From roll-ons, sticks, and sprays to natural, sustainable, and clean options, it can be a minefield when looking for the best deodorant for women – let us help!
From porridge balls stuck to armpits and crushed carob pods rubbed into the skin, humans have always been creative when attempting to find the best Deodorant to mask their natural scents.
Ancient Egyptians reportedly mixed ostrich eggs, nuts, tamarisk, and ground tortoiseshell into a paste using fat so as to disguise their bodily odours, whilst others tried perfumes, oils and salts for the job.
Nowadays, we’re lucky enough to be able to enjoy a range of deodorants and antiperspirants when it comes to staying fresh throughout the day. There are balms, sprays, roll-ons, creams, and more and while having a choice is great, it can be a tad confusing and overwhelming.
Below we’ve handpicked what we consider to be the best deodorants for women, with a particular focus on natural, and aluminium-free options to suit all budgets.
Best deodorant for women UK
- Proverb Natural Deodorant – from £12
- GoBo Natural Deodorant – £9.99
- Aesop Natural Deodorant – £23
- Fussy Deodorant – from £13
- Salt of the Earth Deodorant – from £6.49
- SANS– Deodorant – from £25
- Mio Skincare Pit Proof Deodorant – £12
- Wild Deodorant – from £12
- AKT London: The Natural Deodorant Balm – £16.15
- Drunk Elephant: Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream – £13
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Editor’s Pick: Proverb Natural Deodorant
£15 (or £12 per month) | Buy now
Why we love it: For months, Wild’s subscription service has been our favorite deodorant yet it was recently usurped by Proverb and its range of plant-based, vegan, aluminum-free refills. Not only do Proverb deodorants not contain aerosol gases, petroleum or parabens, but their 70g refills are the largest on the market, meaning a single stick will last you a minimum of around eight weeks.
However, we’ve been using ours for six months and counting and it’s still going strong, making Proverb superb value for money.
There are two formulations – Core and Active – and they each come in three scents: Wild Mint and Eucalyptus, Coconut and Tonka, and sensitive and unfragranced. The scents last all day and allow you to sweat without overdrying the skin, but without making you feel uncomfortable. What’s more, you only need a small amount to keep you dry – which explains why it lasts so long.
A starter pack, which includes the case and a refill, costs £15, or £12 on a subscription. Two scents and a case cost £30. Individual refills cost £15 as a one-off purchase, or £12 for a subscription. Replacement cases then cost a fiver each in either yellow, white, black or grey.
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Buy now from Proverb
Budget Buy: GoBo Natural Deodorant
£9.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: Available from just £9.99, you would be forgiven for thinking GoBo’s deodorant is nothing more than functional, but its economic pricing actually encompasses a whole range of plus points that make it extraordinarily good value for money.
Both vegan and cruelty-free, the natural AHA deodorant is also free from aluminium, alcohol and essential oils, making it ideal for those with more sensitive skin. It comes in a range of 100% natural floral water options (both scented and unscented) including: Orange Blossom, Rose, Jasmin, Original, and For Men. You can read more about this in our best deodorant for men guide.
In addition to its range of fabulous fragrances, GoBo helps correct pigmentation and prevents ingrown hairs, so it’s no wonder Good Housekeeping voted it their 2021 #1 Natural Deodorant. These reasons, coupled with its fantastic price point mean we couldn’t recommend a better deodorant that’s both natural and affordable.
FURTHER READING: The truth about the acids lurking in your skincare – from hyaluronic, to glycolic, lactic and salicylic
Buy now from GoBo
Luxury Buy: Aesop
£23 | Buy now
Why we love it: Aesops’ products have long been renowned for their simple elegance, uncomplicated design, and technologically backed cultivation – and this deodorant is no different. In keeping with the brands’ complementary combination of beauty and practicality, the deodorant lives up to its name, earning cult status with its irresistible coupling of nature and technology and equally irresistible scent.
Offering a delightfully fresh, botanical aroma that is at once herbal and clean, Aesop’s deodorant can be worn by all genders.
It’s also aluminium-free and, if you’re an Aesop fan, it will look wonderfully chic alongside your other bathroom products. A must-try for a deliciously scented, luxury deodorant that will complete any collection of stylishly designed toiletries.
FURTHER READING: Best beauty subscription boxes UK: From Lookfantastic to Cohorted, which beauty boxes are worth your money?
Buy now from Aesop
Fussy Natural Deodorant for B.O
From £13 | Buy now
Another natural deodorant stick that recently soared in popularity thanks to its founders appearing on Dragon’s Den (and getting investment from two of the Dragons), is Fussy.
A monthly subscription costs £13 for a case plus one refill and then £15 for three refills once every three months. Alternatively, you can buy the case and two refills at a one-off purchase, for £20, while a case and four refills cost £32.
All of the refills are made using natural ingredients and are free of parabens, and aluminum.
They’re also vegan and cruelty-free. Fussy cases are made from recycled plastic, and the refills are all compostable.
The cases come in six colours – Midnight, Mint Green, Ocean Blue, Burnt Orange, Blush and Lilac colours – and there are then seven refill scents to choose from:
- Tropic Tonic: Lime, Basil and Mandarin
- Wide-Eyed Citrus: Mandarin, grapefruit and black pepper
- Wavy Days: Eucalyptus, Sage and Peppermint
- Cloud Nine: Cotton, Sandalwood and Vetiver
- Night Tales: Cedar, Cinnamon and Patchouli
- Sun Drunk: Vanilla, Ylang Ylang and Star Anise
- Bare All: Unscented
What sets Fussy apart from other natural deodorant offerings is that it’s what’s known as a probiotic deodorant. Each of us has our own microbiome which means our skin is teeming with bacteria that live in a delicate balance.
When we wash too much, use harsh chemicals, have showers that are too hot and more, we can disrupt this balance. This means the good bacteria are replaced by bad bacteria and this is what causes us to smell – especially our armpits.
To restore this balance, Fussy contains a bacteria called Lactobacillus, found in yogurt and milk, which helps inhibit the growth of bad, odour-causing bacteria. This makes it a particularly great women’s deodorant for B.O.
Buy now from Fussy
Salt of the Earth Deodorant
From £6.49 | Buy now
Made in the UK, affordable, vegan, and cruelty-free – the Salt of the Earth deodorant range ticks a lot of boxes.
Available in a wide range of forms, including a spray, roll-on, stick, balm, and a crystal version, as well as a range of scents, this natural deodorant was one of the first to launch way back in 1993.
In that time, it’s become vegan-certified by The Vegan Society and certified 100% natural by COSMOS.
It’s also cruelty-free, long-lasting, and won’t leave white marks on your clothes.
What’s more, you can buy large bottles of refills.
They don’t come cheap (around £20) but they allow you to refill your deodorant up to 10 times, which is a marked saving compared to buying the deodorants separately.
Plus, you’re helping save the planet by using less plastic.
Salt of the Earth’s deodorising power comes from the use of mineral salts, called potassium alum.
When you spray or apply this deodorant to your skin, it leaves a thin layer of these mineral salts that kills the odour-causing bacteria and leave you feeling and smelling fresh.
Once you’ve decided which type of deodorant you want, you then choose from a range of scents, including:
- Neroli & Orange Blossom
- Ocean & Coconut
- Lavender & Vanilla
- Melon & Cucumber
- Amber & Sandalwood
- Sweet Strawberry
- Peony Blossom
- Vetiver & Citrus
- Ginger & Jasmine
Buy now from Amazon
SANS– Deodorant
£25 for Starter Kit on subscription, £15 for refills | Buy now
Why we love it: SANS– is a homegrown British deodorant brand built with sustainability and performance at its core.
Its natural deodorant refills are aluminium-, phthalates-, PEGs- and paraben-free. They’re also vegan and cruelty-free with SANS– being an approved PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies and Vegan Society licencee.
These are the most prestigious and well-regarded standards in the vegan and cruelty-free sectors and they both guarantee that SANS– products are never tested on animals, nor do they contain any animal byproducts.
Elsewhere, the packaging for its deodorant is made from FSC-certified cardboard, meaning it can be recycled after use. SANS– has aditionally partnered with an charity called 1% for the Planet and commits to donating 1% of all of its profits to sustainable initiatives and rewilding schemes globally.
In terms of fragrances, SANS– deodorants don’t offer as many as some other brands in this list but what they do offer is suitable for both men and women. These fragrances include:
- 18th Orchard – grapefruit, orange and rosemary
- Pinacea – rose, mandarin, cedarwood and geranium
- Twig & Blossom – bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, neroli, cardamom
This deodorant slides on well. In fact, it glides on even easier than other aluminium-free deodorants we’ve tried – namely Wild – and despite the fact it’s much smaller and compact in size, it means it lasts longer than we expected. We finished a capsule in just over a month, when used daily and it kept us feeling fresh and didn’t rub off on our clothes as other deodorants do.
Buy now from SANS–
Mio Skincare Pit Proof deodorant
£12 | Buy now
Mio’s Pit Proof Natural Deodorant is an aluminium-free balm made from minerals that naturally reduce moisture. Its sugar shield technology then uses the sugars found naturally in the ingredients in its formula to create a protective layer over the skin on your armpits.
This not only stops bacteria from getting in, but it also helps control body odour because it’s the bacteria that cause the smell. Not sweat.
Fragrance-wise, this Pit Proof deodorant contains eucalyptus and Siberian pine essential oils to give it a fresh, natural scent. These oils are complemented by Indian Fig extract, Monk’s Pepper Berry, and Sweet Almond Oil.
The latter in particular makes this deodorant great for sensitive or broken skin. Elsewhere, it also contains a naturally deodorising active called Lichen Extract.
Buy now from Mio Skincare
Wild Deodorant
From £12 | Buy now
Why we love it: Effective, sustainable, and conveniently practical, Wild’s natural deodorant is as good for our planet as it is for our armpits – and it’s small enough to fit through your letterbox with zero fuss!
Wild’s soap-bar-sized deodorants come packaged in a reusable and elegantly simple case that’s both plastic-free and compostable, and the range of fragrances available is sure to set your mouth-watering even if you can’t actually give them a nibble.
You can choose from Fresh Cotton and Sea Salt, Rhubarb and Raspberry, Orange and Neroli, Jasmine and Mandarin Blossom, Bergamot and Grapefruit, Coconut and Vanilla, Mint and Eucalyptus or Sandalwood and Patchouli when picking your scent – a range that’s sure to include something for every mood, occasion, and preference.
With an ethos of ‘Arms up, waste down’, what’s not to love?
FURTHER READING: Wild deodorant review: Can this vegan, aluminium-free natural deodorant really keep us fresh all day long?
Buy now from Wild
AKT London: The Natural Deodorant Balm
From £16.15 | Buy now
Why we love it: It’s easy to pick out products for a standalone winning feature, less so to find one that has the whole package. With AKT’s Deodorant Balm, we think we’ve got one that comes pretty close.
Vegan, cruelty- and aluminium salt-free, it’s a deodorant balm that’s good for both animals and our bodies; 100% plastic-free and recyclable, it’s also good for the planet.
Impressed? The balm additionally leaves no marks on clothes, meaning the underarms of your shirts and jackets will remain stain-free. Really impressed? It can also be applied to any areas that might need protection, so we’re not just talking about underarms, think feet, forehead, chest, and so on.
Its moisturising formula comes in Orange Grove, containing a combination of petitgrain, mandarin and neroli; After Thunder, containing cedar, eucalyptus and orange; or The Onsen, which contains vetiver, lavandin and citrus. All three promise to keep you dry throughout the day and are suitable for all genders.
FURTHER READING: Clean beauty: What are clean beauty products and how can I shop more consciously?
Buy now from AKT
Drunk Elephant: Sweet Pitti Cream
£13 | Buy now
Why we love it: Gentle, soothing, and highly effective, we love this deodorant cream for simple reasons. It’s fragrance-free and formulated to be suitable for sensitive skin types, meaning it’s also free from baking soda, essential oils, and aluminium-derived ingredients.
Applied once a day to clean, dried skin it will leave you smelling fresh and odour-free as you go about your daily activities. So, if you’re looking for a dependable, soft deodorant cream that comes in attractive packaging at an affordable price, look no further.
Buy now from Cult Beauty
How do deodorants and antiperspirants work?
Deodorants work to combat odours by masking them with their own scent. Antiperspirants aim to reduce the amount of sweat produced in the first place.
Deodorants fall under the cosmetics category and antiperspirants alternatively classify as a ‘drug’, being regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Both deodorants and antiperspirants work to keep you smelling clean throughout your day so you can go about your normal business without the awkward embarrassment of a pongy pit.
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