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In 7th grade, I was in line at a Madison Avenue bagel shop near my middle school when the boy I had a crush on remarked that I smelled like shit. His name was ******* *****, not that I’m holding a grudge or anything, and to be honest, he was totally right. I was funky as hell. Like many around me at that time, I had entered the putrid era of puberty, and already occupied with bras and acne, hadn’t yet figured out what to do about it. At the time the only thing to do was spray equally strong scents on top of it, which made both the issue and the school hallways exponentially worse (cue ‘Warm & Cozy’ and ‘Japanese Cherry Blossom’-scented horror flashbacks).
I’m still a naturally very sweaty person. If I’m exercising outside in the summer, if it's cold and I’m wearing a coat, even if it’s very neutral weather and I’m standing completely still, you can guarantee my armpits and underboobs are dripping wet. After trying over-the-counter antiperspirants, prescription deodorants, and every natural product under the sun, I’ve come to accept my natural functions as they are. Your girl’s just damp and hormonal, chronically. I’ve instead learned how to control and manage the smell that comes along with it: I shower multiple times a day, reapply whichever deodorant I’m using, change my clothes often, wash my clothes constantly, and wear only breathable fabrics. I’ve been perfectly happy with this way of life, just operating under the assumption that I would never be able to fully curb this unless I got those monthly Botox shots to my sweat glands.
That is, until I discovered Lumē.
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What Makes Lumē Different?
Lumē’s founder, Shannon Klingman, got the idea for Lumē while she was in residency to become an OB/GYN. After countless patients coming in with concerns about genital odor and leaving with false BV diagnoses, Klingman was inspired to find a solution that would not result in unnecessarily-prescribed antibiotics––which ironically end up causing a bacterial infection anyway. Of course, as the old adage goes, it’s not supposed to smell like flowers, but certain levels of odor can absolutely be inconvenient or uncomfortable for people. After doing some research, Klingman began to realize that oftentimes odor is an external issue. She found that most body odor occurs when the bacteria on the skin interacts with and consumes bodily fluids like blood, sweat, urine, or semen. This reaction occurs everywhere on our body, not just in the nether-regions.
She set out to make a product that blocks the ability for bacteria to consume those fluids in the first place. Thus, we have Lumē –– an all-over body product that helps balance the skin’s pH and stop odor before it starts.
Unlike many traditional deodorants that simply mask odor with fragrance, Lumē takes a preventative approach. “Our doctor-developed formulas are powered by mandelic acid, which helps maintain the skin's natural acidity and lowers skin pH to create an environment that is less favorable for odor-causing bacteria,” explains Helen Sung, Senior Director of Global Product Development at Mammoth Brands. “By helping to create an environment where odor-causing bacteria are less able to thrive, Lumē stops odor before it starts.”
What started as a deodorant is now an entire BO-busting system that includes soap, body wash, body cream, wipes, and a pre-laundry treatment.
The Stinky Skeptic
I’ve tried a multitude of deodorizing products. Some have worked better than others in terms of curbing my smell or sweat levels for a while, but I have never found something that does not require reapplication throughout the day. Never in my life. Though I was excited to try something new, I was not expecting anything more than another okay option, something that could supplement but not replace my tried-and-true method of taking multiple 2-minute armpit/crotch showers per day.
I was intrigued by the brand’s reliance on mandelic acid, as I’ve been hearing a lot about the effectiveness of acids for fighting odor-causing bacteria. Mandelic acid is gentle on skin, pH-balancing, and is effective as an antibacterial agent without disrupting your natural skin barrier. Anything that promises to operate on the bacterial level, rather than just mask whatever scent is happening, sounded good to me.
As it turns out, that's one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding body odor in the first place. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that body odor is caused by sweat itself,” says Amy Calhoun, Chief Marketing Officer at Lumē. “Sweat is actually odorless. Odor develops when naturally occurring bacteria on the skin break down compounds found in sweat.” Suddenly, it made perfect sense why every heavily fragranced deodorant I'd tried over the years only seemed to cover things up for a little while.
New World Odor
I decided to get the full monty of Lumē products, to really give the whole ecosystem a try. While Lumē has a variety of lovely-sounding scents like Clean Tangerine, Lavender Sage, Peony Rose, Summer Peach, and more, I decided to get everything Unscented. Not only do I have bad experiences with scents not mixing well with my sweat, but I wanted the freedom to still layer with my perfumes and scented lotions with no fear of a bad blend. Plus, it was a good way to see if this stuff really worked instead of just masking my pit stench.
My collection now includes the Deodorant Bundle ($34.99), Acidified Body Wash ($19.99), Acidified Body Cream ($29.99), and Deodorant Wipes ($8). The wash and lotion don’t need much explaining –– just use as you would any similar product, but expect exceptionally smooth, moisturized, clean-feeling skin immediately after use. The deodorant comes in four forms: stick, cream, wipes, and spray. Both can be used “anywhere you have external odor and wish you didn’t” as the bottle says. The stick is great for pits, bikini line, and underboobs. The wipes and spray are great for traveling while I like to use the cream when I have a bit more time in the morning, or to get a little more up-close and personal in my ass-crack and similarly neglected crevices. The low pH, high-acidity level formulas inherent to each of these products work to slow down odor reactions at the source.
New Scents, Same Science
Lumē is continuing to expand its lineup with products that make whole-body odor control even easier. Alongside its cream, stick, wipes, and body care lineup, the brand now offers an aluminum-free spray deodorant that's perfect for quick touch-ups throughout the day.
The newest launch I'm most intrigued by, though, is Summer Peach. According to Calhoun, the new scent reflects how the brand has evolved over the past few years.
“Consumers come to us for the efficacy, but they're staying for the innovation, improved aesthetics, and increasingly sophisticated fragrance profiles,” she says. “Our new Summer Peach scent is a great example of that evolution, delivering the same clinically proven odor control people expect from Lumē while offering a more elevated and enjoyable sensory experience.”
Even though Unscented remains my personal favorite (I'm a perfume girl through and through), I love seeing the brand expand beyond purely functional products into scents people actually get excited to wear.
Why Whole-Body Deodorant Is Having a Moment
When Lumē first launched, whole-body deodorant wasn't really a category. Today, it's become one of the biggest conversations in personal care, and it's easy to see why.
“People are realizing they don't have to manage odor after it happens, they can prevent it before it starts,” says Calhoun. “The growth of the whole-body deodorant category reflects a broader shift toward personalized care, confidence, and preventative wellness.”
After using the system myself, I understand the appeal. Once you realize odor isn't just an underarm issue, it makes sense to have products designed for all the places that work up a sweat.
TL;DR
Y’all. Y’all. Even though I’ve been using Lume consistently for two weeks, I am still smelling my pits every 5 minutes as I write this just to make sure I’m not bugging. I am absolutely floored at how much this has been working for me. Usually, even if I find something that works relatively well on my armpits, it may not be a match for my underboob or groin sweat. Or, it might help when I’m exercising, but is no match for the stronger, more particular odor of stress sweat. This is the only product I’ve ever tried that very effectively takes care of all areas and qualities of odor on my body.
The real test came after two days of use when I covered a 9-hour shift at my old retail job, an environment which usually has me reapplying 1-2 times during the work day. Not only did I not need to reapply at all, when I went home to change for evening drinks and a concert, I didn’t need to shower. I cannot adequately express how much of a huge deal this is to me. I didn’t know it was even possible to truly smell like nothing, but this is what Lume does. After long hours and walks, I do not have any particular scent on me, other than ones I’ve decided to layer on. Pure magic.
Come On, Take A Whiff
I still don’t know how to drive, so I mostly speed walk and bike to get around (you can take the girl out of New York…). This constant, mild exercise exacerbates my already perspirant nature. With Lume I’ve been able to drastically cut down on reapplication and shower time, which is good for my budget, my water bill, and my conscience as it brings me to more drought-friendly levels of water usage.
Lume isn’t supposed to stop me from sweating, which in itself was never what bothered me anyway. And without the accompanying BO, I’ve found that I’m sweating less anyway –– a good amount of my sweat comes from the nervousness and stress around smelling bad in the first place. Cursed.
I’m usually the first to note the price, and if you repeatedly order the whole spectrum of products, it definitely isn’t cheap. Yet perhaps more so than any product I’ve yet to review for TQE, it is 1000% worth it. I already have my cart ready to start a subscription on each one of these products, and the thought doesn’t even make me wince. The only possible reason to not run and buy this stuff immediately is if you’re one of those magical fairies who doesn’t sweat or smell very strongly. In which case, good for you –– stick to rubbing tea tree oil under your pits or whatever low-maintenance wizardry you people can get away with.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lumē
What makes Lumē different from traditional deodorant?
Unlike traditional deodorants that primarily rely on fragrance to cover body odor, Lume uses mandelic acid to help create an environment where odor-causing bacteria are less likely to thrive.
As Helen Sung, Senior Director of Global Product Development at Mammoth Brands, explains, “Traditional deodorants often rely on fragrance to cover or powders to absorb odor after it's already formed. Lumē takes a preventative approach.” Instead of masking odor, the goal is to help stop it before it starts.
Does Lumē work for body odor?
Yes, Lumē prevents body odor instead of just masking it like other deodorants. According to Dr. Andrea Suarez, a dermatologist with twelve years of experience and a skincare expert, the mandelic acid in Lumē helps prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Suarez, who also has a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, explains: “By lowering the pH of your skin… it may help facilitate the colonization of skin micro-flora that is less likely to lead to body odor.”
Does Lumē really work?
It depends on what you want it to do. Looking for it to prevent sweat? Lumē is not an antiperspirant, but it does provide excellent body odor control and can absorb some sweat.
Is Lumē safe?
Thanks to an aLumēinum-free formula full of gentle, naturally derived ingredients, yes. Some Lumē ingredients are synthetic, but those have been shown to be skin-safe. Because it’s baking soda and dye-free, Lumē should be gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, but it's always a good idea to test products out on a small patch of your skin first.
How much Lumē Deodorant should I use?
A little goes a long way! Plus, Lumē deodorant reviews highlight that you only need a pea-sized amount for each armpit or one swipe of a solid stick for ample coverage.
Does Lumē Deodorant stain your clothes?
Lumē typically doesn't leave a white residue (if you use the right amount and rub it in all the way, according to a trusty Lumē deodorant review), and it doesn't stain your clothes. If you do happen to get white residue on your clothes or sheets (more likely with the solid stick deodorant than other products), the water-based formula easily washes out of fabric.
What is the best Lumē scent?
The best scent depends on personal preference. Unscented is ideal if you wear perfume daily, while fragrances like Soft Peach, Clean Tangerine, Lavender Sage, and Peony Rose offer light, fresh options.
Does Lumē come in different formulas?
Yes. Lumē now offers cream deodorant, solid stick deodorant, spray deodorant, body wash, body butter, cleansing bars, wipes, laundry products, and multiple scent options.
Why You Should Trust Us
At The Quality Edit, we prioritize firsthand product testing over marketing claims. For this review, editor Jordan White tested multiple Lumē products—including the deodorant, body wash, body butter, detergent booster, and spray—to evaluate how they performed during workouts, long retail shifts, biking, walking, and everyday life. We also reviewed ingredient research and consulted expert commentary on mandelic acid and odor control to provide a balanced assessment.
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