Best For Whole Body: Lume Natural Solid Deodorant Stick

When we asked the moms who read our books and website for their favorites in this category, one brand came recommended time and again: Lume. 

Lume got great marks for how long-lasting it is . . . and you can use it on your whole body. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but it works.

What We Liked

• Long lasting.

• Scent is pleasing—the hint of pineapple with coconut undertones.

• Vegan.

• Water-based.

• Free of baking soda, soy and aluminum.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Not really an anti-perspirant—but that is true for most aluminum-free deodorants.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Native Deodorant

After spending several hours researching this topic and talking with our parent readers, one thing we heard frequently was how irritating some “natural” deodorants can be. 

Just because something is labeled as vegan or cruelty free doesn’t mean it can’t cause a rash or other skin irritation. After trying out several brands and asking for real-world feedback from our readers, we pick Native’s deodorant as the best bet for folks with sensitive skin.

There’s something about the formula in this deodorant that does a better job at keeping odor at bay for folks who have found other deodorants too harsh to tolerate (perhaps the tapioca), based on our research.

What We Liked

• Lasts for a long time.

• Different scents in case you don’t like eucalyptus/mint. We liked that one best, but others liked the lavender and rose as well.

• Great for sensitive skin.

• Ingredients you don’t have to have a chemistry degree to decipher—shea butter, tapioca.

What Needs Work

• Not everyone likes the scents.

• A bit grainy when first applied.

Best Scent: ARM & HAMMER Essentials Deodorant

We tried a lot of deodorant brands for this article and have to agree with our parent readers who said the scents for many “aluminum-free” natural deodorants were often hard to tolerate. Not this one, however: Arm & Hammer essentials. Wow, the scent of this brand was most impressive, said our testers. 

The baking soda in this deodorant makes this one a favorite of our readers who have sensitive skin, who reported good results in our survey.

What We Liked

• Most amazing scent.

• Lasts all day.

• Free of aluminum.

• Affordable.

• Soft and smooth when applied.

What Needs Work

• Some folks want to avoid baking soda—so this one isn’t a good choice.

Best Budget-Friendly: Crystal Mineral Deodorant Roll-On

Yes, aluminum free deodorants can get rather pricey . . . so we were excited when this brand was among the top winners of our real-world tests. Crystal Mineral Deodorant is a roll-on that we found to be gentle on the skin and effective—while not emptying our bank account. 

What We Liked

• Scent is pleasing.

• No white residue.

• Affordable.

• Free of aluminum and parabens.

• Vegan-friendly ingredients.

• Gentle on skin.

What Needs Work

• Younger folks like the scent better than older folks, according to our research. 

• Not everyone likes roll-ons—takes a while to dry.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!