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BANG FOR THE BITE
Natural deodorants won't do much for moisture and the eco-impact isn't immense, but they combat odor and are fairly priced in comparison to traditional pit sticks.
COCKTAIL FACT
Libraries in San Luis Obispo County, CA, can legally kick out people with offensive body odor.
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home › tip library › Deodorants
Wanna say "buh-bye" to B.O.?
The Bite
Then raise your arm and roll or spray on some eco-deodorant. It'll mask not-so-sweet scents without potentially harmful chems, so you can wave farewell to wellness worries too.The Benefits
- Saying sayonara to smells. Although they won't do much for wetness, natural deodorants can neutralize smells and provide antiseptic action against bacteria.
- Bidding adieu to aluminum. The jury's still out, but aluminum (the active ingredient in many deodorants) has been linked to cancer and Alzheimer's, so opt for natural alternatives for peace of mind.
- Parting ways with other noxious chems. Pick options sans parabens (linked to cancer), propylene glycol (a neurotoxin), talc (which sometimes contains asbestos), and triclosan (a skin irritant).
- A big "what's up" to a cleaner planet. Fewer hazardous chems in your deodorant mean fewer will end up in the waste stream.
Personally Speaking
Jen usually sticks to Weleda's Wild Rose Spray - unless she's got a hot date during summer months, in which case she takes no chances and uses the regular-old aluminum stuff.Wanna Try?
Since everyone's body chem is different, you might have to try a couple natural deodorants before you find a good fit, but these worked best for us:
- Weleda Wild Rose Spray - a couple spritzes of this flowery concoction will keep most Biters fresh throughout the day ($15).
- Miessence Tahitian Breeze Roll-on - our fave roll-on has a summery scent; reapply every few hours ($10).
- Crystal Body Deodorant Stick - it didn't work for a couple of us, but some swear by its unscented mineral salts; the stick lasts a year or more and works on feet as well ($7).
- Alba Clear Enzyme Stick - light lavender smell with soothing aloe vera, and baking soda to sop up sweat ($6).
Jul 03,2008
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Fever Pit(ch)
Like Jen, I tend to reserve the aluminum antiperspirant junk for "special" occasions when I know that I may experience some modicum of stress - usually social anxiety, which is only made worse by thoroughly unattractive underarm sweat stains. So, sure, it works, but another sorry side effect of using it is that the chemical reaction of deodorant, sweat, and certain clothing fibers can actually create tough stains or even spoil delicate fabrics. If you end up with a stained shirt or blouse, don't dry clean it, whatever you do - it can actually set the stain and permanently discolor your garments. Instead, get a good stain remover and wash your stuff by hand. I love Laundress products so much I could marry them, and its recipe for removing pit stains really works - the stain remover is the best I've tried.
As an aside, another natural deodorant I've tried and liked - though I've found that you do need to reapply throughout the day - is Tom's Natural Stick in Lavender. It actually feels really soothing to such delicate skin and smells, well, like lavender.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to stay cool...
Biter Comments...
I've experienced chemical sensitivities for years. Here are a few more chemical free deodorants to try. Natural Purity Holistic Deodorant, Tropical Traditions lavender deodorant.
I have found that all of the Aubrey's organic products are great and especially their deodorant- E plus High C
I switched to the Crystal deodorant from a Dove antiperspirant a few months ago after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I had a scare myself. It's taken some getting used to the lack of an antiperspirant (when I posted about the switch on my blog no one seemed to understand that the new stuff wasn't supposed to keep me dry), and August here in New Orleans will be the true test, but so far I've been able to stick with it. A little bit of occasional wetness is worth the peace of mind and knowing I don't have all sorts of toxins going into my bloodstream right next to my lymph nodes and breasts.
Most of the natural deodorants I tried worked very well in covering smell (I have no problem with the actual sweating, knowing that it's actually healthy) - but I do stink. Then I discovered "Aromacreme" by LUSH Cosmetics - all natural and not tested on animals! Highly recommended for smelly people!
Regular deodorants make me itch, I tried a number of them and the all did the same. Now I just get my underarms good and clean and put a thin coating of Balmex baby ointment on them, this is a zinc oxide ointment and I'm sure other brands would work, too. This keeps the perspiration from sitting directly on the skin where it grows the smell creating bacteria. Balmex also works well to keep away heat rash in those creases where it tends to arise, under the boobies, between the legs and crotch, a belly flap if you have one.
I meant to write that most of the natural deodorants I have tried did NOT work very well with regards to covering the smell of my sweat - until I found Aromacreme!
I love Jason deoderant - I find it to be the dryest of the "natural" brands. When I need a little extra dry protection, I dab on a mixture of equal parts cornstarch and baking soda instead of talc to control wetness. I find this combo works even better than my old chem antiperspirants.
We sweat. Important bodily function. We stink! Bacteria grow in these moist sweaty places and give off smell!
Sweat is OK in my book. Smell - not so much.
The Deodorant Stones/crystals (there are several, we prefer the rock shaped ones with no/minimal packaging) work by inhibiting the bacteria. They do not keep you dry or cover up one smell with another. And, as mentioned, they do not seem to work for everyone - but they do for most. We have used them successfully for years.
In the tropics (SE Asia), local women use powder under their arms to stay dry.
There is some evidence that diet can effect your BO. As we are individuals, whether a heavy meat diet makes you have smellier sweat probably also depends on the person.
Whatever you use/works for you, try not to clog pores or have too much disposable packaging.
While visiting family overseas two years ago, I stopped in at LUSH and picked up a solid deodorant bar in Cork, Ireland. I haven't gone back to store-bought ever since then - they have several 'flavors' of solid deodorants, but the gist of it is to crush a little bit of the solid bar and apply it with a brush or a puff to your bits that might get sweaty and smelly. It doesn't help with sweat, but it certainly makes you smell quite lovely. I use LUSH's Teo bar, which has a light citrus scent. The bars tend to last a while (unless you're powdering your whole body at once) and they're reasonably priced for how long they last.
What's wrong with good old Baking Soda? I keep some in a decorative box...it looks nice and with a little facial powder puff is easy to apply to my clean pits. I first discovered using plain old BS when I backpacked and there were a few times that either water was scarce, or so full of ice that no body wanted a full contact bath...Baking Soda kept the air fresh and stink free! DO NOT apply on other possible foul smelling areas...it can irritate more delicate tissue... ; )
I posted a blog about my pits this morning, before checking my daily ideal bite. (http://d2eboston.blogspot.com/) I have recently started to ween myself off of aluminum antiperspirants - so far my best option has been Tom's lemon grass. I tried Nature's Best, and that did not work for me. I will check out LUSH and share the info with my girlfriends.
i also agree that lush's aromacreme does a fantastic job of controlling odor. however, they list several ingredients as being "safe synthetics", so i'm not sure how completely "natural" it really is.
I've found that a couple drops of an essential oil work great! The key is to find one that blends with your body chemistry. Sweating just seems to release the scent, and when you find one that blends with your own smell, body odor isn't even noticeable. At first I used patchouli then discovered geranium. Geranium has been my scent for over a year now. My boyfriend sticks with sandalwood. They also double as perfume, and you could even make your own unique blend.
Be sure to test yourself first, as some people are sensitive to straight essential oils being applied to directly to the skin. If one oil bothers you, try a different one before giving up. Each oil has its own chemical makeup and will react differently with your chemical makeup. Have fun!
For the past 6 years I've been using
**KISS MY FACE**
*LIQUID ROCK*
It's amaaaazing and totally works better than any manufactured chemical deodorant!!
They have: Patchouli, Lavendar, Unscented and Rose Scent. Really gorgeous products to live by.
Lavender Tea Tree Essential Oil works well too!
i've used the "E Plus High C Roll-On Deodorant" (3oz for $7.50) for a while and have not had any unwanted smells. sometimes i re-apply throughout the day, if i'm riding my bike, but generally this stuff works.
When I first switched to non-aluminum deodorants after a time my arm pits hurt when I sweat. I think because of the old stuff seemed to leave by way of my pits. Once that stopped the good deodorants started to work better. Others I talked to about this seemed to have the same issues.
I used Liken by Earth Science and it lasted, it seemed, for about a year or more and worked very well. I could not find Liken in the store I went to so I bought Pure & Basic. It does not work very well. With the other one, Liken, I never had body odor and my clothes alway smelled nice. Not true with the new one. Pure and Basic.
I'm surprised only one other person mentioned BAKING SODA. It's CHEAP and it really, really WORKS!
Just as Redhawk wrote, to keep mine in a small container in my underwear drawer and apply it to dry underarms with a powder puff. I added a little tea tree oil to mine for extra insurance against odor, but many of my blog readers have sworn that is unnecessary, so when my current batch runs out I'll be trying just plain baking soda.
Seriously, why do we need to buy special products when sometimes the simplest things really will do the job?
Does anyone use the Melaleuca brand natural stuff? I love their tooth paste. Haven't tried any deoderant yet.
I have been looking for deodorant for my preteen daughters. Everything is an antipersperant. I don't remember there being so few choices for just deoderants.
How smelly are you? Do you not bathe? Honestly, if you bathe regularly & don't work a heavily manual job, you shouldn't need deoderant. Try not using it just one day & see if anyone even notices. Better yet, ask a close friend (at the end of that day) if you stink. Let them know you are conducting a personal experiment. I'm thinking they'll confirm your non-stink. We are meant to give off a scent (it's called nature). Of course, Madison Avenue would have us all living in bubbles, if they could find a way to make money from it. Just think of all the waste that would stop occurring (from the gas to get to the store to the empty container in a land fill).
Regarding Mary's comment, you wouldn't know if you smelled offensive because most of us are used to our own sent (probably why Mary suggested asking a friend!), but I do know a friend who I know has decent hygiene and she doesn't run around too much and she DOES have offensive BO.
That being said, for the baking soda advocates, it seems that would be non-little-black-dress-approved, to use Degree's (?) tag. Does it get white marks on stuff?
I've been using the Baking Soda (plain, nothing added to it) for over...hmmmmm 26 years now...(yikes...time flies when you're having fun!) Since I have strawberry-blond hair, I kinda do like wearing black to show it off...I've not noticed any white staining from the BS on any black, dark blue, or dark green that I enjoy wearing.
As for bathing, unless I am doing more than a basic walk, as in actually getting sweaty...I shower every other day..(baring quality time w/my darlin..then to the shower we go!) The only time I've stunk (and both me and mine did smell it.."hogie pits!" ewwww!) was when I did NOT use any Baking Soda...and I DID do some good old-fashioned WORK that caused a nice dewy glow!
So, I can honestly say the Baking Soda DOES work...covered my "tracks" after a 10 hour day mucking out horse stalls, and caring for 10 horses...and believe me...I had sweat pouring off of me that summer...
I also use it several times a week to brush my teeth...alternating with Kiss My Face or Tom's Toothpaste!
And while we are singing the praises of BS...Baking Soda and/or plain old Vinegar can replace just about ALL of the TOXIC chemical cleaners you probably have in either your kitchen or bath...right now...for a fraction of the cost...with no TOXIC additives...AND they'll both do you proud on helping keep your house CLEAN AND SWEET SMELLING!
I've tried them all. I still stink even after a couple showers a day. I'm a sweaty gal I guess. My FAVORITE new find is the Oyin Handmade 'Funk Butter.' Smells yummy and doesn't make my super-sensitive skin break out.
Order more than one at a time cause the shipment can take a while.
www.oyinhandmade.com
I love the tagline--You got the funk. We got the butter.
It's awesome stuff!
Another deodorant that works well (and is suitable for both men and women) is Trader Joe's own brand which comes unscented, and is aluminum and paraben free. It also contains small cotton fibers to help absorb moisture (unfortunately not organic though).
it's important to differentiate between anti-perspirants and deodorants, both in their purpose and their chemical make-up. the anti-perspirants, which keep you from sweating (unhealthy !) contain the aluminum chlorhydroxy salts as the active ingredient. I used them more than 30 years ago until I found that the aluminum salts were causing the swelling of the nodes in my armpits. tender, painful, and long-lasting.not fun. since I switched to deodorants (without the aluminum salts), the problem has never recurred. even so, on days when I do not anticpate a lot of physical activity or stress, I forego the deodorant and use a commercial powder product with a baking soda base.
also, as a male, when I wear a dress shirt I wear an undershirt (T-style, not A-style). any wetness gets absorbed by the T-shirt, so there is no visible wetness or staining of my shirt.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Annie's Organics | July 03, 2008 at 05:18 AM