Mujer aplicándose el desodorante natural Ben&Anna Brisa de las tierras altas

Best deodorant without endocrine disruptors: how to choose yours

August 03, 2026 Virginia Velasco

For most people, a good deodorant without endocrine disruptors is one without aluminum salts, without parabens, and with a short list of ingredients. Our favorite at Alma Eko is the Ben&Anna stick; if you sweat a lot, the I+M Extra Fuerte cream, and if your skin gets irritated, a formula without baking soda. Below we explain why, with an honest comparison and for whom each one is not.

If you're in a hurry

For most: the Ben&Anna stick. Short formula, paper tube, and many scents.

If you sweat a lot or your odor is intense: the I+M Extra Fuerte cream (4.9/5 in 15 reviews) or the pack with sulfur soap.

If baking soda irritates you: the Ben&Anna for sensitive skin (4.8/5 in 36 reviews) or the I+M without fragrance. Both use magnesium instead of baking soda, and I+M, in addition, contains no fragrance or essential oils.

What is an endocrine disruptor and what is it doing in your deodorant

An endocrine disruptor is a substance that can interfere with your hormones: imitate them, block them, or alter how they are produced. The WHO considers them a public health issue that needs more research.

In a deodorant, the ingredients that generate the most questions are these:

Aluminum salts (in the ingredient list, everything that starts with Aluminium). They are the ones that stop sweat in antiperspirants and the most debated ingredient. The EU scientific committee concluded in 2020 that they are safe at authorized concentrations and that they are barely absorbed through the skin. Even so, many people prefer to avoid them, and it is a decision as valid as any other.
Parabens (-paraben). They are preservatives. The EU banned five in 2014 and limits the amount of the rest.
Phthalates. They can be inside the word Parfum. The most studied are banned in cosmetics in the EU, but “Parfum” does not tell you what it contains.
Triclosan. An antibacterial that the EU limits since 2014.

Honestly: it has not been proven that your usual deodorant causes any disease. What we do know is that we are exposed to many substances at once, every day and for years, and that there are alternatives that work without them.

That idea of looking at the sum and not an isolated product is what Dr. Nicolás Olea, professor at the University of Granada and researcher in endocrine disruptors, defends; his book Libérate de tóxicos is a good practical guide to start. And the endocrinologist Carme Valls Llobet has been claiming for years that environmental health should also be studied from women's health. If you want to go deeper, you have our article on endocrine disruptors in cosmetics.

What to look for to choose one that works

The ingredient list, not the “natural” seal. Without Aluminium, without -paraben, and better if the scent comes from essential oils and not just a Parfum.
How it works. A deodorant without aluminum does not stop sweat: it slows down the bacteria that make it smell. You sweat normally, but without a bad odor.
Your skin. Baking soda is very effective against odor, but it irritates some skin. If that is your case, look carefully at the ingredient list: there are formulas that replace it with magnesium compounds.
How much you sweat. For hot days or sports, it is better to use a more powerful formula or reapply at midday.
The packaging. Paper stick, cream in a glass jar, or refillable container: all three save you the plastic of the roll-on.

Honest comparison of the ones we have

Deodorant	Format	Ideal if…	Not for you if…	Customer opinion
Ben&Anna stick	40 g bar, paper tube	You want something easy and many scents	Your skin reacts to baking soda	—
Ben&Anna sensitive skin	40 g bar, without baking soda	Your armpit gets irritated or you shave often	You sweat a lot	4.8/5 (36 reviews)
Ben&Anna Love Me	Reusable container	You want to reduce waste as much as possible	You are looking for the most economical option to try	—
I+M Extra Fuerte	Cream, glass jar	You sweat a lot or exercise	You don't like applying it with your fingers	4.9/5 (15 reviews)
I+M without perfume	Cream, 30 ml glass jar, without baking soda	Your skin is very sensitive or you don't want it to smell like anything: without fragrance or essential oils	You like to notice a scent	5/5 (3 reviews)
Alum stone	Mineral, without plastic container	You want the most minimalist	You want to avoid any aluminum compound	—

Customer ratings from Alma Eko as of November 3, 2026; the updated price is on each product page.

About the alum stone, so there is no confusion: it contains potassium alum, which is an aluminum salt different from the one in antiperspirants. It does not block sweat, it acts on the bacteria. That is why we do not call it “without aluminum”.

Our favorite: Ben&Anna, and why

If we had to choose one for most people, it would be the Ben&Anna stick:

Short and easy-to-read formula: shea and cocoa butter, corn starch, and baking soda. The scent comes from essential oils.
Without plastic: 40 g in a paper tube.
Certified: according to the brand, it is NATRUE certified natural and vegan cosmetics.
Many scents: Pink Pomelo and Persian Lime if you like citrus, Green Fusion, Mint, Coco Manía and Urban Black, the most woody.
Sensitive skin version, with magnesium instead of baking soda: Cherry Blossom and Highland Breeze, the best rated by our customers.
Affordable price: it is the most economical in our selection.

When we would not choose it: if you sweat a lot, the I+M Extra Fuerte will give you more peace of mind. And if baking soda has ever irritated you, go straight to the sensitive skin version or the I+M without perfume.

What I use (Vir)

Before switching to natural deodorants I thought the same as you: will they really work or will I end up smelling like a gym on a Monday? In summer I use the I+M Extra Fuerte and in winter I usually use the Ben&Anna Sensitive Cherry Blossom, which I loved: freshness, zero irritation and it lasts all day. The first few weeks I did notice that I sweated more, and that is what you also tell me the most. But it is not a problem: it is normal for the body to sweat; what we want to avoid is smelling bad. My trick: a small amount, on dry skin, and in winter I warm it up for a moment between my hands so that it softens.

The first few weeks: what to expect

If you have been using antiperspirant for years, when you stop you sweat what you really sweat, and at the beginning it shows. Some people also notice more odor for a few days. There are no solid studies on how long this phase lasts, but the usual is to get used to it in a few weeks.

What helps:

Apply it on clean and well dry skin.
Small amount: a couple of passes, or a pea-sized portion if it is in cream. More product does not protect more and does stain.
If it is cold, warm the stick a little between your hands; if it is very hot, store it in a cool place.
Cotton or linen clothes: synthetic fabrics retain odor more.
Carry it in your bag on long days.
If your odor is very intense, the pack with sulfur soap combines a soap to wash the area with the Extra Fuerte.

And what if you prefer to make it at home?

You can too. We have a homemade deodorant recipe with 3 ingredients. Keep in mind that at home it is difficult to adjust the amount of baking soda, which is what usually irritates the most.

Frequently asked questions

At the beginning I feel that I sweat more or that it does not protect me the same, is it normal?

Yes, it is what you tell us the most. When you stop antiperspirant you sweat normally, what your body should sweat. Apply it on dry skin, in a small amount, and give it a few weeks. If after that time it does not convince you, try another formula: not everyone likes the same.

How long does a Ben&Anna deodorant stick last?

It is a 40 g stick. How long it lasts depends on how much you apply: a couple of passes per armpit is enough. The usual is that it lasts between a month and a half and two months, although depending on use it can last a little longer.

Does it stain clothes?

Yellow and stiff stains are usually associated with aluminum salts from antiperspirants. A natural deodorant can leave a slightly white mark on dark clothes if you use too much, so the solution is very easy: do not use too much and let it absorb for a minute before getting dressed.

Can I use it during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Many women take advantage of this stage to review their routine and choose simpler formulas. If you have doubts about any ingredient, for example essential oils, talk to your midwife or your doctor. If you prefer to avoid them, the I+M without perfume contains no fragrance or essential oils.

Can I put it on right after shaving?

Better wait a while: freshly shaved skin is more sensitive and any deodorant can sting. If you shave often, the versions without baking soda are the gentlest; the I+M without perfume also contains zinc oxide, which the manufacturer recommends for irritated skin after shaving.

Written by Vir (Virginia Velasco). She has been at Alma Eko (which has existed since 2018) since its relaunch in 2024 and tests the products at home, with her family, before including them in the store.

About Alma Eko

Alma Eko is a multi-brand online store of natural and sustainable products for your personal care, your home and your well-being. We do not manufacture cosmetics: we look for, test and select brands with transparent formulas and packaging with less plastic, so that changing your habits is easy for you. Behind it is Vir, who chooses each product as if it were for her own family. You can see all our selection of natural deodorants without aluminum here.