Let’s face it, body odor is a big deal, and if you live a very active lifestyle like I do, smelling fresh and clean can sometimes be highly dependent on your underarm scent. When I decided to start using more natural beauty products, deodorant was one of the biggest challenges for a couple of reasons:

1. It’s expensive. One of the leading deodorant brands on the market retails for as little as $3, whereas many natural deodorants retail for $14. But, it’s worth it because many mass deodorant brands contain potentially harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, aluminum and other endocrine disruptors.

2. It requires a detox period. While this is not true for everyone, some people who make the switch experience an increase in sweat gland activity, causing odor. I was totally one of those people and it was not fun, but once my body realized what was going on, everything was fine.

I discovered the brand Primal Pit Paste at a beauty trade show, Cosmoprof, after they won the event’s Beauty Pitch contest in 2016. The line was developed by Amy Cazin after she was surprised by her then eight-year-old daughter’s body odor, motivating her to whip up food-grade ingredients in her kitchen to create something that would prevent her daughter being embarrassed at school. She began giving the product to family and friends, and the rest is history.

Key ingredients in the formula are arrowroot powder, which allows moisture to be absorbed and keeps underarms dry and baking soda, which aims to neutralize odor-causing bacteria. The products are designed to work with each individual’s body chemistry, activity level and skin type, and comes in five different strengths ranging from very light to strong.

The texture of the formula is creamy, but it goes on clear. In the summer, I noticed the stick spreads a little easier as the humid temperature melts the natural ingredients, which I don’t mind.

I’ve purchased many of their scents, and my favorite is Royal & Rogue, which has a warm and earthy aroma with hints of rosewood, frankincense, black pepper, and sandalwood. These happen to be the top essential oils that I use regularly with my diffuser, so I was excited to see them packaged in a product I can wear every day and remind me of home.

In short, if you’re looking for a natural deodorant brand, this one is definitely worth trying. There are so many scents to choose from, it includes natural and organic ingredients, and most importantly, it works.

Learn more about the brand on their website. Prices range from $4 to $20.

P.S. If you sign up for their newsletter, they usually send out discount codes, which is what I use when I need to stock up.