When it comes to deodorant, most of us are looking for the cheapest and easiest thing that’ll keep us from having to do an afternoon sniff-check in the office bathroom (been there). But if you’ve been rocking the same drugstore brand since the seventh grade, now may be the time to reconsider that morning (and/or mid-date) swipe.

Okay, you’ve probably heard the rumors about safety concerns surrounding deodorant. So what’s the deal? In a word: aluminum.

If you’re using an antiperspirant (if you don’t know, you probably are), aluminum is used in most formulas to block sweat ducts. According to The American Cancer Institute, some research suggests that aluminum may interfere with the function of estrogen hormones, and promote growth of breast-cancer cells. Think you’re in the clear because you’re using a formula that’s just a deodorant? Recent studies have also found concentrations of parabens, a preservative found in some drugstore deodorant options, in breast-cancer tissue, although more research is necessary to firmly establish a link.

Here’s the thing, though: why use a potentially harmful product when there are plenty of natural alternatives? We’re willing to bet that breaking up with that overly fragrant bar for an aluminum-free version won’t only be easy, but downright freeing.

“People have the misconception that sweating is bad, but it’s actually a healthy function that helps rid your body of toxins,” explain Jess Edelstein and Sarah Ribner, creators of PiperWai, a charcoal-based deodorant. “A good aluminum-free deodorant will neutralize odor and absorb moisture so you can ditch the clinical-strength antiperspirant for something that works with your body, not against it.”

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 7 natural deodorants will actually keep you fresh to death.

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant ($8.99)



Most natural formulas contain coconut oil, which can make a bar format tricky. Think about it: when you use coconut oil for cooking/hair masks/body scrubs, you’ve got to heat it up to shift it from it’s solid consistency into something that can be easily absorbed. To address this, Schmidt’s recommends holding the bar under your arms for a hot minute so that it’s easier to apply.

Once you’re covered, our BFFs baking soda and essential oil (scents include lavender sage, bergamot lime, cedarwood juniper, and ylang ylang calendula) do the rest — with one special ingredient. “Our formulas introduce a careful incorporation of plant-based powders to absorb sweat on contact,” says founder Jaime Schmidt. “So even though Schmidt's isn't an antiperspirant, it’ll still help keep you dry.”

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant ($14)



On top of lichen, lemon, and tea tree oils to fight bacterial growth, this alternate bar option taps corn-derived propanediol to maintain a solid, smooth-glide consistency. One of the benefits of switching to a natural deodorant is all of the extra skin-saving goodies, too: here, we’ve got antioxidant-packed goji berry and the anti-inflammatory powers of Japanese honeysuckle. Translation: Your underarms are about to get all sorts of smooth.

So what does it smell like? Lavanila combines its signature scent (vanilla, duh) with blackberry, coconut, lemon, and more for a bona fide buffet of options to keep you from smelling rank.

Truly’s Natural Organic Deodorant ($8.99)



First things first: body odor isn’t caused by sweat itself, but actually by sweat mingling with the naturally occurring bacteria on your skin. To that end, Truly’s uses sugar (which was used pre-antibiotics to prevent infection), baking soda (which prevents itchiness and absorbs icky smells), and coconut oil (which packs a one-two antimicrobial and antifungal punch) to annihilate bacteria.

As for the stuff itself, it smells and looks a bit like cake frosting — in a good way. Because of the coconut-oil base, it melts into a liquidy consistency between your fingers and absorbs invisibly, sans sticky residue. In other words, your LBDs are safe.

PiperWai Natural Deodorant ($11.99)



PiperWai uses activated charcoal as its secret weapon — which, according to Edelstein and Ribner, can absorb up to one thousand times its weight in moisture (good news for those days the subway car doubles as a sauna). Ingredients like witch hazel create a pH-balanced environment that’s like kryptonite to bacteria, and a blend of 11 essential oils are a major upgrade to your standard baby-powder scent.

Sure, it’ll take a minute getting used to rubbing something into your armpits — but when that something contains shea butter and vitamin E oil, that’s just called moisturizing.

Fat and the Moon Deodorant Cream ($12)



For a master class in the power of plants, Fat and the Moon offers a luxuriously buttery (and chemical-free) formula. The cream harnesses antimicrobial black pepper and clary sage essential oils to nix odor, while arrowroot starch mops up excess moisture. (Coconut oil and baking soda, of course, also play supporting roles.)

Side note: If you feel your sweating situation is excessive, Fat and the Moon creator Rachel Budde recommends looking into it further. “I’m an herbalist, so I get curious about the deeper layer of why people are sweating,” says Budde. “Is someone sweating and stinking a lot because they are super stressed out? Plant-based deodorant is great, but working with plant medicine internally can be a game changer.” File under: good to know.

Nasanta Magnesium Roll-On Deodorant ($15)



Australian company nasanta flips the script on regular antiperspirant by replacing aluminum with — wait for it — magnesium. The compound is slightly alkaline, which means it neutralizes organic acids that lead to B.O. “Magnesium is the antithesis of aluminum and extremely important for optimum health and body performance,” says founder Andres Restrepo.

So... what does that mean? According to nasanta, magnesium synthesizes protein, transports and stores energy, and helps relax muscles — so it’s ideal for fitness enthusiasts as well as those of us who come back from one yoga class and can’t move (ahem).

Vi-Tae 100% Confident Deodorant Spray ($18)



The handy thing about a spray is that you can easily spritz anywhere — in fact, Vi-Tae recommends misting on underarms, feet, or your whole body, if you feel so inclined. The lady-centric scent’s got a musky vibe, while the original rocks hints of patchouli — but both fade quickly once applied. A good rule of thumb for any spray or roll-on formula is to let the deodorant completely dry before you go about your business. That’ll ensure optimum absorption, and will keep you from feeling sticky.

Now go forth and smell great!