Customer Reviews

Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant, Unscented - 2.5 Oz, 4 Pack

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I purchased this product because wanted a natural alternative to regular deodorant. The good news is that it works well. The bad news is that it isn't natural at all; it contains a Triclosan, a synthetic wide spectrum biocide. Triclosan can degrade to dioxin and chloroform gas. I guess I still have to choose between stinky pits or a carcinogen-free house.

Unfortunately I didn't read the review about this product containing tricolsan until AFTER I made the purchase. I wish I had because reading about the possible effects of triclosan was enough to send me straight back to my aluminum deodorant. (At least until I realized I had 4 of these and hate to waste.) Aluminum is scary, but not quite AS scary. Be warned if you're trying to do something healthy for your body, and research a bit before you decide.

If I disregard the health aspect, I would say this deodorant is alright. I started using it in winter, and the first few times I was relaxing on the couch with my arms up I had to ask my roommate if she had been cleaning- it smelled like Orange Glo wood cleaner. It took a bit to realize it was my armpits smelling like cleaner. There are a few plant oils in this product, but the orange peel oil definitely overpowers them. Its not a smell I particularly care for, but if I put the deodorant on before bed, the scent has mostly dissipated for the next day. I was pretty happy with it in winter, but since summer has hit, I've noticed I am a lot wetter than previous years, and I smell a bit worse. Since summer is going to get about 30 degrees hotter I am not excited to have so much of this. The bad pit smell isn't too bad yet, but the difference in wetness is quite substantial.

I'll probably save the rest of this product for the winter when wetness and odor isn't a big issue, and I definitely won't be buying it again unless a triclosan-free version comes out.

After becoming more conscious of the chemicals and compounds we come into contact with daily I decided to search for products that are effective and have a smaller chance of giving me cancer or some exotic disease through repetitive use. I have an active lifestyle working outside and I enjoy long-distance running so I'm a demanding customer.

The first place I looked was Tom's of Maine since I enjoy their flouride free toothpaste. This particular natural deodorant didn't smell very good to begin with and it smelled horrendous by the end of the day after it blended with my natural odor. Sorry Tom you lose this round.

I researched a little further and found Arm & Hammer Essentials. After 3 months of using this I find it to be very effective. With just one application in the morning I have had no problems with unpleasant odors no matter how hard I put it to the test. It also goes on clear and has a comfortable texture. To be honest I haven't had an aluminum based deodorant ever be this satisfying. Use it and forget about it, unless your telling a friend the merits of the natural way!

I will continue to use this product as long as it's offered and I highly recommend it.

This product as well as some other "natural" deodorants contain "Propylene Glycol". Below is just a sample of what I found on the Internet but there are tons more....just look it up!

Propylene Glycol (PG, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), and Ethylene Glycol (EG) are all petroleum derivatives that act as solvents, surfactants, and wetting agents. They can easily penetrate the skin, and can weaken protein and cellular structure. In fact, PG penetrates the skin so quickly that the EPA warns factory workers to avoid skin contact, to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. PG is present in many stick deodorants, often in heavier concentration than in most industrial applications. (Nyack, Dr. Vin, Ph.D., Biochemist; personal communication). And Propylene Glycol is what is used to carry the "active" ingredients in those transdermal patches INTO YOUR BODY.

I have been looking for a deodorant that is free of aluminum. I don't really care one way or the other about any of the other chemicals that folks worry about avoiding, but there is very close history of Alzheimer's Disease in my family and its been speculated that aluminum might be a contributing factor to the disease. While that may yet be proven false, I really don't care to take the chance. There are other reasons I dislike antiperspirants. Sweating is good, sweating helps flush the body out. Basically? We have a biological need to sweat and its not a good idea to try and alter natural body processes. They are there for a reason. The idea of every one of my pores being individually plugged is not comforting and has led to irritation in the past.

I tried Tom's of Maine, Crystal Stick, and several other natural deodorants, but they all stopped working within a few hours. Tom's was the worst. An hour to two hours later, it would have lost all effectiveness. I live in south Texas, where the heat index gets up into the low 100's and the humidity is always going strong. A deodorant that doesn't work is not an option.

After reading several Amazon reviews, I decided to go with Arm and Hammer Essentials and was very pleased with the result. Its supposed to be unscented, but does have a very slight scent to it. I'm pretty sure its the orange oil in it or one of the other botanicals. Its a very faint and unobtrusive scent. At any rate, I love it. I can wear it for an entire day and it doesn't give out completely. Towards the end of the day my armpits might smell a little "sweaty" but they certainly don't stink and its something you have to be right up at them to smell. I don't think too many people are going to be sticking their noses directly in my pits, so its a non-issue and it'd be nothing a little spritz of body spray or perfume wouldn't cover right up.

It does contain Triclosan, which I know some have a problem with. Basically, Triclosan is there to inhibit bacteria. Bacteria in moist armpits (which are there to try and break down the secreted sweat) is what causes that body odor smell. If you're not going to have an antiperspirant to inhibit sweating, you need something to inhibit bacteria or the deodorant is not going to work as effectively. Your prerogative if you want to avoid that, but its one of the big reasons this actually works.

I really wanted to like this product. Apparently, it just doesn't work for everyone. After just 24 hours of use, my skin was peeling (like a sunburn), and after 48 hours, I had a very painful red rash. I had to discontinue completely.

Unlike what the label says and you think, this is not an ALL Natural Product. The 3rd and 4th ingredients are glycols, specifically propylene glycol, which is derived from petroleum. 99% of all deordorants have propylene glycol in them. Aluminum is bad enough, but your basically putting gas and wax in your arm pits. Unless you consider fossil based fuels and the by products of refining to be "natural" I would consider this product just like the rest of the propylene glycol based products, not natural!!

I could not find a deodorant only for women in regular stores. I finally found this and it works wonderful!

Want people to NOT notice your odor, especially before you come in th room? This is the product for you! Smells very lightly fruity/natural. Does NOT smell like you trying to be a 'chick-magnet' like some of the so-called 'deodorants' do.

I was on the hunt for a deodorant that doesn't leave permanent stains on the underarm area of my shirts. I narrowed it down to deodorants lacking aluminum compounds (such as aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly and aluminum zirconium pentachlorohydrex gly). I tried others, including Tom's of Maine, and found them seriously lacking. After only a couple hours, I would have to reapply the deodorants. They were weak, and poor at their jobs. Then I saw Arm & Hammer Essentials in my local drugstore, and remembered baking soda can be a pretty good deodorant, and who knows better than Arm & Hammer? So I grabbed the unscented version, because I prefer all of my toiletries to be unscented (the only thing I want to smell is my cologne). I fell in love. It eliminates the odors admirably, and no reapplication is necessary, unless I've been sweating a bit. The scent is very, very light, with notes of chamomile, geranium, and orange peel. Also, I've been using it for almost two years now, and haven't had a single underarm aluminum stain ruin any of my shirts.