Okay, I understand many people believe in using 'natural' products for various reasons--because they believe they are better for the earth, better for their health, or because they seem more special than something more readily available at the drugstore.

Now, when choosing between 'natural' (and I put that in quotes because nobody can agree on what that means except marketers--they know it means 'money') and conventional products, there is sometimes a compromise to be made in terms of scent, texture, efficacy, etc.

There is debate about whether and to what extent certain chemicals could potentially cause cancer or irritation--though of course plant oils can also be irritating (see poison ivy).

There is no debate about the fact that deodorant is supposed to make you smell good, or at least keep you from smelling as bad as you would without it. There should be no debate that a deodorant that makes you smell and feel worse than before you started is NOT A GOOD DEODORANT.


If your goal is to smell clean, you may need to choose a different deodorant product. This one will not help you meet that goal.

If your goal is not to have reddened, chapped armpits, this deodorant is not for you.

If your goal is to use a product that makes you smell like a sweaty creep wallowing in rotting compost behind a garden shed, by all means, purchase this product and enjoy. At least it is natural! But I would save your money and just sweat a lot and go roll in sh*t to get the same result for free.

Bonus tip for those who were intrigued by this product because of the words Wild Lavender:
If you are not an earthy mama who prays to the god of All Natural, and just like the smell of lavender (I can relate), then maybe you could just buy some chemically stick from the drugstore to handle your armpits and then spray on some chemically fake lavender perfume. This route includes chemicals, but it does not include skank, or money wasted on false promises. Tom's of Maine should have stuck with things like fennelly toothpaste (which is where Tom's of Maine shines) and not stuck its clean green fingers into the tricky world of armpit-smell amelioration.

I did check MUA reviews for this deodorant, and then went ahead and bought it anyway. Brilliant strategy, eh, to ignore the collective wisdom and the (current) 1-star-ish rating bestowed by 16 other people. But I bought it with good intentions, seduced by the "Natural" label and the "Aluminum-free" tag.

Well, let me review. After a month of regular daily use, I say "liar!" to the long-lasting claim. It does not last long. It quickly makes ME smell "natural", although, you know, I don't really want to, hence, DEODORANT.

The *worst* part is that my armpits started itching- and then peeling. Lovely. What The Eff, Tom's. I dunno if it's because my skin has become attuned to Dove or Secret, and I'm going into aluminum withdrawal, but I can't stand the itching and the peeling. In my armpits. Sheesh. I tried to be make the healthier choice, I really did. But this is ridiculous. continued >>

My armpit skin is literally peeling because of this deodorant. I love the scent and the clear application but I wasn't expecting to have any complications from an organic product.

General highlights: natural, aluminum-free, nice smell, sticky, doesn't last long, doesn't stop sweating |||||
--Don't expect this all-natural deodorant to work as well as other products. I wanted a deodorant that was aluminum free, and this is my main option. Take note that this is a deodorant, not an anti-perspirant. You will still sweat a little when using it. Anti-perspirants use tiny particles of aluminum that clog pores to prevent sweating and have been linked to breast cancer. Tom's doesn't use aluminum, so you will still sweat. I like that this doesn't contain aluminum, artificial fragrance, or any other "bad" chemicals.
--I use the lavender scent and it smells nice. I like that it goes on clear so I don't have to worry about annoying white deodorant marks. This stuff is actually cheaper than the old clinical strength deodorant I used to use.
--My only complaints are that it's sticky at first, so I have to wait a little while before putting a shirt on. It also doesn't last nearly as long as other deodorants. I don't usually have to reapply deodorant, but I do have to reapply with this brand. But it's not a big deal. I can get a good 4-5 hours without having to reapply, and for me a simple reapplication is worth not risking cancer from aluminum. I'm looking for a sample size I can carry around with me to make reapplication easier.

(((Update: This started drying out my skin and turning it red after about a month of use. I made my own deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and beeswax and it works much better and lasts all day! If you want a natural deodorant, try making your own. It's really easy. Sorry, Tom's, I still love your other products!

Absolutely does not work!! Expensive too.

These deodorants DO NOT live up to their claim. I thought the apricot one was the worst one they made and I was looking for a nice smelling scent that lasts all day. After about an hour, I'm already smelling BO. I don't mind about sweating but the body odor is an issue for me. It also made my armpits very itchy and sticky. The good thing is I don't see stains on my clothes but I stopped using it immediately. I won't ever buy another natural deodorant from this company.

Oh, for as much as I would love this product to work effectively it is quite the stinker and I mean that literally. I do not have an issues with over perspiring or BO, but soon after applying this deodorant even in the cold of winter, I get BO. This sad just does not work. Nuff said.

I trend to use this brand of deodorant, as it's aluminum free. It keeps me fresh during the day... but at the end of the day, it starts to lose power. Doesn't sting when you apply it after shaving though. And, because the formula is a bit moist, it does leave marks on dark clothes. That can be easily avoided though by waiting for it to dry before getting dressed or applying it after you put on a shirt.

This product was horrible. I was excited to use an all natural organic product but even the first day trying it I didn't like it. The deodorant goes on very wet and causes me to smell even worse than i do when I don't wear deodorant. It also gave me a rash. I would not reccomend this product to anyone.

Garbage. This actually made me smell WORSE (after an hour or so, upon application it has a lovely lavender scent) than not wearing any deodorant at all. The roll-on liquid crystal is a lot better, but I'm still looking for an epic natural deodorant.