Whenever I’m in the market for some new gym shorts, I search for pairs that meet two specific criteria: they must be cute, and they can鈥檛 cause thigh chafing. Despite catwalking in fitting rooms and only buying pairs with longer inseams that really look like they won鈥檛 betray me, the ultimate test is wearing them in real life. Inevitably, most of the shorts I purchase creep up my inner thighs like they are aspiring to be underwear, leaving my inner legs exposed, unprotected, and a hazard to themselves. And, yet again, I鈥檓 left wondering how to stop chafing.

In an instance of divine timing (or聽social media listening to my conversations聽1984-style), I recently came across several Instagram reels touting one trick to prevent inner thigh chafing for good. According to women in my Instagram feed, to prevent chafing, all you need to do is swipe deodorant on your inner thighs as you would on your armpits, and voil脿: your legs are protected from the dreaded red patches that plague warm-weather enthusiasts around the world.

Like many things on the internet, this information made me wonder whether it was too good to be true. So I tested it for myself.

Can Natural Deodorants Stop Thigh Chafing? I Tested Three to Find Out.

Luckily, I had three natural deodorants collecting dust in my bathroom vanity. I was waiting for a good time to make the transition from using antiperspirant to natural deodorant on my armpits. There may, in fact, never be a good time. But testing them on my thighs? I could do that right away.

I鈥檝e listed these picks in order of how much I love them. Despite having a clear winner, they each lasted for hours, didn鈥檛 need to be reapplied, and withstood lots of sweating.

1. The Smoothie Deo by Megababe ($11.20)

Founder says she founded when she couldn鈥檛 find other products that worked for her thighs, sweat, and body odor. (Who doesn鈥檛 love a relatable female entrepreneur?)

Did its adorable pink packaging sway me to purchase Megababe? Yes. Although the millennial-friendly branding hooked me, I stayed for the real results. This is my number-one everyday pick for when I want that no-chafe confidence in my favorite shorts.

Plus, this deodorant is free from the following ingredients: aluminum, phthalates, sulfates, baking soda, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It’s cruelty-free and vegan and smells like a delicious blend of coconut and lime.

2. Cucumber Aloe Deodorant by Tom’s of Maine ($7.99)

I wore on a trip to Florida in June. Despite my profuse sweating from every pore on my body, the deodorant didn鈥檛 dissipate and allowed my thighs to glide against each other without chafing.

This deodorant is not tested on animals and is free of aluminum, artificial colors, parabens, and formaldehyde.

3. Lavender and Sage Deodorant by 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 ($9.99)

I was pretty much sold on when I saw their unique aromas鈥攃oconut and pineapple, cactus flower and pear. Who could turn that down?

Despite the alluring scents, this isn鈥檛 a formula you can quickly rub on skin, as it鈥檚 a bit thicker and chalkier. They recommend warming the stick against your body heat for a few seconds before application, which, in my experience, did help. It left a bit of residue on my thighs that I had to brush off before heading out the door, but the chafe-free effect was in full swing for the several hours I was walking in a dress (with no safety-net biker shorts underneath). I felt like freedom.

This deodorant is free of aluminum, artificial fragrance, filler ingredients, propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens. It’s cruelty-free and vegan.

What I Learned

After doing this experiment, I realized that my thighs have unique requirements for a deodorant.

1. Scent Isn鈥檛 That Important

Though I sometimes catch a whiff of the scent of my deodorant when I wear it on my armpits, I can鈥檛 smell the deodorant I wear on my thighs. Though I鈥檒l always choose a fun aroma over no aroma, I find it鈥檚 not as important for using the product to prevent thigh chafing. If you are aiming to mask the smell of your sweat, though, this may be a more important factor.

2. The Texture of the Formula Matters

This is important for armpits, yes, but maybe even more so for thighs due to the near-constant friction. I needed the deodorant to be thick enough to last on a long walk, but not so thick that it would cake or become gloopy, requiring me to wipe it away or worry about it.

3. It Definitely Should Not Stain Clothes

No one is delighted when they put on a black shirt and see the streaky remnants of deodorant on their armpits. When I tested deodorant on my thighs, I was diligent in checking and re-checking to see if I had those stains on my shorts. This wasn鈥檛 an issue with any of the natural deodorants I tried, even on black bike shorts.

When I say that using natural deodorant on my inner thighs to stop chafing has changed my life, I mean it. It feels like I鈥檝e ended a long, painful, expensive chapter in my life鈥攂uying shorts, being optimistic I wouldn鈥檛 chafe, being disappointed I do chafe, masking my pain to save face at social outings, giving away said shorts to a donation center, looking for new shorts, rinse and repeat.

All along, the answer to my problem (and my HUGE beef with the shorts industry) was in my bathroom.

Do You Have to Use Natural or Whole-Body Deodorants to Prevent Thigh Chafing?

No. Antiperspirant works for some people, too. 鈥淣atural [deodorant] implies free of chemicals,鈥� says dermatologist . But that doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e safe for everyone. 鈥淚 have seen patients develop reactions to 鈥榥atural鈥� deodorants.鈥�

You鈥檒l want to check the ingredient list and do your research. When in doubt, test your deodorant on a small patch of skin before applying it to larger areas of your body.

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I had no idea what I was saying yes to before I started hiking Breakneck Ridge in upstate New York. (Yeah, I know, the name should鈥檝e given it away.) It was miles and miles of uneven terrain to traverse and walls of slippery rocks to climb. 鈥淭ighten your core,鈥� I kept telling myself, thinking that would be my saving grace to prevent injury. Years before, I was told by a physical therapist that a weak core was the cause of my back pain, and I had to engage my abs鈥攚hatever that means.

I鈥檝e noticed this same type of self-talk on my yoga mat. For years in Warrior 1, I鈥檇 automatically suck in my stomach, something I figured somewhere along the way that I should do. Of course, that became more confusing in poses like or . The assumption that I should be squeezing my abs *at all times* to strengthen my core was creating confusion around even the simplest of movements.

The more freedom of movement you have, the stronger your core will be鈥攁nd vice versa.

I鈥檓 not alone in falling under the influence of vague sayings and assumptions about the core, says physical therapist . He explains there are many misconceptions about the core, including how to engage it, strengthen it, and use it in everyday life.

Here are the five biggest myths about core strength that we should all stop believing in, like, right now.

1. You Should Squeeze Your Core *All* the Time

Not only is it unrealistic to constantly engage your abs, but doing so can actually be taxing on your body, says Fata-Chan.

鈥淭he typical way we think about core training is to brace as hard as you can,鈥� says Fata-Chan. But bracing the abdominals restricts the spine鈥檚 range of motion.

It makes sense to brace your abs when recovering from injury or lifting a particularly heavy object (think barbells at the gym), says Fata-Chan, but if you鈥檙e reaching down to pick up a pen off the floor, you don鈥檛 necessarily need to tighten your core.

If you keep squeezing your abs and then attempt to do some kind of movement, those muscles aren’t going to lengthen, he says. So, the goal should be to move as fluidly as possible. The more freedom of movement you have, the stronger your core will be鈥攁nd vice versa.

2. A Neutral Spine Equals a Straight Spine

There鈥檚 a false narrative around the back鈥檚 neutral position, in which people seem to draw an imaginary line from their ear down to their foot and think they should maintain that position all the time, explains Fata-Chan.

Standing in neutral doesn鈥檛 mean your spine is as straight as a rod. 鈥淓ven when we stand in 鈥榥eutral,鈥� we still have a postural sway鈥攂ack and forth, side to side,鈥� he says.

There isn鈥檛 one position or 鈥減erfect alignment鈥� your body should be in at all times. 鈥淚f there were one perfect way to stand and move, we would put way too much stress on the same core tissues,鈥� he says.

Instead, view neutral as a zone, Fata-Chan advises. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always moving in and out of neutral.鈥� Fata-Chan even encourages clients to practice intentional slouching as an exercise. (Yes, you heard that right.) Though we talk a lot about preventing slouching, he likes to remind clients that they should be able to move in all directions comfortably.

3. You Should Never Tilt Your Pelvis Forward or Upward

Although you may have heard a physical therapist advise that you need to reduce the anterior tilt of the pelvis, that doesn鈥檛 mean your pelvis should never tilt forward.

We shouldn’t demonize the position of our joints, says Fata-Chan. 鈥淭he pelvis can anteriorly and posteriorly tilt, that鈥檚 part of the full range of motion at the pelvis in the sagittal plane鈥攋ust forward and back,鈥� he says. If you were to never anteriorly tilt your pelvis again, that limits half of that range of motion, says Fata-Chan.

Of course, treating discomfort or pain related to an anterior pelvic tilt is essential. But even then, it likely doesn鈥檛 involve avoiding an anterior tilt forever. Addressing the issue typically means you work on strengthening and stretching the necessary muscles so your pelvis can freely move in both directions.

4. You Should Always Be Mindful of What Your Core Is Doing

Fata-Chan says activating the core doesn鈥檛 have to be鈥攁nd usually isn鈥檛鈥攖hat complicated.

We don鈥檛 have to think about relaxing specific muscles and engaging others. It just happens.

You don鈥檛 even need to think about engaging the core to actually do it. Typically, the body adapts in any given situation to engage the muscles it needs. Fata-Chan uses the example of awkward positions we put ourselves in every day, like crawling into an attic or reaching underneath a bed. We don鈥檛 have to think about relaxing specific muscles and engaging others. It just happens. And the more we move intuitively, the more our body adapts.

鈥淕ive yourself more credit,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he body can provide the right amount of tension to get the job done.

5. Crunches Are the Only Way to Build Core Strength

Not only can you safely let go of the impulse to squeeze your core at all times, but the idea that the only way to strengthen your core is by crunching or 鈥渟ucking in鈥� the abs likely isn鈥檛 serving you, either.

The simplest exercise you can do for your core? 鈥淭ake a full breath,鈥� says Fata-Chan. When you slowly and fully inhale, you feel the core expand. When you exhale completely, you鈥檒l feel the deep core and oblique muscles engage鈥攏ot to be confused with bracing the core, he explains.

Using your core isn鈥檛 just about flexing鈥攅xtending is just as crucial. Fata-Chan guides clients into the supported backbend known as to lengthen the abdominal muscles.

He also has clients practice the pose to teach them how to relax the core muscles. 鈥淪ometimes we protect our backs too much,鈥� he says. Just as bracing the core leads to tension in the back, restricting movement in the back hinders optimal core movement. 鈥淎 toe-touch is a great way to see where in the spine you鈥檙e holding tension and learn to relax every segment,鈥� Fata-Chan says.

A key indicator of core strength is being able to move into and out of positions, says Fata-Chan. After all, the real test of strength is how well your core supports you while you move, not just on the yoga mat or at the gym, but in everyday life.

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There鈥檚 no shortage of aesthetically packaged and divinely scented natural deodorants in the aisles of practically any grocery store, pharmacy, or even Anthropologie (yes, really). Yet along with seemingly limitless options comes an inevitable and harsh reality: it doesn鈥檛 matter how promising *you thought* that pricy natural deodorant would be when you bought it. Especially if you catch whiffs of your B.O. during an intense workout or long hike.

So, which, if any, natural deodorants are worth your expectations and money?

What Makes a Deodorant 鈥淣atural鈥�?

Many deodorants contain synthetic chemicals, including antiperspirant agents such as aluminum, to prevent sweating. They also include fragrance to mask odor. In contrast, natural deodorants rely on natural chemicals not to prevent sweating but simply to neutralize .

Beginning in the 1980s, there was increased concern that aluminum and other synthetic ingredients found in antiperspirants, including parabens, might cause breast cancer or Alzheimer鈥檚. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health there is a connection. Also, some people find that these products cause skin irritations and prefer natural deodorants as a gentler option.

Importantly, the word 鈥渘atural鈥� isn鈥檛 regulated by the FDA when it comes to deodorants. This means that there鈥檚 no standard for what can and cannot be marketed as such. To ensure your natural deodorant best suits your needs, be sure to read the label for ingredients that are potential irritants, allergens, or unwanted chemicals.

5 Best Natural Deodorants That Are Worth the Money

I鈥檝e spent the last year of my life testing natural deodorants and asking dozens of people about their favorites. They did not hold back their honest opinions. Common responses include, 鈥淚鈥檝e never heard of any working,鈥� and 鈥淚 had a friend who tried natural deodorants. Some days she smelled,鈥� and 鈥淭hey鈥檙e horrific. I hate them.鈥�

Can鈥檛 we all relate to the disappointment?

On the other hand, some of those we asked have found natural deodorants they love based on a variety of factors鈥攕cent, texture, ease of application, whether or not they stained clothes, price point, and more.

It was relatively rare that a single brand checked ALL the boxes for any of us. Each has pros and cons that you can only discern for yourself.

The trick is to manage your expectations. A natural deodorant won鈥檛 compare to an antiperspirant鈥攖hey function in entirely different ways. But if you鈥檙e looking for a product with ingredients you can pronounce, or you鈥檝e already tried so many disappointing natural deodorants you鈥檙e about to give up on your search, you may still find one that suits your needs.

Pro tip: if you鈥檙e switching to a natural deo from an antiperspirant, some experts recommend you wait two to four weeks before assessing how well your natural deodorant works. That鈥檚 the time it supposedly takes for your body to sweat out the aluminum that might cause the natural deodorant not to work as well.

1. Most Alluring Scents: Salt & Stone聽

Chic isn鈥檛 typically a word associated with deodorants鈥攂ut our testers would say it does describe Salt & Stone. The packaging is a minimalist design, and the scents are 10 out of 10. Reviewers loved the , which they described as 鈥渓ovely鈥� and 鈥渘ot perfumey or overpowering.鈥�

Made with seaweed extracts and natural botanicals, Salt & Stone comes in stick and gel. One reviewer appreciated that it felt hydrating on the skin.

After seven or eight hours of wearing the , I was impressed by its staying power. The scent had faded, but I still smelled fresh. A few hours later, I noticed I smelled like a delicate mix of my own sweat and Neroli & Basil, which I found a little disappointing. I鈥檇 definitely wear this one around the house or to Yin or restorative yoga鈥攋ust maybe not vinyasa or聽hot yoga, where I鈥檇 need heavier-duty protection.

What We Didn鈥檛 Like:聽A couple of reviewers found that the stick formula got slightly white and chalky when they put it on, although one admittedly may have put on too much, and the other noted the formula dissolved and lost its color after a few minutes.

2. Largest Cult-Following: Lume聽

Founded by an OB/GYN, Lume was created to prevent unwanted odor caused by bacterial reactions on the skin 鈥淓VERYWHERE on the body,鈥� according to their marketing. Since then, the whole-body deodorant has gained somewhat of a cult following.

One reviewer notably mentioned that unscented Lume, which comes in a stick and spray, kept her from smelling 鈥渇or at least a couple days,鈥� even while driving an un-air-conditioned Jeep and practicing yoga in summer. 鈥淚t has a faint odor for the first 10 minutes or so after applying, but then it completely dissipates,鈥� she noted. Another tester called her 鈥渉oly grail,鈥� saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the only brand that limits my sweating. And if I do sweat, there鈥檚 little to no odor.鈥�

I gave Lume a harsher trial run than other brands. I applied it on a rushed morning when I skipped a much-needed shower. That said, it held up pretty well for the first few hours before I noticed the scent of my sweat coming through.

What We Didn鈥檛 Like: Over-applying can lead to a greasy feeling, according to one reviewer. Another said she smelled a little better than she would鈥檝e with no deodorant, but it wasn鈥檛 as strong a product as she鈥檇 hoped.

3. Closest to Non-Natural Deo: 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚聽

The name 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 may not be as recognizable as Lume, but according to their website, they are the 鈥渇irst and only natural deodorant in the U.S. to be Certified Natural by leading global certifier Ecocert.鈥� 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 offers sticks and sprays; our reviewers preferred the latter.

One tester noted 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 Lavender and Sage scent kept her armpits odor-free for a full two days before she felt like she needed to reapply or shower. Another raved about the luxurious-smelling options, including Bergamot and Lime, , and Fresh Fir and Spice. 鈥淚t works all day,鈥� she said, 鈥渆ven in hot yoga.鈥�

厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 Lavender and Sage is the closest I鈥檝e gotten to non-natural deodorant dependability. And by *close,* I mean, if I applied it in the morning, I鈥檇 still feel the need to reapply before going out in the evening.

What We Didn鈥檛 Like: It stains clothes unless you put it on in advance of getting dressed, noted one reviewer. Another mentioned she doesn鈥檛 feel comfortable wearing 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 in super hot weather, saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 mess with that when I鈥檓 in the South, especially if I have layers on and it鈥檚 humid.鈥�

4. Best Multi-Tasker: Saltair聽

Saltair鈥檚 5% AHA Deodorant features a 鈥渕ulti-acid鈥� blend designed to balance the underarm pH and reduce odor. The brand offers scents that can and will make you want to book your next vacation. Think , , and Exotic Pulp. I recommend trying Pink Beach if you like the idea of smelling like cupcakes and frosting as much as I do.

鈥淚鈥檝e used several other natural deodorants in the past, but this is my favorite because of the rollerball application,鈥� said one reviewer. 鈥淚t is easy to apply and dries quickly.鈥� It鈥檚 also worth mentioning the price point of Saltair deodorant, which is comparable to a non-natural deodorant (meaning it doesn鈥檛 induce the sticker shock that a lot of its competitors do).

After practicing for an hour on a Pilates reformer, I couldn鈥檛 smell Pink Beach but was pleasantly surprised that I couldn鈥檛 immediately smell my sweat, either, even while I changed out of my sweaty clothes. Upon further examination, I detected the faintest smell of diluted sweat鈥攂ut I literally had to put my nose as close to my own armpit as possible to do so. (You can imagine how normal this made me look in the women鈥檚 locker room.)

In short, I鈥檓 impressed. Saltair has earned my trust enough to keep me (mostly) neutral-smelling during and after future workouts.

What We Didn鈥檛 Like: The label recommends allotting 30 to 60 seconds of drying time after applying Saltair 5% AHA鈥攐ne tester noted it took closer to two to three minutes before she was certain it wouldn鈥檛 soak through her t-shirt. Another mentioned she could smell her sweat (the *tiniest* bit) after wearing it during a workout.

5. Most Exciting Scents: Native

We need a moment of silence for Native鈥檚 scent options. Sweet Peach and Nectar. Cashmere and Rain. The . Not to mention their limited edition . I mean, come on, they have Dunkin Donuts scented products. Who wouldn鈥檛 want their armpits smelling like a ?

One reviewer said it left her with the freshest armpits for the longest amount of time compared to other natural deodorants. Another *kinda* liked it, but not enough to give up on non-natural deodorant.

My love for Native natural deodorant is very much conditional. It鈥檚 perfectly effective when I wear it around the house while working from home. But it鈥檚 not something I would trust to get me through a sweaty yoga class or a hot summer day, at least without reapplying.

What We Didn鈥檛 Like: For several testers, it wasn鈥檛 long before Native鈥檚 scent faded, and they could smell themselves.

Honorable Mention

6. Tom鈥檚 of Maine

As the green-colored packaging alludes to, Tom鈥檚 of Maine maintains an eco-friendly mission by using recycled materials for packaging and naturally sourced ingredients for their toothpastes, bar soaps, and, of course, natural deodorants.

鈥淟avender is my go-to,鈥� said one reviewer. 鈥淚 like that it has a soft scent, and it really does last all day.鈥� However, sentiments were mixed. One reviewer mentioned that although Tom鈥檚 works for her teenage daughter, she finds it ineffective for herself. Similarly, Amazon reviews reveal opinions on either side of the spectrum. Though Tom鈥檚 Unscented is very highly rated overall, many people say their body odor returned shortly after applying it. Proponents of it often mention that it doesn鈥檛 irritate their skin; depending on your priorities, you might consider Tom鈥檚.

I鈥檇 have to agree with the people who said they still, well, stunk after using Tom鈥檚. When I gave up on using the Cucumber Aloe on my armpits, however, I did find it .

What We Didn鈥檛 Like: Although one reviewer appreciated its staying power, most found that Tom鈥檚 simply doesn鈥檛 last nearly as long as they needed it to.

7. Squatch

Marketed toward men, this brand explains that its mission is to 鈥渆ducate men to be happier and healthier,鈥� according to Squatch鈥檚 website. So they make deodorants, body washes, and bar soaps only with ingredients 鈥淢other Nature has to offer.鈥�

Squatch鈥檚 deodorants come in unique scents such as Grapefruit IPA and . But the products aren鈥檛 limited to men by any means. Our tester admittedly stole hers from her partner. 鈥淚ts warm, semi-masculine scent pairs well with my favorite perfumes, application is easy, and it lasts all day,鈥� she said.

What Customers Didn鈥檛 Like: Several Amazon reviewers noted that Squatch tends to leave white marks on clothing. One suggested matching the color of the Squatch stick to the color of your clothes (i.e., using white-colored sticks on lighter-colored clothes, and the black-colored sticks on darker clothes).

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