Does Natural Deodorant Actually Work?

Natural deodorants and deodorant alternatives have been around for ages but have definitely been gaining popularity in the past few years.

There are many reasons you might choose to switch to a natural deodorant, ranging from skin sensitivity, to concerns about ingredients. A common complaint though is that natural deodorants don’t work! Let’s explore some of the common issues and misinformation people face.

Deodorant Vs. Antiperspirant

First of all, you probably already know this but they are not the same thing. Antiperspirants function by temporarily blocking our sweat glands, which eliminates both sweat and odor. Deodorant (natural or convention) is actually quite different. Deodorants create an unfavourable environment for bacteria to survive in and prevent odor but not sweating.

One major thing to take into consideration when switching to natural deodorant is that you will still experience perspiration, but with a reduction in odor. If you are accustomed to using antiperspirants, this might be a major adjustment – so prepare yourself!

Why Use Natural Deodorant? 

As previously mentioned, antiperspirants work by blocking sweat glands – with aluminum. As we become more aware of the negative impact that chemicals can have on our bodies, it is becoming more evident that we can optimize our health by avoiding those chemicals. Diseases like breast cancer and alzheimers have actually been linked to aluminum, so it seems like a no brainer to switch to a product that will not have such a negative impact on our health.

It should also be mentioned that sweating is normal! Sure, it can be embarrassing when we lift our arms up and expose a huge sweat stain in public – but it shouldn’t be. Sweating helps regulate our temperatures and also expel toxins, so it is rather counterintuitive to try to prevent this natural and necessary bodily function.

What happens when you switch?

Well, it may not seem like it’s working at first and that is probably because it isn’t! According to Takesumi Detox Deodorant your body actually goes through a detox when you make the switch. They claim this takes around 4 weeks; week 1 everything seems normal, week 2 you start to notice a smelly odor, week 3 the odor lessens but perspiration increases and finally by week 4 things begin to be regulated again.

While the clinical studies may have shown that this was the experience for most, our personal experience was more like 2 months of sweating and smelling – this time period included being called out by a sibling for “smelling terrible” after work. So, now you have been warned!

Everyone is different and so are the deoderant brands

If you try to switch from your conventional deodorant or antiperspirant and it doesn’t seem like it’s working – don’t give up! This is normal! Let your body detox and be patient if you have to test out a few different brands. It will be worth it in the end! It took us trying 4 different types of natural deodorant before we found the perfect one.