First of all, I would like to apologize to my friends and family for putting up with my armpits throughout testing time. It has, I admit, been a particularly long testing period, as I endeavoured to finish each stick of deodorant to well and truly give it a chance to work, while also being environmentally friendly and using it until I could use it no more. And as you can see from my selection below, this review has been a long time coming. I would also like to apologize to my hiking group, as throughout this period, I have also taken up hiking up Swiss mountains, which is ideally when you would want a deodorant to work…
Megababe Rosy Pits
I actually saw this had a glowing review in an American Elle magazine, and I had put it on my ‘To Buy’ list forever. Sadly, they only sell in the States, so it took a bit of wrangling to get.
Always a fan of rose-smelling products, the deodorant has a balm like texture, so it glides on smoothly. They also make it in different aromas: I also tried the “Sunny Pits” which has a wonderful citrus smell, and their website also advertises a “Soapy Pits” and “Beachy Pits”, which I would’ve probably preferred because I’m a sucker for anything that smells like a sunny vacation. The only problem I found with it, (and it’s actually kind of a biggie), was on really hot days (or if you’re really sweaty), it tends to make a foam like substance, when your ‘pits are working vigorously. I found this out the hard way, when my PT was giving me funny looks, and it turned out I had foam coming from my armpits. Not the best look when your PT looks like a modern-day Adonis. Oh, well.
6/10
Weleda 24h Deo Roll On
Weleda is one of those brands that I just automatically trust because of its phenomenal success with its Skin Food moisturiser. This is the only deodorant out of my list that I bought at the supermarket, because I had run out and my Native shipment hadn’t arrived yet, so I swiped this from the shelf praying for the best. Clearly my prayers worked because it was actually really good. The aroma however, was “Sanddorn,” which stands for sea buckthorn in German, and I wasn’t a fan. The pluses were that you didn’t have that two-week forgive-me period of smelly armpits when you switch to a new deodorant; it was a roll-on that came on clear so no white streaks; and of course it was aluminium free.
8.5/10
Native Deodorant
The big selling points for me was that Native is A) Natural. Obviously. B) Plastic-free! One of the major draw-backs for me about beauty products are the fact that they’re so wasteful, and use so much packaging. My delivery came in fully-recyclable packaging, and the deodorant packaging itself is made from responsibly managed forests.
The smell is great, and they have a wide variety. I went for the Vanilla & Coconut, because I am forever an island girl at heart, but they also have Lavender & Rose, Cucumber & Mint, Charcoal (if you’re a manly man), Citrus & Herbal Musk among other seasonal scents. They do have a separate deodorant made for people with sensitive skin, so really they have all bases covered.
The only downside for me, is that it does leave white streaks. I got it all over my clothes. It’s also fairly grainy and full of baking soda, so it can be a bit abrasive on your skin. I didn’t try the sensitive option – so hopefully that’s a safe bet.
Overall, a pretty good deodorant. I went on several hikes up various mountains using Native deodorant, and I wasn’t smelly once.
8/10
The Natural Deodorant Co. Clean Deodorant Balm
I used this for several years, as they sent free samples to my office. But be warned, it’s not for everybody! For someone who isn’t used to using deodorant out of a jar, it might be slightly unnerving, but it’s fine once you get used to using a little plastic scooper to get it out of the jar. Going in with fingernails first seems a little beastly.
Easily the most eco-friendly of this list, The Natural Deodorant Co. is a small UK-based company that uses no plastic whatsoever; all of their deodorants are vegan, cruelty-free and 100% natural. It is not an anti-perspirant, so you will sweat, and for the first two weeks you will be smelly. Be warned.
The deodorant itself has a really nice, subtle smell. I went for the Palmarosa & Mandarin, but they do have other scents if you’re averse to smelling like me. They also sell mini sizes for you to try if you’re unsure!
The balm can have little lumps in the mixture, as it’s a super -natural recipe, but if you just massage them in, they’ll disappear.
Obviously I enjoyed using this deodorant as I used probably about 12 pots of it over my 2 year stint, so I’m going to give this product a:
9/10
Kosas Chemistry Deodorant
I was a bit worried when I read that this deodorant contained AHA in it – which if you don’t know what that is, is an acid commonly used in skincare to help chemically exfoliate the skin; it clears up blemishes and essentially “bleaches” your skin. Personally, I’m not quite sure why someone would want to bleach their armpits, but if they’ve made a product where that is one of their main selling points, there must be a market I guess? Anyway, my armpits are so milky white right now. It looks a little funny, considering that it’s summer, and I’m using fake tan (I’m more of the burning/freckle skin type), but my armpits are also looking real smooth. None of those pesky shaving bumps that we normally get in a usually disregarded area.
Overall, this is a pretty good deodorant – however, it is not an anti-perspirant. While I was using it, I kept waiting for it not to work, and I kept being continuously surprised when it did. I wouldn’t say it’s the best deodorant I’ve ever used, but it’s definitely not the worst, plus it makes your arm pits look airbrushed – you can finally post that over-arm shot on Instagram.
7/10
Necessaire Le Deodorant
A big plus for me: there was no awkward lead time! You put it on for the first time ever; your pits smell of wonderful sandalwood all day; there is no awkward B.O. for the first two weeks, and no awkward explanations to friends and acquaintances that you are starting a new natural deodorant. Thank god on behalf of all the people around me.
After several hours of testing in the New Zealand summer heat – was my face the colour of a cherry Chapstick? Yes. Did my armpits smell of anything apart from sandalwood? Hell no my friends! This one’s a keeper!
It is a cream, although it’s dispensed as a twist deodorant, where it oozes up through a sieve not unlike a Playdoh pasta making machine. It also soaks into the skin fairly quickly – once you rub it in with the head of the deodorant stick, it sinks in really nicely; doesn’t leave any white streaks on clothing, and exudes a strong aroma of sandalwood. Necessaire (one of my favourite brands for bodywash, body exfoliator, and body cream anyway) also makes it in Eucalyptus, and fragrance-free, if you’re not about that smelling-of-herbs life. Match it to some Sandalwood bodywash from the same brand, and you’re away laughing.
9/10