Expensive if you have to replace your wardrobe! (Secret in General)

Member Name: gollygumdrops

Product:	Secret in General
Date:	11/08/02 (296 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: does what it says on the pack

Disadvantages: neglects to mention that it eats your clothes

Ah ... two for one, three for two, phrases that have preceded some of the great buying errors of our time.

Deodorant is one of those items I always find expensive. Everytime I buy it it seems to have rocketed in price, although I couldn't tell you what price I thought it was last time, or what price I expected it to be. Where deodorant is concerned I live in a constant state of sticker shock.

The formats available have been narrowed down by me over the years. Aerosols had to go. I'd love to tell you it was my environmental conscience kicking in, but no, it was a bleary eyed morning when I mistook a can of Deep Heat for deodorant. Roll ons are too sticky and gunky. I tried a weird rock thing, but that's right up there with hairy armpits and regular washing as a deodorant technique, fine if you sit around all day in a jos stick haze, but just plain offensive if you find yourself on the tube. So it has to be sticks.

Creamy sticks tend to leave me with white stripes, zebra like all over my clothes so I try and find clear ones. Secret looked perfect.

Here's the claims. Not too stinky, 'glides on clear'. Long lasting protection against wetness and odour. No alcohol. I know that this is great if you're a recovering alcoholic, particularly using Antabuse or similar drugs, and I understand it's kinder to your skin. Oh and it was a 'threefer' in Boots (dontcha just love Boots).

Here's the facts. It glides on clear - woohoo, allowing me to look a bit like a professional and together person, at least for the first few minutes of the day. It isn't too stinky - I tried Nature Fresh which smeels slightly like the Flash powder my Mum used to wash the kitchen floor with, and a peach colour labelled one which was vaguely fruity.

No allergic reactions, no itching, no zits, even if applied to freshly defuzzed pits.

Mild wetness, but it is summer, and I
9;ve been having a fairly crappy few weeks at work so I'm a bit of a sweaty betty. Limited odour. I certainly wouldn't risk a work-to-date scenario without a freshen up, but it'll get you through the 9 to 5 and on to the gym without flies gathering around you.

So why am I grumpy. I'm grumpy because all my shirts now have gunkiness under the arms. Despite laundering there's a weird solidity to the pits. It's not quite yellow, it's not quite white but it's there and it's bloody resistant to Persil. It doesn't stink, it's just vaguely like the kitchen floors of my chilhood, but it is clearly visible.

I've bought some Vanish stick this weekend to see if I can shift the gunk. I'll let you know how I get on (It looks a lot like a deodorant, so I'm keeping it safely in the kitchen cupboard). In the meantime feel free to post laundry tips!

I won't be looking to save money with Secret again. I won't be buying it.

Summary: