Fair warning, there is, within this review, what some people would consider TMI relating to sweatiness and BO. I felt it necessary to provide that information to adequately discuss the changes with and benefits of, Lume. So, you have been warned.
I acknowledge this is a long post, so, if you don’t care about backstory and just want to jump down to the overview, feel free to do so.
UPDATE: Due to the significant increase in views and comments I’ve gotten on this post, I’ve shared a quick update. Also, I’m not affiliated with Lume in any way, which should be REALLY obvious by the content of this post.
Backstory
Growing up, drugstore deodorants were all I had available to me. I switched between them regularly trying to find one that would completely eliminate body odor. In the past, I have tended towards smelly. I said it. If I would sweat even a little, I would smell. Not really bad, like not likely to offend anyone, but I could smell it, and it bothered me.
I was also very annoyed by how difficult those traditional deodorants were to remove. I could scrub until my pits were red and sore and still feel residue. Rather unnerving, really.
Some years ago, I started seeing ads for “natural” deodorants. That was roughly when I started hearing about how bad regular deodorants are. To be honest, I didn’t really believe all of the claims, but I was curious about the natural deodorants. Perhaps they were better.
Turned out, that was a big no. I tried three different ones, which, while much easier to wash off, offered little to no odor protection. So I went back to the drugstore deodorants. They may be annoying, but at least they did their job.
Trying Lume
In January this year, I started seeing Lume ads on Instagram, namely this ad (watch from 0:14 – 0:56) nearly every day. Originally, I didn’t bother to watch the video, assuming it would be more of the same.
However, after seeing the ad a good 8-9 times, I became curious, mostly because of how silly it looked. So, I finally watched it. And it made me curious. The ad mentioned a few things I disliked about drugstore and natural deodorants. So I decided to give it a try. For reference, I bought the Lavender Sage Stick deodorant.
It didn’t get off to a great start. I still smelled, just like I had with the previous deodorants. But about a week after I started using it, I got an email from Lume. In it, they explained that it can take some time to get rid of all the residue from aluminum deodorants, and, that once it was gone, you have to experiment with how much Lume you actually need to apply.
There was also a note about making sure to apply Lume up to an inch beyond the hair growth areas to ensure full odor control.
So, I adjusted my application method and tried different amounts. It took some experimenting, but I finally had an odor free day. Then another. It was a great feeling. And, I found a great side benefit: my clothes weren’t covered in deodorant anymore.
I wanted to immediately jump on here and give you a review, but as i thought about it, I knew i needed to give it a proper test through some hot days.
So I waited. I made it through an entire stick and bought a second before I got a really hot (90°F) day.
I made it through the day with virtually no BO. That, of course, made me excited. Recently, I’ve had several warm and hot days (80+°F). BO has been nearly non-existent, and it’s been so liberating
The Cons
Nothing is ever perfect. Lume has one big con in my eyes, and a couple smaller ones. The main con: you have to rub it in. It’s annoying. I miss having a stick I can just apply on its own.
The lesser cons: it’s expensive, and it’s not an antiperspirant.
Lume is anywhere from nearly double to nearly triple the price of other deodorants. But, it lasts me 3-4 months, depending on just how much I apply. And, if you need an antiperspirant, then Lume probably isn’t for you. It’s a deodorant, it won’t make you sweat any less, it just keeps you from smelling.
With all of the benefits, though, I can deal with these detriments.
The Pros
Because I’ve already covered the pros in my overview, I’ll just list them here as an overview.
- It virtually eliminates body odor.
- It’s easy to wash off, and there’s no residue.
- It doesn’t stain clothes.
- Shipping is free in the US.
- It’s long lasting. A single stick lasts me 3+ months.
There’s also an additional potential benefit that I can’t verify yet. I have many shirts that are faded at the armpits, likely from my deodorant. It will be interesting to see if there’s a reduction in fading now that I’ve switched to Lume.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I can’t think of any reason not to try Lume, as long as you don’t need an antiperspirant. I heartily recommend it to anyone. It is, simply put, the best deodorant I’ve ever used.
I purchased Lume Deodorant from my local Walmart about a month ago. I got the stick deodorant. All I can say is BULLS**T! Their claim of 72hrs is BS. And the unscented one makes your BO more prominent. I would put it on after my shower (yes…my body is always fully dry) and would be smelling BO within about 3 hours. I would put it on in the morning after getting dressed, and again… smelly by 1pm. It is NOT worth the money or the hype. I highly recommend NOT buying this product and wasting your money. Also – unless you purchase directly from their website and have a specific order number…their “Money Back Guarantee” is also BULLS**T! They will tell you to take it up with the place you purchased the product from. Save your time and money and just get the Dove or Secret or whatever you’ve ben using. Promise you’re better off!
I started by using the coconut scented deodorant and cream. I thought it worked well so I got the unscented ones to try because the coconut could be a little much at times. I work out hard and was excited to have this product. Unfortunately I would put it on after my shower in the morning, and by the time I was halfway through my workout that evening, I could smell that it wasn’t working. It was embarrassing. It smelt like I never even put deodorant on. It says 72 hour odor protection. I put it on at 6:30 am and worked out at 6 pm. That is a little less than 72 hours. Not very happy with the price we have to pay for the product. The cream though seems to work. It’s just the deodorant I am having issues with.
I tried the cream and wipes. Now. I have uti and burning sensation I have tried twice and the results sent me to the Dr. Not for me. I hate this because I was excited to get this product with all the hipe.
This product DOES NOT WORK! There is nothing good about this whole wine… The smell, the way you put it on, nothing. Oh, and let’s talk about the price or not.
It’s a shame you didn’t have a good experience with it, but I know different products work differently for different people. It works well for me.
Thank you, I have tried it and love it. And will be ordering more because of your story.
I bought Luby unscented cream stick why does it smell so bad it’s worse than my body order my daughter purchased it in citrus and it’s fine .. Can I have an answer
I can’t answer your question. You’ll have to contact Lume directly. I do not represent them, nor do I have any affiliation with them.
Which other vegan deodorants work? I have tried some and they itch or don’t work at all, leave residue in my clothes…
I have no idea. As I said in my post, the other “natural” deodorants didn’t work for me. I haven’t tried anything else since I found Lume.