazel.
Yup for baking soda, “bicarbonate of soda”. It’s very cheap and readily available. Watch out for essential oil, they’re unnaturally concentrated extracts than can be intoxicating if not handled with extreme caution. Not necessary in this scenario, in any case.
Thank you. Wow it’s so amazing I only know about lemon.
Great article. I’m a young male that is a survivor (barely) of breast cancer and I cannot believe that no one has ever suggested this as a very possible cause. I was a bodybuilder and extreme fighter for years doing exactly what you suggested as a threat; shaving under the arms every morning and going straight to the deodorant. Because of other health issues, I have been reading your articles. I am thanking God right now that I have all of these remedies in my bathroom now and one or more of them is going to take the place of the bulk case of commercial deodorant that is now in my trash. KEEP IT UP!!!!!
Hope you are well. A reader.
Hi Lori!!!
I’m so glad I read this, I’ve been on a hunt for an all natural deodorant that actually works for YEARS now. I’ve tried so many store bought ones and they all suck. I just purchased soapwalla after reading good things about it so I’m going to try it, but if it doesn’t work (or even if it does) I’m definitely going to try the ACV and aloe vera as well. Because I know those would be a much cheaper alternative. Saving this article for later! Thanks!!!
Victoria
Let us know if you give one a try
I have tried most of these but not the apple cider vinegar. Would be good to mix the acv and filtered water and keep it in a small spray bottle in my car for emergency use! I have also found that essential oils are great at deodorizing. I like Tea Tree, Lavender and Eucalyptus but I here Rosemary and Thyme also work well due to antibacterial properties.
Those essential oils are great!
Hello! Great article! Just wanted to leave a tip about the cornstarch use. Be sure to always get non-GMO cornstarch or any other corn by-product! As you stated above, we absorb those bad things into our pores, especially after shaving, so it’s still a risk to your health.
Great point 🙂