Did you know that interest in the word "deodorant" has doubled in Switzerland in the last 5 years? And there's a reason for this: deodorants are increasingly becoming part of the skinification trend - in other words, people don't just want a deodorant that covers up unpleasant odors or an antiperspirant that reduces sweating. The question is rather: What else can my deodorant do? Does it brighten, soothe, help with ingrown hairs - and most importantly, does it contain ingredients that could be harmful or irritating in any way? It is precisely this last point that has given rise to a new category: natural deodorants.

But what exactly is a natural deodorant, and can it really work in everyday life? We share our honest experience over the past two years with Corpus Naturals deodorants.

Before we turn to natural deodorants - deodorants and antiperspirants are different in the way they work. The differentiation is as follows: An antiperspirant is a product that uses aluminum salts to temporarily reduce sweat production by constricting the sweat glands. This means that sweating is actively inhibited and odor is prevented. Another thing I didn't know was that it is best applied in the evening, on clean and dry skin, when you don't sweat much - so that it doesn't wash off again before it has a chance to work. A deodorant - Latin for "deodorizer" - was developed to reduce odour. So you sweat, but you smell good.

Many deodorant and antiperspirant brands promise protection for up to 72 hours in their marketing campaigns - you can read an article about this last July on 20 Minuten. In a nutshell: The 72-hour promise applies under laboratory conditions - for deodorants we are realistically closer to 24 hours, and for antiperspirants a little over that depending on activity, sweat level and shower.

There is also a reason why we almost never hear about natural antiperspirants. Although aluminum is of natural origin, the aluminum salts - which are listed as Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Chloride, Aluminum Stearate and Ammonium Alum on the INCI, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients -are industrially produced.

So, let's get down to business. Is there a definition, or is this just a marketing gimmick? There is no legal and standardized definition under EU or European cosmetics legislation. However, a market definition could be summarized as follows: A natural deodorant is a deodorant that reduces body odor and does not block sweat production with classic antiperspirant active ingredients. It is predominantly formulated with nature-based ingredients or ingredients that are accepted in natural cosmetics standards. I would even go one step further and say that we also make sure that this applies to fragrances. But that's worth a separate article - let's not get into that shall we.

My reason for looking for a more natural deodorant was because I had heard about the aluminum salts and the link to cancer and hormonal effects. Interestingly, this discussion was not triggered by a well-founded study, but by a viral email chain in the late 1990s - the claims spread faster than the science could keep up, and suddenly articles appeared in major media outlets without any real evidence.

What did exist in the 1990s was an interesting epidemiological observation: studies found that up to 61% of breast cancer cases occurred in the upper outer quadrant of the breast - the region closest to the armpit, where deodorant or antiperspirant is applied daily. This was not proof, but a clue that raised questions.

Dr. Philippa Darbre used precisely this observation as a starting point and put forward the theory in the early 2000s that aluminum salts could have an estrogen-like effect - as so-called metalloestrogens. The logic: estrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer cells, and if aluminum has a similar effect, daily application directly next to the breast could be relevant. Laboratory studies also show that aluminum can activate estrogen-sensitive genes in human cells - without the presence of true estrogen - and has been shown to have DNA-damaging properties. What this means with long-term daily use has not yet been conclusively clarified.

Even today, over 20 years later, the data has not been conclusively clarified and opinions are divided. Various studies have been carried out, but often with different protocols or approaches. However, I would like to mention two of the most recent ones because they helped me to classify them

The Innsbruck study

The first was conducted at the Medical University of Innsbruck, from 2013 to 2016, with a total of 460 women - 210 diagnosed with breast cancer and 250 healthy controls, matched by age. The study examined both behavior with underarm products before the age of 30 and aluminum residues in breast tissue.

The remarkable result: a significant association was found - but mainly in women who had used an antiperspirant several times a day before the age of 30. Of course, this study also has its limitations - such studies are heavily dependent on how well the test subjects can remember their previous behavior. The authors deliberately took into account the fact that younger women may remember the years before the age of 30 better than older women - a bias that is mentioned in the study as a possible limitation. In order to keep the interviews as neutral as possible, specially trained experts were also used. Other factors were also examined in order to better classify interactions.

Importantly, the study cannot definitively say that these aluminum residues in breast tissue come from the antiperspirant - aluminum also enters the body via food, water and other sources. What it does show, however, is that the association is strong enough for the authors to recommend caution when using cosmetic underarm products - i.e. deodorants and antiperspirants containing aluminum salts - in accordance with the precautionary principle. And that was reason enough for me personally.

The Mandriota study

The second study is a laboratory study by Mandriota et al. published in 2016 in the International Journal of Cancer. It did not examine people, but cells - but that does not make it any less relevant. The researchers exposed normal mammary gland cells to aluminum concentrations over several weeks that correspond to those actually measured in human breast tissue. The result: the cells changed permanently and formed tumors and metastases in animal models - control cells without aluminum did not. The authors are cautious: they are not saying aluminum causes breast cancer. But they say it is anything but biologically inert. And that makes a difference to me.

My personal conclusion

Before we move on to our own experience and tips, it is important for me to emphasize: science has not yet reached a consensus. At a time when we have more access to information than ever before, we should always strive to form our own opinions and examine sources critically. Remain curious - and not rely on a single position.

I guess I'm something of a die-hard fan of the Santalum Stick from Corpus Naturals. But to be honest, I didn't get off to a perfect start.

I did a lot of things wrong in the first few weeks - mainly because I didn't know what was happening and what to look out for. I often applied the deodorant straight after shaving without waiting until my skin was dry. I used it in the same way as a conventional product, which is not ideal,especially during the transition phase. The result was that my first few weeks were bumpier than they should have been - not because of the product, but because of me.

But what kept me going was the overall feeling.

It's hard to describe, but it's that awareness that you know what's landing on your skin. No guilty conscience when you apply it. And over time - if you do it right - it just works.

If you're now interested and would like to try a more natural deodorant, I've summarized my best tips here.

Choose the right moment

The switch should be planned. I would recommend choosing a week when there is not much going on - no big presentation, not too many appointments. Why? When we are stressed, we sweat more because we release hormones such as adrenaline. These activate the eccrine sweat glands, especially under the armpits, but also on the soles of the hands and feet - a completely normal part of the fight-or-flight response. In addition, the sweat glands can be more active than usual in the first phase, especially after prolonged antiperspirant use. So a calm start really makes the difference.

Dissolving residues - especially after antiperspirant use

Aluminum salts can take a while to dissolve completely. Depending on the shower and activity, the direct effect is gone after about 24 hours - but depending on the concentration, it can take up to a week for all residues to be completely dissolved. It can help to clean the armpits in the shower with lukewarm water - it doesn't have to be hot. A mild enzyme peel can also help.

Understanding the transition phase

The body has been under the influence of aluminum for years - the transition takes time. What happens in these weeks is not a failure of the product, but a sign that the body is working freely again.

WEEK 1

Surprisingly inconspicuous. The body is still used to how the aluminum worked - the sweat glands have not yet fully woken up. Many people hardly notice any difference in this phase compared to before.

WEEK 2

Now the real changeover begins. The sweat glands become more active and the body begins to detoxifyitself . More moisture is normal - and so a little more odor is possible because odor-producing bacteria are increased during this phase.

WEEK 3-4

The body finds its natural balance. Moisture and bacteria levels settle down. If you remain consistent, you often notice: less odor than ever before - because the body has learned to regulate itself.

Apply correctly

Always apply to dry, clean skin - this is the most important tip. Only a few strokes are enough, too much product is counterproductive. Wait until the skin is completely dry and soothed immediately after shaving - this was my biggest mistake at the beginning. In the first few weeks, a second application a day can help, especially if you sweat a lot or do sport. After the changeover, the body usually regulates itself.

GOOD TO KNOW

If you sweat a lot or do sport: A second application a day can help in the first few weeks . After the changeover, the body usually regulates itself.

Patience as a strategy

My tip: give your body at least three to four weeks before you make a judgment. Most people report that everything has settled down after that - and they don't want to go back.

Listen to your body

Some skin is sensitive to baking soda - which is why Corpus deliberately avoids it. The formula is based on magnesium and plant-based ingredients that even sensitive skin can tolerate in the long term. Even natural deodorants can contain fragrances - some natural, some synthetic - so it is always advisable not to apply the deodorant directly to freshly shaved skin. If you still notice a rash or eczema, it is advisable to stop using the product and wait to see if it heals. Fragrance allergies often manifest themselves as red, itchy patches, rashes, pustules or blisters - eczema, on the other hand, tends to appear as scaly or inflamed patches of skin.

My conclusion

After four weeks, my experiment was complete and I had become completely accustomed to the deodorant. Sweat is regulated, the underarmmicrobiome is in balance and odor is hardly an issue anymore. The Santalum Deo Stick from Corpus has definitely moved into my bathroom - and I wouldn't give it up.

Corpus Naturals was founded in 2015 by JP Mastey - but the real journey began when he was an expectant father preparing for the birth of his first child. As someone who had been in the beauty world for a long time, he came across something that bothered him: many products that were labeled as "clean" either weren't really - or they simply didn't work well enough. They lacked the intersection between truly clean ingredients and an experience that felt high-quality. With Corpus, he created just that: a brand that brings together clean ingredients and a thoughtful, sophisticated product experience.

Corpus pays attention to a modern, skin-conscious formulation. The products are designed to be effective and comfortable to use while avoiding many classic, more controversial ingredients. Instead of highly occlusive or unnecessarily harmful formulations, the brand focuses on a reduced, functional approach with plant-based or naturally inspired components.

Specifically, this means no parabens, no phthalates, no SLS, no synthetic fragrances, no aluminum, no talc, no petroleum-based ingredients. And of course - as we have already discussed in detail - no baking powder.

Corpusalso takes a consistent approach tosustainability: 94% of production runs on solar power, the materials are recyclable and all production takes place locally. The bottles are produced just 17 miles from the bottling plant and the warehouse is only 7 miles away. Transportation distances are kept as short as possible - and it shows.

And the fragrances?

A legitimate question - because Corpus Naturals does use fragrances. The difference lies in the origin: Corpus fragrances are composed exclusively of essential oils, plant extracts and botanical blends. No synthetic aromatic substances - because behind synthetic fragrances, or the term "fragrance" if not labeled as natural, there can be up to 3000 secret, laboratory-produced components.

What is created at Corpus are not typical natural cosmetic fragrances - but unmistakable fragrance compositions that are oriented more towards the world of perfumery than classic body care. Each individual fragrance has been constructed according to traditional fragrance architecture: Base, middle and top notes. This is rather unusual for natural fragrances - and this is precisely where the breakthrough lies. Each fragrance has taken over a year to develop.

The fragrances at Self Kaer

We currently have three fragrance variants of the Corpus deodorant stick at Self Kaer:

Santalum

A balanced, classic sandalwood fragrance with earthy undertones and a base note of amber - it is reminiscent of freshly cut wood and unfolds a multi-layered complexity that you would not expect from a natural deodorant.

No. Green

Obtained naturally from root, seed, stem, pulp and peel - a composition of citrus plants and spices. Undeniably citrusy, but mysteriously complex.

Neroli

Orange blossom, bergamot and ambrette seeds combine to create a fragrance reminiscent of sun-drenched orange trees. Light, bright and yet with depth.