Aluminum-Free Deodorant Showdown for the Sweaty Horse Rider

“A deodorant blog post?! How is that even relevant to an equestrian blog?” you might be thinking. Well, summer is here, maybe not officially on the calendar, but weather-wise. There have already been a few 90+ degree days here in Southern California. I’ve been on a quest to find an aluminum-free deodorant that will fend off the stink both in and out of the saddle. It’s been a very unscientific study, but nevertheless I thought I’d share as a fellow horse friend and I went back and forth in an Instagram DM. She’s on the East Coast and she also has been wanting to find the perfect aluminum-free deodorant, so I figured if there’s one equestrian out there wondering the same thing, there must be more. 🙂

The Aluminum-Free Deodorant Contenders

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Native Deodorant

Enticed through an ad that targeted me on Instagram, Native deodorant was the first brand I tried. I opted for the cucumber mint fragrance which smells lovely–more minty than cucumbery. The texture is that of a traditional deodorant; it’s a white stick. With over 1,200 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 star rating I was convinced this would be a winner. The brand is cruelty and paraben free and they have several appealing fragrances ranging from coconut and vanilla to lavender and rose. I had high hopes.

I knew that I had to stop using my old deodorant/antiperspirant and stick with Native for a couple of weeks in order for my body to get used to the formulation and for it to start working. I was initially surprised at just how much I sweated–not even necessarily doing rigorous activity.

Well, to make a long story short, I was sad the Native deodorant didn’t work well for me. It’s not that I smelled like a middle school locker room, it’s just that my pits felt too drippy and damp. And I had some mild BO. Unacceptable. I gave the Native brand a few weeks but we just didn’t click.

Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant

I’ve used Secret brand (with aluminum) over the years and figured they would have a leg up on the competition since the company has been around forever. The price point is also lower than the other two aluminum-free brands in this experiment, which is a bonus.  I eagerly placed the Secret Rosewater Aluminum Free Deodorant in my shopping cart and began using it the next day after purchasing it.

I still preferred the Native aroma of cucumber mint, as the Secret Rosewater fragrance has a baby powderish smell with a bit of a scented tampon smell. So basically a smell that doesn’t exist in the wild. The Secret Aluminum Free glides on clear.

Even though the scent was not as appealing as the Native, I did not feel as drippy, sweaty, even though I had worn it over the course of several riding lessons. There were a few times I got a whiff of myself after physical activity and I thought, “Did I just smell BO?” But it wasn’t tragic. I thought perhaps I had found my match. However, I had also purchased The Healthy Deodorant (because the packaging was cute with fleur di lis) and so I continued the aluminum free deodorant experiment.

The Healthy Deodorant

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the exterior of The Healthy Deodorant was so cute I had to give it a try. So not only is this brand aluminum and paraben-free, it does not have petrochemicals, sulfates or synthetic dyes. It’s a solid stick. The description on the side reads, “This aluminum-free, freshly scented deodorant provides superior, long-lasting odor protection. Soothing essential oils blend with powerful anti-oxidants and beta glucan technology for daily defense and nourishment.” I have no idea what beta glucan technology is, but the rest of that description sounds great!

When I first started wearing The Healthy Deodorant I thought it was just okay. I knew I would have to try it out for a couple of weeks. There were some days after riding or walking the neighborhood or riding my spin bike I thought, “Am I really not that smelly?” I would sweat, but there was no overly off-putting aroma.

I was sure the Secret Aluminum Free was going to be the winner, so I was surprised The Healthy Deodorant seemed to be at least as good. How would I determine which aluminum free deodorant was right for me?

Ride Off–The Natural Deodorant v. Secret Aluminum Free

I came up with a truly genius (to my thinking–lol) way to test the two brands: I decided to wear The Healthy Deodorant on my left armpit and the Secret Aluminum Free on my right.

I did this over the course of several trips to the barn when the temperatures ranged from the mid 70s to the low 90s. I wore the two different brands during several spin sessions. At the conclusion of my rides I would literally stick my nose in the pit of the shirts I had been wearing (classy, I know). And then for good measure, I would smell my sports bra on the left and on the right. I am sooo glad there were no cameras around for that.

Would you believe it was almost a tie, but according to my nose, The Healthy Deodorant side won!

Parting Thoughts on Aluminum Free Deodorants for the Horse Rider

Over the course of years I have tried Tom’s Natural Deodorant (didn’t work for me at all), Arm & Hammer Natural Deodorant (also didn’t work for me at all) and more recently Native, Secret and The Healthy Deodorant.

Just because one of these brands didn’t work well for me, doesn’t mean it would do the same for you. If like me, you are trying to get away from chemicals and aluminum, it’s worth it to experiment and try out various brands. I would recommend using the new brand for at least two weeks before you make a decision. Also, you might want to apologize up front to any family members or friends who get close to your path. I did so recently to a barn friend. Then I remembered not needing to say sorry for my potential “stank”–she has no sense of smell.

Thanks for reading and tally ho!

Leave a Comment: What’s your go-to brand of deodorant? Have you tried aluminum-free deodorant before? What were your observations?

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