My Lavanila Deodorant Review
Why I Think Lavanila Is a Good Deodorant for Transitioning to Natural
Pros:
- Goes on like a traditional deodorant, which might feel comforting to those trying natural deodorant for the first time.
- Formula is free of comedogenic ingredients such as mineral oil, silicone, synthetic colors, and petroleum.
- Reasonably effective odor control.
Cons:
- It may leave clumps and white streaks behind.
- It’s not an antiperspirant, which is true of just about every natural deodorant.
My Verdict:
Lavanila deodorant checks of all the boxes that a natural deodorant should: it’s free of aluminum, baking soda, parabens, sulfates, and more potentially harmful ingredients. But for me, the consistency was a bit heavy, it clumped under my arms, and it streaked my clothes.
My first experience with Lavanila was several years back when I was spending a few days at my parents’ house for the holidays and had forgotten to pack deodorant. Who else does one turn to in this type of pickle than your mom? My mum was currently using Lavanila, which she came upon at Whole Foods and decided to try. She liked it and has been using it ever since. Simple tale with a happy ending for her! My using my mum’s Lavanila occurred long before I began experimenting with natural deodorant, and at a time in life (I was a recent college graduate) when spending $12 on a stick of deodorant was not realistic for me. I actually didn’t know deodorant that expensive even existed, and I didn’t pause to question why—I just chalked it up to Whole Foods mark-ups. I remember Lavanila feeling normal and smelling nice. I wasn’t paying close attention to how long it lasted, but I didn’t have any complaints. I also didn’t have a reaction, thankfully—if I had, I wouldn’t have known why.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve now sampled some 8 or 10 natural deodorants, all the while educating myself on ingredients commonly found (and left out of) these products, familiarizing myself with what works best for my body, and understanding what my preferences are. And while I recognize that $12 is certainly not the cheapest deodorant out there, my priorities have shifted and it generally feels like a worthwhile cost to me. All this to say, I decided to try Lavanila again with this new perspective and see how it compares to my other natural deodorant experiences. All the details are below!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this product. (Check out the review process post to learn more.)
Lavanila Deodorant Quick Facts
Cost
- $12 for a one-time purchase + shipping.
- No subscription option.
Shipping
- Ships to the US & Canada. They do not ship to PO Boxes or APO/AFO addresses.
- Standard FedEx rates apply (shipping cost $5 for me).
- Free US shipping for orders over $40.
Product
2 oz. solid deodorant stick in a twist-up plastic tube.
Perks
- Aluminum-free
- Baking-soda-free
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Petrochemical-free
- Phthalate-free
- Free from Propylene Glycol
- No Mineral Oils
- Silicone-free
- Free from Synthetic Dyes or Synthetic Fragrances
- No Chemical Sunscreens
- Sulfate-free
Lavanila’s signature scents include:
- Pure Vanilla
- Vanilla Eucalyptus
- Vanilla Lavender
- Vanilla Coconut
- Vanilla Grapefruit
- Fresh Vanilla Lemon
- Vanilla Passion Fruit
- Vanilla Blackberry
They also carry limited-edition scents inspired by the elements, the seasons, and a line of feminine aromas. Note that some scents come along with differing formulas, are sold in different volumes, and cost more (up to $14) or less (as low as $8).
Ingredients for all of Lavanila’s scents:
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice (Aloe juice, water/aqua), Propanediol (Corn derived), Zea mays (Corn) starch, Sodium stearate (Coconut derived), Silica, Carrageenan (Seaweed derived), Stearyl behenate (Coconut derived), Citrus medica limonum (Lemon peel oil), Inulin (Artichoke derived), Saccharomyces ferment, Alpha-Glucan oligosaccharide (Sugar derived), Yeast beta glucan, Lonicera caprifolium (Honeysuckle) flower extract, Usnea barbata (Lichen) extract, Valeriana officinalis root extract (Valerian), Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) extract, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) flower/leaf/stem extract, Lycium barbarum fruit extract (Goji berry), Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla) oil, Botanical fragrance blend*
*Lavanila’s botanical fragrance blend is a proprietary blend of pure essential oils, nature identical oils, and botanically derived aromas.
For the Vanilla Eucalyptus scent, Lavanila calls out these key ingredients:
-
Balancing Probiotics: Breakthrough probiotics work to neutralize bacteria responsible for odor.
-
Beta Glucan Technology: Breakthrough health-promoting technology breaks down sweat molecules & prevents odor while nourishing delicate underarms.
-
Eucalyptus Oil: A freshly scented, natural antibacterial and antiseptic that works to keep odor at bay.
My Lavanila Deodorant Review
The Feel
You May Also Like
Comments (21)
So I LOVE these reviews- I had tried a couple of the less expensive natural deodorants from sub boxes (Schmitts, Love Beauty Planet…) with no luck so I kinda wrote the whole natural deo idea off. Recently tried Lume, which I really like, but am definitely open to trying some others, so I super appreciate being able to read these without ponying up like $15 to try something new on a whim.
Any chance you were planning on trying out Pit Liquor, Christen? It’s the only one that I’ve been wanting to try that I haven’t seen you review. Thanks!!
Lindsay, yayyy, so happy to know you’re finding these helpful!! This is actually the first I’m hearing of Pit Liquor (there are SO MANY natural deodorants out there, it’s insane—and exciting) but I’ll look into it. Are you curious about the spray or the roll-on?
I think the idea of a spray that’s not an aerosol is kinda cool- first time I had seen that in a deodorant! Thanks so much for checking it out 🙂
I’ve been using Lavanila for about 9 months, finished 3 sticks and now using the 4th. Applies smoothly, no irritation, and works well against odor (I’m not a smelly person). Passion fruit, BlackBerry, and Coconut — don’t leave any white residue. Holds up during HIIT classes. Wait for deal on their website, I paid about $9 each way and free shipping.
Holds up during HIIT classes is a big one—that’s awesome, Jenny. Good tip on looking for deals on their website, too! Thanks for sharing that!
I don’t understand why this review is here. What subscription box is this in?
I don’t either especially because people have very different experiences with the effectiveness of a deodorant so I don’t see it as a great category to review. When I see these posts I think, oh another entry in the deodorant infomercial saga lol. That said I do like this brand of deodorant but don’t buy it anymore because I prefer brands that use cardboard dispensers or glass jars as they are easier on the environment.
Same. I’m really confused as to why lately there have been reviews of different natural deodorant products since this doesn’t seem to relate to subscription boxes at all.
I have to agree with Randie. I think your reviews are great Christen, but this content feels a bit random for MSA.
Hi SandySue & others! Lavanila occasionally pops up in beauty and lifestyle boxes—in fact Carol mentioned below that she received one in her Target Box! Also, while such is not the case for Lavanila, many natural deodorants have a subscription option right on their website. Subscription options aside, many of our readers are interested in learning more about natural personal care products. Hopefully this context makes these reviews feel a little less random to you! Either way, thanks for reading!
I like these reviews!!! I have recently felt a need to revamp my routine and change the products I use in favor of “cleaner” items. It’s made a huge difference but my education keeps evolving. Thanks for taking the time to do these.
Thank you for dropping a line to let me know, Karolina! I’m so pleased you’re finding these reviews helpful. 🙂
I love that they have this at Target now BUT I wish they had the Sport Luxe version, which I prefer. They no longer appear to sell it at Sephora or on Dermstore either, so I think I’m going to have to buy it direct.
Hi! They have the sport version at Ulta. That’s where I get it 🙂
I’ve been using this since I received one in a Target box. I usually use the clinical stuff, but I’m giving this a try while I am working from home. It works nicely and I rarely feel the need to reapply. Smells great too!
Yay! Always awesome to discover a new product in a sub box that works wonderfully for you. I’m happy for you, Carol!
I just LOVE these reviews of natural deodorants. There are so many out there that it can be overwhelming, and they tend to be much more expensive than regular deodorant so it’s not practical to keep buying different ones to try. These reviews are so helpful, thank you.
I’m the opposite I am so over these reviews glad someone likes them. Why not review regular deodorant not everyone does naturals.
I appreciate you saying so, Sandra! The goal is always to be helpful!!
This is the brand I currently use after trying several natural deodorants I received in subscriptions. I must preface this with the disclaimer that I am not a very sweaty person and do not need it during the winter. I put it on in the summer, but not every day. When it is going to be very hot I use it, occasionally supplementing with an additional swipe later in the day if I am gardening or going for a walk or something. I can’t comment about usage during heavy exercise.
It works great for me and I recommend it.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Cindy! It’s really helpful to have multiple perspectives represented, and I’m glad this deodorant is working out for you. 🙂