I tried every single natural deodorant I could get my hands on over the last 10 years after a ton of research on aluminum in breast tumors, and its possible link to Alzheimer’s. Most of the time I’d buy something and give it a good week or so to really ‘kick in’ but every day I’d start to stink like soup around noon so I’d end up applying a mainstream deodorant that I kept as a backup so I could literally stay married. I did this for years. I half-assed my deodorant game, keeping a drugstore one on hand when the natural version would inevitably give out. I first tried the Crystal Rock (sticky wet mess), Deodorant Sprays
(might as well use nothing at all), and probably 5 versions of those waxy, glycerine-based sticks
(so wet it’s like rolling on a layer of sweat under your arms that never dries.)
When I read that I wonder why I kept trying. I guess at that point I had B.O. for so long that I probably figured ‘what’s one more week?’ So I’d try another, hopeful something would eventually work.
My turning point was about 6 years ago when I found Pit Putty, the first effective natural deodorant I’d ever used. It was my go-to for years and although it wasn’t perfect (soup days for sure, and I had to ‘set it’ with a non-talc powder), it worked well enough to keep me on track most of the time. My biggest problem with it was the consistency, it should actually be in a jar because you can’t roll it on without huge chunks of it coming loose and falling onto the floor, and it still needs to be rubbed in. When I went looking for it at Pharmaca last summer, I found these cute little jars I’d never found anywhere else instead.
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant? Checking them out, I right away liked that they use arrowroot powder and baking soda because you really need powders to absorb wetness. I grabbed the bergamot + lime to try, $9 for a good sized jar. Because its first ingredient is Shea Butter, that’s its consistency, a bit crumbly but soft and easy to blend in. It absorbs right away and doesn’t leave a trace of anything behind. The lime scent is fresh, but really sheer so even if you do sweat you don’t smell it like with mainstream deodorant (hello sweaty old men wearing Old Spice!), it all just blends in with my body chemistry and leaves nothing behind. But the thing is, it works. It really, really works. Now, nothing is of course bulletproof when it comes to deodorant, even the antiperspirants that are ‘clinical strength’ don’t keep you 100% dry 100% of the time. That’s just the way it goes. If there was a sweaty cure there wouldn’t be a million different deodorants on the market so get over it. You’re going to sweat sometimes. And if you’ve never used a natural deodorant, you’ll do it the first week or so which is what I told Mike when I finally convinced him to give it a try.
I’ve been on him for years about ditching his super-strength sticks that are loaded with toxic crap that I hated, but I also knew that I needed a better solution for a sweaty runner who needs something effective. Last time I ran out, I brought home his and hers Schmidt’s jars hopeful I’d found a solution. He was a trooper about trying it but had some concerns (what do you mean it isn’t an anti-perspirant?), and then of course sweat more than usual and stunk it up for about a week. I encouraged him to keep on it while his body regulated itself (anti-perspirants essentially clog up your sweat glands preventing that moisture from coming out and anything natural can’t do that same thing) so I really feel like your body sweats more at first when it’s able to breathe, and then regulates to actually sweating less over time. That’s what happened with me and also eventually with Mike. He really feels like he sweats less and this works better than anything else he’s used.
If you’re looking to try a natural deodorant, grab one that uses powders and understand that it might take a week or so for your body to figure it out. Be patient, it’s worth it to cut out a ton of toxins from your routine.