Photo ©ascellelou | Respire
Living in France, the stereotypes start to lose their grip. But one thing that is true? The French take their beauty products seriously. What did come as a surprise, however, was how highly the French regard natural formulations and still harbor soft spots for old-world remedies. Even in the ultra-modern pharmacies, you’ll find natural balms casually stocked next to innovative serums. And this hold true even when it comes to deodorant.
Deodorant in France works a little differently. In general, sprays and roll-ons dominate the market — the classic American-style stick is much rarer. The second — more substantial — difference is that many formulas in France are proudly aluminium-free. This is a benefit for many, but that often means they’re less effective, especially if you’re used to the long-lasting antiperspirants from the U.S.
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Over the past few years, I’ve tried several natural French deodorants — some pharmacist-recommended, others grabbed on a whim. From grainy ones, to ones left half-used in the bathroom cabinet after an unfortunate hot day, finding a match hasn’t been easy. Natural deodorant feels like a gamble at first, but after a little trial and error, a few have genuinely earned their place in my bathroom cabinet.
Here’s what’s stayed in the rotation — and what hasn’t.
Caudalie: Vinofresh Natural Stick Deodorant
★★☆☆☆
$16
I wanted to love this. Caudalie’s skincare is brilliant — I’m a huge fan of their moisturizers — but this product fell short. The texture is beautiful: a smooth, gel-like stick that glides on without any residue or fuss. It smells great too — a refreshing eucalyptus. But that’s about where it ends.
For context: the formula is aluminium-free and made with organic grape water to soothe sensitive skin — which it does do. Feel-good factor aside, by the end of a normal day, it just… stops working. The scent mingles awkwardly with sweat and struggles beyond light activity. It feels more like a perfume stick than a deodorant, and even as someone who’s not particularly sweaty, I need more. Caudalie do update their formulas from time to time, but for now, I won’t be buying again.
Clémence & Vivien: Déodorant Le Fleuri
★★★★☆
€8.50
There’s much more to like here. It’s a balm that comes in a low-waste glass jar, which is applied with the fingers or a small spatula. It’s not the cleanest application method, as it needs to be rubbed in well, but it’s forgivable because it really does keep odour at bay.
There is a high level of bicarbonate of soda, which can cause irritation to sensitive skin, especially after shaving, making it lose a star in my ranking. That said, the dry-touch effect works surprisingly well, and the scent — a blend of organic essential oils — is beautiful, almost like a botanical perfume that last all day.
If your skin tolerates baking soda, this is a very solid and economical choice.
Respire: Stick Deodorant (Cotton Scent)
★★★★★
€10.90
Creamy, smooth, never gritty — this is the one I reach for every day. It’s hands down my favourite, coming in a twist-up tube, which is much easier to use than the jar format. Applied once in the morning, it works flawlessly. Even after a busy ride on the métro and a Pilates class, I still smelt fine.
I went for the cotton scent — although there are plenty of others. It’s clean, soft, subtle and it holds up nicely. The balm is made with shea butter, sweet almond oil and zinc ricinoleate (the ingredient that traps odour). The consistency therefore does have the potential to leave white marks if you get dressed too quickly after applying, but rubbing it in gently with your fingers helps.
They also make a mini version, which is handy for sports bags, travel or just testing it before committing.
Respire: Roll-On Deodorant (Fig Scent)
★★★☆☆
€10.90
From the same brand, this liquid roll-on is also aluminium-free and enriched with aloe vera for sensitive skin types. The rollerball makes for a clean application (no residue on clothes this time). But… the staying power just isn’t as good as the balm.
It handles a regular day well, but if you’re running around or going to the gym, one application doesn’t quite cut it. Still, for lighter days, chic, easy and the scent is delightfully luxurious (I went for fig this time).
A good one to keep in your handbag for top-ups, or reapplying before and after exercise.
What We’re Trying Next: L’Occitane Roll-On Deodorant
$23
I haven’t tried L’Occitane’s version yet, but it comes highly recommended. Another liquid roll-on, I’m interested to see how it compares to Respire’s model — which I’m still finishing up. The zesty verbena and citrus scent sounds perfect for summer — here’s hoping it works as well as it smells.
Written by Madeleine Piggott
Read next: 7 French Beauty Secrets for Surviving Summer
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