Very rarely is a person unbothered by his or her body odor. It’s perfectly normal, and yet it can cause you to be extremely self-conscious. Sometimes, you even avoid situations wherein you have to be in close proximity with other people. The truth is, body odor is the result of bacteria breaking down your sweat, producing smelly acids. To kill these bacteria, you need deodorant. Some ingredients of traditional deodorants, however, could be harmful and possibly make you smell worse in the long run. To be on the safe side, it’s best to use a natural product. One brand that’s gone viral for making safe and effective deodorants is Schmidt’s.

Schmidt’s began in Jaime Schmidt’s kitchen in Portland in 2010. Spurred by the lack of healthy and functional body care products in the market, she experimented with hundreds of recipes. Eventually, she came up with the ideal formula—one that works and smells great to boot. Her now-expansive line of deodorants uses natural, skin-friendly ingredients like arrowroot, coconut, shea butter, and jojoba. None of them contain aluminum or artificial fragrances which could potentially be dangerous to your skin and overall health.

How to Choose Your Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant

At last count, Schmidt’s makes over 30 deodorants, and they don’t look like they’re going to slow down anytime soon. To help you navigate through their products and choose the best one (or two, or three—why not?), we’ve grouped them into five categories, and featured the top seller in each.

  Product Available Size Fragrance Price  
Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant 75 g (2.65 oz) stick Freshly fallen rain $8.43 Buy on Amazon
Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Formula Natural Deodorant 75 g (2.65 oz) stick Jasmine with green tea undertones $9.80 Buy on Amazon
Schmidt’s Fragrance Free Sensitive Skin Formula Natural Deodorant 92 g (3.25 oz) stick Unscented $7.33 Buy on Amazon
Schmidt’s Sage + Vetiver Hemp Seed Oil Enriched Natural Deodorant 92 g (3.25 oz) stick Vetiver grass, tea, and spiced fruits $10.29 Buy on Amazon
Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Jar Formula Natural Deodorant 56.7 g (2 oz) jar Invigorating citrus $9.99 Buy on Amazon

1. Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant

The first group of Schmidt’s deodorants is the Signature Stick with baking soda. There are a dozen heavenly scents to choose from, but the surprising best seller is the Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant. It has a crisp, gender-neutral scent that won’t clash with your perfume or lotion. This variant has activated charcoal that reduces odors and unclogs pores. By gently removing dead skin cells and other impurities, it can clarify and brighten your skin.

All Signature Sticks contain baking soda, a common household item that has tons of uses. It kills the bacteria that cause body odor, and it prevents acne breakouts, too. However, it has a gritty texture that some people might not like. If you want a product that has a smoother feel, the next deodorant could be a better choice for you.

2. Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Formula Natural Deodorant

Schmidt’s Sensitive Stick formulas contain absolutely no baking soda which could be irritating for some skin types. Of all the floral and fruity variants available, the delicate and sophisticated scent of the Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant is the clear winner for us. Moreover, green tea offers bonus anti-aging benefits.

For all of Schmidt’s deodorant sticks, you have to hold the product for a few moments against your skin to warm it up. Your body heat softens it so that you can glide it on more easily. Because the Sensitive Stick line isn’t made with baking soda, it’s less grainy while leaving a powdery finish. It really feels like the coconut oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter are shining through. Although these ingredients are oils, they aren’t greasy at all. They just make your skin feel thoroughly moisturized.

3. Schmidt’s Fragrance Free Sensitive Skin Formula Natural Deodorant

Schmidt’s uses natural essential oils to make their products smell gorgeous, but sometimes these oils could cause rashes for especially sensitive skin. If you want to avoid them altogether, you can try their Fragrance Free Sensitive Skin Formula Natural Deodorant. Users of this product say that it neutralizes odors even after a hard workout at the gym. The fact that it doesn’t have any scent that some deodorant-makers use to mask body odor doesn’t lessen its effectivity.

This fragrance-free deo comes in two versions—with and without baking soda. If you need a bit more protection and your skin can tolerate it, the regular one with baking soda is fine. On the other hand, if you’re prone to breakouts and redness, then you’re better off with the baking soda-free variant.

4. Schmidt’s Sage + Vetiver Hemp Seed Oil Enriched Natural Deodorant

Schmidt’s has created a special line of deodorants that contain an unusual ingredient—hemp seed oil. Derived from the cannabis plant, it has a long history of being used to maintain healthy skin. And no, it won’t make you high. This oil is packed with vitamin F, a fatty acid that strengthens your skin’s natural barrier. It helps your skin fight signs of premature aging, keeping it smooth and supple. Best of all, it’s suitable for all skin types.

There are three hemp seed oil-enriched deodorants currently, but our favorite is Sage + Vetiver Hemp Seed Oil Enriched Natural Deodorant. The scent is elegant and subtle, and yet it lasts all day. 

5. Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Jar Formula Natural Deodorant

Schmidt’s products are all certified vegan and cruelty-free. In addition, they’re also striving to be an environmentally conscious company. If you prefer a product that’s contained in sustainable packaging, you can choose their Bergamot + Lime Jar Formula Natural Deodorant. It comes in a reusable glass jar with a cute spatula to scoop up the product.

To use, take a pea-sized amount and soften it between your fingers. When you rub it onto your underarms, you’ll notice that its non-greasy, non-sticky formula absorbs quickly. Although it’s a little messy, many users find that they have more control over the application process. And the daily armpit massage feels nice, too.

Natural Deodorants That Actually Work

It used to be that you couldn’t trust an all-natural product to do the job as well as a traditional chemical-laced one. The problem, especially in the case of managing body odor, was that you could end up sacrificing your long-term health in order to smell clean and fresh. Not anymore, with Schmidt’s Natural Deodorants. They’ve proven that you don’t need aluminum or other harsh chemicals to keep body odor at bay. Using only the simplest ingredients, they’ve cracked the code to keep you confident in any situation, even if you have to get up close and personal.