Best Soaps for Active Women: Natural vs Non-Natural Tested
Let’s be honest – most soaps don’t stand a chance against a sweaty gym session. As someone who trains hard and has been trying to switch to natural deodorant (which rarely lasts past breakfast), I needed to find something that actually works. So I tested four options – a mix of natural and non-natural – to find the best soaps for active women that helps prevent body odour and keeps you feeling fresh all day. Whether you’re looking for a natural soap for the gym or something strong enough to use post-workout, here’s how they held up.
Why I Tested These Soaps as an Active Woman
If you’re searching for the best soaps for active women, especially those who want to stay fresh through sweat and workouts, this review is for you
As someone who trains hard most days – from sweaty spin classes to strength sessions – I needed a soap that could actually keep up. Since working towards my level 2 gym instructor qualification – I’ve been trying to move away from heavily fragranced shower gels and instead find something cleaner, more skin-friendly and ideally more natural.
But here’s the issue: natural deodorants rarely work for me, and that makes finding the right soap even more important. I wanted to see if any post-workout natural soap or even a natural soap for the gym could genuinely keep me fresh without needing perfume or reapplying deodorant halfway through the day.
My goal was simple: find the best soap for active women – something that tackles sweat and odour, is gentle on the skin and ideally counts as part of your sweat-proof skincare routine. This review is based on real trial days, real workouts and real sweat.
Once I find a soap that actually works, I’ll be doing a proper trial of natural deodorants too – so this is part one of a two-part test.
My Top Picks & Who They’re Best For
After testing four soaps, two natural and two non-natural, I can honestly say the natural ones came out on top. Which I’m buzzing about, because I’ve been trying to switch to more natural soaps and deodorants lately.
It was a very close call between Friendly Soap’s Detox Bar and SweatGuard’s Deodorant Bar. Both kept me fresh, didn’t cause irritation, and held up even on sweaty days. I’d happily use either again – [FYI both were gifted, but this post isn’t sponsored]
The Best Part?
They gave me that squeaky clean feeling, but not the awful kind where your skin feels rubbery or tight afterwards (you know what I mean, right?). The non-natural soaps made my skin feel like I was scrubbing with rubber gloves. Not a vibe. But these two? Clean, fresh, and still soft. So good.
So which should you choose?
Best for Budget + Eco-Friendly Skincare:
Minimal ingredients, plastic-free packaging, gentle on skin – and just £3.25 a bar. At an estimate, It would last me over a month with twice-daily use. Amazing value and honestly cheaper than most shower gels.
- Unscented / gentle scent
- Great for sensitive skin
- Ideal if you’re after a simple, sustainable routine
Best for Scent + Active Lifestyle Branding (designed for heavy sweaters!):
Similar feel and effectiveness to Friendly Soap, but with a different scent and more sporty branding. It’s a great option if you like your post-gym soap to feel a bit more “purpose-built.”
- Fresh, lasting scent
- Also great for daily use
- Feels like it’s made for active routines
Truthfully? I don’t think one was stronger than the other – they just suit different preferences. If you’re more budget-conscious and like minimal skincare, go Friendly. If you like a bit more scent and a brand that’s all about excessive sweat (aka – whenever I workout!), go SweatGuard.
How I Tested the Soaps
To keep things fair, I followed the exact same routine each day. At night, I did an armpit-only wash using the soap I was testing – no deodorant. Then in the morning: a workout, a quick shower (again using the same soap, just on armpits, feet and intimate areas) and then applied a natural deodorant.
I still used my usual shower gel on the rest of my body, just a smaller amount – this test was focused on the spots that tend to get the sweatiest and smelliest. The deodorant I used throughout the test was Salt Of The Earth – Amber and Sandlewood, which smells lovely, but doesn’t normally last long for me. That’s why I was curious to see if a better soap could make the difference.
I paid attention to how my skin felt straight after showering, and more importantly how long I stayed not smelly. I gave each soap a full day of wear, through workouts, errands, walking and general life. Some surprised me (in a good way). Others… didn’t last past lunch.
I also made notes on how the soap lathered, what it smelled like in the shower, and whether it left my skin feeling dry or balanced. The goal was to find a natural soap for gym use – or any soap that prevents body odour without relying on heavy fragrance.
To make it a proper test, I rated a few things every day on a 1-5 scale:
- AM Odour: How fresh I felt after the gym session, but before showering
- PM Odour: How I smelled before bed, just before the armpit-only wash
- Skin Feel: Was my skin soft? Dry? Comfortable?
- Irritation: Did I react at all to the soap?
- Sweating: Did I actually sweat that day?
- Other notes: Anything useful like stress levels, period symptoms (hi PMS), heatwaves, or if I wore a top that holds onto smells (we all have one!)
The Soaps I Tested (Natural vs Non-Natural)
Friendly Soap Detox Bar (Natural & Eco-Friendly)
Scent / texture / feel
This bar has a very light, clean scent – nothing overpowering or artificial. The texture is smooth and lathers up nicely, and the best part is it leaves you with that fresh “squeaky clean” feeling but without the horrible rubbery skin effect you sometimes get with soaps. My skin felt soft afterwards, never dry, and it didn’t cause irritation unless I forgot to rinse it off properly.
Did it hold up after workouts?
Yes – really well. Even on days I sweat more (PMS, hotter weather, or busy days), I stayed fresh right through to the evening. The only time I noticed odour was when I wore certain gym tops that seem to have trapped smells from before – not the soap’s fault at all. Paired with my natural deodorant, it kept me smelling good even after full-on training days.
Would you buy it again?
Absolutely. At only £3.25 for a bar that lasts me about two months (using it twice daily), it’s amazing value compared to shower gels. Plus, it’s plastic-free, vegan, and handmade in the UK, so it ticks all the eco-friendly boxes. I’d happily keep this in my regular routine.
Sweat Guard Deodrant Bar (Natural – and designed for Heavy Sweaters)
Scent / texture / feel
This one has a clean, fresh scent that’s more noticeable than Friendly Soap but still not overpowering. The texture is firm and creates a good lather, leaving my skin feeling fresh without any dryness. Like Friendly Soap, it gave me that squeaky clean feel without the rubbery skin effect – which I love. I only had irritation once, and that was because I used it straight after shaving when I’d nicked myself.
Did it hold up after workouts?
Yes – just as well as Friendly Soap. Even after workouts or on hot days, I stayed fresh until the evening. It handled sweat well, and I didn’t notice any breakthrough odour unless it was from certain clothing that already held smells.
Would you buy it again?
Definitely. At £7.44 it’s over 2 times the price of Friendly Soap, but it would still last me around two months with twice-daily use. It’s marketed specifically as a deodorant bar rather than just a soap, so if someone wants a natural bar with a more purposeful anti-odour angle, it’s a solid option. For me, performance-wise it was on par with Friendly Soap, so the deciding factor would just be budget and scent preference.
Friendly Soap vs Sweat Guard: Best Soaps for Active Women – Which Wins?
Both of these natural bars performed brilliantly for me – no odour even after sweaty gym sessions, no rubbery skin feel, and very little irritation (only when I didn’t rinse properly or shaved right before using). Friendly Soap wins on price at around £3.25, making it a fantastic budget-friendly choice, especially if you want something gentle and eco-friendly. Sweat Guard, at £7.44, is pricier but has a slightly stronger, more purposeful scent and is marketed specifically for odour control, which might appeal if you want that extra peace of mind. For me, they’re neck-and-neck on performance, so it really comes down to budget and scent preference.
Cidal Soap (Non-Natural Anti-Bacterial) – Budget Option
Skin feel/harshness
Cidal felt a touch less harsh than Dial, but it’s still on the stronger side compared to natural soaps. My skin felt clean with a little bit of that rubbery squeaky texture I hate, and it was definitely more stripping than the Friendly Soap or Sweat Guard. I didn’t get much dryness at first, but after several days of use, I noticed my underarms were slightly more sensitive.
Effective for odour?
Yes – this definitely kept odour under control, even on super hot days or stressful ones where I was sweating a lot. I could still smell faint soap freshness in the evening on most days, which was impressive. However, comparing to the natural soaps – this didn’t actually perform as well for me
Any downside?
The main downsides are that it’s not natural, and it did cause a little irritation after repeated daily use. Also, the scent is quite medicinal, which isn’t my favourite for everyday showers.
Dial Soap (Non-Natural Anti-Bacterial)
Skin feel/harshness
Dial gave a proper deep-clean feeling but was the most drying of all the soaps I tested. It left my skin with that rubbery squeaky texture I really dislike, especially after a few days of continuous use. My underarms felt stripped rather than just clean, and mild irritation popped up fairly quickly.
Effective for odour?
It worked well for odour at first, but not as consistently as Cidal or the natural options. On gym days or in very hot weather, I noticed the freshness faded faster, and by the evening, there could be mild odour.
Any downside?
Definitely the skin feel – it’s harsh and not pleasant long-term. Plus, while it’s antibacterial, it didn’t outperform the other soaps in lasting odour control, so the trade-off isn’t really worth it for the low cost. I got home from a conference on one of the days and my boyfriend hugged me then literally said “ew you stink go and shower” so I think that kind of says it all really!
Final Thoughts
After testing four different soaps – two natural and two non-natural – I’ve learned that price, ingredients, and how your skin feels afterwards all matter just as much as odour control. For me, the biggest takeaway is that natural soaps can absolutely compete with, and even outperform, non-natural ones when it comes to staying fresh after the gym.
When choosing a post-gym soap, think about what’s most important to you. Do you want the most eco-conscious option, something budget-friendly, or a soap that prevents body odour no matter what your day throws at you? If you’re trying to decide between natural vs non-natural soap, my experience shows that natural options are well worth considering.
Overall, finding the best soaps for active women means looking beyond fragrance to ingredients that actually tackle sweat and odour – and after testing, I’m confident these natural options deliver.
Got a favourite soap I should try next? Drop it in the comments – I’m always up for testing something new.
Next up:
I’ll be testing natural deodorants to go with my new soap routine! But for now, this post shares my search for the best soaps for active women that can keep up with even the sweatiest workouts.If you want to know how the deodorant test goes, be sure to come back here for the updates – or follow along in real time on my Instagram stories @strengthandspice_ for all the behind-the-scenes.
