Most people like to smell good, and to do so, most of us usually rely on our traditional stick of deodorant. But if you're trying to be a little more natural, you might be looking for ways to combat body odor without using deodorant. Although conventional deodorants and antiperspirants can do usually do the trick, they unfortunately can come with some ugly side effects.

Most of us don't think twice about swiping our underarms every morning, but your deodorant likely contains a number of harmful ingredients that can have some long-term negative health effects. For starters, most deodorants and antiperspirants contain parabens as well as phthalates, which can mess with your body's hormones, according to Time.

These products also contain aluminum, which can cause “gene instability” in breast tissue, which could eventually lead to the growth of tumor or cancer cells, according to research from the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. There is currently no definitive research linking aluminum to cancer, but breast cancer incidence tends to be associated with usage of products that contain the metal, according to research from the European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

Although more research is needed to completely understand the risk of using these deodorants, it can't hurt to start looking for alternative methods to staying smelling nice in the mean time. Here are eight natural ways to combat body odor without using deodorant.

The first step to eliminating body odor is keeping a healthy diet. Foods like red meat can actually cause a more intense, unpleasant body odor, according to research published in the journal Chemical Senses.

2

Exfoliate Your Underarms

Keeping your underarms clean and bacteria-free can help improve your natural scent. "Gently exfoliate your underarms once per week," says Tara Pelletier, founder of the natural skincare line Meow Meow Tweet, over email. "You can use a washcloth or a body scrub with oat flour: Mix flour 1 to 1 with oil or water and scrub-a-dub."

3

Try Rose Water

"Rose water is a natural antibacterial substance, and for added benefits, it has a beautiful aroma," says skin specialist and board-certified holistic health practitioner Diana Ralys, LE, COE, HC over email. Some people mix rose water with tea tree oil, but you can also use it by itself for a floral fragrance.

Read more