‘I legitimately smelled like onion’: TikTok users are ditching natural deodorant and going back to antiperspirant

It’s hot. Everyone is sweating, and anyone who chooses to venture into the world armed with nothing but natural deodorant knows they’re playing a risky game.

But online, the backlash against natural deodorant has begun.

“When someone tells you their deodorant is natural (but you already knew),” TikToker Mads Mitch posted back in May. The comments section was split: Some natural-deodorant defenders loyally stood by their favorites, while others pointed out they probably didn’t have good—or honest—friends.

For those self-aware enough to know they stink, many have switched back to the hard stuff. “I legitimately smelled like onion,” one TikTok user said of her natural deodorant journey. Another hopped on the “Hozier’s Yell” trend, writing: “Going back to my clinical strength 72 hour secret after a year of convincing myself I didn’t smell while using a million different natural deodorants.”

The natural deodorant wave—“Big Stinky,” as some have called it—went mainstream in recent years after countless articles detailing the supposedly harmful effects of antiperspirants gained traction. Because antiperspirants stop odor by physically clogging pores with ingredients like aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, these ingredients were quickly labeled “toxic” by natural beauty advocates. Some even claimed they could lead to Alzheimer’s disease or cancer.

Aluminum-free options soon flooded the market, from Salt & Stone’s popular Santal & Vetiver scent to Wild’s refillable sticks. Formulated with “natural” ingredients like baking soda, shea, and coconut oil, they promised to keep wearers both smelling fresh and toxin-free. The only downside? Most of the time, they don’t work.

Now, a growing number of people are making the switch back to the tried-and-true: Degree, Secret, Dove, and—better yet—men’s deodorants (which, for some reason, always seem to work better) and encouraging others to join them.

While former natural-deodorant wearers will be relieved to no longer walk around with their elbows glued to their sides, there’s more good news: science has found no definitive evidence that regular deodorants or antiperspirants are any worse for your health than natural deodorants.

Ultimately, the deodorant you choose to wear is a matter of personal preference. Just make sure you’re considerate of those around you.