Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Natural deodorant trial report

Three months ago I reported that I had switched over to using The Rock, aka crystal deodorant. At the time I was quite pleased with its performance particularly since I have a history of issues with finding an anti-perspirant / deodorant that was effective.

I have always had problems with staining in the armpit region and have learned over the years never to wear white. So, it was with great excitement and pleasure that I reported how successful my initial experiments with the rock were.

But, what about summer usage? I figured if it was effective during the heat and sweat and stink of summer then surely it would be super effective during the cooler months of the year. As such, I'm here to report that for the last three months I have only used The Rock and have been very pleased with its performance. I only had some stinky problems once after working in the yard on a particularly sweat inducing day but it must have been somewhat of an unusual day because since then I have used it under much more sweaty conditions and haven't had any odor problems.

Since it doesn't act as an anti-perspirant, I'm sweating like I should be. Frankly since I've been using anti-perspirant since I was 12 I didn't know what to expect. On some days I had some underarm sweating issues, but since it's not clogged with chemical build-up, my shirts dried pretty quickly. And, I'm sure that it actually kept me cooler. Now, I'm not talking giant sweat rings or anything, just a little more dampness than usual.

Finally, and most importantly, I no longer have a permanent film or build-up or waxy irremovable patch on my shirts. In fact, I have even purchased a few white shirts since I no longer have to worry about yellow staining. That alone is worth a huge "holy crap"!

A number of you have written to me stating that you have had success and, even better, your spouse or husband had success with the crystal. I'm glad I'm not alone in witnessing the miracle that is The Rock.

Any other success stories (or failures) out there?

51 comments:

Sara said...

I love my crystal! I've even got my son using it now. It hasn't let me down yet.

mudnessa said...

i have had a few stinky issues with the crystal, i dont shower daily and reapplying doesnt seem to work as well as conventional antiperspirants/deodorants. i was having the same issues with conventional products but that was because i was not using them regularly because i didnt like them so no real change in that department but i do like the crystal more, just have to remember to wipe down the pits before applying on the days i dont shower.

Scrago said...

I've tried the crystal before, but one problem I have is if I decide to shave, application HURTS! It seems the salt stings upon open wounds... But waiting an hour or two helps. Other than that I enjoy using it, given no antiperspirant really works for me anyways.

ruchi said...

I haven't yet finished my commercial deodorant (how long does one stick last most people, mine has lasted over a year and a half!!)

When I do, I think I'll try the Rock or one of the deodorants from Lush. Anyone tried any of them?

Burbanmom said...

Success here! Although I gave it up for the humid, hot summer (I live in Virginia and 90+ is pretty normal here) I am back on the rock and, once again, loving every minute of it!

Anonymous said...

Well I feel like a science experiment with deodorant these days. I started with Avalon Lavender. It took forever to dry on, eh, it was ok. Switched to Crystal, that worked better but I couldn't get used to the sweaty feeling. Then I went to Crystal Roll on, which I didn't like as much as the Rock. Got annoyed with that, and went back to hard core normal stuff, ended up with a fungal dermatitis. Yay! So now I'm back to just using nothing, unless I have to. Scared to use anything now quite frankly!

Anonymous said...

I switched to a crystal 2yrs ago with great success. Like Crunchy, I went out of my way to put it to the test. Hot,humid conditions; day long hikes; day long bike rides-I was still sweating but no odor.
Based on my success, Hubby decided to give it a try since nothing was working for him in terms of odor reduction. He also has had great success.

Anonymous said...

A few years ago 2 co-workers told me they used the Crystal & that it really worked for them. I'd never noticed the smell of either of them, so I thought I'd give it a try. For some reason I can't remember, I didn't actually buy the Crystal, but a liquid spray-on version. That didn't work for me and it took a long time to dry. It sat in the closet until I read about people using baking soda as deodorant on Fake Plastic Fish's blog. I started this summer & I'm hooked! There have been a few very rare occasions where I've noticed a slight odor in the later half of the day, but a re-application takes care of it. Simply rub straight up baking soda into the pits. Make sure you cover the entire area. If you like, you can slightly moisten the area first to help the baking soda stick (this is how I'm using up that "liquid crystal" product). Baking soda works better for me than any commercial deodorant/antiperspirant I've tried. And like Crunchy, I was getting really annoyed with the residue build-up from commercial products on my shirts! Now it's not a problem.

Sarah C said...

I love the crystal! I'd been looking for an unscented natural alternative to antiperspirant for a while but nothing seemed to work. The crystal, however, keeps me fresh and b.o.-less - even my hubby has made the switch, and he's usually resistant to most natural products. Now I'm recommending it to everyone I know!

Linz said...

For some disappointing reason, it simply doesn't work for me. I've tried the rock, the roll on, and the spray. Never had success with any of them. It made no difference whether I put it on or didn't wear anything. I've never wore antiperspirant, so I'm used to the sweat factor. It was the smell issue that didn't work at all. The latest success I've had is with the lemongrass deodorant from Tom of Maine's line. Seems to be the only one that works. Odd..

Leah said...

Love the crystal! I'm amazed at how well it works.
The only issue I had was with the first rock I bought. After months of use, it started to smell like BO. So I had to get rid of it. I've been using my current rock for at least 6 months and it still works beautifully and smells fine. I take care to rinse it after every use to try and prolong its life.

shabadeux said...

I tried a roll-on liquid version of the crystal and it didn't do me much good... I was still stinky, and it made my pits hurt. I also tried some DO from Lush (the one that worked best was Aromacreme), but again, it irritated my pits.

I really loved Aromacreme, but I think I have to find another DO, one that works. Right now I'm just using the cheapest conventional DO I can find... I'm a little reluctant to get something new if it won't work.

Unknown said...

I have been using it for years and love it. I used to get rashes and pimples from normal deodorants and no longer have any problems like that with my crystal.
I always dampen pits and wet crystal when applying and spend about half a minute per pit.I live in a hot climate and only have some smelly experiences when I sweat a lot and 'wash' away the crystal residue or after swimming.

Anonymous said...

I have been using the same crystal every day since 1999 (I think I will die before I use it all up). I apply twice - dampen then apply, let dry, then do it again. I don't experience any smell and I live in NC where it is above 85 in the summer.

C said...

I have yet to use a crystal. I use 2 TB corn starch, 2 TB baking soda, 2 TB olive oil and a few drops of essential oils. That's my pit paste. It has worked fabulously.

I'll probably give the crystal a go at some point, just to say I have. :)

Laura said...

I am a Burt's Bees spray deodorant (in a recyclable aluminum spray can) user. I have tried The Rock in the past but found that the wet it/use it/put it somewhere to dry thing was to much fuss for me. I may try it again

About some days being more 'fragrant' that others... I have a theory that the stinkiness factor may well follow a person's monthly cycle. It's the only explination I have come up with to account for random smelly days. :)

Anonymous said...

I've been using mine sporadically on the pits but discovered that it works REALLY WELL when I apply it to my feet before wearing the shoes that normally leave my feet smelling toxic. That was a fabulous discovery!

Allie said...

I found a different brand of alum at CVS in the deodorant section. It cost only 5 or 6 dollars, and I like it a lot as well. Works well!

Anonymous said...

After your first review I decided to try the crystal. It works great!It's 90+ degrees here in the summer and I bike to work everyday. I never have any odor issues.

knutty knitter said...

I tried the rock but still got too stinky so went to the baking soda but that gave me a bad rash so I've retreated to unscented deodorant until things clear up, then I think I'll try the rock again only apply it more.

One thing though, the baking soda really killed the smell and for quite some time. I might try using that once a week or so just to kill the bacteria which make the smell in the first place. If I wash it off fairly quickly I might avoid the rash issue.

I'll get back to you on that one.

viv in nz

Anonymous said...

I have the rock and have tried it, but felt that I still smelled. I have tried a number of all natural deodorants and find that the only one that really works is the Toms of Maine only the Lemongrass one though. My teen boys have used that one with great success too. I might try the rock again this fall and winter. I live in Texas so it is HOT and HUMID most of the year.

Jazmin said...

I made a batch of Angry Chicken's homemade deodorant (http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/07/homemade-deodor.html) and it works great. It has baking soda and cornstarch to keep me dry and smelling fresh as well as shea and cocoa butters which have the added benefit of leaving me with the softest pits around! I added lemongrass and tangerine essential oils and it smells so good that I can't keep from sniffing my pits. And my husband uses it and loves it too.

Brynne said...

I read your post on the Crystal and the next day went and bought one for myself. I am TOTALLY with you on this one. I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it but i think the Crystal is REALLY eco-friendly. The waste when you are done is minimal (well less then the conventional deodorants, and the Crystal lasts WAY longer then regular deodorant does, so you don't have to buy as much (and throw away as much..). I'm not sure about all of the other stuff that goes into making it, but i would imagine that it is way less then conventional stuff. Oh yeah, i am a mountain climbing, and avid hiker...we have humid weather here and the Crystal has not failed me since i started using it at the beginning of the summer!

Jezamyn said...

I was going to try this but then read that it only works on the odor, not on the wetness... my issue tends to be soaked armpits, rather embarrassing, and some odor but not too bad. Any natural suggestions for wetness reduction?

Green Bean said...

I tried the crystal. Loved the idea but my pits didn't. I got major dry skin/rash and had to discontinue. Foisting it off on my husband now.

Alison Kerr said...

I have the stick format and it's the only thing I like using. I can't use any kind of perfumed or chemical product because of sensitive skin so I was very happy to discover the rock type products.

A word of warning though, they are brittle and will break if you drop them. I've lost a couple this way - one was even broken by a family member of mine, who'll remain nameless, before we got as far as the health store checkout.

3HappyHippies said...

I am impressed by all the positive reviews and will most likely try this for my next purchase. I have been using Avalon Lavender but Im not a huge fan. I keep thinking the crystal would be better.

Heather said...

I love the natural deodorant recipe I found on a blog a while back. It's equal parts baking soda, cornstarch, and coconut oil. I played around with it until I got a consistency I liked, and there is no odor! I might end up trying the Crystal at some point because I still get a bit of residue on my clothes from the BS and CS, but for now, this works superbly!

Michelle said...

I love The Rock! I'm a heavy sweater, but I've noticed no BO since switching.

ciboulette, I had the same problem with the stick starting to smell like BO. I swabbed it with rubbing alcohol, and it was good as new.

I was worried about dampness before trying it, but I think the body adjusts once you stop blocking your natural perspiration. It might take time for your body to realize it doesn't have to work so hard to cool you, but it's worth a trial!

Anonymous said...

Maudi writes- I love my crystal. I have been using it for about two years now. Your body eventually adjusts to the wetness. and if you need go one day without showering, it's best to wash your underarms with a washcloth and soap before reapplying.
It also saves you so much money, lasting a year or more.
only downside is that whenever I drop it, i am stuck with tiny little crystals.

The Cooking Lady said...

I have pretty much given up on antiperspirants. I wash up during the day, but if I am going somewhere where I will be around throngs of people, then I slip on a tiny bit of antiperspirant. I plan to lose that soon enough, but thankfully I only use it rarely.

Anonymous said...

I have been using the rock for about ten years and am highly pleased with it. I used to use a commonly know waxy deoderant and developed a problem. The doctor told me the impacted sweat gland (armpit)was caused by my deoderant. After some research I found the rock at a local health food store. Good bye impacted sweat gland and odor.

Lisa said...

I heart my crystal like nobody's business. It works amazingly and I laud its benefits to all who will listen; I would like everyone to use it!

http://lisaonalark.blogspot.com/2008/07/they-should-call-it-crystal-amazing.html

@mudnessa, it only works on clean, bacteria-free pits. you should have better luck now that you've been washing the area before application.

X-ray Rocks! said...

I switched from commercial antipersirant to a natural deodorant,because my freshly laundered shirts still had smelly armpits. I switched laundry detergent a ton of times,but nothing worked. Finally I switched to a natural deodorant. It took three months for the smelliness to go away, but now I never smell! I think it took 3 months, because my pores were so clogged with antiperspirant. Yuck! Although, now I definitely sweat. There's always a down side.

Muslim Hippie said...

After reading your post I went and bought myself one, and talked my husband into trying it too. We were both pleased with it, but my husband says it only works when he uses it after a shower or washes his armpits first. if he uses it with an existing stink it doesn't remove it, so he switched back to tom's.

Keri said...

Love mine and I've even converted a few people to use it. =D

Unknown said...

Not only do these work wonderfully on underarms, they work great on stinky feet, too!

Anonymous said...

I used one years ago and loved it. Only problem, when I dropped it, it fell apart. :-(

Jena said...

I agree with what a few others have said: it works great right out of the shower but you really need to wash the area with a cloth the next day if you don't shower beforehand. I've still got some Dove DO around from before the switch & I'll use that, for example, when I've been baling hay and am really sweaty and want something scented to freshen me up before I go up town, etc. This makes since though since the whole premise of the Crystal is stopping the growth of bacteria so you have to start with a "clean slate" so to speak. I think I'll eventually replace the Dove with Lush and keep using the Crystal most of the time.

Sarah said...

After reading your trial report I ran out and bought The Rock the same day. I found a small travel size for $1.99. I didn't know if it would work so I wanted to get the smallest and cheapest one possible.

It freakin works! I've been searching high and low for a natural deoderant that works with no sucesses. The non-natural brands tend to give me a rash after prolonged use and the natural brands just don't work.

But The Rock does! I can't thank you enough for bringing this item to our attention.

My non-eco-friendly, itchy armpits thank you too!

Unknown said...

I've used these kind of deodorants before, but they only worked for a while, and then I developed a sensitivity to the salts, giving me an underarm rash.

I switched to 1 part non-aluminum baking soda and 6 parts corn starch powder. The baking soda is the deodorant and the corn starch is the antiperspirant.

A pinch under each arm will last one to two days. Works well and way cheaper too.

Unknown said...

I have just purchased a crystal thru Amazon.com. I am excited to get it and try it. After suffering from endless skin infections I discovered that I needed to go organic. Since cutting out all fluoride, SLS', and Aluminums my acne has disappeared. I had Fordyce spots and they are gone too. I also purchased a filter for my shower head that filters out chlorine and fluoride. And finally I only drink water from a source that I can trust. Be aware that baking soda is a fantastic deodorant but if you are as sensitive as I am, mix it with larger parts of cornstarch. First couple days I was putting on straight baking soda and ouch!

Anonymous said...

I believe I looked into it and found that these crystal deodorants are actually aluminum salts. Sorry to disappoint, but they are not a healthy alternative to aluminum-containing antiperspirants.
Just thought people should know, because most people seeking alternatives wouldn't knowingly rub their underarms with aluminum salt crystals.

Unknown said...

I used the Crystal deodorant and it half works for me. One arm smells fine and the other doesn't. I switched to Tom's of Maine and by the end of the day it feels a little sticky, with a little odor under the same arm. The crystal doesn't leave any sweat stains, but half covers the odor. But isn't one of the main ingredients in crystal Ammonium Alum, Alum short for Aluminum. Aren't all aluminum bad causing sweat stains and connected to Alzheimer's?

Athrunxala said...

That's fantastic, I haven't used the crystal myself but I keep hearing great things. I've been using a natural deodorant for a while now and it works like a dream. My skin is really sensitive so everything sets it off and I break out in a rash.

excessive armpit sweating said...

Ideally, you want to use deodorant with natural compounds that have a track record of health testing. The stronger your deodorant is more likely that the chemicals used have negative side effects.

Anonymous said...

NONE of the conventional deodorants worked for me- Ban, Sure, Toms or the countless others. They all just stopped working one day and my odor was just horrible. I even went to my doctor who gave me a prescription for Drysol. That did NOT work- only irritated my skin horribly. So, I took to the web and found the Crystal.

I use Naturally Fresh Deodorant crystal. Here is their website: tccd.com. I found it at my local health food store. I am on my second week of using this and there is absolutely NO SMELL coming from my underarms even after the next day. (I did a small test over the weekend)

This crystal is great! And I will NEVER go back to using any of the fore-mentioned products. Who knows what is in them anyway!

steve said...

I have enjoyed using the crystal for years and loved not having yellow stains on my undershirts...today at a drugstore I was told that the crystal has a product with the word "alum" in it and that it was a form of aluminum as well..the ingredient was on the label??? not sure about it...they recommended a product called life stinks which has baking soda,tea tree oil and some other scented oil for 27 dollars..a baking soda mixture is probably the best choice

Bozica said...

I think I tried every "natural" deodorant on the market and hated most of them, especially those that left my armpits feeling sticky and smelling worse then before. Then this past Christmas I received a basket with stuff made by Penny Lane Organics. Their deodorant is amazing. It's the only doeodorant that works and it is natural as it doesn't have stuff that other 'natural' deodorants have. I feel safe using this one especially since I had masectomy a year ago. It only has coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch. Mine was fragrance free but my daughter got Pink Grapefruit and I love it. I'm definitely going to order it next time for myself.

Brandy said...

The crystal stick works well, but the spray and roll on last only a part of the day and you need to reapply.

Brandy said...

Most deodorants are restricted when you have surgery, but crystal is ok:-)