Raw Nature Deodorant FAQs

Will my armpits need to detox when I switch to a natural deodorant?

In short, probably yes.  Here is a brief rundown of what to expect if you have just given up your commercial antiperspirant.

Using a natural deodorant can take up to 4 weeks to be effective, especially if you have been using a commercial antiperspirant. This is how the transition phase usually works:

Week 1 - At first all goes well.

Week 2 - Armpit bacteria begins to change, you may notice armpit odour. Most people give up at this stage thinking it isn't working.  But be patient.

Week 3 - Armpit bacteria begins to re-balance.

Week 4 - You should be fully adjusted now.

Each stage of the detox may vary depending on your body's chemistry and the different stages you are going through in your life.  ie: adolescence, pregnancy, diet etc. 

Should my product have a hole or crack in it?

Our products are hot poured and most of them contain powder so sometimes there can be a hole in the middle of the stick or there might be a little cracking on the top of the stick.  This doesn't effect the efficiency of the product, it just makes it perfectly imperfect!

How hard do I need to push to get the stick to work?

If it's hard to use your stick the first time, hold it in your hands to warm up or even against your skin (armpit for deodorant) until it's warm enough to get it moving.

How much should I apply?

Only a little product is needed for it to work effectively. Plus as a bonus you'll use less and won't be tempted to apply it too heavily.

I've pushed my product too far out - help!

Simply tap the bottom of the tube on a hard surface and the product will drop back down.

My stick is lose in the tube and keeps falling down!

Cardboard paper tubes expand and contract in different weather situations so sometimes it might be annoying that your lip balm/lotion keeps falling back into the tube but just use your finger inside the tube to hold it in place.  Its not a big deal especially knowing less plastic is going to landfill - yippee!

How long will the stick last on my skin?

They should last all day (about 12 hours) but everyone's body chemistry is different so these times could differ from person to person.  Don't feel bad about needing to re-apply if you need to. At least you know you are not putting toxic chemicals onto your skin.  

Can I put the deodorant in other sweaty places?

Yes, it can be used under the breasts just the same way as under the armpits.  It can be used on feet but we have a better solution for this and that's the foot stick as it's much drier texture and it won't cause your feet to slip and slide as much.

Do we test on animals?

No we don't, just willing humans.

Is your packaging compostable?

Our packaging is biodegradable. To be compostable the tube needs to give back nutrients to the earth and even though our packaging is really awesome its not that awesome :)

Do you have a bicarb-soda free deodorant?

No, sorry we don't.  We have made our So Vanilla deodorant to have the smallest amount of bicarb/baking soda in it as possible to be effective to bacteria.  A lot of sensitive skins can tolerate this formula but if you know you can't use any bicarb-soda at all then this one isn't for you.

Oh-no - I have a stain on my shirt from the deodorant!

This can sometimes happen if application is too heavy and/or the product hasn't melted into the skin before getting dressed.  It happens with most commercial antiperspirant and it happens with natural deodorants.  Here's how we deal with stains at Raw Nature HQ. 

1. Spray the armpits (or any stain for that matter) with white vinegar - give it a little scrub with an old toothbrush/nail brush and leave it for up to 4 hours depending on the stain, then wash as normal with washing powder.

2. Mix up a paste of bicarb soda and water and massage it into the stain.  Leave for a couple of hours.  Then massage in some washing detergent and launder as normal.

3. Dissolve 6 aspirins in a bucket of hot water. Add the clothes to the bucket and leave for up to 6 hours. Massage  washing powder/detergent into the stain and wash as normal.

I've been using natural deodorant for a while and I don't smell as great as I did when I first started using it?

Sounds like you need to give your armpits a detox. Use a face mask in your armpits - we recommend a charcoal one as it draws any toxins/bacteria away from the skin. Use twice a week if really bad, otherwise once a month as maintenance should keep you smelling amazing!