Sunflower Deodorant was one of the first products to greet me upon entering the Oxford Street store for the first time. Stacked up in huge blocks, this strange but alluring looking product was probably not the first port of call for most people visiting the shop on the opening day. Yet I can see it being one that builds up a repertoire quite quickly with the regulars and becomes a firm favourite for many.
Described as a cold-pressed floral deodorant, this new product is one that for many people, will need to grow on them over time. Containing a concoction of cleavers and chrysanthemums, you would expect this deodorant to give off a green, grassy and very strong floral aroma. However, with the inclusion of witch hazel, orange juice, mandarin oil and lemon oil, the scent of this product is very difficult to describe and one that can be a little off-putting to begin with.
An initial sniff definitely showcases the orange juice and various citrus oils, but the inclusion of the chrysanthemums creates a fragrance that almost clashes with the other elements and gives off a strange, sweet, waxy smell - I suppose a little like sticking your nose into a flower arrangement. The inclusion of witch hazel adds a sort of medicinal, chamomile-eque note which doesn't make Sunflower smell terrible but doesn't give it a particularly enjoyable smell either. While I would have probably left this on the shelf had it been a shower gel, I was intrigued to see whether or not this would work as a deodorant, and it did. Cut into 100g pieces, this product can be a little fiddly to use, but definitely a lot easier than the likes of T'eo, Greeenich or Aromaco. I would suggest that you divide your block in half as I found it a lot easier to use a small square than the entire piece, and it also makes it easy to slip the product into a pocket or make-up bag if you wanted to it to travel with you.
To use, simply rub the bar under your armpits and after a few seconds of your body heat warming up the oils, you'll notice that it gives off a slightly waxy sheen that wets the skin. This dries after a minute or two and you're left with a gentle floral smell that stays with you for hours after initial application. Furthermore, the inclusion of the witch hazel means that your armpits will feel lovely and smooth and overtime will become softer.
While this deodorant doesn't mask smells after excess exercise, and I wouldn't say that it's strong enough to last the entire day, it definitely left me feeling much cleaner and dried for longer. Whereas my usual Nivea has all but vanished after a couple of hours and can sometimes transfer onto my clothes and leave embarrassing wet patches, Sunflower is the perfect balance between Lush's dry deodorants and the liquid shop-bought variations.
Furthermore, having used my 50g piece since the day I purchased it, I have noticed very little change in the size. This means that I can expect my 100g block to see me through 4-6 months worth of use. This equates to roughly £1 per month, which is much better value than any that you might purchase in the local pharmacy.
Even better is the fact that this solid bar is free from preservatives and all of the nasty metallic ingredients that you would expect to find in normal deodorant. These unnecessary ingredients rely upon clogging up the pores and glands to stop sweating - often creating a build-up of dirt and grime that can leave you with pretty nasty looking armpits.
Although I wouldn't appreciate the smell of this in any other format, this product is definitely a firm favourite from the Lush store and one I will continue using regular. Lush have finally developed a solid deodorant that works for me and this is really exciting.
Vegan?: Yes.
2015 Price: £4.95 for 100g.
Year Of Original Release: 2015.
