No sweat?

Tom’s of Maine natural deodorant
$5.79 at Kramer’s Health Foods (230 S Wabash Ave, 312-922-0077)
How it works: The chemical-free stick contains coriander oil to fight odor and aloe vera to soothe skin.
Doc says: “I haven’t heard of coriander oil doing much for odor,” says dermatologist Carolyn Jacob.
The sweet: The scents are fresh and natural—without the unwashed-hippie vibe.
The smelly: It feels slimy going on, and a generous application wasn’t enough to keep us from pitting out.

Lush Aroma creme
$10.45/100g at Lush (859 W Armitage Ave, 773-281-5874)
How it works: Pat a pea-size amount of this vegan cream under dry pits. Antibacterial essential oils of almond and ylang-ylang are said to stop the stink, while shea butter softens underarms.
Doc says: “The sodium bicarbonate might absorb a bit of a sweat, but it’s basically baking soda. The essential oils just smell good.”
The sweet: After a morning sprint to the bus, the floral scent kept our pits smelling pleasant. Aromacreme also beat all others on the wetness factor, keeping us as dry as an antiperspirant would.
The smelly: Unless you love the feeling of bee stings, don’t apply the cream right after shaving.

Alba Botanica Clear Enzyme deodorant stick
$6 at Whole Foods (locations throughout the city)
How it works: Rub the clear, preservative-free stick on dry pits. Alba claims baking soda soaks up dampness while lichen kills stinky bacteria.
Doc says: “Lichen? That’s something that grows on trees as a symbiotic host. The absence of propylene glycol is probably helpful for people with sensitive skin.”
The sweet: The light tea-tree scent effectively covers up sweat smells, and it smells clean, not perfumey.
The smelly: It takes a while to dry, which is a pain in the ass during the morning-grooming process.

Henri Bernard crystal
$6.50 at Merz Apothecary (4716 N Lincoln Ave, 773-989-0900)
How it works: Gently rub the clear crystal stick on wet skin. Crystallized mineral salts are said to prevent bacteria from forming, which keeps the funk factor low.
Doc says: “Mineral salts are supposed to plug up the sweat ducts, like aluminum chloride does in antiperspirants.”
The sweet: You can’t find a better value—one stick lasts about a year. And it neutralizes odors well—we perspired but didn’t give off B.O.
The smelly: It’s not for the olfactory sensitive. If you’re not comfortable with your own scent, you may prefer a perfumed deodorant.
Tom's - Lush - Alba - Henri Bernard