I Wore Natural Deodorant for 2 Weeks — Here’s What Happened
While on a quest to stick to “new year, new me” fitness goals, I’ve been hitting the gym harder than ever. To be honest, keeping up with my workout routines isn’t easy, and finding a deodorant that won’t leave me stinky after just a few uses has been a struggle too.
To avoid an embarrassing smelly situation, I started rotating my deodorants and was soon introduced to a line of natural deodorants by Schmidt’s Naturals ($9). Naturally, I was hesitant to try these formulas, as they hadn’t worked for me in the past.
However, I noticed that Schmidt’s deodorants were free of many of the harsh chemicals typically found in many conventional deodorants and antiperspirants (aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens, and phthalates). According to Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, these ingredients “may lead to skin irritation or even allergies,” especially for individuals with sensitive skin.
The certified vegan and cruelty-free formula contains arrowroot powder, coconut oil, baking soda, essential oils, vitamin E, and jojoba oil — nourishing ingredients that further encouraged me to give Schmidt’s a go.
I first took the Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant for a test before heading to the gym for an intense sweat sesh. The first thing I noticed when I tried the Rose+Vanilla stick was that it had a mauve color. Most of the deodorants I’ve used in the past were a standard white. However, the hue didn’t turn me off, as the traditional white sticks always end up leaving chalklike film on my clothes.
I immediately got a whiff of the floral fragrance as I turned the dial to push up the deodorant. The texture was a little rougher than I had expected, but I gave it a few swipes and it began to glide on smoothly. There was a slight film, but strangely it didn’t rub off onto my workout T-shirt; it just stayed on my skin.
Since I was heading to the gym, I didn’t add spritz-on perfume because the deodorant seemed to have enough scent to carry me through. I headed straight for the treadmill for an aggressive hourlong jog. This is when I usually perspire the most, so I knew it would be the true test of how well the natural deodorant performed.
The weird yet amazing thing that happened as I began to pour sweat was how the deodorant’s aroma intensified. It worked really well in meshing with my natural body chemistry — especially during a time where nonnatural deodorants have been a huge disappointment.
Before I could take a post-gym shower, my boyfriend asked, “Did you try a new fragrance? I don’t like that one.” All I could think was, “Uh-oh. Was this another natural-deodorant fail?” Feeling a little unsure of the answer, I continued with my normal shower routine. As I scrubbed under my arms, I noticed that the deodorant didn’t rub away easily, and it did take a little more effort to wash off.
Instead of stashing the tube away in an only-for-emergencies section of my beauty closet, I decided to give it more time.
During an impromptu workout session at home, when I turned up the heat to help me sweat a little more, the deodorant had that same blooming aroma that I had initially experienced. After I finished exercising, I ran downstairs in my apartment building to check my mailbox, and not one but two other tenants complimented me on “the fragrance” I was wearing. I was shocked because I didn’t have any perfume on — it had to be the natural deodorant.
The icing on the cake was when I shared with my boyfriend what happened and told him that he may have been wrong. I lifted my arm so that he could smell the Rose+Vanilla stick I had been trying. He paused for a moment and asked, “Do they make that deodorant for guys, too? I want that.”
When creating the deodorant, founder Jamie Schmidt had the mission to make something for health-conscious people that didn’t shortchange users because of its all-natural formulation. I can attest that she did just that!
After wearing the deodorant in more extreme situations, I didn’t feel the need to switch back to my usual nonnatural sticks. The Schmidt’s deodorant just needed some time to work its magic. Now that it’s doing its job — odor blocking and keeping me funk-free — I may find it difficult to ever turn back to anything else.
Believe me when I say, my pits have never smelled prettier!
Related:
How to Make Your Own Natural Deodorant
I Tried 7 Natural Deodorants and a Few of Them Actually Worked
Your Ultimate Summer Deodorant and Antiperspirant Guide
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