For the majority of my life, much to the chagrin of my vanity (bathroom and otherwise), I’ve been a loyal user of the supremely unsexy Secret Clinical Strength. It’s not for lack of trying! I bought a stick of Hume when Emily Weiss posted about it. I tried the Crystal deodorant my acupuncturist recommended. I even ordered Gwyneth Paltrow’s beloved Corpus (at $26 it was extortionate, but I was willing!). But nothing actually worked. An hour or two in, I would be running to the nearest Duane Reade (tail between my legs, armpits anything but dry) to pick up my old faithful. The worst of it all is that, despite the “clinical strength” designation, I would still sweat through from time to time.
I had almost entirely called off my search (and resigned myself to a life of Secrets) when I found Salt & Stone’s deodorant during a chance encounter at an L.A. shoppy shop. I’d already tried the brand’s candles (its Black Rose and Vetiver may still be the best ones I’ve ever bought), and I had a vague awareness that it made a deodorant too. A single whiff of its Neroli and Basil deodorant later, my world was forever changed.
It was fresh and crisp and ever-so-slightly floral, with a list of top, heart, and base notes made up of things like bergamot, tuberose, eucalyptus, and shiso leaf. It was fresher and less saccharine than my usual Baccarat Rouge, but it didn’t come off too intense, like Frederic Malle’s Carnal Flower, or too floral, like Le Labo’s Lys 17, or too fruity, like so many of the other alternatives I had tried. I was hunting for the perfect deodorant, but instead I found the perfect perfume.
I admit that this was an impulse buy based solely on the fragrance, but to my surprise, as a deodorant, it actually works. Despite the fact that it’s not technically an antiperspirant, a few swipes keep me dry throughout the day. I cannot explain the sorcery behind it, but from hot yoga at Y7 to sprints down the street to catch the subway (while clad in several layers of sweaters and a puffer), this stuff has never once failed me. And unlike my usual drugstore go-tos, it’s made from seaweed extracts and hyaluronic acid, without any aluminum, parabens, and phthalates. I couldn’t tell you if that’s what makes all the difference here, but it’s definitely not hurting.
In the time since this discovery, I’ve raved about it nonstop (apologies to the friends who thought they were coming over for drinks but ended up in my bathroom to huff my deodorant). Though the scent is what brought me in, the effectiveness has kept me (coupled with the fact that my vanity is looking much more chic these days). And while I’m thrilled to finally forsake Secret, the real prize is savoring the supreme satisfaction of being the only thing more stylish than a woman who uses natural deodorant: a woman who smells amazing without any perfume.
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