Switching to Natural Deodorant: What to Expect
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In my experience, not much. Most of my customers swap their antiperspirant for CONCHUS deo cream and don't notice any problems - just fresh, soft underarms. A few people notice a short settling-in period, with a little more dampness or a bit more smell for a week or two, as sweat glands go back to normal and underarm bacteria adjust. If that's you, it's normal, and it passes. A natural deodorant deals with smell, not sweat, so it won't stop you sweating.
Is switching to natural deodorant a big change?
It's usually a very quiet one. Most people who switch from antiperspirant to CONCHUS natural deodorant tell me there's nothing to report. They just feel fresh, and their underarms feel soft.
Don't just take my word for it. My deo creams have now had more than 800 reviews across the range, averaging almost 5 out of 5, and a lot of them come from people who switched after trying other things. Have a read on any of the deo cream product pages.
I make deodorant, and I will never make an antiperspirant. I studied radiotherapy at university, and I came away with a belief: our bodies are delicate, complicated systems, and I'd rather give mine fewer unknowns. That's a belief, not a fact, and I explain it properly in deodorant vs antiperspirant: what's the difference?, including what Cancer Research UK says about the research.
I spent months researching and more months developing my deo cream, and I almost gave up more than once because it worked but didn't feel right on my skin. After more versions than I can remember, tested by friends and family, it's now my best selling product, with the most reviews. Every order has at least one tin in it.
What people say after they switch
The same story comes up again and again. People have tried big-name antiperspirants and a long line of natural deodorants, and they were never quite right. Then they found one that keeps them fresh, doesn't irritate their skin, and has ingredients they can read and understand. In their own words:
I had previously been using Mitchum as I never felt confident without a strong deodorant, especially going through perimenopause. ... I got a free sample of Conchus a couple of months ago and it's been a game changer. I use a pea sized amount and I still smell fresh at the end of the day. It's even worked after a sweaty game of tennis. I'll never go back.
- Li N., CONCHUS customer review
The best!
I can't count how many different natural deodorants I have tried - so many brands, expensive, not expensive and without a doubt, this one is absolutely the best. It works the longest, doesn't irritate my skin, the tiny travel size lasts for ages.
- Natalie J., CONCHUS customer review
No irritation after shaving!!!
This is fantastic. Really effective and great to use after shaving with no irritation.
- Kate S., CONCHUS customer review
I can't promise it will be your forever deodorant, and I can't promise you won't have a wobble in the first week. But every ingredient is on the tin, and starting with a trial tin means you find out for very little.
What actually changes when you stop using antiperspirant?
Two things, and they happen at different speeds.
- Your sweat glands go back to normal. An antiperspirant works by forming temporary plugs in your sweat ducts using aluminium salts. As your skin renews itself, those plugs clear (International Hyperhidrosis Society). Stop applying it, and your glands simply carry on working as they would anyway.
- Your underarm bacteria adjust. Sweat barely smells until bacteria on your skin break it down (nidirect). What you use changes which bacteria are there, so a change of product can mean a change in how you smell for a while.
Neither of those is damage or a detox. It's your underarms returning to their own baseline.
What might I notice when I switch?
Everyone's different, so here's what's worth knowing, just in case.
- Most people: nothing at all. Fresh, comfortable underarms from day one.
- Some people: feel a little damper than usual for the first few days, especially in warm rooms or when stressed.
- A few people: notice smell comes through sooner in the day for a week or two while things settle.
That's what customers tell me, not a clinical trial. Nobody has run a proper study on how long it takes, so I'd rather say "a week or two for those who notice anything" than give you a precise number.
Why might I sweat a little more at first?
If you've used an antiperspirant for years, you may have got used to your underarms staying dry. Take the plugs away and your sweat glands do what they were always going to do. For some people that feels like more sweat than they're used to, because it is. A deodorant cream isn't designed to change this. Its job is the smell, not the sweat.
Sweating is your body's way of cooling itself. If you're in your 40s, you might sweat more anyway, because the NHS lists hot flushes and night sweats among the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause (NHS). Breathable fabrics like cotton and linen help, and so does a top-up in your bag. I wrote more about midlife skin in Do You Need a Menopause Skincare Routine?
If you sweat heavily and it's affecting your everyday life, a natural deodorant isn't designed to fix that. Speak to your GP or pharmacist, because that deserves proper medical advice.
Why might I smell more at first?
Sweat on its own barely smells. Odour comes from bacteria on your skin breaking down sweat from the apocrine glands under your arms (nidirect).
The research on what happens next is interesting but not settled. In a study of 17 people, culturable bacteria on the skin rose in the days after people stopped using their usual product, and antiperspirant users and non-users had different mixes of bacteria (Urban et al., 2016). In a smaller study of nine people, going without a product for a month and then switching shifted the underarm bacteria, and antiperspirant use increased a group the authors described as unfavourable for odour (Callewaert et al., 2014).
Both studies were tiny and short, and they don't tell exactly the same story. So I wouldn't claim to know what happens in your underarms. But it fits what some people notice: a brief wobble while the bacteria find a new balance, and then it settles.
For most people, switching is uneventful. For the few who notice a wobble, give it a fortnight before you decide.
Do I need an "armpit detox"?
You'll see charcoal masks, clay wraps and vinegar soaks sold as a way to "draw out toxins" when you switch. I don't make one, and I wouldn't. There's no good evidence that switching deodorant pulls anything out through your underarms, and most people don't need anything extra at all.
I believe in simple, honest ingredients. I don't believe in scaring you into buying more of them. What helps is boring and free: washing, patience, and a deodorant that's kind to the skin under your arms.
How to transition from antiperspirant to natural deodorant
- Finish what you have first. Use up your current antiperspirant rather than binning half of it. Empty aerosols can be recycled where your council takes them, as long as they're completely empty and you don't pierce or crush them (Recycle Now).
- Pick a calm fortnight. Not the week of a wedding or a big interview.
- Apply to clean, completely dry skin. A pea-sized amount, warmed between your fingertips for a few seconds, is plenty.
- Start with a trial tin. A 15g tin lets you find your scent before you commit to a full size, and it's handy in a bag for a top-up.
- Wear breathable fabrics like cotton and linen while you adjust. Synthetic layers hold on to sweat.
- Wash gently. A mild soap and warm water is all your underarms need.
- Listen to your skin. Redness, stinging or a rash means stop.
What if my skin reacts?
Stop using it. A tingle, itch or redness is your skin telling you something doesn't suit it, and it isn't something to push through.
The usual suspects are sodium bicarbonate, which some underarms don't get on with, applying to damp or freshly shaved skin, or a scent your skin dislikes. Every deo cream I make contains a low amount of bicarb, balanced with magnesium hydroxide and zinc ricinoleate. If you already know bicarb irritates you, mine may not be for you, and that's fine. I'd rather you knew now than found out under your arms.
Natural deodorant, asthma and sensitive skin
If you have asthma, hay fever or skin that reacts to scent, think about the scent before the switch. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation describes perfumed products as one of the biggest triggers for asthma attacks (Asthma and Allergy Foundation), and in a survey of around 4,400 adults in four countries including the UK, 57.8% of people with asthma said fragranced products caused them health problems (Steinemann and Goodman, 2019). It was self-reported, so it shows how common the experience is rather than what causes it.
My scented deo creams use pure essential oils, and essential oils are still fragrance. If scent is a trigger for you, choose Cloud. It has no essential oils and nothing added for scent. Patch test any new product first.
Which deo cream is for you?
All my deo creams share one base - arrowroot and kaolin clay, a low amount of bicarb balanced with magnesium hydroxide and zinc ricinoleate, and shea, mango, coconut and jojoba. Every ingredient is on the tin, because I'd never ask you to trust something I couldn't fully show you. The scent is what changes. Starting with a 15g trial tin means you're not committing to a full size until you know.
Cloud - for sensitive skin or no scent
No essential oils at all. Suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The one I'd suggest if you're nervous about irritation or scent.
Peach Tea - soft and sweet
Bergamot, ylang ylang and eucalyptus. My own favourite, and suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Olla - warm and spicy
Sweet orange, cinnamon, clove and patchouli. A cosy, comforting scent that suits the colder months. Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Who my deo creams aren't for: every one contains a low amount of sodium bicarbonate. If bicarb has irritated you before, mine may not suit you either - patch test a trial tin first, and stop if your skin reacts.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Choose Cloud, Peach Tea or Cherry Deo Cream.
Asthma or scent sensitivity? Choose Cloud, which has nothing added for scent.
If you're sweating far more than you'd expect, or it's affecting your daily life, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Browse every scent in my natural deodorant cream collection.
Questions people ask
Does natural deodorant work?
Yes, for smell. Natural deodorant doesn't stop you sweating, because it isn't designed to. It neutralises odour so you stay fresh while your body does its job. Hundreds of my customers say it works, and you can read their reviews on each deo cream product page.
Will I notice a difference when I switch to natural deodorant?
Most of my customers don't notice any negative effects. They tell me they feel fresh, with soft underarms. A few notice a short settling-in period.
Is it normal to smell more after switching to natural deodorant?
It can happen for a few people, for a week or two, as underarm bacteria adjust. Washing and a midday top-up help while it settles.
How long does it take to adjust to natural deodorant?
Many people don't need any adjustment time. If you do, it usually settles within a week or two. Give it a fortnight before you decide whether it's working for you.
Will I sweat more when I stop using antiperspirant?
You might notice it more. Antiperspirants reduce sweat by plugging sweat ducts, so when you stop, your glands go back to how they'd normally work. A deodorant doesn't change how much you sweat.
Do I need an armpit detox?
No. There's no good evidence your underarms need detoxing. Soap and water do the job.
Is natural deodorant better than antiperspirant?
They do different jobs. I choose natural deodorant because it works with my body instead of blocking sweat, I can read every ingredient, and the packaging is recyclable. I can't tell you antiperspirants are unsafe, because Cancer Research UK says there's no convincing evidence that they affect breast cancer risk.
Can I switch if I sweat a lot?
You can, but a deodorant won't reduce the sweat. If you sweat heavily and it's affecting your everyday life, speak to your GP or pharmacist first.
Is natural deodorant OK if I have asthma or sensitive skin?
Scent is a common trigger, so I'd choose Cloud, which has no essential oils and nothing added for scent, and patch test first. If you have asthma or a skin condition, ask your GP or pharmacist about your own triggers.
What about a big day while I'm switching?
I'd never suggest going back to antiperspirant. Wear breathable layers, wash gently before you go, and keep a 15g trial tin in your bag for a top-up.
Why does my natural deodorant itch?
Often it's bicarb, or applying to damp or freshly shaved skin that's already irritated. Try applying to fully dry skin. If it still itches or turns red, stop using it.
The easiest way to start is small. A 15g trial tin is £4.45 and lasts around 2-4 weeks - long enough to know. You'll find every scent in Try a Trial Size. And if you have a question about switching, send me a message or leave a comment below. I'll help you choose.
Camilla x
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