Today, we’re back on glamorous AF beauty topics to talk about Kopari Coconut Deodorant.
Fortunate not to be prone to sweating much, I generally eschew antiperspirants except in special cases. In the past, I’ve shared that I use primarily use Old Spice. GASP, I know. If you’re new here, that sounds crazy as hell (and, ridiculously, an impassioned discussion of this very topic net my table free dessert at an upscale restaurant on a recent business trip). It isn’t, though; Bearglove is a surprisingly neutral scent, even if it is favored by Terry Crews.
I’ve also tried Lavanila and an inexpensive Arm & Hammer product. I’m not particularly hell-bent on the natural route (see previously my criticism of 1 part baking soda, 1 part essential oils or patchouli, and 1 part denial about efficacy); effectiveness is my priority. But if effective might come in a natural-ish route, I’m up for it.
Coming Across Kopari Coconut Deodorant
I first heard about Kopari Coconut Deodorant, $14 from Stephanie. I find her recommendations reliable and was therefore curious, but I had to reconcile this with my deeply-rooted skepticism of The Magical All-Curative Salve that is Coconut Oil. For a while, the beauty world was intoxicated with coconut oil; somehow, it occupied this be-all-end-all pedestal much like duct tape does for other things. Free of:
- aluminum,
- silicones,
- parabens,
- phthalates, and
- baking soda
it turns out that Kopari Coconut Deodorant is a decent product -and cruelty free to boot. More details on their FAQ, here.
Product & Packaging
The packaging is nice enough – not especially luxurious (but its deodoarant ffs), but very similar to Lavanila’s. Kopari Coconut Deodorant is housed in a cylindrical tube whose entire base twists up. The product, a peachy-beige color in the tube:
- applies clear (but really, though)
- doesn’t build up on the skin
- doesn’t seem to misbehave with clothing
The stick itself is softer than many conventional deodorant products – but hasn’t melted on me like some coconut oil-based products can in warmer climes.
Fragrance & Efficacy
When I first bought the product to try, they only offered a single scent – a coconut milk that has a slightly warm, vanilla-reminiscent-but-not-quite fragrance. On and to me, it smells nice – but if you dislike that sort of thing, it may not be for you. Since then, they have released:
- fragrance-free (ooh)
- a coconut-y Gardenia
- “Driftwood,” which appears to me to be more masculine in nature and is described as a sandalwood, cedarwood, and zesty clove
They also seem to have some seasonal scents – Ulta is stocking one called, “Coconut Beach,
As far as performance goes, Kopari is great for my day-to-day wear. It performs beautifully under normal conditions. I like a little more oomph to my deo when I am anticipating a suuuper long, high stress, or cardio-heavy day but it is passable for those things. I find the formula pleasantly moisturizing but not sticky – a bonus for a region we don’t tend to lotion or pointedly moisturize. It just feels nice.
The Bottom Line
So far, I enjoy Kopari Coconut Deodorant. With longer-term, dedicated usage, I did end up experiencing that thing where it seems less effective (scent-wise, anyway) with time – but I’ve worked around that by rotating it with a few other things. It isn’t The One Deodorant to Rule them All, but I would repurchase even if its a but on the splurgey side. You can purchase at Sephora, Ulta, or directly from Kopari.
Topically-adjacent note: I’ve seen some claims that it, “heals,” darkness that some people experience on their underarms. This is usually due to a weird reaction to prolonged aluminum exposure (but can be other things); using Kopari doesn’t remedy that, not using aluminum or whatever is causing you to react does.