Going without deodorant?

[Ultralight]

I profoundly dislike deodorant. I don't like the way it looks, smells, feels, or how I have to buy. I don't like having to put it on every day.

It also has lots of nasty, poisonous chemicals in it.

When I am going to spend an entire day without being in close proximity to anyone, I forego the deodorant. Occasionally I can go a whole weekend.

Anyone else dislike deodorant? Anyone ever go without it for any considerable amount of time -- like a weekend or a whole week?

[catherine]

Ooo.. now we're getting down and dirty personal!

I admit to being a "discerning" deodorant user, meaning I don't just use it as a matter of habit, but will definitely use it when I'm going to be around people/close to people. If I'm going to be on a plane, I wouldn't think of not using it--or in any business situations. Otherwise, why bother. Fortunately or unfortunately, we usually have a hard time offending ourselves with our own odor. And if you shower daily, can the bacteria on your skin really work that fast? My assumption is, your armpits are like fish. The first couple of days isn't so bad. But maybe I'm wrong about that.

[Ultralight]

Ooo.. now we're getting down and dirty personal!

I admit to being a "discerning" deodorant user, meaning I don't just use it as a matter of habit, but will definitely use it when I'm going to be around people/close to people. If I'm going to be on a plane, I wouldn't think of not using it--or in any business situations. Otherwise, why bother. Fortunately or unfortunately, we usually have a hard time offending ourselves with our own odor. And if you shower daily, can the bacteria on your skin really work that fast? My assumption is, your armpits are like fish. The first couple of days isn't so bad. But maybe I'm wrong about that.

If I do not put on deodorant I will have stinky armpits in about 3 hours.

But I am not scheduled to be around anyone today or tomorrow. So sans deodorant au natural it is!!! Woo-hoo!

[Gardnr]

I stopped using it many years ago. First, I went to organic. That's when the chemicals your body has absorbed over time are extruded....you will throw out clothing.

Then I had a breakout to the organic. Stopped altogether. It takes some time to get accustomed to your own pheromones. I have several highly trusted people I've told and asked to promise if they smell "too much". They all continue to assure me I'm just fine.

So, I've been deodorant free for years.......

[razz]

There is deodorant and antiperspirant. Are you controlling for just odour or for sweat? Something to consider...

A friend undergoing chemo treatment about 10 years ago was advised to avoid all regular deodorants but to look for those with zinc oxide. His DW did the research and came up with the best alternative as far as I am concerned. Baby products to control diaper rash have 15% zinc oxide and some have more. I buy a small jar of this diaper rash cream and apply the tiniest amount after my alternate-day shower - tiny - tap your finger into and apply. Over the 10 years or more I have used one jar and am less than halfway through the second one. It is a deodorant only so i still perspire as normal which I prefer. Thrifty, safe and effective and no concerns about body odour.

[herbgeek]

I make a deodorant from coconut oil with some anti bacterial essential oils mixed in (typically something like tea tree, thyme and lavender). I use anti perspirant daily because I'm a sweat-er and I hate the feeling. And even with showering daily, shaving armpits and scrubbing, I still smelled even with anti perspirant on. Towels got a distinct funk after just a couple of days (and I'm using the towel AFTER the shower). So now I put on the coconut oil after showering, and before the anti perspirant and things are much better. I'm just too stinky otherwise, I gross /myself/ out.

[rosarugosa]

I like the way Catherine put it - "a 'discerning' deodorant user." I am the same. I don't tend to get sweaty under my arms and DH is the one who suggested that I probably don't even need it. So for the past few years, I've become an occasional user of organic deodorants. I mainly use EO lavender, but DSIS is a shopper and is always trying new brands, so I also get and use her rejects. Formulations with coconut oil do tend to make me break out.
DH is a pretty fragrant guy who sweats profusely. He really likes L'Occitane Baux. It runs about $20, so I try try to stock up when L'Occitane is offering a deal.

[Ultralight]

So, I've been deodorant free for years.......

Amazing! I am so jealous!

[Ultralight]

There is deodorant and antiperspirant. Are you controlling for just odour or for sweat? Something to consider...


I was using "deodorant" on this thread as shorthand for any deodorant or antiperspirant applied to the armpits. Hope this clarifies!

[bae]

I haven’t used it since I was in high school. Doesn’t see problematic. Sometimes have to sneak in an extra shower or other remedy if I’m working super hard, but deodorant wouldn’t stop the issue.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I don't like feeling sweaty so I love antiperspirants (but some fragrances are too strong so I'm picky), I don't even care if it's unhealthy, oh well can't always choose the healthiest route, I'll give it away when you take it out of my cold dead sweaty stinky armpits. :~) But I might try the coconut oil thing in addition to antiperspirant.

[pinkytoe]

I alternate between using nothing, baking soda and unscented Ban stick.

[lmerullo]

Hubby uses deodorant, not antiperspirant and I noticed the main ingredient seems to be alcohol. This caused me to think a swipe of rubbing alcohol under the pits might work. Thoughts?

[herbgeek]

This caused me to think a swipe of rubbing alcohol under the pits might work.

Sure. The smell is caused by bacteria that like to eat sweat. So anything that kills the bacteria is going to reduce any smell.

[jp1]

This caused me to think a swipe of rubbing alcohol under the pits might work. Thoughts?


Sure. The smell is caused by bacteria that like to eat sweat. So anything that kills the bacteria is going to reduce any smell.

Alcohol also dehydrates, which would probably help keep the sweat down, at least initially. Putting it in some sort of gooey concoction like deodorant probably keeps the effect going a lot longer.

Personally I doubt I could get away with not using it weekdays (my office is a densely packed open office concept where people even complain about excessive food smells on occasion), but on weekends after I shower if I don't have plans to go out in public I'll skip the deodorant.

[Gardnr]

Alcohol also dehydrates, which would probably help keep the sweat down, at least initially.

Wohoo! Think I'll drink more:cool::~)

[Ultralight]

I'd like to take a vacation, somewhere in the tropics, and not use deodorant for two weeks. Get a little cabina on the beach with cold water showers -- like in Costa Rica or some such.

And just see how ripe I actually get... haha

[Ultralight]

Personally I doubt I could get away with not using it weekdays (my office is a densely packed open office concept where people even complain about excessive food smells on occasion)...

Yeah, in my office eating hard boiled eggs or microwaving leftover Indian food is considered an office prank on your coworkers. haha

Though often for weeks at a time our office will smell like sewage. We are in the basement. The plumbing sometimes gets off kilter and then bad smells waft about.

Also, everyone from the 3 floors above ground come to the basement to drop their deuces. Results can be inferred.

We basement trolls gets no respect!

[Tammy]

Crystal mineral deodorant spray

Minerals kill the BO smell
No scent
No stickiness
Can’t tell it’s there once it dries
Doesn’t stain clothing

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I stopped using it many years ago. First, I went to organic. That's when the chemicals your body has absorbed over time are extruded....you will throw out clothing.

Then I had a breakout to the organic. Stopped altogether. It takes some time to get accustomed to your own pheromones. I have several highly trusted people I've told and asked to promise if they smell "too much". They all continue to assure me I'm just fine.

So, I've been deodorant free for years.......

I could have written this post, except mine would have said one year instead of years I had allergic reactions to deodorants years ago so started using the natural crystal brand with no problems until last summer. I had horrible breaking out, itching, pain, etc. so to jump to the end, I finally just quit using it altogether. I make my own bath powder from equal portions of baking soda and corn starch and that seems to do the trick for me. Keeps me dry and fresh feeling. But, I am a low sweater and if I am doing something outside or working out and not ready to take a shower, I will do a quick wash-up and add some more powder. No problems so far.....that I know of. I was just thinking the other day that it has been a year since I had that problem and was so discouraged, not knowing what to do because I thought you HAD to use deodorant, but not having the painful breaking out has been wonderful!

[Teacher Terry]

When I was in my 30’s I had a nasty odor and had to use a special deodorant. Now I don’t need any. Weird stuff happens as you age. The hair on my legs barely grows but hair grows where it never used to.

[Gardenarian]

I've never used deodorant, it seems I don't have the genes that make for body odor (I'm not delusional, I have asked others.) My shirts never have any smell on the underarms either. Lucky!

[Oddball]

I use a salt stick (https://www.iherb.com/pr/Crystal-Body-Deodorant-Deodorant-Stick-4-25-oz-120-g/5705). No smell, no poison, easy to put on, and very cheap. A $6 stick is supposed to last a year, but my current one is more than 2 years old and still has about a third of its mass. There's also a small travel size (https://www.iherb.com/pr/Crystal-Body-Deodorant-Travel-Stick-Deodorant-1-5-oz-40-g/5665). I use it once or twice a day. Be sure to wet the stick or your skin before applying. Also helps to keep you hair trimmed.

[pony mom]

I've been using natural deodorants (not antiperspirant) or homemade for the past 15 years or so. But for the past 10+/- years, I've become really stinky.

Now that I'm having hot flashes and am close to menopause, my BO is gone!!! Woohoo! Something good out of this. Thank goodness because my job has me running around all day, in and out of an 80 degree kitchen and going home like I spent a day at the gym.

For now, Schmidt natural deodorant is working for me so I'm sticking with it. I use the bergamot/lime scent. I may go without one day when I'm home just to see how offensive I can get.

[jp1]

I use a salt stick (https://www.iherb.com/pr/Crystal-Body-Deodorant-Deodorant-Stick-4-25-oz-120-g/5705). No smell, no poison, easy to put on, and very cheap. A $6 stick is supposed to last a year, but my current one is more than 2 years old and still has about a third of its mass. There's also a small travel size (https://www.iherb.com/pr/Crystal-Body-Deodorant-Travel-Stick-Deodorant-1-5-oz-40-g/5665). I use it once or twice a day. Be sure to wet the stick or your skin before applying. Also helps to keep you hair trimmed.

After seeing the previous comment about spray on crystal deodorant I went googling and was reading reviews of the crystal sticks and there were some common complaints. Chief among them that if you aren't careful when wetting it you will cause it to seperate from the base, and consequently fall to the floor and smash into bits, and secondarily a sizable number of people complained that after a few months the stick itself started to smell like BO. Have you run into either of these issues?

[jp1]

I've never used deodorant, it seems I don't have the genes that make for body odor (I'm not delusional, I have asked others.) My shirts never have any smell on the underarms either. Lucky!

I suppose this means that you also avoided that horrendously awkward conversation with your mother while going somewhere in the car at age 13 where she said "JP (or in your case, G) as you start to mature and become a man your body starts to do new things. One of those things is that you start to have BO. I've noticed that you... so I have bought you some deodorant and when we get home your father will show you ..."

[Williamsmith]

I use it. I don’t like to be reminded of the smell of decaying bodies.

[Oddball]

After seeing the previous comment about spray on crystal deodorant I went googling and was reading reviews of the crystal sticks and there were some common complaints. Chief among them that if you aren't careful when wetting it you will cause it to seperate from the base, and consequently fall to the floor and smash into bits, and secondarily a sizable number of people complained that after a few months the stick itself started to smell like BO. Have you run into either of these issues?
I have not had the odor problem, but yes, my salt stick separated from the base after several months or maybe a year. This is no big deal, as the stick is easy enough to hold without the base. I have dropped it a few times, and it has not shattered yet. Maybe it would on a tile floor, but on linoleum or vinyl or a bath mat, it always survives the fall.

The odor issue might be per person. If I were having that problem, I would just buy the $3 travel size and replace it every few months.

[Float On]

I'm not much of a sweat factory. I apply one swipe on occasion and I haven't really read labels it's probably a deodorant. One stick lasts a few years.

[tennesseeborder]

I haven't used deodorant for many years. My lady friend was surprised when I told her that I don't used deodorant. I have a plant based diet, which means less toxin coming out of my skin. I have a collection of essential oils which I will put on my neck or wrist occasionally.
I have heard of cases where someone is having trouble with glands that are near the arm pits. They go to the doctor, and he doesn't know what is causing the problem. It's usually the deodorant! There are very toxic chemicals in commercial deodorants. If you can't do without it, try to find natural deodorants. You will find them in natural food stores.

[CathyA]

I haven't read all the posts here, but wanted to add.......I think deodorant is something we learn to use. What I mean is, we are taught to not like certain smells. How someone smells can talk to our subconscious brains about attractions to those people. They're called pheromones, and we do everything we can to stop them and sever any information they might be giving our brains.
It's just another crazy thing we learn to do, if we are to be "civilized".

[SiouzQ.]

I haven't worn deoderant in years, and now I live in a funky hippy town where personal hygiene isn't the highest priority on anyone's list. Though I am aware that if I have to go to town for a doctor or dentist appointment I make sure I shower beforehand, especially in the summer months. Sometimes I realize that I smell a bit sweaty and wonder if it is offensive to other people because it isn't particularly offensive to me. At any rate no one around here has ever said anything to me about it!

I don't usually find other's body odor that offensive unless it is really, really strong. However, bad breath when I am talking to someone face-to-face really grosses me out.

[Tenngal]

no way we can go without in TN.........too hot and humid.........sometimes it takes more than one application a day

[pammy]

I started getting pretty itchy with antiperspirants. Tried different brands. Went for a while with just a spritz of diluted apple cider vinegar to control bacteria and some powder to feel less sticky, the itchiness went away. But man, the detoxing my pits went through was rank. Took a month or so to get them flushed out. Now I use just deodorant, no antiperspirant. No more itchy. Interested in trying the crystals some talk about, will look out for some in the future.

[rosarugosa]

We definitely have a lot of marketing forces trying to brainwash us on the deodorant/antiperspirant front. I was in a thrift store yesterday and there was a man beside me reaching up to look at items on the top rack. That put me in close proximity with his underarm and he smelled sweaty. It was a very hot day, and oddly enough, I did not keel over and die from having experienced the scent of one of my fellow human beings being human. The smell of sweat on a clean person is fine. The smell of a person who has been marinating in their own dirt/urine/bodily juices is not fine at all. There is a big difference.