SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 5...

To be honest, I thought this series was pretty much done and dusted - well in my mind at least because in Parts 1-4, I discovered several aluminium-free deodorants that met my needs, and I was perfectly happy with their performance, presentation and fragrance. But just the other day I was excited to spot four in Coles I hadn't noticed before - Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Wild Lavender Deodorant, Only Good Natural Deodorant, Mitchum Natural Power Bamboo Powder Coconut & Brutal Truth Rustic & Woody Antiperspirant Roll-On (for men).  All of them were $10 or less and given their supermarket accessibility and price, plus two are the wind-up-stick kind (my personal favourite), I couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to put them under the kats microscope (and under my arms) to see how they compared to the more expensive and not-so-easily-available ones I'd settled on back in January last year...

Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant - Wild Lavender (64g, RRP $10)

I'd not heard of this brand before, but the label said "since 1970" so I figured they might have a clue as to how to go about creating an aluminium-free formula. It sure ticked my box being a wind-up gel kind, and the fragrance is really something special - fresh and crisp but not too sweet. You can see from the ingredients list below that it has barely any chemicals, so they're on the right track. But...it didn't work all that well for me. My earlier research was done last summer, which was a genuine Sydney summer - high humidity and very hot. Well, this deo stopped working for me once the temperature rose above 22 degrees Celsius - I reapplied several times, but still felt uncomfortable which means it's really not suitable for anything other than winter. A disappointing 4/10...

Mitchum Natural Power Bamboo Powder - Coconut (40g, RRP $7.50)

Mitchum is a highly respected deodorant manufacturer, specialising in clinical performance products, so I had high hopes for this one. It's vegan, dermatologically tested, cruelty-free, has no artificial preservatives, and the scent of the creamy wind-up stick is subtle and vaguely coconutty. Sadly it also didn't work all that well for me. Once the thermometer climbed up to 25, I was a sticky, stinky mess. Boo! I reapplied it a few times and managed to avoid the necessity for immediate showering.  Admittedly my benchmark is pretty fierce - I want my deo to last all day, and I'm sticking with that because I have found ones that do just that. But I will hang onto this one to see how it goes in the cooler weather.  Disappointing 4/10...

Only Good Natural Deodorant - Honeysuckle & Elderflower (50ml, RRP $10)

I wasn't able to smell the scent through my mask but I chose this one out of the three available because I thought it would be the most subtle (others are Rosehip/Marshmallow, Manuka Honey/Chamomile). Probably wasn't the best choice as it smells quite sour in the bottle, and that's not a good start for a deodorant. In its favour, you can see from the list of exclusions below that it's a pretty good attempt at being natural, but again, this one performed about the same as the other two above - as soon as the mercury rose, or I started any sort of activity outside my normal daily routine, it failed to keep me dry or odour-free. Because it doesn't smell very nice at all I didn't bother to reapply, 3/10...

Brutal Truth Rustic & Woody Antiperspirant Roll-On (75ml, RRP $10)

Another brand I'd not heard of, and only spotted this a few days ago in the men's section - I often look there as I'm frequently attracted to fella fragrances rather than the girlie ones, and this is a beauty. Rustic & woody describes it very well - it's earthy (Cedarwood, Cinnamon & Patchouli) but it's also fresh (orange, lavender & grapefruit). And joy of joys this one survived a 30-degree day without needing additional applications. Mind you I was a bit sticky, but definitely NOT stinky - woo hoo! Having said that it wasn't all that humid and I only jumped on the treadmill for half an hour, but this one worked well enough for me to consider it for a day at the office. That kind of confidence is my ultimate benchmark for a deo. Other bonuses are that it's free from alcohol, Aussie made and cruelty-free. I'm keen to try the other scent (Clean & Crisp) which is predominantly Mint & Sandalwood. Giving this an 8/10 ♥...

So that's how it turned out - one success out of four, but I'm so glad I tried all these, especially the last one which is an excellent find ♥...

Have you tried any of these deordorants?  What's your go-to aluminium-free protector?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 4...

Delighted to be back with you for Part 4 of my Aluminium-free Deodorant series. Having already covered those available from Supermarkets, the success rate has sky-rocketed, with four out of the six below scoring 9/10 or better, which means that performance-wise, they're up to the task of replacing my regular Dove deodorant that does contain aluminium. Except that it's no longer my regular deodorant - instead, I now have a selection of way more natural (and healthy) ones to choose from that I trust 100%, so read on ♥...

Dr.Organic Hemp Oil Deodorant with Vetiver & Patchouli Oil (50ml, Health food stores & some pharmacies, RRP $12.95)

Another one recommended by one of you lovelies ♥ I found this in my local health food store. There were a few different scents available, but the Hemp Oil one was the most appealing on the day, with an almost herbal freshness to it. LOVE that it's a roll-on, and because it was so highly recommended, I did the unthinkable and wore it to work without testing it beforehand. Gaaaaahhhhhh! Well, after cleaning my new workspace, setting up two computers, three monitors and organising my desk drawers, I was quite damp under the arms, and it was only 10am. So, armed with a backup deo in my makeup bag, I headed to the loo for a quick stink check, and there was...nothing. I did regular checks throughout the day because my pits stayed quite wet, but there continued to be no odour whatsoever. I mean. I couldn't even detect the scent of the deo. WTF? Prior to this, underarm wetness for me automatically meant underarm stench, so I've always sought a formula with anti-perspirant properties. I have to admit that I'm not all that comfortable with drippy pits, but I'm TOTALLY at ease with the deodorising effectiveness of this baby. The final test was to not shower before bed, and then see what developed overnight. I swear, even the next morning, my pits were pong-free. Holey guacemoley, the Doctor sure knows what he's doing...

The formula is vegan, the ingredients list goes on for days (mostly natural oils - I counted 13), and it's free from aluminium, parabens, SLS and mineral oils. Rating-wise I'm giving it a 9/10 - it probably deserves higher because it is 100% effective in preventing odour, but the underarm wetness will take me quite a bit of getting used to, so for now, the Fresca is still my fave ♥♥♥...

A'kin Geranium & Cedarwood Natural Deodorant (65ml,  Priceline/Chemist Warehouse etc., RRP $10.99)

With a label declaring "24hr Clinical Protection Absorbs Wetness", 100% vegan, not tested on animals, Australian made & owned, this was another one I had high hopes for. Absolutely adore the fragrance - it's definitely woody, but the geranium adds a sweetness and softness to it, making it a tad more girl-friendly. Worked well for six hours, and then the wheels fell off. I tried reapplying, but in the end, I had to go with something else or spend the next 12 hours alone in my room. Mind you it was a very hot and humid day, so I will keep this one aside for the cooler weather. 5/10 ♥...

Schmidt's Cedarwood + Juniper Natural Deodorant (92g, Priceline, RRP $13.99)

Was ecstatic to find this at Priceline a few weeks back, and way cheaper than Nourished Life ($19.95). Because of this research series, I now have quite a few deos in the stash, but I was curious to find out whether this would work as well as their Charcoal & Magnesium formula that I fell in love with in Part 1 - the answer is a resounding YES!. This one is super smooth and less messy, but it's also heaps more masculine in the scent department. Wood, wood and more wood. Like if you got down on your hands and knees and sniffed your deck ha ha. I don't have a deck but the fragrance reminds me of timber outdoor furniture that's just been painted with the stuff that protects it from the weather. Not unpleasant, but quite strong, and it's always there in the background all day. Definitely a great one for the fellas, and I'm also giving it a 9/10 because it works brilliantly and absorbs 90% of wetness - very comfortable ♥♥♥...

P.S. Thanks to Fawn for letting me know that this range is currently on special at Priceline (in-store only) for $9.79!

Noosa Basics Organic Deodorant - Sandalwood (60g, Nourished Life, RRP $16.95)

I chose this based on the user reviews at Nourished Life - they were a bit mixed but predominantly positive, which is what I've found for just about all these natural deodorants. Some folks swear by them and others say don't even bother, so I can't stress enough that it's a matter of finding what works for you. Having said that I'm pretty fussy with my personal hygiene - I don't do heavy-duty workouts at the gym, but I do get a glow-up just being me (lol!), so if something doesn't work on my bod, I wonder how far more active people cope. This one is a slightly grainy paste with a quite delicate sandalwood scent (there are more fragrances to choose from), but as with several others I've tested in this series, once I hit the 6-hour mark, I needed more support. I had planned on trying out their Charcoal activated flavour, but considering the results I've had from some of my earlier research, plus the next two stunners below, I'll give it a miss. Ok for Winter, 5.5/10 ♥... 

No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant (35g, RRP $8.95)

One word - awesome! Smooth creamy paste with a fabulous (predominantly lemongrass) fragrance, I was not expecting this to work as well as it did, but there you go - you just never know till you try. I like that it's in a tin instead of plastic, but that's also my one and only beef. All my life I've failed tin-opening, even the old shoe polish kind with the little metal lever on the side. If this had a screw cap, I'd be fine - I just don't seem to manage ones where I have to use a fingernail to prise the top off. That annoyance aside, this is another one that seems to last all day and all night. Mind you yesterday wasn't quite as hot as some others during this process, but it sure was sticky-as, so I'm confident my results are accurate. The ingredients are coconut oil, baking soda, corn starch, beeswax and a blend of the following oils for the scent - orange, vanilla, lemongrass, cedarwood, bergamot, lime, frankincense, ylang-ylang & geranium. No wonder it smells so good! The instructions say "apply a pea sized amount to each armpit" - I used a little more, but not much. 9/10 - would have been more but getting the lid off is a total pain ♥♥♥... 

Black Chicken Remedies Axilla Deodorant Paste (15g mini, RRP $7.95, 75g, RRP $18.50)

The Black Chicken Axilla paste is the only one that I'd actually heard about (rave reviews actually), which is why I left it to last. I knew that if I started with this gem, I probably wouldn't have explored all the other possibilities that are out there. For those of you who already use this product, yep it's a legend. If you've not heard of it before you're probably wondering why it has such a weird name. Well, it turns out that axilla is the anatomical name for the armpit, and the company founder (Chey Birch) began her journey back in 2000 (in Bondi) mixing natural ingredients in a small bowl that was decorated with a black chicken ♥ So this is Aussie owned and made, vegan, and comes in a plastic recyclable container with a screw-top lid (score!). The paste is smooth but has teeny little granules (possibly bi-carb soda, tapioca or kaolin clay?) that dissolve into the skin. The delicate fragrance comes from a blend of essential oils - lime, clove, lavender, cedarwood, cajeput (melaleuca), mandarin, peppermint and rose geranium. It's a lovely organic mix which to my nose smells mostly of peppermint and clove. You rub in a pea-sized amount until it's absorbed and then forget about BO & wetness for the next 24 hours - dinks!...

There are 675 customer reviews on their website, 632 of which give it 5 stars, and 39 awarded 4 stars. If you do the math, that leaves only 4 reviews which aren't so positive. But those stats pretty much sum up this product (they're not paying me to write this by the way). I'm giving it a 9.4, but only 'cos I have to use my fingers ♥♥♥...

Part 5?

Having found six relatively "natural" deodorants that work either brilliantly or well enough for me to trust them on a busy workday, I've decided to put this series on hold until next Summer - if I buy any more now, I'll never get through them, and with most being organic, I don't want them to go off or lose their effectiveness. But there are still a lot more to try - Body Shop, Lavera, Lush, Ethique, Woohoo!, LaVanila. It goes on and on and on, so I'll resume probably around October ♥...

So to summarise, here's my Top Six Aluminium-free Deodorants, in order of my preference based on how well they work for me and the convenience of the presentation. Cost is a factor of course, but when it comes to body odour, price is way low on my list of purchase criteria ♥♥♥...

1. Fresca Natural Deodorant - Wooden Spice with Sandalwood & Carrot Seed (Part 2)

2. Schmidt's Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant (Part 1)

3. Black Chicken Remedies Axilla Deodorant Paste (Part 4)
4. No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant  (Part 4)

5. Dr.Organic Hemp Oil Deodorant with Vetiver & Patchouli Oil (Part 4)

6. Earth Purities Natural Deodorant - Nero For Him (Part 3)

Hope this series has been helpful to you - it's sure sorted out my underarms!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 3...

Well now, what an interesting exercise this is turning out to be. Quite frankly I'm staggered at the uselessness of some of the aluminium-free deodorants I've been putting to the test, so much so that I wonder why they're even on the market. I guess it's just that everybody's needs are so different, and the ones I'm classifying as duds must actually perform ok for some folks. Anyways, let's get on with Part 3, which will essentially complete my supermarket coverage ♥...

Weleda 24h Roll-On Deodorant - Sea Buckthorn (50ml, Website, RRP $16.95)

After giving this a go on both a 20 degree and 30+ day, the results are pretty much the same. Maximum four hours of worry-free protection, and about 1 hour before the sticky-pits scenario sets in, and that's without any exercise or exertion. Today was the lower temp day - it's now 7pm, and while I'm not exactly tainting the environment, I'm keeping my arms close to my sides as my pits are sour. Disappointing as I love some of their other products, but it might be ok in winter. The orangey fragrance is pleasant, the bottle is 70% recycled plastic, and it's made in Switzerland. I'll give it a 6.5/10 ♥...

Earth Purities Natural Deodorant - Nero For Him (50ml,  Nourished Life, RRP $12.95)

I mentioned in one of my other posts that I often prefer deos targetted for males because of the woody or musky scents they have, but I also go for them because I figure that they'll be a tad more potent, given that fellas often need a bit more help in the underarm department. Well this one is a treat for citrus lovers as it's scented with bergamot and lemon, and it worked well for me for 12 hours on a very humid day - it didn't keep me all that dry but I can live with that. Vegan, not tested on animals, Aussie made and owned, the container is recyclable glass, and it has a "best before" sticker on the base (June 2021). 8/10 ♥♥♥...

Redwin Sensitive Skin Anti-perspirant Deodorant (150ml,  Supermarket, RRP $5)

As promised this is a pump spray and a generous one for the price. To me, it smells like a generic men's aftershave or cologne, so it might not appeal to some of you gals. On the other hand, I'm not sure if anyone would benefit from this - I needed to reapply it every two hours, and squirting it on while dressed is not my idea of practical, especially as I had to wait 5 minutes for the spray to dry enough to put my top back on. While I didn't feel the need to re-shower, I ended up slicking on one of my success stories after the third respray. Sorry, no - 2/10...

Simple Pure Deodorant - Aerosol (200ml, Supermarket, RRP $7)

This started out really well, and then sadly faded after four hours, just like the roll-on variety with the same name. Same deliciously fresh scent, I enjoyed the sensation of the cooling, dry almost powdery spray, and it was much easier to reapply, so I'm giving it one point extra over the roll-on. However, that still doesn't give it enough of an anti-BO oomph factor to pass my test - I'll use it up on my feet. 5/10 ♥...

Sukin Signature Natural Deodorant (125ml, Supermarket RRP $6.95)

Another one that was recommended by one of you gals (♥). Sukin is such a terrific brand, and this is the best of the pump sprays so far (it comes with a protective cap on the nozzle, but I can't find where I put it lol). A fairly confident 10 hours without having to reapply, I love the scent of this one - a mix of mandarin, lavender and vanilla. Doesn't do much for wetness but the formula does a great job of neutralising odour.  It's a close call as to whether I would wear it on a work-day as I do quite a bit of running around and attend a lot of meetings in very small rooms. I think I'll keep it for the cooler weather, and give it a 7.5 ♥♥... 

Norsca Anti-perspirant Deodorant - Rosewater & Lotus Scent (50ml, Supermarket, RRP $4.99)

Quite a pleasant fragrance, but I hit the stink wall after two hours.  Maybe in the next life - 1/10.

Overall it's looking like 8/10 is about my threshold for what I would wear to the office - I'm confident with anything rated that or above. Between 5 & 8 I'll keep for the chilly season or around the house, and if it's less than 5, I'm giving it to the garbos (once emptied wherever possible of course). I would say that apart from the Sukin one, I wouldn't bother with those from the supermarket - they just don't cut it performance-wise. Having said that, perhaps I'm an overly stinky sweaty gal and they may, in fact, work for you - as always, it's best to try for yourself, deodorant is even more personal than perfume ♥...

Unfortunately, my research will slow down from now on as I'm back at work next week, and will only be testing new discoveries on the weekends. But Part 4 is in the pipeline, and already there are a few winners to bring to light, so hope you'll be back for a read soon ♥...

And if you missed them, here is Part 1 & Part 2.

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 1...

Been many moons since I started a new series on the old blog, and the perfect opportunity presented itself when I entered search mode for an effective natural aluminium-free deodorant. Judging by the answers to one of my giveaway questions, there seems to be quite a bit of interest in this arena. And given I had some time off work around the October long weekend, I was able to also put the selection below through the not-in-aircon test, which is essential in my opinion. While those five days weren't exactly topping the temperature gauge, it was pretty steamy, and I was quite active, so I was able to put them through their paces to see which ones pass the stinky kats test. The results were interesting, to say the least, and while deodorant is a totally personal product due to its impact on the skin and the interaction with an individual's biochemistry, some of the recommendations I received worked brilliantly (thanks lovelies!). So with that in mind, I'm hopeful that there may be one here that suits you too ♥...

This first round of choices was limited to the solid stick or roll-on variety because that's always been my preference. I've never been keen on aerosols (too many accidental face sprays lol), and I've always avoided the wet spray kind because I don't like to start the day with drippy underarms, but I may give a couple of those a shot in another round just so I'm covering all bases of what appeals to other folks. I should add that I've been using one successfully (will be reviewed in Part 2) all throughout winter (so I'm not exactly transitioning) but found it to be not quite effective enough in a Sydney heatwave, hence my search for an alternative. This selection is a mixture of supermarket and specialist website products, so let's get started ♥...

Myaura Organics All Natural Deodorant Stick - Bergamot Lime Coconut (Supermarket, RRP $9)

This one also comes in a couple of other varieties, including Vanilla & Jasmine, but this combo is the one that appealed the most. Incidentally what I've found so far with all of the stick varieties is that the cream is softer than mainstream ones, and so there's always some product that squishes around the top of the container after application - I can live with this though, I just wipe it off with a finger and stroke it under my arms. I may come up with a less wasteful way to apply this type, so watch this space. But I digress. Ok, so the Myaura Organics deodorant stick had a clear plastic protective cover over the stick which I removed to take the photo. The fragrance is fresh and beautiful and the cream quite thick and smooth. No aluminium, zinc, preservatives or palm oil, and the vegan-friendly ingredients include arrowroot powder, coconut and soybean oil, bi-carb soda, shea butter, vitamin E and aloe vera. I was extremely hopeful and it worked well for half the day, and then rapidly lost its effectiveness - I was aware of becoming a bit stinky so I applied more, but realistically, I was not comfortable or confident. I'm keeping this for winter though as I'm sure it will be fine in cooler weather, just doesn't cut it for me on hot steamy days. 5/10 ♥...

Dermal Therapy Crystal Deodorant (Supermarket, RRP $6.95)

This was the first one I tried after commencing this journey, and it fascinated me. It's a solid stick, as hard as a rock, and you wet the top and then stroke it under your arms. The label says it's 100% natural, aluminium, alcohol & fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic and not tested on animals. I had to re-wet it a few times so that it didn't drag on my skin, and it worked brilliantly for three days - no stink, not even any wetness and I thought wow this is the one, and then I broke out in a rash. Holy crap, it was painful. I don't normally react to anything very much, but this was quite bad. Not in my armpits themselves, but in the area surrounding them. It took three days of using a regular deodorant for the rash to subside, and it was stinging like mad almost the whole time. There are no ingredients listed on the container, but their website says it is made of Crystallised Alum. Whatever that is, it's a no-no for moi. 0/10...

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Deodorant Original (Supermarket, RRP $5.35)

I'm not at all keen on the smell of Tea Tree, so I hesitated to purchase it, but the roll-on dispenser appealed, and I figured for the price I had little to lose. Well, I should have trusted my nose because it was an epic fail. No irritation, but no deodorising power after the first two hours. Honestly, by mid-morning I stank so much I had to have a shower - thank goodness I didn't try it on a workday lol.  Binned this one I'm afraid. 0/10...

Schmidt's Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant (Nourished Life, RRP $19.95)

At last, we have a winner! (thanks a bunch Fawn ♥) So as you can see it's a rather lumpy looking stick of greyish goop, but boy is it effective. No stink and very little wetness. Certified vegan & cruelty-free with no artificial fragrance, this marvel contains arrowroot powder, baking soda, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, magnesium hydroxide, and activated charcoal. It has a very delicate vaguely lemony scent, and you hold it against your skin for a few seconds to soften it, then swipe a few times for a guaranteed 12 odour-free hours, and even then there's just the vaguest sweetish smell that isn't at all unpleasant. I'm so confident I've been wearing this to work, and it didn't let me down even when I had a job interview, which is always stressful for me. I'd give this a 9/10, and it's the best one so far ♥♥♥...

Part 2 will be up soon! 

Have you switched to an aluminium-free deodorant? Have you tried any of these?

Take care of you,

kats xxx