Follow-Up: The Simple Organic Natural Deodorant Challenge

I’m back from vacation! I had a great time, but it’s good to be back. Thanks for all your well wishes – y’all are the best!

Back on June 11, I made a confession: I was still using traditional, mainstream antiperspirant / deodorant.  Eeek!  Yes, it’s true – despite having made great strides in “natural living,” I had never found a natural deodorant that could handle the central Texas heat and humidity for even one day.

Yet, the risks of traditional antiperspirants were always looming before me, and I finally decided that enough was enough.  So, I made a commitment to switch to natural deodorant for one month, and I invited all of you to join me. At least 87 people left comments joining in the challenge!  I was so encouraged by your commitment to be (potentially) stinky, in the name of health and natural living.

One Month of Natural Deodorant

When I issued the challenge, I warned you all that there might be a short detox period where you smell worse before you smell better (that’s why the challenge lasted for a whole month).  Knowing that I was planning to make the switch and test several brands and recipes, I had actually already quit using traditional antiperspirant about three weeks before I posted the challenge online.

Photo by Neil Conway

Tom’s of Maine

I started out using a liquid roll-on made by Tom’s of Maine.  I had high hopes that this deodorant would work well for me because I know that many of you love it.  However, I’m sorry to say that for me, it failed to make the cut. I gave it three weeks, and despite a shower and fresh application each morning, I was always stinky by the end of the day.

I decided the problem must be inherent in the name: Maine!  This deodorant probably works just fine for people who live where average July temps are in the 70s, but here in the upper 90s and 100s with high humidity, I need something stronger.

Homemade Deodorant

I then switched to a homemade recipe that many of you also recommended; I found it online here. I was impressed right away; I was still smelling sweet at bedtime, and what a frugal choice, too.  To be honest, I never thought I would make my own deodorant; it just seemed so hippy-like, even for me. But I loved it!

I decided to put it to the test.  I showered one morning and put on a fresh application. End of day, no stink.   The next morning, I didn’t shower but I did reapply.  I also spent time playing outside in the afternoon with my daughter.  End of day, no stink.  The next morning, I neither showered nor reapplied – AND I spent the morning out in the sun with my daughter at a splash park.   End of day: no stink!  I was sold.

Weleda

I still had once other brand that I wanted to test, though.  I love many Weleda products, and the deodorant had been recommended to me by a few people.  Weleda was kind enough to send me some of their deodorants to test.  Unfortunately, I didn’t love this deodorant. It didn’t work well enough to keep me stink-free all day, and it had a strong scent.

The scent is all natural, from essential oils, but I get irritated by strong scents and prefer unscented or lightly scented products.  It also stung my freshly shaven underarms.  I was disappointed, but I will continue to support Weleda, because I know they are a good company and I’ve enjoyed many of their other products.

Photo by Liz

Looking Ahead

There are many other brands out there, but I have tried most of them at some point in the past.  I’ve always given up and returned to my aluminum-filled antiperspirants, but not this time.  I went back to the homemade deodorant recipe, and even took it with me on vacation this month.  It traveled very well, and continues to be effective now in the rising Texas temps.  I think I can safely say that I am a true convert!

Now I want to hear from you!

If you joined the challenge, did you stick it out?  How did it go?  What brand/recipe do you use?

If you didn’t stick it out, what happened? Can you start again?

If you didn’t join the challenge, would you consider it now? Why or why not?

Share your natural deodorant experience with us! Any tips, ideas, suggestions? What did you learn during the Simple Organic Natural Deodorant Challenge?