How to switch to natural deodorant: a week-by-week guide

What actually changes when you switch?

You stop blocking sweat and start managing odour instead. That one change explains almost everything you'll notice in the first few weeks.

An antiperspirant uses aluminium-based compounds that form a temporary plug in the sweat duct, which cuts the amount of sweat reaching your skin. The US National Cancer Institute describes this in its fact sheet on antiperspirants. A deodorant leaves your sweat glands alone. It works on the smell, which comes from skin bacteria breaking down sweat.

Many supermarket products labelled "deodorant" are actually both. The American Academy of Dermatology's rule of thumb is simple: it's only an antiperspirant if an aluminium ingredient is on the label. So check the back of the one you're using now before you plan your switch. If there's no aluminium on it, you're already using a deodorant, and changing to a balm is mostly a change of format and scent.

What should you expect in the first four weeks?

Most people feel damper at first and notice odour a little earlier in the day, then settle into a routine within a few weeks. Everyone is different, so read this as a rough guide, not a promise.

There's a reason the first fortnight can feel different. In a small study of 17 people, Urban and colleagues (PeerJ, 2016) asked antiperspirant and deodorant users to stop using any product for five days. The number of bacteria on their underarm skin rose and moved closer to the levels seen in people who never use a product. A separate study of nine people found that starting or stopping a deodorant or antiperspirant changed the mix of underarm bacteria (Callewaert and colleagues, 2014). Neither study tracked how long the change lasts, so nobody can honestly promise you an exact timeline.

Not everyone has a rough patch. Plenty of people notice very little change, especially if they weren't sweating much to begin with.

Is there really an armpit "detox"?

No. There's no good evidence that your underarms detox when you switch, and you don't need a special detox before you start.

A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist puts it plainly: "There are no scientifically proven reasons to do a detox" (Cleveland Clinic, Armpit detox). Your liver and kidneys do that job. What's really going on in the first weeks is the change we just covered: sweat is no longer blocked, and the bacteria on your skin adjust.

The same goes for the scary stories that often push people to switch. Cancer Council Australia says there is no evidence that deodorants or antiperspirants cause cancer. We'd rather you switch because you like a short ingredient list, a balm format and a scent you enjoy, not because of fear.

Some people still like a clay mask while they switch, and that's fine as a cosmetic step. Our Underarm Detox Mask is a 25 g clay powder you mix with water or apple cider vinegar, leave on for 10 minutes and rinse off. It cleans the skin. It doesn't pull toxins out of your body, and you don't need it to make the switch.

How do you switch to natural deodorant, step by step?

Pick a calm week, patch test, then build a simple morning habit. Here's the plan we'd give a friend.

1. Read your current label. If aluminium is listed, you're coming off an antiperspirant and the first weeks may feel damper. If it isn't, expect a much smoother change.
2. Choose your start week. A quiet week at home is easier than a wedding, a job interview or a heatwave. In Australia, a mild spell suits many people better than the middle of a humid summer.
3. Patch test first. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests testing a new product on a small patch of your inner forearm or elbow crease twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Stop if you see redness, itching or a rash.
4. Start clean and dry. Wash your underarms, then pat them completely dry. Balm sits best on dry skin.
5. Use a pea-sized amount. Warm it between your fingertips until it softens, then press and smooth it in. More isn't better, and too much can feel greasy and mark clothes. Our guide on how to apply deodorant balm has photos and the full method.
6. Pack a top-up. On big days, rinse or wipe the area, pat it dry and add a little more. A fresh, thin layer works better than piling balm on sweaty skin.
7. Look after your clothes. In a study of gym shirts, polyester smelled stronger than cotton after a workout (Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2014). Wash synthetic gear soon after wearing, and choose cotton or linen when you can.
8. Give it a fair go. Try one deodorant for at least two weeks before you judge it, unless your skin is unhappy. Then stop straight away.

If you'd like everything in one go, the Fresh Start Ritual is our switching kit. It pairs one full-size balm in the mood you choose with the Underarm Detox Mask and the Bamboo Applicator, for less than the three pieces cost on their own.

Should you go cold turkey or ease in?

Either can work. We know of no study that compares the two, so pick the approach that suits your week.

• Clean break: stop the antiperspirant and use the balm every day from day one. You'll learn your new routine faster, and the damp feeling, if you get it, is behind you sooner.
• Ease in: use the balm on quiet days and keep your old antiperspirant for one or two big occasions in the first weeks. It's gentler on your nerves, though it may stretch out the settling-in period.

Whichever you choose, keep the balm habit the same: clean, dry skin, a pea-sized amount, pressed in.

What if natural deodorant isn't working for you?

Most "it isn't working" moments come down to amount, skin that isn't dry, clothes holding old odour, or a formula that doesn't suit you. Work through this table before you give up.

If you shave, do it at night and apply balm in the morning. Bicarb and essential oils can sting freshly shaved skin.

Is a bicarb deodorant right for you?

For most people, yes, and bicarb is one of the most common odour-control ingredients in natural deodorants. It is alkaline, though, and some people find it leaves them red or itchy. A patch test tells you before you commit.

Here's what's in our balms, in label order. All three share this base, and only the essential oils change.

• Shea butter gives the creamy base that softens on warm skin.
• Arrowroot powder and kaolin clay absorb some moisture.
• Sodium bicarbonate helps neutralise odour.
• Coconut oil, cold pressed sunflower oil (high oleic) and beeswax help it melt, glide and hold together.
• Vitamin E oil protects the oils.
• Essential oils give each balm its scent, and every one is named on the label.

If you already know bicarb doesn't agree with you, our balms aren't the right first step. Look for a magnesium-based formula instead. Our guide to the best natural deodorant in Australia compares options from several local brands.

Which Freshie Folk balm should you start with?

The one whose scent you'll look forward to each morning. All three are 50 g balms on the same base, handmade in small batches in Freshwater, NSW.

• Lemongrass Lift is bright and zesty: lemongrass with tea tree, lavender and cedar wood.
• Wild Awake is cool and fresh: peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree.
• Classic Botanic is calm and grounded: lavender, rosemary and cedar wood.

Not sure yet? The Mood Sampler Bundle has a sample balm of each scent, plus a full-size Underarm Detox Mask and a Bamboo Applicator, so you can try all three before you choose a full size. Our short guide to choosing a mood can help too. For tips aimed at you, read our guides to natural deodorant for women and natural deodorant for men.

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