It’s Going to Be 30 Degrees, So Let’s Talk Deodorant

Apparently it is going to hit 30 degrees today.

In Ireland.

So naturally, we are all going to lose the run of ourselves slightly.

There will be people saying it is too hot, people saying we should enjoy it while it lasts, dogs lying dramatically on kitchen floors, and everyone suddenly remembering that summer clothes can be quite unforgiving.

And on a day like that, you really do want your deodorant to work.

Because I love natural products. Obviously. I make them. But I am not interested in making something that sounds lovely on a label and then lets you down halfway through a warm day.

You need to be able to put it on in the morning and get on with your life. Go to work, run around after children, stand at a horse show, drive somewhere with no air conditioning, pack for holidays, walk the dog, sit in the sun, whatever you are doing.

Without spending the whole day wondering if you smell.

That is the bar. Not a very glamorous one, perhaps, but an important one.

Deodorant does not need to stop you sweating

Our deodorants are deodorants, not antiperspirants.

They are not there to stop your body sweating completely. Sweating is normal, especially when it is warm. It is one of the ways our bodies regulate temperature.

What you want a deodorant to do is help with odour and help you feel fresh and comfortable.

And I think that is where some people have been let down by natural deodorants in the past. They have tried one, it has not worked for them, and they have decided that natural deodorant is just not for them.

Fair enough. Nobody wants to spend money on something that does not do its job.

But a good natural deodorant should still be a good deodorant. That has always been the point for me.

The health side of it, without the fearmongering

A lot of women come to me because they have had breast cancer, or because someone close to them has. Others are going through investigations, or have had a scare, or are simply at a stage in life where they are thinking more carefully about what they use every day.

And I understand that.

I had fairly extensive 3D mammograms and ultrasounds myself last week. Everything around those appointments can make you think. Even when you are trying not to overthink it.

I am not going to tell you that switching to a natural deodorant will prevent breast cancer. It will not. There is no evidence that deodorant causes breast cancer either, and I do not think it is helpful to scare women into buying products.

But I do understand the feeling of wanting to make a few small changes where you can.

Not because you think you can control everything. You cannot.

But because using a product with a short, straightforward ingredient list, that you feel happy putting on your skin every day, can settle your mind a little bit.

It does for me anyway.

And if that is something you are looking for too, then it is a perfectly good reason to switch.

Four deodorants, because people are particular about scent

We have four deodorants now, and they are all a bit different.

Vetiver & Palmarosa is earthy, fresh and grounding. It is one of those scents that feels clean but not sharp. A little deeper, a little more grown-up, and very unisex.

Lemongrass & Ylang Ylang is the one for tomorrow, in my opinion. Bright, fresh and lovely in warm weather. The lemongrass gives it that clean, just-out-of-the-shower feeling, while the ylang ylang softens it so it is not too harsh.

Rose & Cardamom is softer and warmer. It is floral, but not in a powdery old-fashioned way. The cardamom gives it a little bit of spice underneath, which makes it feel more interesting.

And then there is Unscented, for anyone who does not want fragrance in their deodorant at all. Maybe you have sensitive skin, maybe you wear perfume and do not want competing scents, or maybe you just want your deodorant to quietly get on with its job.

All fair reasons.

The toughest product tester in the family

A little fun fact: this is now the only deodorant my mother will use.

My mother is very fussy with skincare and body products. If she does not like something, she will not pretend to like it just because I made it. She will tell me exactly what is wrong with it.

So the fact that she now refuses to use anything else is probably one of the better endorsements I could get.

Sometimes I tease her that I am going to discontinue the deodorants, and she gets genuinely upset.

Which is funny, but also slightly dangerous, because I think she would actually disown me.

A few practical bits

Apply it to clean, dry or wet underarms. That is the main thing.

If you are switching from an antiperspirant, give it a little bit of time. And if it is 30 degrees, you are at a festival, doing a lot of walking, or spending the day at a horse show, there is absolutely nothing wrong with reapplying it.

You do not have to prove anything to anyone by trying to make one application last through a full heatwave.

Our deodorants come in cardboard tubes, so they are handy for travelling too. No leaks in your wash bag, no liquid limits if you are flying, and no plastic bottle rolling around in the bottom of your gym bag.

But as always with Janni Bars, the packaging is not the main reason to buy it.

It is a bonus.

The main reason is that it works, it feels nice to use, and it helps you get through a hot day feeling fresh, comfortable and confident.

And today, if it really does reach 30 degrees, I think that is all any of us are asking for.