A few years back, I made the decision to switch my normal, aluminum-based deodorant for a natural one. In the search for it, I tried over six different brands – from ones you can find at the drug store, like Schmidt's and Arm & Hammer, to ones you can purchase online, like Athena Club's All Day Deo and Lume.
Unfortunately, the natural deodorants with baking soda, like Schmidt's and Arm & Hammer, didn't work for me because it turns out that I'm very sensitive to this ingredient. Many people actually are and they can't tolerate baking soda in deodorants and can develop severe skin reactions.
But, that doesn't mean you have to give up on natural deodorants just yet. There are other brands that replace baking soda with essential oils and other ingredients to help keep you smelling fresh. These are just as good in keeping you dry, while also only using the cleanest ingredients out there. And at the top of this list are Athena Club and Lume, which fall under the category of aluminum-free, baking soda-free, and cruelty-free natural deodorants.
Because of this long journey of mine, I think I'm the perfect person to help you find the one natural deodorant to suit your needs. Whether you're looking for one that offers all-day protection or one that's affordable, you've come to the right place. Today, we will be pitting Lume vs. Athena Club to see who has the best natural deodorant for you.
If you're looking to save money: Athena Club
Both Athena Club and Lume offer one-time purchases and subscriptions. However, Athena Club is slightly more affordable. A one-time purchase of Athena's deodorant will cost you $13 but if you subscribe, it'll be $12. And shipping is free! As for Lume, one-time purchases will be $13.99 and $12.59 for the subscription. However, you'll have to pay for shipping if it's the only thing you're purchasing off their website.
If you're looking for bulk orders: Lume
Lume actually lets you purchase deodorant bundles, unlike Athena Club. You can either customize your order and get three bars of deodorant or you can get a duo of cream-based and bar deodorants. However, buying a bundle actually won't be cheaper than buying just one deodorant in the end. A bundle of three deodorants will come out at $36.97, which is roughly $12.59 each, the same price as one deodorant. So ultimately, this one is up to you but there's really no savings in the end.
If you're looking for clean formulas: both
Both Lume and Athena Club are plant-based formulas. The brands also claim they are cruelty-free and don't have any potentially harmful chemicals. Though they are both vegan brands, they do a good job at preventing body odor and will keep you dry throughout the day – no matter how much you exercise or sweat. They are also both made for sensitive skins so you won't experience any reactions like you might with baking soda-based deodorants. Athena Club and Lume also make pledges to use clean ingredients that are, not only helpful for the people utilizing them but are good for the environment.
If you're looking for long-lasting and dry formula: Athena Club
In an ideal world, I would love to take my sweet time getting dressed in the mornings or before an outing but I tend to always wait until the last minute and rush. This means that I need a deodorant that dries down the moment I put it on and that lasts all day and night. Athena Club won that one for me because I felt like I had to wait for Lume to dry down before even putting on my clothes. And I certainly couldn't put it on while already dressed or it would stick to my clothes. With Lume, I also felt like I had to constantly be reapplying throughout the day, which is just annoying.
If you're looking for more products: Athena Club
Athena Club and Lume both sell other products aside from deodorant. But I believe that Athena has a wider variety of the products they sell compared to Lume.
Aside from deodorants, Lume sells body wash, soap, body butter, and laundry products, which is great since they are all skin-care-based products. However, it feels limited as I'm not sure I would use their laundry products.
On the other hand, Athena offers more products that I'd actually use – such as probiotics, vitamins, candles, period care, razors, body wash, moisturizers, I could go on. This makes it easier for me to purchase products I need because I can just get them from one place. I don't need to subscribe to multiple brands to get tampons, daily supplements, or body care. I can simply subscribe to receive Athena's different products in the same shipment.
Ultimately, Athena Club is just a little bit more convenient.
The Verdict
Athena Club wins in my book.
Not only am I saving money on deodorant compared to Lume, but I'm also able to get several other body care products from the same brand. I'm not speaking about just body wash and moisturizers, but period products, vitamins, and even self-care ones. This ensures that all of the products work together to help me feel my best self. And those products also end up being more affordable.
On top of that, I felt like I had to wait for Lume's deodorant to dry down on my skin before putting on my clothes. If I didn't, I'd be left with some intense deodorant stains on my outfit. On the other hand, I had no issues with the Athena Club one and felt like I was protected the moment I swiped it on – and I didn't even have to reapply throughout the day.
