Many people are keen to add more natural products into their routines, but can be concerned about their effectiveness and in the case of deodorant, proper odour control.

Some people find that when switching to a natural deodorant from a traditional antiperspirant, they experience an adjustment period. Find out more in this blog post.

What do we mean by natural deodorant?

Simply put, natural deodorants avoid harsh synthetic chemicals and artificial fragrances in their formulations. They consist of ingredients such as baking soda to neutralise odour, arrowroot powder or corn starch to help absorb moisture and coconut oil for its antibacterial and moisturising properties.

It’s important to note that in our Natural Deodorant formulation, we do not include baking soda, as it can irritate sensitive skin.

The difference between deodorant and antiperspirant

Deodorants and antiperspirants serve different purposes, despite often being conflated. The purpose of deodorants is to mask body odour caused by bacteria breaking down sweat, using antimicrobial agents to inhibit the bacteria and fragrances to mask the scent.

Antiperspirants reduce or stop perspiration by using aluminium-based compounds to block sweat glands, thus reducing sweat and controlling odour. In short, antiperspirants stop sweating, whereas deodorants mask odour caused by bacteria breaking down sweat.

Switching from antiperspirant to an aluminium-free deodorant

When you switch to an aluminium-free deodorant from an antiperspirant, it’s common to experience an adjustment period as your body detoxifies from previous products.

How long does it take to transition to natural deodorant?

The transition period for a natural deodorant is an individual process that can last from a few days to a couple of weeks. It’s important to note that during this time, some people experience increased sweating or odour.

3 tips for transitioning to natural deodorant

1. Stick with it

During the detox period for your natural deodorant transition, some people feel like they want to go back to using antiperspirant. Whether due to increased odour or increased sweating that they aren’t used to, it can feel like the easiest thing is to give up on the natural deodorant.

Persist with it. After a short period of transitioning, you’ll reap the benefits of natural, aluminium-free deodorant as your body adjusts.

2. Reapply as necessary

If you find that during this transition period you start to sweat more or have increased odour, simply reapply your natural deodorant throughout the day. 

3. Maintain good hygiene

Make sure that you’re keeping on top of your personal hygiene, cleansing and exfoliating your skin – especially your underarms – to remove any dead skin cells and buildup of bacteria.

UpCircle’s natural deodorant

If you know anything about UpCircle, you’ll hopefully know how committed we are to creating waste-fighting formulations that truly make a difference. That’s why when we were thinking about creating a deodorant, natural was the only way we could go!

What’s more, we didn’t just stop at natural – we actively give ingredients that would usually go to waste a new lease of life in this product.

Our deodorant is formulated using antioxidant upcycled prickly pear extract, derived from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus that would otherwise go to waste. Brimming with vitamins and hydration properties, this ingredient helps to soothe and nourish the skin.

The ingredient also helps to reduce irritation and redness, making it ideal for use on delicate underarm skin that may have been irritated by shaving. Macadamia oil provides deep nourishment and hydration for the skin. With delicate citrus notes, this deodorant not only keeps you feeling fresh but also uplifts your senses.

This natural balmy corn starch-based deodorant ensures a smooth application without piling or stickiness, ensuring light and comfortable wear.

In typical UpCircle fashion, the product is housed in plastic-free packaging and is completely natural. Moisture-absorbing, our deodorant offers long-lasting freshness. We've called the scent "Fresh Citrus" – bringing refreshing notes of bergamot and lime.

You might be wondering why we have chosen to create a deodorant as opposed to an antiperspirant. We found from our research that most people prefer deodorants to avoid aluminium. Many people are conscious to avoid aluminium in their bodycare products, so we chose deodorant that is gentle on the skin and avoids the potential health risks and irritation.

While deodorants are not sweat-blocking, our aluminium-free formulation includes corn starch which is moisture-absorbing – helping you to stay dry and confident,

We’ve answered all of our most frequently asked questions about our deodorant in a blog post so the most important are in one place.

How to use: Apply a small amount to clean, dry underarms, using gentle circular motions for even coverage. Let it absorb for a moment before getting dressed.

How refills will work: Refills of our deodorant will be slightly different to the packaging return scheme we have in place for the rest of the range. For your first purchase of the deodorant you buy the metal outer tube, which comes with one deodorant insert, and afterwards, you purchase a refill insert as needed. The refill arrives as a normal order, and you insert it into your outer tube. The packaging for the refill insert is 100% paper.

Shop our full range of natural, vegan products at UpCircle.