How to be fresh and smell delightful when you travel
Smell fresh
I like smelling clean and fresh. Wearing a good deodorant helps. It's nice to catch a fragrant light scent when hanging on a bus strap or stretching to remove a bag from an overhead locker.
I clearly remember being a teenager and getting excited about wearing a deodorant. In those days the choice was between Mum and Shield roll-on, both of which carried a light range. I wasn't then, nor am I now, fond of deodorants that have a strong, overpowering smell. I don't want the deodorant to compete with my perfume, rather the deodorant should just stop me from smelling smelly!
Carefree summer days - underarm deodorant is a must. Slobodanka photographed at Simon's Town, South Africa, c.1974
The seventies brought a whole new range of musky aerosol sprays. I loved using those: the sprays were fresh and fragrant. But when I discovered that aerosol sprays were bad for the environment, I stopped using them and went back to roll-on deodorants. For the last couple of decades, I've been a Nivea woman. But since becoming an extreme light traveller, I'm always on the lookout for products that reduce the amount I carry in my luggage.
Native deodorant
When I read a review of Native deodorants, I decided to try these out: I was drawn to their deodorant philosophy:
The Native deodorant 'Classic' box
- the deodorants contain ingredients I can understand
- they don't contain aluminium or parabens (preservatives)
- they eliminate odour by using baking soda - I'm drawn to these natural ingredients
- Native claim that the deodorants provide active protection
Going Native
The Native deodorants arrived quickly from the United States. I immediately liked the plain, unadorned box, which, when opened, revealed my three Native deodorants. I had elected to buy the 'Classic' box ($30). This pack contains three full-sized bars of women's scents: Native Unscented, Lavender & Rose, and Coconut & Vanilla.
The Travel Sample Pack
I could have bought the 'Seasonal Pack', which contains three full-sized bars of Native Pear & Lavender, Honeycrisp Apple & Cinnamon, and Almond & Vanilla, but as we're going into spring in Australia, I decided against the autumn scents, but maybe next year I'll try those too.
I didn't spot the 'Travel Sample Pack', which contains five travel size bars - Native Coconut & Vanilla, Lavender & Rose, Eucalyptus & Mint, Unscented, and Citrus & Herbal Musk - otherwise I might have bought it.
But when I checked out my Classic box, I was offered a single travel-size bar ($3), which I decided to buy as well.
Using deodorant bars
I was surprised by the size of the bars: they're quite big and chunky. At first I thought using them would be clumsy - how was I going to roll on that big bar? But in fact the design is perfect for a swipe up or a swipe down my armpit. And once the bar has been used a couple of times, it softens and spreads deodorant easily over my skin.
Travel delightfully
Travelling with a Native bar deodorant is more practical than travelling with a roll-on deodorant, which can leak over the contents of your bag. A friend recommended a crystal deodorant, which I've yet to try, but the same principle of keeping yourself and your clothes dry applies. If you fly with carry on luggage only, it's important to keep that bag clean, dry and safe from spills.
Next time I travel, I'm going to pack in my Native travel bar, which at a tiny 30g is perfect for a Planepack light trip.
So all in all, using Native deodorant has been a pleasant and practical experience: I would recommend the gentle and lightly scented bars for every day use, and certainly the little travel bar is a model Planepack product.
About the author
I'm Slobodanka Graham, digital publisher, blogger, content entrepreneur and clean traveller.
Seen here baring an armpit - fully confident in having a dry and sweet-smelling body thanks to my ongoing use of deodorants.
Photo c. 1974.
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