Natural Deodorant vs Antiperspirant: What's the Difference?

If you've ever wondered what the difference is between a natural deodorant and the antiperspirant you might pick up at the supermarket, it really comes down to one important thing: deodorant doesn't stop you from perspiring.

And that's intentional.

Perspiration is one of the ways your body regulates its temperature. You might notice you sweat more when you're hot or exercising, but perspiration can also increase during stressful situations or hormonal changes.

Sweat itself is largely odourless. Body odour develops when sweat, particularly in areas such as the underarms, interacts with bacteria naturally present on the skin. Warm, enclosed underarms provide a particularly good environment for this to happen.

So, what does antiperspirant do?

Antiperspirants typically contain aluminium-based compounds that temporarily reduce perspiration by forming plugs within the sweat ducts.

Deodorants work differently. Rather than trying to prevent perspiration, they're designed to help manage body odour.

For me, allowing my body to perspire naturally while still feeling fresh was an important part of why I began experimenting with natural deodorant in the first place.

Why I started making natural deodorant

Before The Natural Deodorant existed, I'd tried just about everything.

I remember antiperspirants feeling somewhat suffocating on my skin. Then there were the beautifully scented roll-ons that seemed promising in the morning, but by the end of the day I wouldn't want to lift an armpit in case I knocked someone out!

I tried crystal salt deodorant blocks. They seemed to work for the first week, and then suddenly didn't. I moved on to a low-aluminium supermarket roll-on, which worked well enough most of the time, but stressful situations and hormonal changes were another story.

Around the time of my first pregnancy, when nothing seemed to be working particularly well, a friend gave me a little leftover container of a white paste deodorant she'd found overseas.

To my surprise, it worked better than anything I'd tried before.

There was just one problem. She'd bought it overseas and I couldn't get any more.

So I started experimenting.

I researched different ingredients and began mixing simple formulas at home, testing them on myself, family and friends until I found the right balance.

Eventually, I had what I'd been looking for: a natural deodorant that smelled good, was aluminium free and, most importantly, actually worked for me.

From my kitchen to The Natural Deodorant

For the first few years, I simply made deodorant for myself, family and friends. Then people started asking if they could buy it.

That little homemade deodorant eventually became The Natural Deodorant.

More than 15 years later, we've made deodorant for thousands of customers looking for a simple alternative to conventional antiperspirants.

Our philosophy is still much the same as it was when I started: keep the ingredients simple, allow the body to perspire naturally, and make a deodorant that helps you feel fresh and confident throughout the day.

Ready to make the switch? Explore our range of Natural Deodorant Sticks, Jars and Bi-Carb Free formulas.