How do you feel about baking soda in natural deodorant? We’ll be honest, there are good arguments on both sides. To help you choose, here’s the science behind baking soda and your skin.
Baking soda (aka sodium bicarbonate) is a pantry staple. Not only do we use it for making kitchen treats, but it’s excellent for neutralizing odors. So when natural deodorant gained popularity in the early 2000s, brands turned to baking soda as the first ingredient.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky, though. Not everyone’s skin responds well to baking soda. In fact, it’s a bit abrasive. Natural skincare has come a long way, and we’ve had plenty of time to test baking-soda-free deodorant formulas.
So here’s the question: Is baking soda deodorant old news? Or do we still need it?
Let’s unpack it.
Yes, There Are Benefits to Using Baking Soda in Deodorant
There’s no question that baking soda works to neutralize odor. Actually, it goes even further by balancing pH and removing the bacteria that cause odor.
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Balancing pH
Your skin maintains a natural pH that’s slightly acidic (around 5 on the pH scale). The problem is, sweat is acidic, too. Excess sweat can change the pH level of your underarms, leading to body odor. But baking soda, which is alkaline, is a powerful natural remedy against it. Baking soda works by normalizing the pH under your arms and returning your body to balance.
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Odor protection
Baking soda is super absorbent, which is one of the reasons it works in natural deodorant. People who are used to aluminum deodorants that stop sweat might respond better to baking soda deodorant because it’s so absorbent. It helps reduce that sticky, sweaty underarm feeling.
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Bacteria cleanse
The skin is home to many different types of bacteria that all play a role in your health. Some bacteria lead to illness and imbalance, while other bacteria protect against it. Actually, skin bacteria are so protective that they’re considered part of the immune system.
When you sweat, bacteria and sweat mix, leading to body odor. That’s why a natural deodorant that removes smelly bacteria is much more effective than one that doesn’t. It’s also the reason that baking soda works so well to reduce odor, since it’s naturally antibacterial.
There Are Downsides to Baking Soda Deodorant, Too
Despite the pros of baking soda deodorant, there are a lot of valid reasons to exclude it from natural deodorant formulas. Mainly, it irritates sensitive skin.
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Sensitive skin
One of the reasons baking soda works well for cleaning your kitchen is that it’s naturally abrasive. Baking soda crystals are large and abrasive enough to irritate sensitive skin. It can change the pH of your skin, too, which people occasionally react to. We’ve seen a lot of women go through pregnancy and suddenly develop a sensitivity to baking soda, and pH has a lot to do with it.
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Rash development
Baking soda tends to trigger rashes for people who are super sensitive. This issue is so common that “natural deodorant that doesn’t cause a rash” is a big selling point for some brands.
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Outdated science
In our experience, natural deodorant blends that rely on baking soda are using outdated science. Baking soda is effective, but using it as the main ingredient in a formula is lazy practice. There are plenty of other ingredients that neutralize odor (like magnesium and tallow), and they’re even better for your skin barrier.
You’ve Heard the Science: Now, Here’s Where We Land on Baking Soda Deodorant
Baking soda or no baking soda? There are good arguments for each side. We land somewhere in the middle.
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Use a small amount for extra-strength deodorant blends
When customers use natural deodorant for the first time, their biggest fear is smelling like onions. Totally rational. One way we calm that fear is with baking soda. Our “extra-strength” natural deodorant blend contains just a smidgen of baking soda for added odor protection. It’s enough to give you peace of mind but not enough for a rash.
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Neutralize odor with other natural ingredients
Here’s where we land on baking soda: it just shouldn’t be the main ingredient. Grass-fed tallow, magnesium, arrowroot powder, beeswax, and coconut oil are much more nourishing to the skin and super effective for odor protection. In fact, we have a baking-soda-free deodorant that only uses these ingredients. Baking soda can be a great addition to these ingredients, but it’s just a bonus.
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Prioritize finely milled baking soda
Earlier, we mentioned that baking soda is abrasive, and that’s why people react to it. But is it possible to make baking soda less abrasive? Absolutely. Finely milled baking soda goes through an additional refinement process to get a finer grind. That means the crystals are smaller and much less likely to irritate skin. If you’re sensitive to baking soda deodorant but still want the odor prevention power, try a blend with finely milled baking soda.
Coming Soon: Our Bestselling Baking Soda Deodorant with a Twist
Sometimes, you need just a smidge of extra odor protection. For stressful work presentations and gym days, our extra strength deodorant uses just a hint of high-quality baking soda to keep your armpits smelling fresh. For most customers, it’s just enough to reduce odor without triggering any issues. That said, we’re always looking for ways to make our formulas more friendly on sensitive skin.
Keep your eyes peeled for a new twist on our customer favorite