These 14 Aluminum-Free Deodorants Will Have Your Pits Feeling Fantastic — and Smelling Nice

This product is fairly pricey, considering how much of it you get: 2 ounces. Typically, deodorant sticks are around 2.6 ounces. That may be worth considering if you have to reapply throughout the day for optimal performance, something that our research found is a common concern.

In addition to choosing from the classic or sensitive formula, it’s also available in three formats: stick, plastic-free stick, or spray. The plastic-free stick is a heavy-duty cardboard tube that holds up well to daily use, though one downside is that the outside can get stained from other personal care products that may be on your hands. If you prefer scented deodorants, Native has many to choose from, including Coconut & Vanilla, Cashmere & Rain, Charcoal, and more. If you purchase directly from Native’s website, you can also easily customize the deodorant to your preferences.

With shea butter and coconut oil, this deodorant stick treats your pits to hydrating, nourishing ingredients that will keep the skin in that area well-moisturized. And if your armpits are prone to itchiness, keeping your skin hydrated may offer some relief.

Another big plus: This deodorant includes vitamin C and niacinamide (vitamin B3). “Some people have a genetic predisposition to darkening of underarm skin,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City. With regular use, both of these ingredients can help slowly even out your skin tone. This formula has a nice, light grapefruit scent.

Our research found that this deodorant may pill or bead up on the skin. Additionally, the subtle scent may not be enough to mask odors for some.

What makes this aluminum-free deodorant stand out is that it receives rave reviews from both men and women, so even though it’s marketed to men, it has unisex appeal — it’s available in gender-neutral scents like Lavender & Mint, Sandalwood & Aloe, and Peach & Mandarin Peel. It provides that all-day fresh feeling in terms of odor control, but since it isn’t an antiperspirant, you may still end up sweaty, depending on how much you tend to perspire.

Secret Aluminum Free deodorant has everything you need in a daily deodorant. It glides on really well, absorbs quickly, and leaves behind a pleasant smell. There are six available scents: White Peach, Rose, Real Lavender, Cotton, Real Coconut, and Cherry Blossom.

This product’s liquid roll-on formula has some pit perks: It rolls on evenly, covers skin well, dries quickly, and doesn’t cause white marks on clothing. “After it dries, it’s like wearing nothing,” says Lacey Muinos, a writer who tested this deodorant for Everyday Health. She adds that she wore black clothing multiple times while using this deodorant, and it never transferred onto her clothes. That said, since it’s a liquid formula, it does take a minute or two to dry on skin, which is one downside, she notes.

This deodorant from Hello gives teens a choice of fun scents in addition Unicorn, including Peach Sparkle, Sweet Coconut, Sage + Eucalyptus, and Fresh Citrus. Each one is described as being pleasantly scented but not overpowering, and users report being genuinely excited to wear it. And let’s not forget that packaging matters — this is definitely a cool deodorant to toss into a gym bag for after-school sports or to show off on social media.

As for performance, this deodorant holds up to daily use, but it may not last through extra-sweaty activities. (Though that’s not a big deal if you don’t mind having to reapply beforehand.) It hydrates with coconut oil and shea butter and helps soak up sweat with arrowroot powder.

The main downside is that this deodorant contains baking soda (no surprise, given the brand), which acts as its primary odor absorber. Baking soda itself isn’t a concern, but some people who have sensitive skin notice irritation after using baking soda and choose to avoid this ingredient entirely. Overall, though, this formula tends to be gentle on underarms, without inducing breakouts.

Megababe Daily Deodorant relies on ingredients such as cornstarch to sop up sweat. When we tested it, our pits stayed pretty dry for almost 24 hours after one application, but then it was time to shower and reapply. (The product boasts 72 hours of odor protection, but we found that it doesn’t last that long.) It glides on smoothly and clearly and won’t streak your dark-colored tops with white residue. The scent I used (Sunny Pits) is really divine — it smells like citrus. The scent doesn’t last a long time, but as it fades, you just smell like you, minus the BO. It also comes in Beachy Pits, Soapy Pits, and floral Rosy Pits.

As for application, this deodorant is pretty solid in texture, so you may not get a lot on your pits when you first apply it. However, the product instructions suggest using your body heat to naturally soften the stick by holding it to your skin for several seconds before swiping, to make it easier to apply.

This cream-to-powder deodorant is exactly what it sounds like: It comes out of the tube as a cream, but dries to a nice powdery finish. The way to use it is by squirting some onto your fingertips and then applying it to areas of your body as needed. In addition to your underarms, you can use Kiehl’s Over & Under Cream-to-Powder Deodorant as a whole-body deodorant, including the external skin around your intimate areas. If you experience inner thigh or upper-arm rubbing, you can also apply this to those areas (and any other areas) to prevent chafing.

There’s no denying, however, that this deodorant is far more expensive than most other deodorants out there. And while a little goes a long way, you’ll likely use it up faster than a typical solid deodorant. Still, it wins points for its major versatility.

This water-based gel formula comes out of the three holes at the top of the stick neatly, glides on well, and completely covers your underarm area with an even amount of product. With just five ingredients, it’s designed for sensitive skin, but you don’t need to have sensitive skin to enjoy this deodorant. Another perk is that Vanicream Deodorant contains no dyes, baking soda, fragrances, alcohol, parabens, or other ingredients that might be irritating to the skin.

Gel deodorants feel different going on, compared with sticks, as they feel wet at first. This one takes a bit of time to dry, which may or may not be a big deal, depending on how much you mind a “wet pit” feeling. Another potential downside is that it’s not available in scented options — which, of course, is only a negative if you prefer a scented deodorant (and many people with sensitive skin do not).

Most deodorants aren’t made to be used all over your body, but Lume is designed for exactly that, making it super versatile. The product directions say it’s good for armpits, privates, underboobs, belly buttons, butt cracks, among other places you can think of. It’s free of baking soda, phthalates, sulfates, parabens, and talc, which is good news for people with sensitive skin.

I tried the cream stick, which dispenses much like a gel. It smoothes over the skin really well, but the cream formula is also very wet and easy to over-apply (just a little dab does it), and it takes a few minutes to fully dry. In that time, it also transferred onto my clothes, though didn’t seem to discolor or whiten them. In terms of efficacy, Lume did block body odor as I went about my day as normal. It also held up to light workouts, such as yoga and walking the dog. Of course, I got sweaty during runs and lifting weights, but it also held up in terms of preventing smells. All in all, an all-around success.