Earth and Body Friendly

I’ve not used traditional deodorant from the shops for years. In fact, for quite a while, I didn’t use any kind of deodorant at all. But I didn’t smell terrible.

Avoid chemicals and aluminium

I avoid traditional deodorants because of the all the chemicals contained in them. Antiperspirants often contain aluminium, which may or may not (depending on who you ask and who’s paying for the study) cause all sorts of health issues. I like to play safe and avoid it. As far as antiperspirants go, I wonder at the wisdom of stopping your body from doing something it’s designed to do. Your body sweats for a reason. Unless you have a real sweating issue, I think that sweating is preferable.

For many years, I used a blend of essential oils as deodorant. For a while, I used nothing at all. I found that when I had reason to use a chemical deodorant, my underarms would smell really quite bad the following day. In fact, if I used soap under my arms (I usually use a microfibre body cloth to clean myself), I found I would smell absolutely terrible the next day. I think that mucking around with the ph balance and the natural mantle of your skin can cause problems.

Try an alternative product

There are alternatives available. Try oils or a crystal stick. Try nothing at all but keeping your armpits clean. I’ve had success with all three ways of keeping my underarms smelling clean. I currently use a combination of all three, depending on the state of my body, if I’m working or staying at home, etc. I’ll discuss them here.

DEONAT

I’ve had a lot of success with a product called DEONAT, a mineral salt crystal deodorant. I’ve heard that for some people it takes a little while for their body to get used to it, and therefore not smell, but now that I think about it, I wonder if it’s because their body is taking a few days to get back into balance after fighting against using products that throw out the ph balance of their skin.

For me, it worked straight away. It’s a bit of a different way to use deodorant, though, because you have to wet it to apply it. Also, it must be used on clean underarms. I use mine after I’ve got out of the shower (and therefore clean) and before I dry my underarms.

I’m impressed with the quality of the product, not only because it works well and I don’t smell when I use it, but I once dropped it on the floor and while the lid sustained a crack, it didn’t shatter into pieces. The crystal salt didn’t shatter either.

Nana May’s Nourishing Body Oil

This is one of the products which I sell at my stall on the weekends. It’s made by Nana May’s and is actually a body oil that can be used as a deodorant. The combination of the oils makes for a lovely fresh smell. Some of the essential oils it contains have antibacterial properties, so it’s perfect for under your arms because it stops the growth of bacteria, which is often what causes the smell.

I squirt a couple of sprays under my arms and spread it around, then rub the rest into my hands.

I’ve found this to be good for cases when I need to leave the house quickly, but don’t have time for a shower and I’m worried that I might not smell the freshest. The fragrance of the oils covers up any possible current smell or smell which may occur from doing something physical while I’m out and about.

You can always make your own special blend of oils to use under your arms by finding a shop such as Perfect Potion, where you can purchase base oils and essential oils and they’ll mix it for you.

Having a quick wash

Perhaps it seems pointless to say it, but one of the easiest ways to not smell under your arms is to stay clean. This isn’t so easy in hot weather, or if you’re doing physical labour. If you’re in a situation where you can do so, duck into a bathroom and simply wipe under your arm pits with a wet cloth or paper towel.

If I’m having a day where I know I don’t need to leave the house, I don’t use anything at all. It’s just my son and I, and my natural human smell (assuming I’m healthy and eating relatively well) isn’t offensive. If I do smell strongly, then I simply have a quick scrub under my armpits with some water.

Use a natural soap

I mentioned that I almost never use soap on my body. On the rare occasions I find that I do need to use soap, I use an all natural soap that’s made from plant ingredients. You can find it here distributed by a company called Rad Pads. It’s mentioned there as a laundry soap, but it’s also suitable for the skin. I use it on my hands and body when needed and it’s lovely.

Your natural smell is pleasant

Most people’s clean bodies, assuming good health and a decent diet, don’t actually smell terrible. I don’t understand the need to cover up our natural smell. Messing with your skin means messing with the natural ph balance and pheromones and the like. Ever snuggle up to your partner while they’re asleep and taken a long sniff, or enjoy the smell of your child while you’re having a cuddle? It’s nice, right? If you’re clean, I’ll bet you smell nice, too.

Have you found a natural alternative that works for you? Share it in the comments!

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