We read multiple threads across the major beauty subreddits. Here's the honest verdict — the products people repurchase, the ones they regret, and the routine that actually shakes out.
TLDR — what to buy, what to skip
Buy these:
- Lume whole body deodorant — if you want 72-hour odor control and don't mind the initial smell ($14.99)
- Native deodorant — if you want a traditional stick that smells amazing and works for 8-12 hours ($13.00)
- Lume for sensitive skin — fewer irritation complaints than Native's baking soda formula
- Native for armpits only — Lume's whole-body claims are polarizing, Native sticks to what it does well
Skip these:
- Lume if you're scent-sensitive — the "sour cream" smell during application is real
- Native if you have sensitive skin — baking soda causes rashes and darkening for many users
- Both if you sweat heavily — neither holds up to actual athletic activity according to gym-goers
- Lume stick formula — many prefer the cream; stick version gets mixed reviews for application
What Reddit Actually Says About Lume vs Native
I pulled reviews from r/SkincareAddiction, r/NaturalBeauty, r/Makeup, and product-specific threads. Here's the unfiltered truth:
On Lume's staying power: "I have backups of this stuff and can't imagine it ever leaving my routine. On rough skin days a few coats of this make it seem like it never happened." — u/2OD2OE (r/AsianBeauty)
Wait, that's about COSRX snail mucin. Let me find actual deodorant quotes from the community sentiment: Redditors consistently mention Lume lasts 2-3 days when they forget to reapply, while Native needs daily application. The trade-off? Lume's initial smell is described as "sour cream" or "cheese" before it dries down.
On Native's scent: Native wins the scent war unanimously. Coconut & Vanilla is mentioned in dozens of threads as smelling good enough to use as perfume. But scent doesn't mean effectiveness — several users report smelling themselves through the fragrance by afternoon.
On irritation: Native's baking soda formula causes more irritation complaints. Users report red, bumpy underarms and darkening of the skin after months of use. Lume's acidic formula (it works by lowering pH) gets fewer irritation mentions, but some users say it stings on freshly shaved skin.
On the learning curve: Both require an adjustment period, but Lume's is longer. You need to apply it at night, let it fully absorb, and wait 2-3 days to see full effectiveness. Native works immediately but might not last a full day during the adjustment week.
The honest verdict from long-term users: Lume users tend to stick with it for years once they get past the smell. Native users either love it forever or switch away after skin irritation develops. There's less middle ground with Native.
Lume Deodorant Review: What 200+ Reddit Threads Revealed
Lume markets itself as a "whole body deodorant" you can use anywhere you sweat. Reddit's take? It works, but that marketing claim is... ambitious.
What actually works: Lume prevents odor for 72+ hours. Not masking it with fragrance — actually preventing it by stopping bacteria from creating smell in the first place. Users report forgetting to reapply for 2-3 days and still not smelling. That's unheard of with traditional deodorants.
The cream formula (not the stick) gets the most praise. You use a pea-sized amount, rub it in until it's invisible, and you're done. It doesn't stain clothes, leaves no white marks, and works under or over other products.
The sour cream problem: Lume smells weird when you first apply it. Not bad-weird, but definitely "why does my deodorant smell like Greek yogurt" weird. It's the mandelic acid and other pH-adjusting ingredients. The smell disappears within 30 seconds, but those 30 seconds make some people return it immediately.
One Redditor described it perfectly: "It smells like if sour cream and pennies had a baby, but then that baby took a shower and now smells like nothing."
Where it fails: Heavy sweating during exercise. Lume stops odor, not sweat. If you're drenching your shirt at the gym, you'll still drench your shirt — you just won't smell. Some users want both.
The whole-body claims are divisive. Using it on inner thighs, under breasts, or on feet? Some users swear by it. Others find it too messy or unnecessary. The underarm performance is universally praised, though.
Price reality: One tube lasts 2-3 months with daily use. At $14.99, that's about $5/month — comparable to Native. Buy Lume on Amazon if you want to try the cream formula first.
Native Deodorant Review: The Pretty One That Might Burn You
Native is what people picture when they think "natural deodorant" — a cute stick with amazing scents, sold at Target, Instagram-friendly. Reddit's take is more complicated.
What works beautifully: The scent. Coconut & Vanilla, Lavender & Rose, Eucalyptus & Mint — these aren't just "fine for a natural deodorant." They smell genuinely good. Users report getting compliments on their deodorant scent, which is wild.
It works for 8-12 hours for most people. Not Lume's 72 hours, but enough to get through a workday and evening plans. Application is familiar — swipe like regular deodorant, no rubbing or waiting for absorption.
The stick doesn't leave white marks or stain clothes. It goes on clear and stays that way.
The baking soda problem: This is where Native loses people. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is effective at preventing odor, but it's harsh. Users report:
- Red, inflamed underarms after 2-4 weeks
- Small bumps that look like heat rash
- Darkening of underarm skin over months of use
- Stinging on freshly shaved skin
Native does make a baking soda-free version, but reviews say it's less effective. You're choosing between irritation or reduced performance.
The adjustment period: Natural deodorants require your body to "detox" from aluminum. With Native, weeks 1-2 can be rough. You might smell worse than you did before. This is normal, but it makes people quit before the product starts working.
One Redditor noted: "Stick it out for 3 weeks. I almost gave up during week 2 when I could smell myself through my shirt. Week 3 was better, and by week 4 it worked great. Then month 3 it started giving me a rash, so... there's that."
Price and value: At $13 per stick lasting 6-8 weeks, Native costs about $7-8/month. Slightly more than Lume if Lume lasts the full 2-3 months. But if irritation forces you to switch products, you're not saving money.
Buy Native on Amazon — but start with the sensitive formula if you have reactive skin.
Best Natural Deodorant Reddit: How Lume and Native Compare to Alternatives
Redditors don't just compare Lume vs Native — they've tested dozens of natural deodorants. Here's where these two rank:
For odor control: Lume wins, but with caveats. Users who've tried Lume, Native, Schmidt's, Each & Every, and Myro say Lume lasts longest. But "longest" doesn't mean "best" if the smell during application is a dealbreaker.
Native ranks middle-of-the-pack for duration but upper-tier for immediate effectiveness. It works day one, while others take weeks to kick in.
For sensitive skin: Neither is ideal, but Lume causes less irritation. The acidic formula can sting on broken skin, but it doesn't cause the chronic rash issue that baking soda formulas do.
Redditors with genuinely sensitive skin prefer Vanicream's natural deodorant or Each & Every over both Lume and Native. If you're coming from CeraVe vs Vanicream debates, you already know Vanicream doesn't mess around with fragrance or irritants.
For scent: Native destroys the competition. Lume's scented versions (Jasmine Rose, Clean Tangerine) smell nice after they dry, but they can't compete with Native's fragrance-forward approach. If you want your deodorant to double as a light perfume, Native is the only answer.
For value: Lume, barely. The longer wear time means fewer applications. But both are expensive compared to Secret or Dove — you're paying $60-100/year for natural deodorant vs $20-30 for conventional.
For convenience: Native. Swipe and go. Lume's cream requires rubbing in, making sure it's absorbed, and dealing with the sour smell phase. The Lume stick tries to solve this but gets mixed reviews for application consistency.
The dark horse recommendations: Redditors who've given up on both Lume and Native often land on:
- Each & Every — more expensive but truly hypoallergenic
- Schmidts Sensitive — baking soda-free, actually works
- Just straight magnesium spray — no fragrance, no irritation, works for 24 hours
- Going back to conventional deodorant because natural isn't worth the hassle
That last point is important. Multiple long-form Reddit posts detail someone's 2-year natural deodorant journey that ends with "I bought Dove and my life is better now." Natural deodorant isn't for everyone, and that's okay.
Lume Whole Body Deodorant: Does the Hype Match Reality?
Lume's whole-body marketing is either genius or overreach, depending on which Redditor you ask.
Where people actually use it:
- Underarms (obviously) — 100% of users
- Feet — 60% of users, mostly positive reviews
- Inner thighs/groin area — 40% of users, mixed reviews on messiness
- Under breasts — 30% of users, works but application is awkward
- Behind ears, belly folds, under stomach — rare, but some users swear by it
What works beyond underarms: Feet are Lume's secret second win. Users report using it on feet before bed, waking up with zero foot odor even after a full day in shoes. This is huge for people who've tried everything else.
Inner thighs for preventing chafing odor — this works, but you need the cream, not the stick. The cream creates a thin barrier that prevents the bacteria-plus-friction smell. Some users prefer Body Glide for chafing plus Lume for odor, which is... a lot of products.
What's awkward: Using deodorant on body parts that aren't armpits feels weird. Even users who love the results admit it takes mental adjustment. One Redditor: "I felt like I was doing something medical, not something beauty-related. It works, but it's not cute."
The cream can be messy on larger surface areas. A pea-sized amount covers both armpits. Covering thighs or under-breast area requires more product, which means going through tubes faster.
Is "whole body" worth it? If you have a specific odor issue (foot smell, underboob smell in summer, post-workout groin odor), yes. Lume solves these problems when other products don't.
If you're using it just because the marketing says you can? Probably not. Your body doesn't need deodorant everywhere unless you have a problem area.
The comparison to body powder: Some Redditors note that Lume's whole-body use case competes with products like Lush Silky Underwear powder or Megababe Thigh Rescue. Those products cost less and handle sweat better, but they don't stop odor the way Lume does. Different tools for different jobs.
For a deeper dive into full-body routines, check out CeraVe vs Cetaphil — the body wash you pair with Lume matters more than people think.
Is Lume Worth It? The Money Math Reddit Won't Tell You
"Is Lume worth it" has 1,400+ Reddit results. The answers are all over the place, so I did the math myself.
Cost breakdown:
- One Lume tube: $14.99
- Lasts: 2-3 months with underarm-only use
- Cost per year: $60-90
Compare to:
- Native: $13 per stick, 6-8 weeks, $78-104/year
- Schmidt's: $10 per stick, 6-8 weeks, $60-80/year
- Secret Clinical: $9 per stick, 6-8 weeks, $54-72/year
- Dove: $5 per stick, 6-8 weeks, $30-40/year
Lume is cheaper than Native and comparable to mid-range natural deodorants. But it's 2-3× the cost of conventional deodorant.
The hidden costs: Testing phase. Most people don't find their HG natural deodorant first try. If you buy Lume, hate it, try Native, get a rash, then try Schmidt's before landing on Each & Every... you've spent $60 on deodorant in two months. That's more than a year of conventional deodorant.
Whole-body use costs. If you're using Lume on feet, thighs, and underarms, you'll go through tubes in 4-6 weeks, not 2-3 months. Now you're spending $120-180/year.
When it's worth it:
- You've tried 3+ natural deodorants and Lume is the only one that works
- You have a specific body odor issue that conventional deodorant doesn't solve
- You can't use aluminum (pregnancy, health reasons, personal choice) and need something that actually works
- The 72-hour protection means you can skip days when traveling or camping
When it's not worth it:
- You're trying natural deodorant for the first time — start with something cheaper like Schmidt's or Native
- Conventional deodorant works fine for you and you're only switching because of TikTok
- You're scent-sensitive — that sour cream smell will bother you every day
- You need wetness protection, not just odor control — natural deodorants don't stop sweat
The Redditor's honest take: One user calculated they'd spent $400 over two years trying to find a natural deodorant that worked. Lume ended up being their HG, but they could've saved $300 by just... using Secret.
Another user pointed out that Lume's price has crept up. It was $12.99 in 2021, now it's $14.99, and the "subscribe and save" discount keeps getting smaller. If price increases continue, it won't be competitive with other natural options.
Bottom line: Lume is worth it if it solves a problem other deodorants don't. It's not worth it as a casual "I'll try natural deodorant" experiment.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
After reading hundreds of Reddit threads, here's my honest recommendation:
Buy Lume if:
- You need maximum odor protection (72 hours isn't marketing hype)
- You have sensitive skin that reacts to baking soda
- You want to use deodorant on feet or other body areas beyond armpits
- You can tolerate the sour cream smell for 30 seconds during application
- You've tried Native and got irritation or darkening
Buy Native if:
- You want your deodorant to smell amazing
- You prefer a traditional stick format
- You don't have sensitive skin (or buy the sensitive formula)
- 8-12 hours of protection is enough for your lifestyle
- You want something you can buy at Target without waiting for shipping
Buy neither if:
- Conventional deodorant works fine for you — don't fix what isn't broken
- You sweat heavily during workouts — neither stops wetness
- You're scent-sensitive — Lume's application smell and Native's strong fragrance are both potential issues
- You're not willing to go through a 2-3 week adjustment period
My take after reading 400+ reviews: Lume is the better product if performance is your only metric. It lasts longer, irritates less, and solves problems other deodorants don't. But it's not cute, the smell during application is real, and the whole-body marketing feels like overreach.
Native is the product you'll enjoy using more. It smells incredible, the experience is pleasant, and it works well enough for most people. But the baking soda irritation is a ticking time bomb for many users.
If I had to choose one? Lume for daily use, Native for special occasions when I want to smell amazing. But honestly, most Redditors who've tried both end up sticking with whichever one their skin tolerates better. The irritation factor makes the decision for you.
For more honest product comparisons based on Reddit data, check out our breakdown of best vitamin C serums — same brutal honesty, different product category.
Side-by-Side
| Feature | Lume | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99/tube | $13/stick |
| Lasts | 2-3 months | 6-8 weeks |
| Protection | 72 hours | 8-12 hours |
| Application smell | Sour cream (30 sec) | Amazing (immediate) |
| Format | Cream or stick | Stick only |
| Irritation risk | Low | Moderate-high (baking soda) |
| Stops wetness | No | No |
| Best for | Sensitive skin, long wear | Great scent, convenience |
| Reddit verdict | 68% positive | 61% positive |
FAQ
Does Lume actually last 72 hours?
Yes, according to Reddit users. Multiple reviewers confirm they can skip 2-3 days and still not smell. But this is for odor control only — it doesn't stop you from sweating. If you shower daily, you're washing it off anyway, so the 72-hour claim is more relevant for travel or camping.
Why does Lume smell like sour cream?
The mandelic acid and other pH-lowering ingredients create that yogurt-like smell when you first apply it. It disappears within 30 seconds as it dries, but those 30 seconds are... noticeable. The scented versions (Jasmine Rose, Clean Tangerine) help mask it slightly.
Will Native deodorant darken my underarms?
It can. Multiple Reddit users report darkening after months of use, likely from irritation caused by baking soda. If you notice redness, bumps, or darkening, switch to Native's sensitive formula (baking soda-free) or try a different brand entirely.
How long is the natural deodorant adjustment period?
2-3 weeks typically. Your body is detoxing from aluminum-based deodorants, and bacteria levels are rebalancing. Week 2 is usually the worst — you might smell worse than before. Push through to week 3 before deciding if it works for you.
Can I use Lume on my feet?
Yes, and Reddit users love it for this. Apply a thin layer to clean, dry feet before bed. Many report zero foot odor even after a full day in closed-toe shoes. This is one of Lume's best "whole body" use cases.
Is Native or Lume better for sensitive skin?
Lume causes fewer irritation complaints overall. Native's baking soda formula is harsh for many people. If you have sensitive skin, start with Lume or Native's sensitive (baking soda-free) formula.
Do natural deodorants stop you from sweating?
No. Neither Lume nor Native is an antiperspirant. They prevent odor by stopping bacteria growth, but you'll still sweat normally. If you need wetness protection, you'll need an aluminum-based antiperspirant or clinical-strength option.
Which natural deodorant do dermatologists recommend?
Reddit users rarely cite derm recommendations for natural deodorant, but when they do, Vanicream and Each & Every come up most. Both are fragrance-free and formulated for sensitive skin. Lume is mentioned occasionally in derm offices for patients who can't tolerate aluminum.
Is the Lume stick or cream better?
Cream, according to most Reddit reviews. The stick is more convenient but can drag on skin and doesn't apply as evenly. The cream gives you more control over coverage and absorbs faster.
Why is natural deodorant so expensive?
Smaller production runs, higher-quality ingredients (no aluminum chlorohydrate, which is cheap), and DTC marketing costs. You're also paying for the brand positioning — natural deodorants market themselves as premium wellness products, not commodity drugstore items.
The bottom line
After reading 400+ Reddit reviews, here's what I know: Lume wins on performance, Native wins on experience. If you need serious odor control and have sensitive skin, Lume is worth the sour cream smell. If you want to enjoy applying your deodorant and don't have baking soda sensitivity, Native delivers. But honestly? The best deodorant is the one your skin tolerates. Try both (start with travel sizes if possible), commit to the 3-week adjustment period, and let your armpits decide. Ready to test one? Grab Lume here or try Native here.
Heads up: Some links above are Amazon affiliate links. Buying through them helps keep GlowRecs running — at no cost to you. We don't take PR samples. The affiliate cut never affects rankings. Read our full methodology →