Thursday, January 26, 2012

When Good Deodorant Goes Bad

Let me start out by saying that I love Rainwater Botanicals, and I think that this is an aberration.

I purchased some deodorant from Rainwater Botanicals in the middle of October. I really liked it- it was comparable to Lavanila's Healthy Deodorant in both effectiveness and scent (lavender vanilla). I used it for about a month, but then it turned on me!



I was at work, and I noticed that something didn't smell very good... and then I realized that that something was me!  I work at a desk, so it's not like there I was working up too much of a sweat for this stuff to handle. Something in the deodorant was reacting with my skin/sweat and causing it to smell really awful. I'm sure of this because the couple days after this stuff turned that I went without deodorant were completely odor-less.

Ingredients:
Soy wax, Organic virgin coconut oil, Organic arrowroot powder, Baking soda, Carnuba wax, Organic neem oil, Tamanu oil, Rosemary extract, Essential oils.





I'm not sure if these photos capture it, but the 
deodorant took on a grey-ish hue. I've since found a new deodorant that I'm happy with, but I'm wondering: has anyone else had this issue with a natural deodorant before? If so, please share!

~ Susan

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/27/2012

    Umm...No.I don't have prob.with natural deodorant.Maybe because your deodorant contra with your other odors,like soap?I use homemade natural soap,even I have no bad body odor since I used it.But 2 days ago when I used my mum unnatural factory made soap,my body odor turned really smell. All in all,maybe you should use natural soap too?

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    1. I do use natural soap, it's actually the first product I switched out because I use it all over my body :) Now that I use Soapwalla and Crystal deodorants (I switch between the two) there's no stink, but I was wondering what was up with this one

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    2. Actually, soap is the second product I switched! I switched to using natural deodorant years ago because my mom was worried about the possible link between conventional deodorant and breast cancer. I've used Tom's, Trader Joe's, Lavanila, Soapwalla, and both versions of Crystal deodorant with no issue. I only switched to using natural soap a few months ago, but am very happy with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Pure Vegetable Soap

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  2. Hi Susan. How odd. I wonder if your body chemistry and the essential oils clashed. It's pretty normal for handmade products to turn color when vanilla is used. But as for the issue of it actually making you smell bad.. that's very weird. I'd bring it up to Sara (owner of RB). She's really helpful and maybe she'd replace this one with a different scent for you to try. I know a lot of people love this product (i'm not able to use it because there's something in it that makes my skin sting.. probably the neem). I've heard rave reviews about Mum's natural deodorant. Personally I use Kiss my Face liquid rock and love it.

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    1. Yes, I thought it was odd because I was able to use it a month with no issue, so I assumed that something in it had turned. I will email Sara and ask her what she thinks. Right now, I am happy with the deodorants I'm currently using: Soapwalla (this came in a subscription service I get and I'm trying it out) and Crystal (it's cheap and it and I are completely scent-less) :)

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  3. I have little knowledge of natural deodorants as I have only dipped my toe in on occasions. I have a problem with fragrance smelling great in the jar but terrible on my skin. It's difficult to say as we are all different it could be the product or equally your skin. Have you contacted the manufacturer for advice?

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  4. Strange...if it was just it smelling bad on you, I'd be more likely to think it was just the deodorant reacting with your body chemistry, but since you noticed it changing in the tube also, I wonder if one of the oils in it went off or something. I'd recommend contacting the company too - if for no other reason than just to know what they thought:)

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  5. I haven't tried natural deos before... in fact I don't use deos at all unless really, really necessary. After letting go of deos about 10 years ago, I found that my body slowly adjusted to it then I just stopped having any bad underarm smell. It also made my underarm less sensitive and maintain even skin tone. I noticed most of my peers who diligently use deos suffer from dark armpits although it could also be because they're using non-natural and harsh products.

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