Do aluminum-free deodorants actually stop sweating?

No. Across the reviewers we read, this is the most consistent point: aluminum-free formulas are deodorants, not antiperspirants. They mask or neutralize odor (often via baking soda, AHAs, or essential oils) but will not block sweat the way aluminum salts do. If staying dry matters more than ingredient profile, an aluminum-based antiperspirant is the better tool.