I was originally given a refillable Wild deodorant case a couple of years ago by a family member who had tried it and didn’t like it. And whilst I was a bit sceptical about whether or not it would work for me, I really liked the concept of a vegan, refillable, natural deodorant, so bought some refills to give it a try. Nearly 2 years later and I’m still using this product, so I’ve now updated this Wild Deodorant review to reflect my experience because although it isn’t faultless, as natural deodorants go, I think Wild is really pretty good.
Pros
- Wild generally works well
- Amazing range of scents
- Improved new case
Cons
- Occasional white marks
- Wild doesn’t work for everyone
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What is Wild natural deodorant?
Well, it probably helps to clarify what it isn’t! This deodorant doesn’t use ingredients like aluminium salts, so it won’t work in the same way as an anti-perspirant. Basically, that means you may still sweat, but the product will deodorise it to neutralise the smell. To some extent it soaks up the dampness too, and I’m also pretty certain that after using it for some time, I stopped sweating quite so much. I have no scientific basis for that though! Anyway, see my FAQs for more information.
My experience with Wild Deodorant
When I first tried this product a couple of years ago, my expectations were low because I already knew that Wild didn’t work for some people (which is how I came to inherit the case in the first place)! But after an initial transition period, I found that it was very effective for day to day use and I’ve been using it ever since.
My armpits continue to smell of their amazing fragrances even during a weight-training session at the gym, and we all know how risky it can be to lift your arms up in public when you’re hot! However, there are rare occasions when I will apply a refillable anti-perspirant instead (I use Make Waves), but really only if I’m going somewhere hot and sweaty and wearing something tighter fitting and light.
I’ve always loved the look of Wild’s aluminium refillable cases too, and my original case continued to look great even after 18 months of solid use. But it had a tendency to get messy, with scrapes of deodorant squidging out over the lip and onto the lid. Getting towards the bottom of the refill was also frustrating because it didn’t quite reach the top of the case, so the only way to use it was to take it out and to swipe my armpits with the remnants balanced on the ends of my fingers. Not pretty.
Fortunately, Wild very recently gifted me with their new case which has been re-designed. It’s much better and I don’t experience the same problems with it, and it’s even easier to refill too which is a bonus. Anyway, I cover all this off in a bit more detail below, along with why I think I sometimes get white marks from the deodorant too.
Does Wild deodorant stop you smelling?
For me, yes, and very effectively. The natural ingredients in Wild – like baking soda and coconut oil – are included to deodorise the sweat, so getting a whiff of any unpleasant odour is pretty rare, although it does occasionally happen. But when it does, I find that a quick re-application tends to refresh everything perfectly!
Consequently, I use Wild nearly all the time whether I’m working, going to the gym, walking the dog, or going out somewhere a bit special. But it did take a few weeks for me to get used to because it doesn’t actually stop you from sweating (which, let’s face it, is a natural process) and I initially found that a bit disconcerting. I guess over the years I was used to anti-perspirants blocking up my sweat glands with aluminium salts!
To combat that, the product contains ingredients like tapioca starch to help soak up any escaping sweat and it must do a good job because I’ve never experienced ending up in a sweaty armpit armageddon, however hot I’ve been. And I’ve never found any sweat stains on my clothes either.
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What scents does Wild have?
They have some really lovely scents in all 3 of their refill ranges – classic, limited editions, and sensitive (which don’t contain baking soda). My particular favourite is Cherry Blossom, but I would happily wear any that I’ve tried to be honest, and that’s quite a few in nearly 2 years! Their classic range has 8 fragrances in all, including Fresh Cotton, Ocean Mist, Sandalwood, and the intriguing Thunderstorm. Quite a few of them would be considered gender neutral too.
It’s always fun to see what they come up with in their limited edition range which often changes with the seasons (they can get pretty inventive) and I do like the fact that their sensitive range contains a good selection of scents. With many products, their sensitive formulations tend to be unscented which I think must be pretty boring.
And in my experience when I use them, the fragrances are strong enough that I can still get a good hint of them at the end of the day (if and when I choose to sniff my armpits which isn’t very often) but they don’t go into battle with any other personal products I might use.
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Wild deodorant cases just got better
The cases are made of aluminium and have always come in a good range of colours. My original green one, which came to me second-hand, still looks and works like new 2 years later, so they are very robust. But there were some issues with them: the winding mechanism was fiddly, mine could be tricky to pull apart, it always got messy round the lid, and using the end of the refill was difficult because it didn’t reach the top.
The new case design is much slicker and I have found it has improved in several ways:
- easier to pull apart to insert refill
- the twisting mechanism seems smoother
- the deodorant doesn’t seep out over the lid
- it’s easier to use the end of the refill
Wild kindly gifted me a new pink case (I keep the old one in my travel bag and use it when I go away – one less thing to remember to pack!) and it is really lovely, and looks great on the bathroom shelf too – yes, I’m shallow…
So although this is my 2nd case in 2 years, it still seems like a better option to me than buying disposable deodorants and anti-perspirants to chuck into landfill every few weeks.
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What are the problems with Wild Deodorant?
It’s a great product, but it’s not a perfect one. I’ll go into a bit more detail about the problems I’ve experienced with it here.
Does Wild deodorant leave white marks?
Sometimes, yes it does. But it hasn’t happened to me very often, and tends to be when I’ve not dried under my arms thoroughly before applying it, or if I go a bit overboard and swipe too hard or too often – you really don’t need much. To be honest though, it may also be because I don’t wear much black and I guess if you’re going to get white marks, that’s when they’ll show up.
And I don’t know if they’ve re-formulated recently, but it hasn’t happened to me at all in the last couple of months. The refills seem firmer to me, but I could just be imagining that!
What if Wild doesn’t work for you?
It doesn’t work for everyone, although Wild does state that you need to give it a transition period for your body to acclimatise to not using anti-perspirant. That acclimatisation period was about 2 weeks for me but I do know people that have tried it and found that it’s not right for them. If that happens, then you could try another natural refillable deodorant like Fussy, which uses a different formulation, or go for one of the more natural refillable anti-perspirants like Make Waves.
My husband’s problem with Wild deodorant was different and he ended up getting a rash under his arms when he started using it. It’s likely to be because of the baking soda, which some people can be sensitive to, and that’s why Wild has their sensitive range of scents which avoids that ingredient. In his case, my husband didn’t get round to ordering one and he started using something else he already had, but the chances are that would have worked.
My verdict
I really like my Wild deodorant. I think the concept of a natural, refillable product that works with your body’s natural function of sweating rather than fighting against it is a good one, and it works for me, and for many other people I know too. It fits with my personal values too in that it’s vegan and cruelty-free, and the brand also seems to be committed to good environmental practices.
I think they have the best range of scents, they’ve improved their case, and even have a small range of mini deodorants too that come in cardboard tubes. These are great for travelling, but are also an option if you wanted to try the product out without investing in a case first.
So overall, I think Wild Natural Deodorant is a good, but not faultless, product. It’s reliable, does its job pretty effectively, and competes well with its rivals on cost. And if you decide to give it a try, you might just fall in love with their fragrances. I certainly have…
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Alternatives to Wild Deodorant
You can take a look at my Vegan Deodorant guide for an insight into some of the best products available at the moment.
FAQs
Why is my Wild deodorant not working?
For some people, there is a transition period when you first start using a natural deodorant like Wild. This can make it seem like it’s not working and that it’s not for you.
However, as I’ve mentioned in this Wild Deodorant review, Wild are clear that you should really persevere because it is caused by the good and bad bacteria in your armpit getting involved in a bit of fisticuffs. The bad guys have had it their own way for a long time if you have been using anti-perspirant, but don’t worry, the good bacteria normally wins in the end…if not, why not give a natural antiperspirant a go? I use Make Waves.
Does Wild stop you sweating?
No, it does not contain aluminium salts and other ingredients that an anti-perspirant might contain to stop your body from sweating. Wild’s view (and I personally think this makes a lot of sense) is that your body should sweat – it is a natural process and has a function. Usefully though, Wild does contain tapioca starch that helps to absorb the sweat rather than stop you from making it in the first place.
Why do my armpits itch after using Wild deodorant?
There could be several reasons:
- have you just shaved your armpits?
- is this the first time you’ve used Wild?
- do you have very sensitive skin?
If any of these things are an issue, you could try Wild’s sensitive range which still smell great and solve the problem for lots of people. However, if that doesn’t help, you may need to find another product. And of course, if you are worried by any reaction to a product that doesn’t get better when you stop using it, consider taking professional medical advice.
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