Say Goodbye To Irritated Underarms With These Aluminum-Free Deodorants (2025)

In case you didn't know, Native has been a major pioneer in the aluminum-free deo space: Since it's launch in 2015, the brand has been committed to creating clean deodorants that are also eco-friendly—and pretty much anyone who's tried them are obsessed.

This one landed in the coveted top spot of our testing because it offers up to 72 hours of long-lasting protection from odor and comes in a variety of lovely scents like coconut and vanilla and lavender and rose.

Lifestyle director Lindsay Geller is a big fan of the brand and has been using it for years. "I love all the scents—they're fresh, light, and the aroma lasts for hours," says Geller, who often skips wearing perfume when she swipes this one on. "The deodorants are a bit pricier than others, but it's worth it to me."

Two things to note: If scent ain't your thing, this pick isn't for you (though who wouldn't want to feel like they're going on a tropical vacation when they swipe on their deodorant?). And like many other deodorants, it can leave white stains on clothing if you're not careful.

Read more: Best Natural Deodorants

Milk + Honey's deo is gentle on sensitive types—and that's a big reason why it's a win for me. Trying a new product is a bit like a game of Russian roulette for me: I never know how my skin is going to react. But this formula, with nourishing coconut oil, has proven to be non-irritating. It contains odor-fighting, sweat-absorbing ingredients like baking soda and arrowroot powder, and I've found that I only need to apply this once a day.

And let's talk about that scent: The lemon and vanilla fragrance is fresh but not overpowering. The only downside I can talk about is the denseness of the stick. It's pretty hard, so using it the first time was pretty rough on my skin since it took a lot of pressure and friction to get the darn thing to adhere to my underarms. After a few uses, though, the deodorant started to soften, so applying didn't take as much effort. I just make sure to twist the bottom part of the stick to make sure there's plenty of the actual deodorant exposed and I'm not rubbing the hard plastic against my pits. That minor inconvenience aside, I'm a fan. I'll definitely be restocking when the time comes.

Whole body deodorants are a major trend right now, with many brands getting in on the action.

And now, the cult-favorite company that figured out how to remove stink from your toilet has also figured out how to remove stink from your pits—and everywhere else. It's sensitive skin-friendly, provides 24 hours of odor protection, and is both dermatologist and gynecologist-approved so you can use it all over—even on your most delicate parts—without hesitation.

So how does this magic happen? The unique formula—a blend of gentle mandelic acid to ward off smell-causing bacteria, prebiotics to help good bacteria thrive, caffeine to help slow sweat, and a proprietary "funk lock" technology that traps stinky molecules and neutralizes them—tackles odor in multiple ways, so it lasts all day.

The fresh, slightly tropical coconut and vanilla scent—a blend of natural essential oils—is a universal crowd pleasure too. Still, there is a drawback: Some users have said that it goes on thick and needs to be worked into the skin before throwing on clothes to avoid stains.

If you're someone who has a sensitivity to baking soda, you'll appreciate this deodorant from Secret. It's free of that ingredient, instead, using magnesium hydroxide and corn starch to neutralize odor-causing bacteria and absorb sweat. Plus, you won't find any dyes or parabens in the formula either. You can shop it in scents like lavender (our favorite for its calming vibes), coconut, and rose, but if your skin doesn't do well with fragrance, there's an unscented option as well.

This deodorant claims to keep odor away for up to 48 hours, but some say it requires two applications throughout the day. On the flip side, many users appreciate that it doesn't clump up under their pits and think it's totally worth it for less than $10.

You might be asking yourself, is a deodorant really worth $25? In short: yes. This deo from Nécessaire contains ingredients like vitamin B3 (niacinamide) to help strengthen the skin barrier, chamomile extract to soothe skin, and five percent alpha hydroxy acid to fight odor, treat discoloration, and smooth bumps. Your underarms will be getting the same advanced skincare as your face—a huge plus for this one, and something that makes the steeper price point worth it.

But in addition to addressing multiple skin concerns, it also does the job that deodorants are supposed to do, creating an environment where stinky bacteria can't thrive. Not to mention, the packaging is super chic.

One thing to note: some users say it's better to wear this on low-stress days when you're not prone to too much sweating. So, it might not be the best option for your next HIIT class, but still worth it for daily activities.

On top of being aluminum-free, this deo is also clear of baking soda and essential oils, making it a great option for sensitive skin types. The odor-fighting ingredient in the formula, mandelic acid, is an alpha hydroxy acid derived from almonds. It's water and lipid soluble, making it easier to penetrate the hair follicles. Meanwhile, the arrowroot powder helps with absorbency.

The overall goal is to help you maintain a health skin pH, which, in turn, keeps stink-causing bacteria at bay. To use it, turn the wheel at the bottom to release the deodorant. From there, you can swipe it on your fingers and rub it into your skin, or you can apply it directly from the applicator to your underarms.

Creams are nourishing and great if you have irritation-prone pits, but some users agree that opting for the latter can get messy. Overall, people says it lasts all day and the sweet almond scent is pleasant. That said, if you have an almond allergy, this may not be for you.

Not only is this deodorant long-lasting, it's also super affordable. Schmidt's guarantees 24-hour odor protection, and it never contains aluminum salts, artificial fragrance, filler ingredients, propylene glycol, phthalates, or parabens. Major wins all around!

Previously skeptical of aluminum-free deodorants, senior beauty editor Danielle Jackson became a big fan of Schmidt's a few years back. "It glides on smoothly and doesn’t crumble or bead up the way some other sticks do, and the scent is really soft," she says. "I never had to reapply this one—it really goes the distance."

Like Jackson, many users say the odor protection lasts all day with no need to reapply. However, some weren’t fans of the scent. That said, you can still benefit from Schmidt's by opting for the brands charcoal and magnesium 48-hour deodorant.

Something worth noting: this product softens with body heat so hold it to your skin for a few moments before applying as you normally would.

Dove is a trusted brand when it comes to standard deodorants, so it's no surprise that it's aluminum-free formula has made our list. This nifty little stick is refillable (a big sustainability win) and promises 48-hour odor protection. To refill it, twist the deodorant onto the stainless steel base. Once you hear it click into place, gently squeeze the cap off, and it's ready to use.

It comes in the signature cucumber and green tea scent as well as an unscented, and it glides on oh-so-smoothly and leaves behind no residue (your black tees will thank you). Many users appreciate that this formula contains a quarter of moisturizer, leaving your pits super soft.

That said, previous shoppers are satisfied with the quality but say the deodorant breaks off the base relatively easy.

Meet Our Experts

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, associate clinical professor at Yale, and a Women's Health Advisory Board member.

Is there an adjustment period to aluminum-free deodorant?

While you may have heard that there's an *extra stinky* transition period when making the switch to an aluminum-free deodorant, Dr. Zeichner says that's usually not the case—and that the biggest side effect is that your armpits may be a little more wet than usual.

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