Baking Soda Deodorant: Is Bicarbonate of Soda Bad for Your Skin?

Baking soda is a popular ingredient in natural deodorant because it can be highly effective at helping to control body odour. Also known as bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate, it has been used in Earth Conscious Original deodorants since 2014.

For many people, deodorant containing bicarbonate of soda works extremely well. However, some people find that formulas containing it do not suit their underarm skin and they may experience redness, itching or irritation.

If that happens to you, a bicarb-free deodorant may be worth trying. It's also important to remember that sodium bicarbonate isn't the only potential cause of underarm irritation — fragrance, essential oils, shaving and other factors can play a part.

What Is Baking Soda Deodorant?

Baking soda deodorant is simply deodorant formulated with sodium bicarbonate, better known in the UK as bicarbonate of soda or bicarb. If you've ever wondered about the terminology, we've explained the difference between baking soda and bicarbonate of soda in more detail.

You'll frequently find it in natural deodorants because it can help control the odour associated with perspiration.

Baking soda deodorant is not the same as an antiperspirant. It doesn't aim to stop your body sweating. Instead, deodorant is designed to help manage body odour while allowing normal perspiration.

And despite the similar names, baking soda and baking powder aren't the same thing. It's bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate) that you'll see listed in deodorant ingredients.

Why Is Baking Soda Used in Natural Deodorant?

Quite simply, because it can be very effective at helping to control body odour.

That's why bicarbonate of soda has been an important ingredient in our Original natural deodorant formulas since Earth Conscious began making deodorant in 2014.

A good natural deodorant is about the complete formulation rather than one ingredient in isolation. Our Original deodorants combine bicarbonate of soda with ingredients including plant oils, butters and powders to create formulas designed for effective everyday odour protection.

The availability of bicarb-free deodorant doesn't mean that bicarbonate of soda is a bad deodorant ingredient. It simply means that different formulations suit different people.

Does Baking Soda Deodorant Work?

For many people, yes.

Bicarbonate of soda is used in natural deodorants because it can help tackle unwanted body odour. It's one of the reasons our Original formulas have remained an important part of the Earth Conscious range.

It's worth remembering that deodorants and antiperspirants do different jobs.

Antiperspirants are designed to reduce how much you sweat, usually with aluminium salts. Natural deodorants such as ours don't aim to stop perspiration. Instead, they're designed to help control odour while allowing your body to sweat naturally.

If you're comfortable using bicarbonate of soda, there's no reason to avoid a deodorant simply because it contains it.

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Can Baking Soda Irritate Your Skin?

Some people find that deodorants containing bicarbonate of soda can cause underarm irritation. Many others use them without experiencing problems.

Possible signs that a deodorant isn't agreeing with your skin can include:

• redness
• itching
• dryness
• soreness or discomfort
• a rash

Skin is individual, and experiencing a reaction to a deodorant doesn't necessarily tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Your underarms can also be affected by shaving, friction and other personal-care products. Essential oils and fragrance ingredients may also cause sensitivity for some people.

If a deodorant is causing irritation, stop using it and allow your skin to recover rather than continuing to apply it. Applying soothing agents like aloe vera or coconut oil can help.

Is Baking Soda Safe in Deodorant for Sensitive Skin?

Having sensitive skin doesn't automatically mean you can't use a deodorant containing bicarbonate of soda.

Some people with sensitive skin use bicarbonate deodorants comfortably, while others find they prefer a formula without it. Individual tolerance matters, as does the overall formulation of the deodorant.

If you know your skin can be reactive, you can patch test a new product before regular use. It's also sensible to avoid applying deodorant to broken or already irritated skin.

If you've repeatedly experienced irritation when using deodorants containing bicarbonate of soda, trying a bicarb-free formula is another option.

What Are the Side Effects of Using Baking Soda as Deodorant?

For some people, the main issue associated with deodorants containing baking soda is skin irritation.

If you experience persistent redness, itching, soreness or a rash after using a deodorant, discontinue use and allow your skin to recover.

It's also worth considering the product's complete ingredient list rather than automatically assuming bicarbonate of soda is responsible.

For example, natural deodorants are often scented with essential oils. If you find that fragranced products don't suit your skin, an unscented deodorant without added essential oils may be worth considering.

Explore Pure Unscented Natural Deodorants

How to Use Baking Soda Deodorant

More deodorant doesn't necessarily mean better odour protection.

Follow the directions for the particular product you're using and apply the recommended amount to clean underarms.

With a deodorant balm, a small amount is applied by hand. A deodorant stick can be applied directly to the underarm.

Whichever format you choose, avoid repeatedly layering on excessive amounts of product. And if a deodorant causes discomfort or irritation, stop using it rather than trying to continue through the reaction.

Bicarb or Bicarb-Free Deodorant: Which Should I Choose?

Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on what works for your skin and what you prefer from your deodorant.

Original Natural Deodorant

Our Original natural deodorants contain bicarbonate of soda, an ingredient we've used since 2014 because of its effectiveness at helping to control body odour.

For many customers, our Original formula is the natural place to start. If you've used bicarbonate deodorants comfortably before, there's no reason to avoid them simply because bicarb-free alternatives are available.

Our natural deodorants are available in different formats, scents and packaging options, including sticks and balms.

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Prefer Bicarb-Free?

Some people prefer not to use bicarbonate of soda, while others find that deodorants containing it don't suit their skin.

For those customers, we also make a Bicarb-Free Natural Deodorant Stick, formulated without sodium bicarbonate.

It's an alternative formulation rather than a stronger or better version of our Original deodorant — the choice comes down to what works best for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is baking soda the same as bicarbonate of soda?

Yes. Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are common names for sodium bicarbonate. In the UK, it's usually called bicarbonate of soda or simply bicarb.

Is baking soda safe in deodorant?

Bicarbonate of soda is widely used as an ingredient in natural deodorants. Many people use deodorants containing it without experiencing irritation, although some people find that their skin prefers a formula without it.

Can baking soda cause underarm irritation?

Some people experience redness, itching or discomfort when using deodorants containing bicarbonate of soda. However, other ingredients and factors can also cause underarm irritation, so experiencing a reaction doesn't necessarily mean bicarbonate is responsible.

Does baking soda deodorant work?

Bicarbonate of soda can be an effective ingredient for helping to control body odour, which is why it's commonly used in natural deodorant formulations and has been part of Earth Conscious Original deodorants since 2014.

Is baking powder the same as baking soda in deodorant?

No. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder is a different product containing sodium bicarbonate combined with other ingredients. When talking about baking soda deodorant, the ingredient we're referring to is sodium bicarbonate.

Is bicarb-free deodorant effective?

A natural deodorant doesn't have to contain bicarbonate of soda to provide odour protection. Bicarb-free deodorants use a different formulation to help manage body odour.

If bicarbonate deodorants already work well for you, however, there's no particular reason to change simply because a bicarb-free option exists.

So, Is Baking Soda in Deodorant Bad for Your Skin?

Not necessarily.

Bicarbonate of soda is an effective deodorant ingredient that works well for many people, which is why we've used it in Earth Conscious Original deodorants since 2014.

There's no need to avoid bicarbonate simply because bicarb-free deodorants exist. However, everyone's skin and preferences are different. If you've repeatedly found that deodorants containing bicarbonate don't suit you, choosing a bicarb-free formula gives you another option.

The important thing isn't deciding whether baking soda is universally “good” or “bad”. It's finding a deodorant formulation that provides the odour protection you want while feeling comfortable on your skin.

Explore Earth Conscious Natural Deodorants