Nancy's Product Reviews (NPR) - Tom's of Maine Deodorant

NPR - Doesn't that have a nice ring to it? Not to be confused with National Public Radio, of course.

I thought I would start a series of posts where I review new products that I am trying out (and possibly products that I can't live without). No, I am not getting paid for this (but I should be!). Nobody asked me to do this. But I appreciate people's opinions on stuff, and when someone actually takes the time to write a review, then that helps me make my consumer decisions. So I figure if it helps me to know why someone likes or dislikes something, then perhaps other people will find my reviews helpful.

I am currently in the process of putting together a more natural living plan. I've been doing some research, and many of the products I currently use I am hoping to start making myself. Deodorant is one such product. However, I have tried some Tom's of Maine products, and thought I'd give their deodorant a try as well, since it is a non-aluminum containing product.
Here's a little info about the product:

Natural Long-Lasting Care Deodorant Stick
Size: 2.25 oz
Fragrance: Apricot, Lavender, Lemongrass, Unscented

Our Long-Lasting Care Deodorant Stick fights odor three ways to keep you feeling fresh, naturally, all day:

• Hops inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. The antimicrobial action of hops inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria while reducing the possibility of skin irritation.
• Zinc ricinoleate binds up odor molecules. Sourced from castor beans, zinc ricinoleate traps and absorbs bad smells
• Natural fragrance blocks odor. Encapsulating natural fragrance oils with silica shells makes them last longer.

Sounds good, right?

I took one whiff of the apricot and knew that was the one for me. I have a sensitive nose, so I have to be careful about the products I buy. But this smells wonderful. And since it touts the ability to last 12 hours, I was pretty excited about smelling fantastically fruity for that long. Now, as it happens, I am someone who does not perspire much unless I am exercising vigorously or in a very hot and humid environment. So the need for deodorant, for me, is not as much to keep me from stinking or sweating as it is to make me feel smooth and fresh. I like to use deodorant. It is part of my daily routine. But I don't really notice its absence unless I start to feel sticky under the arms.

With Tom's of Maine, I could tell after the very first application that this is probably not the deodorant for me. Though the scent is delightful and not overpowering at all, I think this deodorant actually made me feel stickier than not having any on at all. As for lasting 12 hours, I couldn't really say. I just know that I can only go for maybe 3-4 hours wearing Tom's of Maine before I feel like I need to put a different deodorant on to feel fresh. So there you have it. For me, it is not worth the extra money or the "natural" ingredients to buy Tom's of Maine. My overall plan is to go more frugal, anyway. I just wanted to try it once and see what I thought. I will be using it (don't want to be wasteful!), but I will not be buying it again.

Anyone else tried Tom's of Maine Deodorant and like it? I'd love to hear other people's reviews. Let's make this more of an interactive blog!