I found a spray deodorant that has no aluminium but smells so old lady that I'll try anything else.

I have had this same conundrum with deodorant. I have not found one that really works that doesn't have aluminum. And I don't care necessarily about the sweating, just the smell part.

So, I compromised some and if it's a day where I shave, I use Toms of Maine. Reason being is that after shaving the whole tiny cuts in the skin leave it more open to absorb the bad alum stuff. Plus, I find that regular deodorant seems to have residual power (i.e does not wash off well) so daily with aluminum one is almost not necessary.

I bought a stick of DeoDry from the Body Shop once and loved the way it smelled, but it just didn't last long enough/wasn't effective enough for my needs.
I tried Tom's once and that failed miserably.
I've switched back to conventional deodorant, but share the same concerns about aluminum. I'm thinking I may go 50/50 - on hot days when I'll be out running around a lot go conventional until I find something suitable, and go with hippie deodorant on stand by days :)
Will definitely be checking out Scent of Samadhi and Lush's!

Glad I checked your blog this morning! My armpits have come into conversation on more occasions than they should, and I was beginning to think that the sweat gods were just out to get me.

I usually end up throwing some baby powder under the sprinkler systems or borrowing my boyfriend's deodorant (neither of which has been successful).

I'll have to give some of these a shot, because I'm a sweaty beast!

I'm with Jeremy. And I thought I was the only one. I mean, I smell a little like person, but just like person, and I'm fine with that. Anyway, it's shameful to say out loud, but yup.

oh my gosh, i LOVE you for this post! i am right there with you - a strong scented lady with a husband that needs nothing!

in my arsenal:

1) Aubrey Organics Spray: http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/m8/1900--aubrey-organics-deodorant-men-s-stock-dry-herbal-pine-4-oz.html - this worked great for me up until recently when my body just got used to it, i suppose.

2) Free Hippie Deodorant:
http://shop.freehippie.com/WOMENS-FREE-HIPPIE-DEODORANT-9.htm - this stuff is bizarre. super thick, almost creamy and a pain to learn to put on. but it works better than anything i've ever used!

3) Chlorophyll - i upped my greens intake and that has helped a bit. i'm considering adding liquid chlorophyll to weekly vitamin intake and i've heard that will help a lot.

I really like Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deoderant, especially in the Wild Lavender scent. At first, it may feel a bit sticky but I have found that it dries quickly and does give protection from odor all day long. Even in Florida where it is always HOT, this deoderant still works wonderfully and when I'm not indoors at work, I am always outside exercising and Tom's stays put. Good luck!

p.s. Here's the link: http://www.tomsofmaine.com/products/deodorant/product-details/long-lasting-care-deodorant-stick

p.p.s. Disclaimer...Tom's of Maine doesn't know who I am nor did they compensate me to say this...I just reeeeally love and am happy their deoderant!

The only (safe) deodorant I've found that really works for me is Kiss My Face Liquid Rock. It has to be the roll-on formula, though...the stick doesn't work as well.

It takes some getting used to having to wait for it to dry, but it only takes a couple of minutes. And it works!

I keep checking out Lush's stuff, but haven't picked one up yet. I've heard some people who swear by the crystal method, but I wasn't a huge fan of it. If you find something that works, do share!

Luckily, now that I'm living in Portland it's not nearly as hot as California. :)

I'll also say, if you try Tom's deodorant, def get the lavender scented one, the unscented one was a joke and didn't work at all for me!

I have used Toms in the past, too. Smells wonderful. Does not keep you from sweating, though.

Jessica - I love the idea of altering diet or taking supplements to help. I have found that when I eat a lot of curry my armpits start to smell like curry too! So, I can imagine chlorophyll working the other way...

A lot of you are recommending Tom's. I'm going to check it out.

I had tried Tom's of Maine lavender scent, and it just didn't work for my personal body chemistry - it seemed to dissolve too quickly and made me smell bad too soon in the day! Now I've been using Jason Aloe Vera scent for a long time, which on a normal day lasts very well all day, and is a nice neutral scent.

DON'T USE THE TOMS. It doesn't work worth a damn toot. A few months ago I went through this same situation, and the Tom's did nothing to help me out. In fact, it just made it smell like armpit covered with some sort of patchouli smell. the husband said he'd take care of me if i got alzheimers, but he did not want me to stink for an entire lifetime. so i went back to the bad deodorant. i'm willing to try again, but not with toms.

I use that deo dry stuff too. The pink one. But mostly I forget and I stink.

By the way, in case it didn't occur to you to look there, you can find a ton of deodorant reviews on Makeup Alley. It has its own category!

I like some of the green tea blends. Nature's Gate used to have the best one, but of course they discontinued it.

Right now I go between coconut oil with some fragrance and a vodka spray with essential oils that I whip up and it's always different. Usually it has some pine (pine needle, cypress) and citrus (lime, orange, grapefruit) in it.

The coconut oil works surprisingly well. I haven't used it through a summer, but I think I'm actually smellier in the Winter. The hot/cold thing.

Alright, y'all. I'm getting mixed reviews on the Toms stuff now.

And I hear you guys - taking precaution on a potential problem (Alzheimer's or cancer) versus a REAL problem (stinking at a client meeting or while on a date) makes for tricky decisions when it comes to armpit matters.

I'm glad we're having this conversation. Ha!

I never comment, but had to today because i LOVE this post. So, this winter my husband (who doesn't have body odor either!), talked me into letting go of the aluminum sticks. And I understand why, and agree to a point, but I'm a little nervous about this summer. I've been using Tom's but I'm thinking it's great for cold weather, but isn't going to cut it in warm weather. So, thank you for the recommendations! I'll be trying them immediately :)

Anna - I'm terrible about thinking to look up reviews! And then when I do I always leave feeling even more conflicted because people who leave reviews are SO opinionated and I'm easily persuaded. One negative review out of five positives can totally sway me...

Well, since deodorant efficacy is soooo tied in to your personal body chemistry (much like perfumes, which can smell great on one person and like ass on another), reviews are really just a general starting point anyway.

You're going to have to slather up a few 'pits before you find your magical match. :)

I'm a sweater. Bad. And, I guess it must be potent too cause it has caused some of my deodorants to fail, one of the worst feelings ever aside from the toilet water going up rather than down. I've tried them all and finally settled on Secret Clinical. I've stopped getting that distinct whiff around 3p, when the Low Sugar Monster shows up as well. However, I'm having second thoughts now that you mention what aluminum can cause. So, I'm on it.

Hurray for aluminum free! I gave up on Toms after years of use and now swear by Kiss My Face liquid rock and Trader Joe's Unscented Cotton (not at the same time). Either way, I also spritz a tiny bit of tee tree oil under my arms- it has disinfecting properties so I figure it cuts down on my smell and adds a little aroma since both of these have very little scent in themselves.

I love this whole entry - and all the comments. I am like Jeremy, in that my armpits neither smell, nor produce copious amounts of sweat. It wasn't until an old girlfriend of mine pointed out this fact that I dropped the deodorant habit.

My friend Amy also posted some options here:
http://localeyesark.blogspot.com/2011/04/so-fresh-and-so-aluminum-free.html

I need to make the switch. All this talk of cancer is making me VERY nervous. xo.

a.
Curry pits are bad. Been there. Curry too good to stop though.

b.
I'm very glad you posted this because the whole aluminum-in-the-deoderant-oh-no-cancer-and-memory-loss thing has been bugging me since last year when I first read that. I've been looking for great alternatives since then. I use baking soda or Toms. Still sweat. But my peace of mind makes it okay. I think I want to try DeoDry though because the scent cool + zesty sounds nice.

Weirdly, my bf also doesn't have BO and I also have the same natural deodorant quest you do.

I've currently use:

- Lush Aromarant with a powder dusting over it, which has served me well for the last week or two if I'm wearing natural fabrics. The one day I wore a synthetic - holy stinky. I think I overapplied and it got flakey (like the Toms of Maine does if you dare to apply it at all)

- Soapwalla:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapwallakitchen?section_id=6703919

I use this with a dusting of powder over it. At first I used it sans powder and the oils from the deodorant cream ruined two of my shirts.

In the past I've had SOME success with:

- Kiss My Face roll on (but only in the scent that had patchouli in it; I'm not proud)
- Avalon Organics Wild Yam roll on (smells like lovely roses)


I have had ZERO luck with:

- crystal deodorant
- Toms of Maine (I'd rather wear nothing than this crap)

So, I don't shave, which of course does not help at ALL with the smell. The only Tom's I've found that worked for me was the long lasting in lemongrass, but I'm slightly allergic to it so I can only wear it every other day. The liquid crystal one they sell at Target (don't remember the name, the label is purple) works pretty well for me up until the worst of summer. I'll have to try the Lush, I love their products.

Andrew does not EVER smell, either!!! It's bizarre. Me, though, I pile on deoderant, but I'm not brand loyal. I've thought sooo many times over the years about how it has to be bad for me considering I'm really active and shower (and apply it) around a billion times a day. I've wanted to try more natural products, but I've heard they make you smell like a hippie. Or, you know, just smell.

Anyway, really glad you posted this. Very helpful.


Kelly

Aromarant is my all-time favorite! Love the hippie smell, love that there's no packaging, and especially love that it actually works!

Right now I use Tom's. But...I'm finding it less and less effective! So your post today totally read my mind because I was just about to start up my search again for a natural/safer deodorant. SO...here's a huge thank you from me to you for doing my research for me!! I am definitely going to give all of these a try. (OH and don't you just love Lush?!)

I really like the grapefruit deodorant from battysbath.etsy. Or all of her stuff actually, and most of it is all vegan. Also I really like Toms in lemongrass or lavender. All aluminum free. I may sweat but I smell good doin' it.

awesome awesome post
i too have this issue, and obviously a lot of your readers do as well!
something i am doing is the 50/50 method. half the time i use my regular secret deo, if its going to be a hot day. the other half of the time i use baking soda- crazy, i know, but it totally works! i just rub a little coconut oil (which i use instead of lotion also, love the stuff!) and then a pinch of baking soda. works really well for smell, but of course, not so much for underarm....
would be interested to hear your thoughts on "womanly" products if you ever need something else to blog about (if its not TMI...)

I'm like Jeremy, my arm pits just don't sweat....like ever. Even playing soccer in high school I was sweat free. Maybe I wasn't working hard enough, but I think I'm just perpetually dehydrated. But, I still buy deodorant. Mainly because I'm a product whore and easily get excited about labels and scents.

I've been using Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Unscented for probably two or three years now and I really really like it. It's definitely the best deodorant I've ever used. My work environment is heated/cooled so inconsistently that I never know when I'm going to end up sweaty + stinky so I was relieved to find a deodorant I could count on.

I am on a similar quest! I started with Jason Tea Tree Oil deodorant, which worked pretty well. I was curious about other kinds, so I tried Alba. Awful. Now, I'm using a Kiss My Face Liquid Stone in Lavendar. We've had few truly hot days in PA so far, but the humidity is starting to rear its ugly head. We'll see how this holds up over the summer.

I have nearly given up on finding a paraben, aluminum free deodorant that really works. I've used crystals, Tom's, etc and nothing seemed to work that well, especially after a few days; it's like the body says, "ha, you tried to trick me, I'll show you!" and goes back to stinky after a day or two of a new product. My compromise is to use commercial chemical stuff on the days I have meetings and/or days when stink-proof is key to social acceptance and use Tom's on the days I don't. I really don't use anything on the weekends, cause I'm usually knee deep in some other sorta stink from yard work, horses, etc, so it's shower time by the time I become pit offensive ;-).

Coconut Oil + Arrowroot Powder + Essential Oil of choice worked REALLY WELL for keeping the smell away. Unfortunately, the damp armpit situation freaked me out too much and I switched back to regular deodorant.

If sweaty armpits aren't an issue for you then I found the recipe here

Okay you all - now I'm really interested in trying out the Kiss My Face deodorant.

Rolerkite - Just to clarify, Jeremy's armpits do sweat. They just don't stink!

Ode to Beatha - Ha! I love how your armpits are all "I'll show YOU!" - I feel like mine have been the same way so I like to switch up which deodorants I use on a daily basis.

I have also battled with questions of hygienic norms which may or may not be safe (& or necessary)!
Deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. So yes, I thought I'd like to make my own of the aforementioned products but have only succeeded with the baking soda shampoo deal. It works! And I get lazy with that too.

Oh! And Kat - If you talk to me in real life right after I tell you about my armpits I start talking about my vag. I use a Diva cup and organic, chlorine-free tampons. I'm definitely willing to dive into the topic if there's an online interest for it.

You know, I'm all uber healthy and informed when it comes to my food, but for everything else, I've been slacking. You're right about deodorants. And I'm willing to give these a try, especially when my health is at stake.

Ugh! My boyfriend doesn't stink either. He barely even sweats and I can't go five minutes out of the shower without deodorant without feeling like the whole house can smell me! I'll have to try the one from The Body Shop. I love their products! You use a diva cup? I hate the idea of regular tampons but I have not delved into that realm of eco/body friendliness as of yet =)

Also I'd love to hear about the other eco/body friendly products you love!

Why did it take so long to realize that women really want to talk about their armpits?! This is the kind of conversation I have with my friends when I'm half-drunk.

I use deodorant like once a week, for something important like a client meeting for you. I just grab a swipe of Michael's. I don't know what it is...something with mountains or a lumberjack or something else on it to make it seem masculine.
The other times I just go without. I read up there about altering your diet ^^ AMEN TO THAT COMMENTER.
I eat a huge amount of herbs, not only in food but just raw. There are certain dishes that when eaten, without fail, your body odor will mimic. The biggest one I have found is parsley! There's a Persian dish called Khoresth Sabzi, and you can NOT eat it and then not sweat Khoresht Sabzi for two days.
You know what's even funnier? Even good old Gina downstairs starts to smell like it. (Maybe you do need a Vag post, look at all these closet deodorant-haters!)

So....my two cents is to alter diet, then toss out the stuff. Less is more, and keep it simple.

Oh I was just having this convo with a friend!

My favorite find so far is the roll-on deodorant by desert essence. It goes on wet, so I have to flap my arms around a bit until it dries (I'm sure the cat thinks I'm crazy, but that's ok!). It doesn't stain my clothes and lasts aaaallmooost all day. Good enough for me!

It's great because I still sweat, but I don't smell.

(And yay for the diva cup! I love it!)

Erin - The Diva cup can be tricky but well worth it. I probably do need to work up a vag post.

Aura - So do you just chow down on herbs? Or do you make something like a raw herb salad? I'm looking forward to starting my herb garden this year (my veggie yield just wasn't worth the effort last year with our 100+ temps). And as far as altering my diet - there's no way I can stop eating curry. And the truth is - I really don't mind when my armpits smell like the food I eat. Because it's delish.

Love this post. I too, struggle with sweaty pits and finding and eco & healthy way to contain them. I like Queen Helene brand deodorant. Or this one from etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/35641572/deodorant-cream

although none of them work for super hot days. or long workouts. Just run fast enough and no one can tell it's you who's the smelly one!

I grew up with everything being as natural and organic as possible. Of course this included deodorant. Although it made me for some awkward preteen years and my mother eventually caved because, well, I smelled, I still appreciated everything I learned about health and being good to your body.

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of going back to the natural deodorant route... your post may have given me the bravery and knowledge to dive in. At least on the weekends (for the sake of my co-workers).

I think about armpits a lot as well as I've always been quite the sweater. I was so excited when they started coming out with the "clinical protection" deodorants and have found my solution in Dove's Clinical Protection, Cool Essentials. Others I've tried had super dried my armpits and substituted the sweat for itching, but this moisturizes and protects.
I'm not super concerned with being natural and organic, but I can't wait to try out the Aromarant.
Thanks for sharing! It's good to know I'm not the only female worrying about these things :)

Thank you for this! I think about this a lot and have tried Tom's, Kiss My Face, crystals and more with no luck. I've been wanting to try this (http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/07/homemade-deodor.html) for awhile and will let you know how it works.

Kathleen! You would love the deodorant I make for Ryan and me. All you need is baking soda (absorbs stink), corn starch (absorbs wetness), and coconut oil (just for fun i guess). I posted about it here:

http://pushpindiaries.wordpress.com/category/crunchy/

I swear by this recipe and feel so much better that I'm not clogging my pits with toxins.

Dude, I totally think I gave you the hint about the Diva Cup a while back. It's a life changer. Seriously, BFFFFFFF

I agree with you, daily application of aluminum and other weird chemicals just seems kinda scary. I've tried quite a few natural deodorants over the years.

Tom's is easiest to find in stores, but doesn't really help much with sweat. From what I've found a lot of the natural deodorants only help a little at best with sweat reduction. There are a few gems out there though...

My two favorites for beating down funky pit smell and...the elusive SWEAT REDUCING are:

1. Aubrey Organics - Men's Stock Herbal Pine Deodorant.
Sure, it's a men's deodorant, but who cares? It is a spray, which I'm not crazy about in general, since my aim isn't the best when I'm half asleep. I can get past that, because it really works. Smells like a pine forest, but once it dries it's not noticeable. It's in a 4 oz bottle, so be careful when traveling if you do carry-on luggage.

2. Herbal Clear - Sport.
This one is the most like a "conventional" deodorant. It was my fave for years before I found the Aubrey one. It's in a clear solid stick form and smells sporty? Which in my book is preferable to smelling like hippies or a field of flowers. This brand seems to be harder to find in general. I've tried their spray version once, when I couldn't find the "Sport" stick. It wasn't bad, but I preferred the stick.

I agree with Anna's comment too, it may take some trial to find one you like best. Good luck in your search!

Paige - It was you who told me about the Diva Cup! Before Everest! Haha - just another sign that we were meant to be. ;)

JC - I love the more masculine smelling deodorants. I think my plan is to try and steer away from fragrance altogether... but thanks for the recommendations!

Kathleen- Both. If you keep a bowl of raw herbs sitting around/put it out with a meal, you'd be surprised how easy it is to eat so much of it. I also add it to all my salads. My two favorites for Summer salads are cilantro and dill. I'm not a huge fan of feta-type cheeses, but my family eats a breakfast of bread, feta (ours is called paneer) and herbs. It's a really simple, gratifying meal.

I'm a big fan of herb gardening. If you're going to start now, I'd suggest getting plants, because it's about to get a bit hot for the seedlings to thrive. I started my seeds about 3.5 weeks ago outside and I was even a bit behind. My Mom & Grandparents already have plants twice the size of mine, but I was elbow deep in newborn responsibility :)
Parsley is super easy to grow, by the way. It comes back every year. (and is good added into Indian food) Same with basil....super hardy and it reproduces really well.

hey, was that when i approached you {re: the funny sidenote}?!? :)

Abi - It was! Haha! :)

i *had* to pop back over to see everyone's comments and notes after i was here earlier in the week. good suggestions!

not to be a party pooper, but i just wanted to note that if you're trying to avoid bad chemicals, aluminum is definitely one thing to ditch, but there are many others to avoid. if a brand labels "fragrance" as an ingredient, it's a major no-no in my book (and my husband's store). basically a company can dump whatever chemical they want into a product, call it "fragrance," and since that is proprietary information, don't have to reveal anything further. honest companies that have a eco-friendly focus will usually reveal their fragrance as essential oils, if they are scented. just an FYI!

Funny you should mention.....I talked about arm pits a couple of times today, alone! Have you ever heard of Bubble and Bee?? This little company has amazing products, which many are certified organic. You could eat your deodorant, I mean, if you really wanted to, ha! I love their deodorants. You sweat and have to use it throughout the day for the first few weeks...it's because your body is getting rid of the bad stuff and then it worked great for me after that detox period. The only thing is it tends to get crumbly so mine is in the fridge and it stays solid. I just swipe on the deodorant and grab a drink-you know, two birds!! Worth a try!

I've been trying natural deodorants for years and have yet to find one that is 100% effective. In fact, the other day my husband said, "Did your deodorant stop working?" Ha! I've found that taking chlorophyl, which is a natural internal deodorant, helps. The best deodorant I've found is Kiss My Face Roll-on in Lavender. And you're right about them still allowing you to sweat; from what I understand it's the aluminum in anti-persperant that keeps you from sweatin' to the oldies.

i can't be the only one, but i want to hear about your experience with the diva cup! i want to try it but i'm kinda scared, too....

Trader Joe's Unscented Cotton is the best one I have found. Though I usually forget to wear deodorant in the cooler months. I no longer live near a Trader Joe's though, so I expect when I run out of what I have, I will look into the Body Shop one.

I went to the mall today and bought some of the Decodry. I am actually allergic to parabens so this is a good choice for me! Not to mention there is no aluminium! And it smells good too :)

I have very sensitive armpits - especially after shaving. Deanna over at The Crunchy Chicken posted a recipe to make your own deodorant and I love the stuff. We live in the PNW and our summers are mild; I can't vouch for the efficacy where you are. Anyhoo, here's the link to her post:
http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/2010/03/dirty-hippie-deodorant.html

And I've been trying the non-aluminum deodorant for *years* with no success until I started using this. LOVE IT.

Since you're a fan of the organic/health conscious lifestyle maybe you should try some good ole' botulisim toxin injections... some of my girlfriends rave about that. Mom loves the botox too.

Anyway, even if that isn't for you (and I figure its not) you might be interested to hear that my grandmother was a beautician from about 1930 to 1990. In the 30s and 40s she made antipersperant at home and sold it before it was a publicly available product. One of the main ingredients she used was formaldehyde that she bought from a local apothecary. Women were buying it as fast as she could make it just because it worked.

Barbie - I actually have a friend that gets botox in her armpits to control the sweating. It was the only thing that would help.

That's interesting about your grandma! It just goes to show the lengths women will go to...

I have started to worry as I have developed odd white marks under one of my arm pits. I am not sure if it is blocked pores, scar tissue or perhaps stretch marks - I am going to try out some of your deodorant ideas to see if they fade/stop developing. I do worry as my mum had breast cancer and lymph nodes in the armpit are closely linked to that sort of problem.

I use Herbal Clear Natural Deodorant which is also paraben and aluminum free. It's found in my local grocery store and is inexpensive. I love the scent (I get the "clear sport" one).

-Kristy

This is the one I use that is aluminum and paraben free: Herbal Clear Natural Deodorant (but in sport scent): http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-clear-natural-deodorant-aluminum/dp/B000GCLDOO

Thanks for this, Kathleen! I currently use the pink version of the Body Shop DeoDry and it's been great, but I think I'm developing an allergy to it (the motive behind my own quest for the perfect deoderant). I'm going to give the lush bar a try and see if it works any better.

OMG! I'm so glad there's so many of us with the same issue! I dont' sweat THAT much but I get smelly pits and worse conventional deoderant reacts BADLY with my body's chemistry and starts to smell really weird after a few hours. Secret doesn't smell like secret anymore.

I will try your suggestions but for odor (OK this sounds weird but..) I swab my underarms with hydrogen peroxide and then apply my deoderant. It my be all in my mind but I feel it's killing the bacteria that causes the smell, lol.

GREAT post! I haven't even gotten to being natural/health conscious about deodorant yet, just trying to find one that cuts the smell! if i'm indoors all day, no problem. but put me in the sun for 5 minutes and some chemical reaction must happen in my body, cuz damn! smeeellll. the only one that cut the smell mostly for me was Arm&Hammer Ultra Max in Shower Fresh - now they don't carry Shower Fresh! Anywhere! And I can't stand the Powder Fresh scent... So, especially with summer practically upon us, I'm on the hunt for something new that will cut the smell. My pits don't sweat too much, so I don't care about that at all...

Oh (sorry, not to go on, and on) but if i'm stuck somewhere, middle/end of the day and am stinky, i go to the bathroom at the restaurant or wherever i am, and dap on some liquid soap. it seems to work for a little while! especially if it's antibacterial.

Not sure if you have a trader joes by you, but I use there unscented cotton stick for sensitive skin, and it works for me. Tom's brand gave me a terrible rash!

Late to the pit party, BUT I've started using Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant in the "fresh" scent. Tom's was nice but didn't last, while the Arm & Hammer seems to stick to me better. I still like to carry some with me in bag or car in case I ripen up during the day, and it doesn't get lumpy or flaky if you reapply. It's also really easy to find. I started using it gradually--at first only on days when I was wearing a white shirt, because the last straw for me was those yellow stains, which are actually caused by the aluminum in deodorant and not really by sweat. And once I switched, I noticed I actually sweat LESS, probably because my body isn't trying to sweat off the nasty pore-clogging stuff.