Natural deodorants do not contain aluminum and other harmful ingredients, but unfortunately, they do little to prevent sweating as these harsh ingredients are what contribute to traditional deodorant’s antiperspirant qualities. 

Fortunately, researchers from the Virginia Tech Nature-Inspired Fluids and Interfaces Lab have found success in using naturally-occurring propylene glycol to create natural mineral plugs that evaporate sweat more quickly. When tested on an artificial sweat duct, the product successfully evaporated sweat without the use of toxic ingredients. 

Jonathan Boreyko, Ph.D., associate professor of Virginia Tech, said in a press release, “Our research has discovered the most natural antiperspirant in existence: the minerals within the sweat itself!”

The next step is to test the product with real human armpits and complete more research to ensure the product is indeed safe for long-term use. Due to health concerns surrounding traditional antiperspirants, more and more customers are leaning towards the natural deodorant market. If researchers are able to successfully create a natural deodorant that not only masks odors but also works to reduce sweat, we will have a great solution for healthy sweat-free pits!