Frequently asked questions

A soft, aluminium-free deodorant balm made by hand in the UK with charcoal, magnesium chloride, bicarbonate of soda, organic coconut oil and shea butter. It comes in a 60ml glass jar. More about the balm

£9.99 for one jar or £24.99 for three (£8.33 a jar).

6–8 weeks with daily use, about £1.25–£1.67 a week. Cost per week explained

Yes. There are no animal-derived ingredients.

12 of its 18 ingredients are certified organic, including the coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils.

A blend of essential oils: lavender, lemon, ylang ylang, clove, geranium and frankincense, with rose and neroli flower waters.

No. Lowena is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant.

Yes. It helps control odour, but some people find it irritating. Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.

*Tapioca starch, *Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, *Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, Magnesium chloride, Sodium bicarbonate, *Rosa damascena flower (Rose) water, *Citrus aurantium amara flower (Neroli) water, Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) water, *Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, *Citrus limon peel (Lemon) oil, *Cananga odorata flower (Ylang ylang) oil, *Eugenia caryophyllus bud (Clove) oil, *Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, *Boswellia neglecta resin (Frankincense) oil, Coconut charcoal powder. *Organic Ingredients

Benzyl benzoate, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool

By hand, in small batches, in the UK.

Scoop a pea-sized amount, warm it between your fingertips and rub it into a clean, dry underarm. Step-by-step guide

Rub it in fully and wait a minute before dressing. Using too much is the main cause of marks.

Coconut oil and shea butter change texture with temperature. Pop it in the fridge for 15–20 minutes. More on texture

Wait if you can. Shave at night and apply in the morning.

No. Deodorants tackle odour; only antiperspirants reduce sweat.

You're sweating normally again and your skin bacteria are adjusting. It often settles in one to three weeks. Why it happens

No. Underarm sweat doesn't remove toxins.

Apply to completely dry, clean skin, use enough, and give it three to four weeks. Nine fixes

Charcoal supports a formula by holding on to odour molecules; it works best with bicarbonate of soda or magnesium. How charcoal works

Magnesium salts help control odour and are often gentler than bicarb. Magnesium explained

Charcoal on its own is a supporting ingredient. Most charcoal deodorants that work well pair it with bicarbonate of soda, magnesium or both, which change the conditions odour-causing bacteria like. Judge a charcoal deodorant by its whole formula, not the charcoal alone. Read the full article

In a well-made balm the charcoal is a small proportion and rubs in fully. Use a pea-sized amount, rub it in until you can't see it, and wait a minute before dressing. Using too much is the main cause of marks. Read the full article

Activated charcoal has been treated to make it even more porous. Both are used in deodorants. Lowena uses coconut charcoal powder. Read the full article

Charcoal itself is rarely the cause of irritation. If a charcoal deodorant irritates you, check whether it also contains bicarbonate of soda or essential oils, which are more common triggers. Read the full article

Neither is better for everyone. Balms suit people who want plastic-free packaging and control over how much they apply. Sticks suit people who want something quick and mess-free. Read the full article

It takes a few seconds with your fingertips and a hand wash afterwards. Most people get used to it within a week. Read the full article

Often, yes, because you only use a pea-sized amount. A 60ml Lowena jar lasts 6–8 weeks of daily use. Read the full article

About a pea-sized amount per underarm. More doesn't work better; it just takes longer to rub in and is more likely to mark clothes. Read the full article

Fingertips are easiest because they warm the balm. If you prefer, use a small cosmetic spatula. Wash your hands afterwards. Read the full article

It's best to wait. Freshly shaved skin is more sensitive, and the bicarbonate of soda and essential oils in many balms can sting. Shave at night and apply in the morning if you can. Read the full article

Most people apply once in the morning. If you exercise or have a long day, you can reapply to clean, dry skin. Read the full article

No. Magnesium doesn't block sweat glands the way aluminium salts in antiperspirants do. It's used to help manage odour. Read the full article

Many people find magnesium-based deodorants gentler than ones high in bicarbonate of soda. Formulas that contain both, like Lowena, may still irritate people who react to bicarb, so patch test first. Read the full article

Lowena uses magnesium chloride, alongside bicarbonate of soda and coconut charcoal powder. Read the full article

There isn't good evidence that a deodorant raises your body's magnesium levels, and we don't make that claim. Magnesium is in the formula for odour control. Read the full article

Most people settle within two to four weeks. There's no fixed timeline and little formal research on it, so treat this as a rough guide. Read the full article

No. Your body doesn't remove toxins through underarm sweat. What changes is how much you sweat and which bacteria thrive on your skin once antiperspirant stops blocking your sweat glands. Read the full article

You don't have to, but shaving can make sensitive skin more likely to react. If you do shave, do it at night and apply deodorant in the morning. Read the full article

A natural deodorant may not suit you, or that formula may not. Try a different one, or go back to an antiperspirant if you need sweat control. Neither choice is wrong. Read the full article

No. Melting changes the texture, not how it works. Stir it gently with a clean spoon and let it set in the fridge. Read the full article

Shea butter can form small crystals if it melts and cools slowly. They melt again as soon as they touch your skin. A quick spell in the fridge after melting helps prevent them. Read the full article

A bedroom drawer or cupboard away from radiators and windows. Bathrooms can get warm and steamy. Read the full article

Yes. Keep it in your bag rather than in direct sun, and expect it to be softer in the heat. Read the full article

Roughly 40–56 days' worth at one pea-sized amount per underarm each morning. Reapplying during the day uses it up faster. Read the full article

Like any cosmetic, it has a shelf life. Check the period-after-opening symbol on the jar and use clean, dry fingers to keep it fresh. Read the full article

The set of three jars for £24.99, which works out at £8.33 a jar. Read the full article

Usually because it went onto damp skin or wasn't rubbed in fully. Try applying after you've dried off completely, and carry it to reapply on long days. Read the full article

Some people find this. Washing more thoroughly, washing synthetic clothes more often, or alternating with a different formula for a few weeks can help. Read the full article

Yes. Odour is driven by sweat and skin bacteria, not gender. Men with more underarm hair may need to rub the balm in more thoroughly at the skin. Read the full article

No. Underarm sweat isn't a route for removing toxins. The change is about sweat volume and skin bacteria, not toxins leaving your body. Read the full article

Commonly one to three weeks, but it varies, and there's little formal research on it. If odour is no better after a month, try a different formula. Read the full article

You don't need one. Washing with a gentle soap and drying well does the job. Scrubs and acids can irritate skin you're about to put deodorant on. Read the full article

Look for one without bicarbonate of soda, or with very little. Charcoal itself is rarely the irritant. Lowena contains bicarb, so patch test first if your skin is sensitive. Read the full article

Balms and creams in glass jars or tins. Sticks in plastic tubes have the most. Read the full article

We make it. We've included it because it's a charcoal deodorant sold in the UK, and we've given the same facts for every product so you can compare fairly. Read the full article

No. Lowena is an independent UK brand with no connection to Procoal. Both are charcoal deodorant balms in jars, but the formulas are different. Read the full article

We haven't been able to find it on sale in the UK recently. Check Procoal's own website or social channels for the latest. Read the full article

Probably not exactly. Textures, scents and strength vary. Expect a short adjustment, and patch test if your skin is sensitive. Read the full article