After decades of just grabbing whatever cheap stick was on sale at the drugstore (guilty as charged), today a lot of guys are more conscious about what kind of deodorant we smear on our bodies.
Nowadays, many of us would prefer to avoid the aluminum, artificial ingredients and other harsh chemicals often found in conventional deodorants.
Unfortunately, while natural deodorant is free of the junky artificial sh*t that plagues traditional deodorant, in my experience natural products have a few problems of their own:
Namely, most natural deodorants just aren’t strong enough to properly keep B.O. at bay and mask my disgusting stench natural man musk.
Plus, since most of them seem to be targeted toward women, they often come in feminine scents like vanilla or eucalyptus, which don’t exactly give off the vibe I’m going for.
Recently I spent a few weeks trying a natural deodorant from Dr. Squatch, a company that uses all natural ingredients to create men’s grooming products, which they claim are strong enough to counter guys’ burly body odor.
Read on to learn the full results of my Dr. Squatch deodorant review and find out if their natural deodorant is worth shelling out for.
In Review: Dr. Squatch Deodorant
An Irreverent Gent Investigation
Overview: Dr. Squatch
The Dr. Squatch brand started when founder Jack Haldrup grew frustrated by the way that mass-market brands would strip natural ingredients out of their grooming products in order to make them cheaper and easier to produce en masse.
He got so fed up that he started making his own natural soap in his garage with ingredients like shea butter and natural glycerin, and infused it with the sort of masculine scents you can’t usually find at the grocery store or pharmacy.
Dr. Squatch’s soaps became a hit, and eventually he applied the same philosophy to other personal care products, and began selling deodorants, beard oil, cologne and more, all made with natural formulas.
I reviewed their pine tar bar soap awhile back and really enjoyed it, but I have to admit I was still quite skeptical of their deodorant.
I figured that natural soap products could work just as well as artificial stuff to get you clean in the shower, but keeping your sweat glands under control all day is another thing entirely.
So let’s take a closer look at Dr. Squatch natural deodorant, and find out what happened when I tried three different scents over the span of about two months.
Quality
How Are Dr. Squatch’s Products Made?
Phrases like “natural” and “organic” have basically become buzzwords, and frequently get slapped onto products that have no business being labeled as such.
One thing I appreciate about Dr. Squatch is that they adhere to the standards set out by ISO, the International Standards Organization, which dictates exactly what guidelines a cosmetic or grooming product has to meet in order to be called “natural.”
In the case of their deodorant, that means leaving out common ingredients like aluminum, soybean oil, phthalates and parabens, and including natural, safe ingredients that have potential health benefits.
Dr Squatch Deodorant Ingredients
Instead of using aluminum to clog your pores and block your sweat glands, Dr. Squatch uses charcoal powder to block odor.
It then adds natural essential oils for scent (on which more below), and one of the most powerful natural deodorizers, manihot esculenta (better known as arrowroot powder), to absorb moisture.
Dr. Squatch’s deodorants are available in seven different scents, but across all scents the full list of main ingredients is as follows:
- Coconut oil
- Arrowroot powder
- Sunflower seed oil
- Clary sage essential oil
- Cypress essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Jojoba (aka simmondsia chinensis) seed oil
- Patchouli essential oil
- Charcoal powder
- Beeswax
- Jojoba Esters
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Maltodextrin
- Triethyl Citrate
How it Smells
Dr. Squatch deodorant comes in seven unique scents.
Of the seven varieties on offer, I tried three different scents to get a feel for how each one smelled.
I was also curious to see how they differed, and what kinds of situations/scent profiles each one might be right for.
Pine Tar Deodorant
The first one I tried was the pine tar deodorant, which is the same scent as the Dr. Squatch soap I had previously tried.
Like the soap, the pine tar deodorant was fresh, woodsy, and outdoorsy.
It was probably the most masculine of the three scents I tried, which makes sense, since it’s easy to feel masculine when rolling on your deodorant makes you feel like a lumberjack.
(I didn’t try the Birchwood Breeze scent, but since it’s also an arboreal scent, I would imagine it has a similar effect.)
I conducted my test during the colder winter months, and the pine tar scent was probably the most appropriate for that time of year, since it smells a bit like a Christmas tree.
Fresh Falls Deodorant
The second scent I tried was called fresh falls, which the brand describes as being, “As rejuvenating and energizing as jumping into a cool forest waterfall in the crisp morning air.”
I don’t really know what that means, but sure. To me the fresh falls scent was simultaneously crisp and light.
It was still winter while I tried it, but I think it would actually be a great scent for summer, since it has a hint of citrus that reminded me of fresh squeezed lemonade.
I would say it had the most natural scent of the three I tried.
Bay Rum Deodorant
The third scent I tried was the bay rum deodorant, which was the most distinct smelling.
Smell is the most evocative of the five senses, and every time I get a whiff of the bay rum scent it makes me think of the Caribbean.
(Fortunately, the image that it calls to mind is more along the lines of Ernest Hemingway drinking mojitos in Cuba than Captain Jack Sparrow breaking box office records for Disney.)
The island vibes make it another good scent for summer, especially if you don’t wear much (or any) cologne and just want to let your deodorant do the heavy lifting as far as your scent.
How it Rolls On
One of the BIG reasons why I hate cheap drugstore deodorants is that they often leave chalky white streaks under your arms, and sometimes even on your clothes.
I switched to Speed Stick awhile back to try and avoid the chalkiness, but found their formula to be so soapy that it still left streaks on my shirts.
I’m happy to report that all three of the Dr. Squatch deodorants I tried went on smooth, with no visible residue on either my armpit or my clothes.
Each stick uses what the brand calls a smooth glide application, and in my experience it lives up to its name.
How it Holds Up Through the Day
Even more importantly than how it rolls on is how a deodorant performs throughout the day, and on this front I was surprised to find myself very impressed.
In my experience with previous brands, most natural men’s deodorant keeps you fresh-smelling for the morning, but starts waning shortly after lunch, when the growth of odor becomes too much for it to handle.
But not so with Squatch.
I did frequent armpit checks throughout the day, and was impressed to find that all three of the deodorants I tried kept me smelling good for quite a long time.
Perhaps most impressive was the fact that they held up well both on business days and on weekends, when I’m often quite active and tend to work up a pretty good sweat.
With that said, would I slap on some Dr. Squatch then jog to a first date or a business meeting and expect to still smell fresh? Of course not.
But if you’re looking for something that can stand up to the potential sources of b.o. that come up throughout the course of a regular day, it’s more than up to the task.
So…
Does Dr Squatch deodorant work?
My experience was enough for me to say with confidence that yes, Dr. Squatch deodorant definitely works.
The scents are fresh and masculine, it rolls on smooth and streak-free, and the protection it provides is surprisingly long-lasting.
The fact that it does all that without using the powerful – but potentially harmful – chemicals found in traditional antiperspirants was a bit of a revelation, and pretty impressive.
Total Score on Quality: 4.8/5
Price
Stripping out the natural ingredients is one of the key ways that big mass-market brands save money, which is why natural deodorant generally costs more than traditional deodorant.
For instance, on Amazon a stick of Native deodorant – one of the aforementioned natural deodorants that come in feminine scents like vanilla – costs about 12 bucks.
Dr. Squatch’s deodorant costs about the same when you buy through their website, but comes in scents that are more to most guys’ liking.
Plus, there are a couple of ways to save money on Dr. Squatch.
You can use their subscription service to have a new stick sent to your door each month, and shave one dollar off the price of each stick in the process.
And you can also use my exclusive discount code to get even more savings, which you can find below.
So while the bad news is that a stick of Dr. Squatch will cost you more than a stick of Right Guard or Speed Stick, the good news is threefold.
First and foremost, it’s a superior product. As mentioned, Dr. Squatch’s deodorants don’t come with the artificials ingredients (and risks of negative health effects) of regular mass-market deodorants.
Second, Dr. Squatch actually provides better value for your dollar than other natural deodorants, because both its strength and its scents are specifically formulated for guys.
And third, there are multiple ways to score a deal, so if you play it right you’ll actually end up spending less on Dr. Squatch’s deodorant than you would on other, less-enticing natural brands.
Total Score on Price: 4.2/5
Conclusion:
Is Dr Squatch deodorant good?
After nearly two months of slapping on a stick of Dr. Squatch and doing my damndest to work up a sweat, I found myself both surprised and impressed by just how well their natural deodorant held up.
These are probably some of the best natural deodorants on the market.
For modern, health-conscious guys who don’t want to deal with the artificial sh*t they put in mass-market deodorants – but also don’t want to spend the whole day smelling like a flower garden – finding a natural deodorant that’s both hard-working and masculine-smelling is a rarity.
While the price point is higher for natural deodorant than it is for the regular kind, the increased quality makes the value proposition more than worthwhile.
(Especially since there are multiple ways to get your hands on a stick of Dr. Squatch for less money than other natural deodorants.)
All three of the deodorants I tried smelled great, went on smooth, avoided unwanted streaks and stains, and – crucially – were strong enough to keep me smelling fresh all day.
This is the second type of Dr. Squatch product that I’ve paid for myself and reviewed on the blog, and my experience was so strong that I can safely say it won’t be the last.
Total Score of Dr. Squatch Deodorant Review: 4.5/5
Shop Dr. Squatch
And Save 20%!
Dr. Squatch deodorant smells great, goes on smooth and avoids unwanted streaks and stains, all while being strong enough to keep you smelling fresh all day.
Pick up a stick through the Dr. Squatch website, and use code GENT20 to get 20% off orders of $20+ or subscription purchases.
The FAQ ↓
How long does Dr Squatch deodorant last?
In my experience, each stick lasts between four to six weeks if you wear it everyday. In terms of how long it lasts after you put it on, I found that it worked well pretty much all day.
Where can I buy Dr Squatch deodorant?
It’s available at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, but they mark the price up. If you want to get the lowest price, your best bet is to buy through their website – and use code GENT20 to get 20% off!
What is the best Dr Squatch deodorant?
In my opinion it’s a tie between the Pine Tar scent and Fresh Falls, depending on the time of year. Pine Tar has a woodsy scent that’s great for winter, while Fresh Falls has a lighter, summery scent.
Is Dr Squatch deodorant antiperspirant?
No. As WebMD explains, “Deodorant masks odor, while an antiperspirant reduces how much you sweat.” Dr. Squatch deodorant does a good job of masking odor, but doesn’t contain the (potentially harsh) chemicals that reduce your sweat.
Summary
Summary
After nearly two months of slapping on a stick of Dr. Squatch and doing my damndest to work up a sweat, I found myself both surprised and impressed by just how well their natural deodorant held up. These are probably some of the best natural deodorants on the market.
More Resources ↓
More Men’s Style Advice & Grooming Tips From Irreverent Gent:
- The 15 Best Smelling Dr. Squatch Soap Scents
- The Absolute Best Dr. Squatch Alternatives & Competitors
- The 13 Best Hair Removal Creams for Your Private Parts
- The 11 Best Pairs of Pouch Underwear
- The Definitive Guide to Growing a Beard Faster
- Taper vs Fade vs Taper Fade – The Ultimate Guide
- In-Depth Lumin Skincare Review
- The Best Face Wash for Men
- The Best Shaving Soaps for Men
- The Absolute Best Men’s Deodorants & Antiperspirants
- In-Depth Dr. Squatch Review
- The Absolute Best Electric Shavers for Black Men
- The Best Beard Oil for Healthy, Handsome (& Kissable) Beards
- The 32 Most Handsome Men’s Haircuts & Hairstyles
- The 17 Best Beard Straightening Brushes
- The 13 Best Stubble Trimmers for Ruggedly Refined Facial Hair
- The 15 Best Pairs of Men’s Bamboo Underwear
- The 17 Best Beard Trimmers for Long Beards
- The 15 Best Trimmers for Shaving Your Balls
- The 19 Best Clippers for Black Men
