© Jernej Graj / Unsplash
We put eight sustainable, toxin-free deodorants to the test, so you don’t have to. Find out which ones are kind to both your skin and the planet.
Deodorant has become a fixture of daily life, but not every formula is equally good for skin or for the environment. Plenty of conventional deodorants hide ingredients that can be genuinely problematic for sensitive skin, and just as troubling for the environment — from allergy-triggering substances to fragrance compounds that prove toxic to aquatic life over the long term. For anyone with sensitive skin, particularly those managing eczema, deodorants loaded with questionable ingredients are best avoided altogether. Aluminium salts, a mainstay of many antiperspirants, have even been linked to inflammatory skin irritation. With all this in mind, we went looking for better options and put eight sustainable deodorant makers to the test.
Our selection includes a few aluminium-free deodorant creams that ask a little patience of your skin while it adjusts. That transition can mean a temporary uptick in sweat and odour, but it typically settles down after a few days of use.
Here’s what we found.
Ponyhütchen – Pretty & Pure Deodorant Cream
Ponyhütchen’s “Pretty & Pure” deodorant cream is free of aluminium salts, alcohol and preservatives. It’s handmade in Berlin, and thanks to the brand’s refill system, the jars themselves are reusable. Those jars are made from Green PE, a sustainable material that makes the packaging carbon-negative.
The cream is built from natural ingredients like corn starch, coconut oil and other organically farmed components — the coconut oil, in particular, comes exclusively from certified organic cultivation. It contains no animal-derived ingredients and isn’t tested on animals. Available through the Ponyhütchen online shop.
Price: €14.99 / 50 ml
Verdict: A pleasantly soft texture on the skin, with no irritation even on my sensitive skin.
Klar – Fragrance-Free Deodorant Cream
Klar’s fragrance-free deodorant cream is built from natural ingredients like shea butter, sodium bicarbonate and coconut oil, with no added fragrance or preservatives. It also skips silicones, aluminium salts, palm oil and alcohol, making it a solid pick for sensitive skin. Klar’s deodorant cream is neutral-scented and available through Klar’s online shop.
Price: €9.50 / 30 ml
Verdict: Klar’s deodorant cream reads more like a mousse than a cream. It has no scent of its own, but it works pleasantly well against sweat odour.
Myrto – Lady Lavender Roll-On Deodorant
Myrto’s organic Lady Lavender roll-on is well suited to sensitive skin, including right after shaving. Pure essential oils of lavender, sage and lemon peel give it an invigorating herbal freshness. Built on aloe vera gel rather than water, and formulated with an innovative plant-based deodorant complex, it delivers clinically proven long-lasting protection. It curbs perspiration and inhibits odour-causing bacteria without relying on harmful aluminium salts, preserving the skin’s natural flora. Additional care comes from cold-pressed, certified-organic jojoba and coconut oil, plus oat beta-glucan to soothe and protect sensitive, irritated skin. Available through the Myrto Natural Cosmetics online shop.
Price: €12.50
Verdict: Myrto’s roll-ons have a very subtle scent — too subtle for some, if you’re used to stronger deodorants, but just right for me. No burning, no irritation — that won by itself. The neutral roll-on carries a faint, unobtrusive scent, works a touch more gently than the fragranced versions, but is ideal for sensitive skin and sensitive noses alike.
Achselkuss – Deodorant Cream Natur
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© Achselkuss
Achselkuss’s Deodorant Cream Natur cares for underarms with a select blend of coconut oil, shea butter and mango butter. Its active ingredient, sodium bicarbonate, keeps bacteria from multiplying on the skin and guards against unwanted odour, without blocking natural perspiration. With its natural freshness, this cream is especially well suited to sensitive skin.
The deodorant cream is available through Achselkuss’s online shop in several scent variations too, including lavender and coconut — perfect for easing into summer.
Price: €13.50
Verdict: The retro packaging alone is an eye-catcher on my bathroom shelf. But there’s real deodorant power packed inside too. Achselkuss’s cream was my favourite of everything we tested. The neutral version has no scent at all, the others are gently, unobtrusively perfumed, and the effect just keeps going and going. No irritation whatsoever.
PIMO – Deodorant Cream Pure
PIMO’s Deodorant Cream Pure combines shea butter, corn starch, cocoa butter, zinc and coconut oil for genuinely nourishing care. The shea butter soothes the skin while the coconut oil does the work of neutralising unwanted odour. With no aluminium salts, alcohol or preservatives, it’s especially gentle on skin. Available through the PIMO online shop.
Price: €14.99
Verdict: PIMO’s cream has no scent, is gentle on skin, and still holds its own after a workout — which genuinely impressed me. The creamy texture applies easily and sinks in fast.
Walde – Deodorant Cream Samt
Walde’s Deodorant Cream Samt is especially gentle on skin, pampering it with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter and almond oil. The coconut oil works as a natural antibacterial, while corn starch keeps skin feeling dry. Free of aluminium salts, preservatives and alcohol, it’s a natural, skin-friendly alternative. Available through the Walde online shop.
Price: €9.80
Verdict: Walde’s cream has a very pleasant, subtle scent that I really liked. On my sensitive, freshly shaved underarm skin it stung slightly on application, though that faded after a couple of minutes. It worked well against underarm odour.
Greendoor Naturkosmetik – Activated Charcoal Deodorant Cream
Greendoor’s activated charcoal deodorant cream blends natural ingredients that both combat sweat odour and care for the skin. A unique combination of organic babassu oil, other plant oils and aloe vera keeps skin hydrated, while the activated charcoal binds odours effectively and kieselguhr leaves a pleasantly dry finish. Dermatologically tested and allergen-free, it suits both women and men and leaves behind a fresh scent. The formula includes premium ingredients like organic babassu oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and aloe vera extract, and it comes in eco-friendly packaging made from 100 percent recycled Prevented Ocean Plastic. Available through Greendoor’s online shop.
Price: €7.95
Verdict: It took a moment to get used to smearing dark grey cream under my arm instead of white. On the skin, though, it turned out to be colourless and didn’t stain, which I’d feared it might. The texture is pleasantly rich and creamy, the scent subtle. No burning, no irritation. Very pleasant and effective.
We Love The Planet – So Sensitive Deodorant Stick
We Love The Planet’s So Sensitive deodorant stick was developed specifically for hypersensitive skin. Free of baking soda and essential oils, but enriched with a hypoallergenic fragrance, it’s especially gentle and soothing. A delicate scent of green leaves, almond and white peony creates a pleasant sense of freshness, with notes of coneflower leaves, violet, vanilla and apricot blossom adding a light floral touch. Built on natural ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil and corn starch powder, this stick soothes and hydrates skin without clogging pores. Certified to the Eco-Control and Natural Cosmetics standards. Available through We Love The Planet’s online shop.
Price: €10.95
