If you live in the northeast and just experienced the heat wave that brought the hottest temps New York City has seen in 13 years, you know no ordinary deodorant would have done the trick. Luckily for me and those around me, I had recently started using the new Oak Essentials Microbiome Balancing Deodorant ($26) that was able to meet the moment.
Rarely do I find aluminum-free, self-described clean deodorants up for the job on hot and heavy days, but this new formula from Oak Essentials pleasantly surprised me. The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous blue color and the striking scent of the deodorant, which I can only describe as what I assume Martha Stewart smells like while gardening. The notes of blue tansy and chamomile are meant to ground and calm you, and they do a great job of sticking around through the sweat.
The deodorant claimed to be formulated for all-day odor protection, so I put it to the ultimate test over the last few days of the heat wave. I wore it through every activity—beachside bike cruises, sweaty train rides and running around the New York City streets in 100-degree heat. After all that, I still felt confident heading into work meetings, still able to smell the subtle scent of the deodorant but not myself. A consumer performance study found that 87 percent of users said the deodorant effectively absorbed sweat, and after surviving this heat wave with this on my underarms, you can add me to that majority.
I’m picky about deodorants because the underarm microbiome can be a spooky place if not treated right. This aluminum-free deodorant balances the underarm microbiome and neutralizes any unwanted scent at the source. It feels very soothing on an often rugged area of razor bumps and irritation. As is the case with most Oak Essentials products, the ingredient list reads like a high-end farmer’s market haul with sunflower, chia seed, mimosa, coconut and jojoba oils in the mix.
