When I began my quest for a natural deodorant, one suggestion I heard was to “try coconut oil.” It was easier said than done – coconut oil is not always easy to work with. It is solid when the temperature is below 76 degrees, but quickly liquefies as it touches skin. After a few messy mornings, I decided to make life easier and ordered Tropical Traditions Lavender Roll-on Deodorant.
My first thought when opening the container is that the product smells wonderful! It is invigorating as you apply it, which is beneficial early in the morning. It is easy to use and dries fairly quickly with no unsightly marks on clothing. The liquid deodorant is not too thick or sticky and slides right on. After a few days of use I quickly realized the 2oz container that the product comes in does not last very long, depending on how you use it can be gone in two months or less! Having to open a new container that often and discard the old one strikes me as wasteful. Tropical Traditions sells this deodorant as a six pack through their Healthy Buyers Club at a discount. If you try the product and like it, that might be the most cost-effective and earth-friendly way to obtain their deodorant. I urge the company to consider offering a larger size in the future.
For an initial test, I used it on a day when I was at home with the A/C on. I sniffed about every hour and was pleasantly surprised that the lavender scent lingered for several hours. After the aroma dissipated, there was still no odor emanating from under my arms. As my day wound down around hour twelve, I noticed my armpits began to smell slightly odorous, but no one else could smell unless we were in very close contact (I asked!). Later, as I got into bed, I noticed the odoriferous smell was stronger, but again, nothing too awful.
The deodorant passed the easy test, but now it was time to give it a true workout. The plan for the next day was to travel to a nearby park for a casual walk with my kids for about an hour and a half, and a picnic lunch outside. The weather was sunny, humid and 86 degrees – a fair workout. The day started out stressful, but I still smelled lavender-y. My next check was after lunch, about 4.5 hours after application. Unfortunately, I was not at my best – there was a definite body odor smell emanating from my armpit… ew!
The ingredient list is short and easy to read: purified water, organic Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, organic jojoba, plant based emulsifying wax, grapefruit seed extract, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and organic essential oils of lavender, lemon, and rosemary.
Although this product has not been hazard rated by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, the site does provide a user-entered data method of evaluating a product. When the ingredients are entered into their database, the product is rated a 1/10, with a 10 representing the greatest concern.
I was disappointed to find that this product, with such a pleasant fragrance did not work on days when I sweat profusely. I have found that deodorant products seem to match the individual, so before purchasing a this product you may want to try obtaining coconut oil to mix with baking soda to test the combination before you buy.
Pros
- Great lavender smell
- Good consistency to the roll-on
- No white marks
- Maintains scent for several hours
- Coconut oil helps heal sensitive armpit skin
Cons
- Stops working after a few hours
- Some people react to baking soda
Available only in a 2oz container (more waste, shipping, and you have to re-purchase often or buy in bulk)