Can full body deodorant get you through a sweltering summer? We try out new £21 product that promises to keep you fresh from head to toe Samantha Rea put natural product from AKT to the test in 26°C heat READ MORE: I rub raw lemons on my armpits instead of deodorant By Samantha Rea Published: 02:11 EDT, 14 August 2024 | Updated: 02:27 EDT, 14 August 2024 e-mail View comments Sweaty back? An unpleasant pool of moisture in your cleavage? Wet patches in embarassing places when you leave the gym? They're all occupational hazards of navigating life in the late summer heatwave, but a new product promises to combat sweat all over your body, from head to toe. 'What? Surely that's not healthy?!' These were my first thoughts on hearing about The Deodorant Balm, the full body sweat buster from AKT. However, apparently it's perfectly safe because it's not actually an anti-perspirant.
According to AKT, the formula contains no aluminium chlorohydrate, so it does not block your sweat ducts to stop you sweating. Full body deodorant is common in the US, but AKT is the first of its kind in the UK and was developed by two West End performers Andy Coxon and Ed Currie - who met during a stint on Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Samantha Rea ventured out on a sweltering day in London to find out if The Deodorant Balm from AKT could help her keep her cool, even during a workout in the park It was 26°C outdoors and probably even hotter on the tube when Samantha decided to try out the new full body deodorant balm They found that no deodorant was a match for the glare of the stage lights, and they were desperate for a solution, given they had to perform eight shows a week wearing the same costumes.
Getting to work at home, they formulated what they call their Deo-Barrier Complex - a blend of minerals, powders and waxes to absorb sweat and deodorise the skin. Hmmm..
. OK then. I decide to give it whirl.
The Deodorant Balm comes in five different scents, with a sixth that's unfragranced. I am torn between Orange Grove with its petitgrain, mandarin and neroli, and Columbia Road with its amber, violet and tonka. They are both divine and I would happily smell as delicious as either of them all over, but I have to choose, so I go with Orange Grove.
Today is tightly packed. I'm out and about, rushing between appointments, hopping on tubes and bikes, walking a friend's dog, and somehow squeezing in a workout. With highs of 26 degrees Celcius, it's probably even hotter on the tube.
Will the Orange Grove Deodorant Balm keep me dry? I'm ready to find out! Samantha had agreed to walk a friend's dog, and was running late when she slathered on the product and headed out into the sunshine A 50ml tube of the AKT deodorant balm costs £21, which is a lot more than the average aerosol or roll on The website promises that one application will last all day - even if you exercise - and Samantha was pleased to find she still smelled fresh after a bike ride The deodorant comes with a natural copper applicator that claims to have the added benefit of encouraging lymphatic drainage and micro-circulation around the chest and neck The deodorant comes with an applicator made from premium brass, which has natural antimicrobial properties, and can be reused over and over I am, as ever, running late, so there simply isn't time to apply deodorant everywhere. Even the prospect of applying it all over stresses me out, as it's yet another obstacle to getting out of the front door. Luckily, wearing it all over isn't mandatory.
The idea is that it's applied to areas that get especially sweaty, like armpits, feet, and chest. But you can apply it anywhere you like. According to the FAQ section on AKT's website, you can even put it on your forehead.
I can't imagine spraying deodorant in my face. I think it would probably bring on an asthma attack (and I don't even have asthma). Fortunately, The Deodorant Balm is not an aerosol - it's not even a roll on.
Instead, it comes in an expensive looking tube, inside an expensive looking box. And it doesn't just look expensive - it is expensive, at £21 for a 50ml tube. To put this in perspective, my usual roll on deodorant (also 50ml) costs about £1 in Tesco, so this is fancy stuff.
It even comes with its own applicator which looks so fancy it's like something Gwyneth Paltrow might sell on Goop for £500. Or more, probably. Samantha applied another layer before her outdoor workout to make sure she was still smelling fresh It's made of premium brass which has natural antimicrobial properties, and apparently it lasts a lifetime.
According to the brand, the very act of applying the deodorant counts as an act of 'self-care' - claiming it helps to relieve tension, boost immunity and energise the body. Inspired by the Chinese practice of Gua Sha, it apparently encourages lymphatic drainage and micro-circulation around the underarms, chest and neck. I barely even know what this means (and I've certainly never heard of Gua Sha) but it sounds amazing, and anything Goopy has got to be good.
So feeling very Gwyneth, I apply the balm to the applicator and rub it all over my armpits. Then to test how well it works on my feet, I apply it to just one of them, and head out in trainers with no socks. As I speed walk, with a rucksack, in the midday heat, I can feel that my armpits are slightly moist - but no more than they would be with my normal deodorant, which is also an anti-perspirant.
This is actually the first time in my life that I've been persuaded to try a deodorant that isn't an anti-perspirant. I thought they were all a bit woo-woo and based on magical thinking and body odour denial, so I'm genuinely impressed by how well this works. On the tube, nobody moves away from me, and I feel confident reaching for the rail, without worrying about sweat patches.
I can also feel a difference in my feet. My right foot becomes slightly sweaty inside my trainers, while my left foot (which I've coated in Deodorant Balm) feels dry, in a silky sort of way. Almost like I've got a silky sock on.
The website promises that one application will last all day - even if you exercise. As a deodorant addict who's horrified by BO, I can't quite stop myself reapplying it before my workout, but I can confirm that I still smell good when I get home. In fact, the Deodorant Balm smells so good that I wouldn't even want to use perfume while I'm wearing it.
I envisage a clash of fragrances, so if you wouldn't be without your perfume or aftershave, then you might want to try the unscented Deodorant Balm. Would I wear it again? Most definitely yes - although if I wear it every day, I may need to take out a loan..
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