Two Great Natural Deodorants That Actually Work: Shwally’s and Fatco

Why Most Natural Deodorants Don’t Work

The problem with most natural deodorants is that they don’t actually work. How do you know if a deodorant works? You sniff your pits in the morning—and if you smell BO, they don’t work.Or at least that’s my test. And I’ve been using various deodorants for over ten years, ever since I first learned about the harmful, toxic chemicals used in most major deodorant brands.Conventional deodorants often contain aluminum, parabens, benzene, and synthetic perfumes, ingredients that have been linked to health concerns, including endocrine disruption and even cancer [source].At the time, I was regularly experiencing sweaty armpits while teaching my college classes. In an attempt to avoid embarrassing sweat stains, I kept trying stronger and stronger deodorants. But nothing worked. You know what did? My own homemade natural deodorant.

The DIY Natural Deodorant Experiment

Making Home-made deodorant is actually pretty simple: you just mix arrowroot powder, baking soda, shea butter, and coconut oil. That blend worked fairly well for me—I stopped sweating, and my shirts stayed dry.But there was a downside. I quickly grew tired of dipping my fingers into my homemade paste and rubbing it onto my armpits.  Missed the ease of a stick deodorant. I also missed smelling like something other than coconut oil. Plus, my skin often felt red, scaly, and itchy, which meant my homemade version wasn’t quite right.

So I started trying store-bought natural deodorants. Brands like Tom’s, Humble, Schmidt’s, and Honest all worked to some extent, but they often faded by morning or even by evening. Worse, after researching their ingredients, I found that many so-called "natural" deodorants still contained questionable ingredients. That was frustrating—why tolerate the risk of BO and sandalwood-scented armpits if you’re still absorbing harmful chemicals into your skin? [source]So I doubled down on my search for the best deodorants, and I found two that work incredibly well—both for My American Goods and for myself

The Best Natural Deodorants: Shwally’s Zinc & Charcoal and Fatco’s Stank Stop

Shwally’s Zinc & Charcoal Deodorant

One of my top picks is Shwally’s Zinc & Charcoal Deodorant. What I immediately liked about it is its minimal yet effective ingredients:

• Arrowroot powder to keep you dry
• Non-nano zinc oxide and kaolin clay to absorb sweat and odor
• Coconut oil for soothing
• Grass-fed beef tallow to condition the skin and prevent irritation
• Eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils for a clean, fresh scent

Unlike many deodorants, Shwally’s formula prevents the redness and itchiness that I experienced with other brands. It’s a bit pricier than mass-market options, but the quality makes it worth every penny.

Fatco’s Stank Stop Deodorant

The second deodorant I highly recommend is Fatco’s Stank Stop. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of the name at first—“Stank” is a bold choice—but after giving it a try, I was sold.Fatco’s cream deodorant formula includes:

• Arrowroot powder, zinc oxide, shea butter, and baking soda for dryness and odor control
• Grass-fed beef tallow for extra skin conditioning
• Beeswax and seed wax to help the formula glide on smoothly
• Signature essential oil blends like Scotch Pine + Coriander, Rosemary + Lemon, and Grapefruit + Ginger for long-lasting, unique scents

What sets Fatco apart is its smart scent combinations. Instead of relying solely on typical essential oils, it blends pungent aromatic herbs (coriander, rosemary, ginger) with classic base scents (pine, lemon, grapefruit), creating long-lasting fragrances you’ll actually enjoy throughout the day.

Do Natural Deodorants Really Work?

The short answer: Yes—if you choose the right one.Both Shwally’s Zinc & Charcoal and Fatco’s Stank Stop keep my underarms dry, fresh, and free of BO from morning till night. No sweaty patches. No unpleasant odors. Just effective, truly natural deodorant.If you’re looking for a deodorant that works without harmful chemicals, check out these top-rated options from My American Goods. And if you’re still skeptical about making the switch, check out this review of natural deodorants for even more insight!