Disclaimer: This study is entirely unscientific.
I have been trying to to find an natural deodorant to inhibit my perspiration while upholding my ethics.
Why do I want to switch? Non-natural deodorants contain aluminum which inhibits perspiration by blocking your sweat glands. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders, and is a possible risk factor in cancer. (Some people are also allergic to aluminum). Since I am rubbing this stuff on a delicate area of my skin every day, I want to be sure that I’m not slowly poisoning myself.
I devised an experiment where I pit (get it?) 4 different natural deodorants against 1 non-organic control, Axe Dry. Here is what I discovered:
Axe Dry – Essence (The Non-Natural Control)
$5.00, Drugstore.com
Axe smells refreshing and cool, like a butch deodorant should. It goes on smooth and clear. In an 8-hour workday test of both desk work and physical work, Axe lasts about the entire day. I’ve noticed that even if I perspire, the scent is strong enough to mask much of my natural pit odor. If I were a spy being interrogated, I would want to be wearing Axe Dry. (Axe performs so well because it contains 17% aluminum—among the highest concentrations available over-the-counter).
Nature’s Gate – Spring Fresh
$4.50, Amazon
This deodorant smells nice–sort of clean laundry meets tree bark. It goes on clear. In the 8-hour work day test, I was moisture-free for between 4 to 6 hours depending on what I did at work (sitting at my desk, 6; moving boxes, 4). Now, I don’t know if it’s just the chemical makeup of my particular body odor, but when I sweat with this deodorant on, my armpits smelled like mildew. I was happy with this deodorant up until then and I would like to continue using it, but moldy pit smell is not okay. I would recommend this one, however, as the weird smell could just be due to my own sweat chemicals.
Toms of Maine Long Lasting Care – Apricot
$5.50, Amazon
I’m not crazy about the scents available from Tom’s of Maine. Out of Lavender, Lemongrass, and Apricot, ironically the fruit smelled the most butch. Toms glides on very smoothly, but my pits felt a little sticky after I put it on. During my 8-hour work day, I was dry for about 4 hours. I did notice some skin irritation (red, itchy areas) begin to develop after a few weeks of using Toms. Toms does have a deodorant for sensitive skin, so this might have alleviated the issue. However, Toms didn’t live up to its “Long Lasting” moniker.
Burt’s Bees for Men
$8.00, Drugstore.com
I have a lot of love for Burt and his bees, but this deodorant was the worst of the whole lot. It smells like citronella (I think they were going for patchouli). In the average work day test, I was moisture-free for only 3 hours. And do you know what happens when sweat and patchouli mix? That’s right. You smell like a dirty hippy. My pits were rancid. Worse, the smell escaped my pits and filled the nearby air. My girlfriend was walking next to me at the mall and said, “Jesus, you stink!” When I got home, I threw the stick in the trash. And then I cried because I just threw away $8 in a recession.
Herban Cowboy – Dusk
$8.00, Drugstore.com
One of the pricier alternatives, Herban Cowboy smells like leather and volcanic rock (in other words, the definition of BUTCH). The smell isn’t overwhelming, however. It glides on smooth and lasts around 7 hours of an average 8-hour work day. Herban Cowboy is also 100% vegan, so double karma points. After many months of trial and fail, I’ve finally found a winner! A natural deodorant that keeps me fresh and aluminum-free!
Butch Style deodorant, grooming, reviews
