Do we really need deodorant?
By Karina | November 14, 2007
We’ve talked about personal hygiene choices before. And specifically, we’ve had a great discussion about the different types of deodorant that people use. Last week there were two interesting articles in the NY Times about deodorant and if we really honestly need to use it at all. And it turns out we don’t!
The first article addresses why we use deodorant and antiperspirants - it says “considering the lackluster efficacy of many gels and sticks, deodorants and antiperspirants may be nothing more than security blankets against the social ostracism some fear.” it also states that:
“Most people who are not in constant high-stress situations could get away with wearing a lot less than they do,” said Dr. Jeanine Downie, a dermatologist in Montclair, N.J. “They’d probably be fine just using a little powder.”
Six other dermatologists interviewed for this article echoed Dr. Downie’s comments.
“Those shelves and shelves of antiperspirant and deodorant at drugstores would be put to better use if they were filled with sunblock or even lotion,” she said. “There are a lot more people with dry skin than with serious body odor or sweat issues.”
So! we don’t REALLY need deodorant or antiperspirant, though the article also observes that all of the dermatologists interviewed still used some kind of product themselves, while agreeing it’s not necessary.
The second article asked three people to go without and it turns out that most agreed that it seemed to be a mostly psychological fear of odor. One person continued to abstain after 12 days without antiperspirant or deodorant.
Full TinyChoices Disclosure: I am not ready to go without. Maybe my lifestyle is just too stressful -
Have you tried to go without? Would you be able to change your lifestyle to one less stressful in order to avoid using deodorant?
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I enjoy your blog!
I haven’t worn deodorant on a daily basis for 30 years and am not a social pariah (AFAIK). But my life isn’t particularly stressful.
I’m sure you would know if you were a pariah! it would probably add stress to your life.
and! thanks for the kind words!
Honestly, it’s a rare day when I actually remember to put on deodorant before leaving the house. And more often than not, it’s never an issue. Last summer I tried using Tom’s of Maine unscented stuff (you know, when I remembered to) and it seemed to work fine!
I do like the idea of making my life less stressful in order to keep my pits smelling fresh. Do you think that’s a strong enough case for telecommuting?
I think it’s DEF a case for telecommuting. um, if we worked together and I had any say over your schedule, that is. I’m not sure how you could sufficiently quantify the benefits for your actual employer though!
Due to allergies to all known deodorants my husband tried not wearing any years ago and never has a problem. Anytime he actually smells like he needs it is a time that he’s about to bathe anyway (ie: after a workout).
I think it’s probably also partly genetic. I’m totally the kind of person who would just skip it. I don’t use soap in the shower (other than shampoo), and I haven’t stunk my loved ones away. But now that I have a toddler, I periodically forget to put on deodorant, and I assure you I notice a significant difference in both aroma and wetness, particularly on a warm day. But then, I live in the southern US, so we have a lot of those. And if the husband forgets deodorant….whew! You don’t want to be near that.
I think you’re right - from talking to my mom, it sounds like my extremely stinky body response to polyester clothing may be genetic!
i started working from home about three and a half years ago and stopped wearing deodorant/anti-perspirant for the most part and hardly ever stink. actually, it seemed that the deodorant sometimes smelled like it was trapping and intensifying any stink i did produce.
i do go through some periods where i’m a little more fragrant. sometimes i use lush’s aromacreme and that stuff works really well.
I ended up getting the stinky genes from my mom, lucky me. No matter how cold/warm/humid/arid/stressful/relaxed I am sweaty and stinky. When I’m wearing more layers in the winter and it’s not so hot I just use the crystal. But in the summer, it’s all anti-perspirant all the time.
If I forget deoderant, which happens sometimes, it is not a good day. I don’t smell bad at all, but my clothes get ruined because of wetness. And I don’t think I’m brave enough to face the world with my underarms constantly stained!
I have learned to handle the wet but I don’t want any stink! you could dress a little more goth and wear more black? ;)
I wear black 99.9% of the time!
I think it depends on the person, how often they shower, how often they wash their clothes, if they smoke, etc. I’ve known people that I can smell from across the room. I do think that people can use way less than they do. I currently rotate two deodorants (no antiperspirants) and really only use a teeny bit unless I’m going to the gym or something.
I don’t think I could ever completely give up deodorant because like Bronwen, it is not a good day when I forget to wear any. But I could probably get by with wearing less or wearing just powder some of the time. And by some of the time I mean winter.
i am a thirty-two year old mother of three. i am a dining room server at a very fancy restaurant, of which very occasionally i wonder if i smell, because i have not worn antiperspirants or deodorants for close to thirteen years. there was a short period of time where i did have body odor, and that was when i was separating from my husband. i couldnt be bothered to put that gunk under my pits ever again. i feel free without it and forget that nine out of ten people use it for their daily regimen. good day to you all.
Wow, I’m envious of all you folks who don’t need deodorants or antiperspirants!
It wasn’t until I recently started using those new “clinical strength” products at night that I finally got control of my daytime schvitzing. And it doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold, if I’m walking miles at a time, typing at work, or just sitting at home — no deodorant means sweat running down the inside of my arm and a noticeable fragrance. For a while I wanted to be a good girl and tried Tom’s of Maine, but that ended almost immediately because I ended up smelling like an unsavory blend of honeysuckle and the Barcelona metro in the heat of summer.
Better living through chemistry. Urgh.
I just use a bit of powder - it’s got arrowroot and baking soda in it. If I go without, I do notice the smell. My mother doesn’t use any deodorant at all, but she washes twice a day - once in the morning and once in the middle of the day. I don’t quite have the schedule that would allow me to do that.
I do think people could use less than they generally do, but it’s a very individual thing - people have already mentioned genetics and what you do for a living. For me, I find I need it if I’m going out in summer (I live in a really hot city) and sometimes in winter (I rug up for cold weather then catch an overheated train), but I don’t bother with it at all in-between.
I think the people who say they don’t smell need to ask their significant others (or others within sniffing distance) whether they smell or not. I think we become immune to our own personal smell. I don’t use deodorant on a regular basis in the winter months, but must say I need to use something during the dog days of summer. I also run on a regular basis but usually never use anything since I shower right afterward. Maybe I’m just smelly, but I agree with one of the previous posts that I am glad some people use deodorant in NYC in the summertime.
I’m not ready to go without either! I might try it for a while if I worked from home, but I’m in an office and don’t want to make everyone’s humdrum 9-5 life any harder :p
P.S. There ARE people who need it. I travelled with a guy who didn’t use deoderant and the rest of us fought amongst ourselves every day to NOT be the one who sat behind him in the car. Gak.
i never ever wear deodorant and i am pretty certain that i don’t smell. you ladies would let me know if i did right?
Hee, I hardly remember to put on deodorant! I was just browsing the comments and Nicole Maries made me laugh! I usually use the honeysuckle toms of maine when I remember (but I have been using a Lush product lately which smells nice), but anyway, last time I had to buy deodorant I accidently bought the apricot toms of maine. OH. MY. GOD. I’m not generally a stinky person, but I smelled like sweaty apricot candy. it was gross.
I haven’t used deodorant since high school. That was 25 years ago. I used it then because it made me feel like a grown-up. Having been a late bloomer, I was looking for all the help I could get!
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