The TRUTH about Deodorant 

As someone who go to Anime convention regularly, trust me, you will appreciate deodorant more than you think

I appreciate content creators that are surfacing a lot of the issues with both trends and long-standing practices. But, I'm always hesitant to 100% trust Future Proof videos because the writers seem to color all natural ingredients as "good" and others bad. This is not a healthy push. In addition to questioning unnatural ingredients, I wish you delved into the science of "natural" products too. On the other hand, I appreciate the realistic conclusion of "everything's doo doo right now, and we don't really have any recommendations at the moment," it's these kinds of moments that keep bringing me back to your vids.

As someone that has been to conventions, and on trains in Europe in summer. Eh... I'm still pro-deodorant. Even if it's not natural.

One warning about Native (and likely any natural deodorant that uses coconut oil): I personally found it worked well at keeping me stink-free, HOWEVER it left huge oil stains on my shirts that were difficult (and in one case, impossible) to remove.

I clicked on the video to just post the joke about deodorants being unnecessary: "If you don't think deodorant is necessary, go to a gaming convention and get back to me after" lol

So just to confirm. There are no studies that say antiperspirant or deodorant are dangerous for our health but we should still pay $12 a stick to the same company for a "natural" alternative?

In summary: "People don't actually mind the smell of body odor and deodorants have stuff in them which may be harmful even though there's no hard data showing it's harmful but I'm going to strongly suggest it's harmful." I'll keep wearing my deodorant, thanks. I also brush my teeth, take regular showers, and avoid colognes. I hate strong odors from others and wish to return the kindness by not smelling foul. Only reason I don't also use an antiperspirant is that it flakes off all over my clothing and stains my shirts over time. Nasty stuff.

I think that going not deodorant is a privilege, because there’s a lot of factors that affect your body odor, the weather where you live, the work that you do, the diet that you have and even genetics. I’ve moved from my almost all year cold town where you can re use your clothes a lot of days because you almost don’t sweat, had to move to a city where you can guess what someone ate by their smell in the metro, and have to ventilate my bras after use cuz they are so wet with sweat 😫 it’s the worst, my point is, i you are able to go deodorant free, without smelling and affecting the ones around you, I’m truly glad, but a lot of people need it, me included. But at least try to buy a more likely reciclable package, the aluminum spray bottles nope cuz they a lot of places don’t aceppt them, bar in plastic is so hard to separate te partes and cleaning it to recicle it so nop either, the least bad that I could find is the roll on, since you can take the ball of with a knife and easily clean the inside so you can recycle most of it, I know that plastic free package would be ideal but that haven’t spread to latinoamérica and most lower income countries.

As a skincare junkie, I came across a dermatologist that recommended using the ordinary’ glycolic acid 2-3 times a week and honestly it works and I don’t feel the need for any deodorant.

I’m beginning to wonder if there’s been a push to “do things the way our ancestors did” or to go back to “the way it used to be”. For example, not adopting deodorants/antiperspirants, discontinue wearing shoes that feel like they crumple your toes, or even practicing mewing instead of getting braces or wearing retainers. It’s a clash between what is accepted in the modern age and what _might_ be what was considered normal back then. Hard to say since everything seems to have some kind of twist or gimmick that you either believe or don’t.

When I hit puberty as a teen, the BO hit so suddenly that it was sooo embarrassing to go to school that day and stink up 3rd period. Then there's my wife who only wears deodorant when she has an intense sweaty day. Most days she doesn't ever need it. And if she's a little musty, she just bathes and it's gone (doesn't help with mine)

My friend recommended a salt stick deodorant to me a while back and it was amazing. Super cheap too, about $6, if I recall correctly. And it lasts for ages. It was weird to get used to sweating, as I can be almost obsessive about my hygiene, but it worked well. Until I dropped it and shattered it.

Not sure if others have mentioned it, but regardless if it name brand or natural, those of us with sensitive skin, finding any product that doesn't irritate the skin is a win. For me it is the Dove Men +Care Clean Comfort 48hr Deodorant that works.

I stopped using antiperspirant deodorants back in middle school. When switched to just deodorants, I too experienced the 6-month deodorant fail. However, I found the best deodorant that has not failed me for the past 10 years… Plain old baking soda. Works amazing and it’s cheap!

Crystal deodorant is worth checking out. It’s basically a stick of pure potassium alum. It’s debated whether or not it could have similar negative effects to aluminum in anti-perspirants though

I switched to using a crystal deodorant decades ago and have never looked back. It won't stop me sweating but it does keep the odor at bay.

"It's good for you because it's natural". So, how about the all natural ingredients of a fresh king cobra injection? Snake venom is 100% natural, so it has to be healthy, right? I always hate it when people go for something that is natural purely because it's natural 😅

This may sound weird, but I just spray my underarms with a couple sprits of 70% alcohol disinfectant you can get at a dollar store every morning before I get dressed. It works for me so far and I’ve been doing it for years. It kills bacteria without leaving any artificial scent.

I'm glad this video didn't end in a solution. There's a lot of env't, social, & psychological issues around body odor and perspiration. Looking forward to the new channel!

I feel like this video was going somewhere and then just ended. I’ve never felt that way before on a Future Proof video. Perhaps a Part 2 is in order?

I’d be interested to hear a future proof episode on Lume, a deodorant product that was advertised a ton on RU-vid last year. Supposedly it would alter the bacterial makeup to be not stinky? Or smth like that.

I’m quite surprised basic salt crystal deodorants aren’t more popular. They work extremely well and are very cheap, it’s just a big salt crystal that you get wet before applying and it keeps all the bad bacteria at bay. 8 years now with zero complaints.

I'm obsessed with deodorants and perfumes. I want to smell good 😊

I encourage everyone to look into PROBIOTIC deodorants. The idea is that flat out using antibacterial ingredients kills not only the bad but also the good bacteria allowing the bad bacteria to proliferate faster! Using a product with probiotics recolonizes the skin with beneficial bacteria that eats the bad and cuts down on stink. I personally struggle with acne and no amount of antibacterial face wash has ever gotten rid of it for me. But since using a facial moisturizer with probiotics (i.e. introducing beneficial bacteria to my face after completely destroying all bacteria via an antibacterial face wash) I have noticed a major improvement in my skin and the intensity of acne I used to get. Using products that benefit the microbiome instead of wiping it out completely thus allowing bad bacteria to thrive is such a game changer!

Spend a summer on the Gulf Coast of the US and, I assure you, you'll understand why antiperspirant (and possibly deodorant) is necessary.

I started using a deodorant called Nuud about three years ago. It’s all natural, and packaged in a bioplastic (sugarcane) tube. Once your body is used to it you only have to apply it every few days. I’ve gone up to a week and a half with no smell whatsoever, and I sweat a lot. I highly recommend it, though as you’ve said, everybody is different.

I also use Native. I like it, and while it's expensive it does seem to last a long time. I bought three tubes prior to the container redesign and I'm only maybe a quarter of the way through the second one. What does bother me though is how strongly Native leverages their "plastic free" marketing without actually committing to be plastic free. They also sell their deodorant in plastic and push to sell you a tiny plastic travel deodorant that you don't need. As well, their shampoos are all in plastic, as are most of their other products. (Besides bar soap which most brands sell in cardboard anyway.) So their product is good, I like that it comes in a plastic free form, but I wish they'd either commit more fully or stop marketing on it so heavily.

From my experience, natural deodorant is all about smell. If you are somebody who sweats a lot, you either need to see a doctor or use a deodorant with chemicals in it, which aren't exactly bad, just like natural deodorant isn't exactly good. Everybody is different and that's one reason why there are so many different selections out there when it comes to hygiene.

so i worked for a company that was selling beauty products and all that natural, non-animal tested kinda thing but they were betting mostly on the idea that higher prices could mean for some people better quality, but in reality they were producing stuff for 1,5-5€ and selling it for 35€. So i would stick with my 2,69€ deodorant because the 13€ one might be the same with added marketing on top

I have very sensitive armpits, and it took years of trying every deodorant and natural deodorant option available to me to find what works for me reliably and remarkably: sprayable hand sanitizer. Literally everything else causes a rash eventually (except Myro and Lume, but Myro was too goopy for me and Lume is just expensive and needs to be shipped). Within a few weeks of using the spray sanitizer I found that I needed it less because I wasn’t as stinky naturally! There are even some natural spray deodorant options coming out and if you look at the ingredients they’re the same as (much cheaper) sprayable hand sanitizer

Here in the UK I am quite happy with the brand Wild. They are a small company and sell their products on a subscription basis. The case is made of aluminium and is infinitely reusable, you just change the refill, which is packed with cardboard. I find it a good alternative to big brands. ✌🏻

When I saw the thumbnail for this video, I thought, "Uh, yes I do need my deodorant. You haven't smelled me without it." So relieved to see so many comments underneath this video from people who are going to keep using deodorant too!

ye nah, talk to me after you went to a 2000 people 3pm conference in Karnataka india..

I've tried a few natural deodrants and it was a big no from me- two of them gave me really horrible red scaly rashes in my underarms, one just didn't work, another left residue on my clothes, the rock one was okay- but then apparently that's high in aluminium anyway so I went back to commercial and I like it- it works well, it's available easily and I don't have a reaction to it. I feel like I don't smell any more now than when I was trying to stick to natural. I would like to use a plastic free packaging, but I also can't deal with the wasted $ of trying various failed options and probably getting a surprise rash or two

Used to wear an anti-perspirant old spice starting in high school because everyone did it and kept up with it through my 20s. All it did was make my armpits feel gross and as the video mentioned I began to smell worse and feel more sweaty after wearing it for awhile. I haven't worn anti-perspirant sticks for a decade now, I don't smell or sweat in the pits like I used to even when working out. If I do get a little smelly (which takes at least a full day of sweating and working out without a shower) I spritz or wipe the area with a spray of colloidal silver and some nice smelling oils like peppermint. Something as low as 10ppm and a couple drops of the oil seems to work just fine. Some of it can be clothes or posture too. Wear looser shirts (I don't wear undershirts) and stand straight with your shoulders back so they air out. Being in shape also helps.

stopped using deodorant about 7 years ago. mainly for a reason that my sweating was so bad due to my social anxiety that I decided that if none of the deodorants and antiperspirants didn't help me, then I might just stop using it. somehow I became more confident because of that and now I almost don't sweat in the majority of situations. when I do, I don;t care that much, it is in fact natural.

I now use an alum (not aluminum!) salt/crystal(?) deodorant. It’s just a solid hard salt rock that I just wet a bit and then roll around. It is odorless, doesn’t block sweat but it keeps me without smells for over 24hrs even in mid summer. The actual product also last me months for each piece.

My fave deodorant alternative - glycolic acid. Put some on a cotton pad and wipe your pits with it. It doesn’t stop you from sweating but it keeps the stink away. Even during/after high-intensity cardio sessions, it kept me stink-free.

Having been a person who sweats a lot without exertion, I always used antiperspirant. Ok, aluminum aside, a greater percentage of the active ingredient works better. BUT then, they changed that active to something slightly different (and guessing cheaper!) and then didn't work well at all. Finding the old aluminum ingredient is harder since the change about ten years ago. Some have TOO much and were very irritating to my skin. YMMV. Scent is an issue as well. Dr Dray dermatologist YT channel gives good hints. Here's some, including mine: Use an antibacterial soap - NOT Irish Spring - a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide face wash - like Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser. Soap up your pits and avoid your private parts (it's a bit drying) except maybe the groin skin folds. Leave it on for a couple of minutes to kill the bacteria lingering in the pores and rinse. Putting deodorant over lingering bacteria will never work as well as really clean pits. Wear natural fabrics - cotton, viscose, rayon, Tencel, and linen that breathe and absorb some sweat. Do not wear plastic i.e. polyester, nylon, acrylic that do not absorb sweat and smell worse when you do sweat. Shower at night and put on your deodorant/antiperspirant on DRY skin. Then, let it dry! Works better when it seeps into the pores to prevent sweat and odor tomorrow - while you're presumably sweating less at night! You can add more in the morning. Wash your clothes in warm or hot water. I sure do not trust new detergents to work well in cold water. Use Borax/Washing Soda/Baking Soda with your detergent and white vinegar in your rinse to get rid of ALL odors and bacteria. Wash Twice for those really nasty, sweaty clothes. Borax needs hot water to dissolve completely. I use scent free Avon On-Duty 24 Hours Unscented and Almay Sensitive Skin roll-on or clear gel. Avon has an older ingredient: Aluminum Chlorohydrate 20.7% Anhydrous. Almay: Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate 25%. I don't recall the new ingredient but it will be in most all other OTC dept. store products. I used Mitchum roll-on 20% Aluminum Zirconium (I think) forever. It worked until they changed!

An issue I had looking at Native was when you look at the physical tube of deodorant is lists fragrance as an ingredient. That is not on their website. I'm very sensitive to artificial scents. So when I was looking at their sensitive deodorants in my local food store I was disappointed to find "fragrance" in their sensitive line.

I also like the Native plastic-free, and I feel like deodorant is a great application for the odor fighting effects of charcoal, with less downsides than in toothpaste, etc. I’ve been reading good things about Alpine Provisions and they also do a paper pack charcoal deo

As a stripper, I wear deodorant to work and reapply throughout my shift and really like the native deodorants which are pricey but smell amazing. Also the arm and hammer clear ones are excellent, cheap, and if you don’t have sensitive skin I recommend it for preventing ingrown hairs (glide over any areas after shaving 🪒 but don’t get it on the 🐱). I don’t really know why it works but I literally don’t get any ingrown hairs if I do this and I shave often . But for everyday, I really don’t bother applying deodorant! Not worth it or necessary 😅

Sweat is a fact of life here in South Florida & in the past few years I've noticed an increase in the number of people not using deodorants or not using very good ones. Since I don't want to smell like the great unwashed I do use it, but selectively Secret has always been my brand, just the basic brand- yes, I've tried others & hated them- but I only apply it before leaving the house for some reason. As an introvert I keep that to a minimum so one stick lasts me a long time, & if I find a double stick bonus pack I'm usually set for the year. Moderation is the key to all things except coffee, lol.

Aluminum is natural

The truth about deodorant is that we all need it😂

Humble brand deodorant is my go-to deodorant right now. I switched to their vegan formula after finding out that I'm allergic to beeswax :/ but i have found both their regular and vegan formulas to work well at masking odor! The downside is if it gets on your clothes it can be harder to get out, but not impossible!

My friends and I use Wild, its premise is a refillable deodorant stick, natural scents, and plastic-free packaging. It's only available online, but I'm a big fan of the scent selection and price!

I think one reason why Victorians didn't think the new deodorant as something that they needed was because their underclothes took care of their sweat and they lived in climates that weren't so hot. Personally, I lived in a hot climate for a quarter of my life and didn't have the habit to put on deodorant and instead, stood in front of a fan a lot or showered and changed clothes whenever the chance presented itself because you might as well learn to stay cool and clean. Also, at the time, we didn't have the money to buy things we could do without

Deodorant used to be a no-brainer for me but now I don’t use it at all. Bathing regularly is enough, IMO! After all, what is so bad or shameful about smelling like a real person? It’s just a story that’s been sold to us by advertisers. Plus, my clothes last longer because they don’t get pit stains 🤗

I think the relevant question with respect to both deodorants and anti-perspirants is whether or not the molecules are small enough that they can be absorbed through the skin, not whether their ingredients are "natural" in the sense of being something we could safely eat. Unfortunately, this video does not explore whether the ingredients or their fragments can permeate the skin, so this natural deodorant thing could, itself, be consumer exploitation. Anyway, the video title is fairly misleading in that it suggests some of these key question are answered. Alas, they aren't.

Can confirm, got a travel size Native to test out on a trip to Australia recently, and for general life & walking around, I found it worked well! Was honestly surprised. Price is definitely an issue, but might be worth it...

Can you do a video on HUEL? I'm really interested in what you'll find about the company

This is such an awesome video. I have only used crystals for ages. Never would go back. Please can you make a video on how to buy cruelty free hygiene products.

I noticed no one is talking about witch hazel as a deodorant. Sometimes I accidentally cut or scratch my underarms when shaving and can't wear deodorant at all until the cuts heal. So witch hazel helps me get by and it even makes me smell less than when I use deodorant. I use love, beauty, and planet natural deodorant and while it smells good it always feels like I have to reapply it too often throughout the day (and it can feel like it makes me stink more)

As a person in high school. Trust me when I say many people need this.

Excellent work, Good use of humor throughout your videos... I know a lot of people that just use deluted mouthwash and use it as deodorant under their arms cause I don't wanna put all that super perfume stuff on their body.

I've been thinking entirely too much about deodorant lately. I ended up with a list of what's important to me (in a specific order). 1. Must not give me a rash (unfortunately this rules out all natural deodorants that have baking soda). 2. Has to work. I don't want to stink. It's deodorant not lotion. 3. Aluminum free. 4. Plastic free. (I want to save the earth, but not if it means having a huge rash, being super stinky, or clogging up my system with aluminum. Finding a stick (or spray) that meets all four requirements is ridiculously difficult. I usually have to settle for just the first three. Sorry sea turtles.

While important to acknowledge all perspectives, I think the “well why not avoid just in case” messaging on parabens could use more backing up. I’d be curious to see the concentrations parabens are harmful at abd if that compares to the cumulative exposure we have to parabens in multiple daily- use products Another important thing to note about parabens is that they’re used as a preservative so when buying paraben free products, you need to make sure you trust the company has used a formulation that won’t favour bacteria growth. One more thing - I feel like fear on parabens being hormone disrupters is used for ‘clean’ companies to sell products. Lots of plants that have extracts in products are known to disrupt hormones - also marijuana! But those ingredients fit the green clean brand.

As a kid my favorite was the original Old Spice and in my teenage days I switched to AXE like everyone did. Today I use Dove Men. It's not horrendously expensive and it works for me.

I personally use Earthwise Natural deoderant, but I've only ever seen it for sale in eastern Canada in specialty health food stores. Personally also had good experience with Green Beaver as well. I had an allergic reaction to the aluminum in old spice when I was younger so that was my signal to switch.

I stopped using the classic spray deodorant because some claims it is terrible. Basically, the things this video show. For the first month, I felt that I smelled bad, but I knew that it wasn't a next-day change. By the second month, things got better, I stopped sweating like before, the smell improved and now I feel I don't need anymore. Another thing that I figured out is that trimming my armpit helps a lot. Maybe the most essential part to me.

I’ve been using salt crystal deodorant for 8 years now and I find it works great for around 24 hours when used immediately after showering. That said I’m not a very “smelly” person to begin with. The product itself also lasts for many, many, MANY uses. I’ve spent less than $15 on deodorant in the last 8 years.

I began using an anti-odorant called Nuud and I f-ing love it. I only have to use a tiny bit every few days and the active ingredient to fight odor is micronized silver. It's been a complete game changer, especially during faire season!

I’m surprised you haven’t heard or used Nuud!!! It’s a “deodorant” from Amsterdam and I’ve been using it for almost 2 years now. All natural and one of the most eco friendly products I have in my bathroom. Corn starch biodegradable tubes and paper packaging. One small pea sized amount is all you need for 3-4 days, so that means one small tube lasts for months. It might be a big step for some people because it takes maybe about 1-2 weeks of retraining your body, so for the first week or so, there will be smell, but after that, no BO at all. I haven’t touched conventional deodorants for 2 years now and I honestly can say that I haven’t had armpit BO since I started using Nuud (I work out AND I live in Malaysia - the tropics). And for the fact that one small tube lasts for so long, it’s super affordable.

When the COVID pandemic hit, and I started working from home, I thought it the perfect opportunity to ditch the anti-perspirant and see what happened, because I'd always found it uncomfortable and wondered if it was actually making me sweat more than if I didn't wear it. Three years later, I still don't use anti-perspirant or deodorant, and I can honestly say that I've only ever smelled my own BO a couple of times during that period when I've got particularly sweaty on a hot summer day. I tried a bunch of other lifestyle changes during the pandemic, too, including switching to cooking with as many organic wholefoods as possible, and I have a feeling a cleaner, more "natural" diet probably has some (positive) effect on the smell of what little BO I seem to have now. Don't be afraid to ditch these products if you're even a little bit skeptical about them, as I was.

I have been using WILD deodorant for a few months now and I am pleased to say that I've never smelled better in my life. They are refillable and the refils are compostable! They also have a lot of great smelling scents. It's a great alternative if you want to try natural deodorant and if you are worried about smelling weird. They are also B-certified!

I don't know when I knew this, but I think it was last year when I went through a bit of an environmentalist frenzy that I acknowledged my own smell. Only then was I able to not think of my smell too much, I even corrected people around me. But I do need some still and I have found some that are considered safe and affordable (and greenwashing is expensive lol)

Baking soda. That's it. I've switched to and only been using that for something like 10 years now. It doesn't get you odor free in any situation, but most of the time it's good enough

I've never used it, I have serious allergies to a lot of things we put on our skin and never found one that didn't make me sick so I didn't bother. I've been surprised how vicious people can be when you tell them though - the same people who had never even once said I smelled would become outright hostile to me.

Honestly i feel like a deodorant without an antiperspirant is pretty much useless and frankly gross. It's just a gel with fragrance oils that melts and mixes with the sweat to cover up the odor for a little bit. I know there's a big opposition to the antiperspirant ingredients that actually work nowadays, but i need them.

I stopped wearing deodorant in high school coz of having to suffer the stench of the change rooms. Gods. Aerosols are the worst. What really got me over the line was when, shortly after ceasing wearing it, a giiiiiiirl (ooooooh) was giving me a hug goodbye and she said that I smelt good (!). So I've not put any scents, sprays or whatever under my arms for over 20 years now, and IT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE. Don't worry about your smell, people. It's not as bad as you think (as long as you shower every morning). Normalise the human scent! It's so much nicer than artificial scents!

I remember reading a story in the NYT not too long ago about Millennial bathing habits and one guy in particular who proudly stated that he only showers once a week and he knew it was fine because nobody ever said anything. Sorry, no. Just because everyone around you is too polite to say, "Dude, you reek" doesn't mean you don't. Use deoderant, please. If not for yourself then for us.

I use Secret Outlast Clear Gel Antiperspirant Deodorant(Shower Fresh scent) and I've never had a problem(not even in the summer)....however, I absolutely HATE the powder versions since they seem to not work as well AND ruin my shirts in the armpit area!

I use the rock crystal. It's unscented, works, cheap, and last almost forever.

There's some homemade recipes that are pretty effective. I've used one of those for 3+ years now. It isn't antiperspirant, just a deodorant. Still effective, though. Only downside is that you have to wash your underpits and reapply mid day if the day was hot enough. The recipe is: 35 ml of milk of magnesia (Philips mint flavor is very good), 15 ml of 30/40 ppm colloidal silver and, optionally, 1-3 drops of an essential oil to "flavor" your deodorant with some coconut oil to help mixing the essential oil.

i only really use odorless antiperspirant with perfume/body spray when i feel like a nice scent, is aluminum really that bad? if you sweat a lot it can be uncomfortable, aside from social expectations

I try to avoid using deodorant because I think it’s bad for the skin and health. There are my simple rules what help me to stay odorless. I shave my armpits (hair absorbs smell, no hair- less smell). I have some rubbing alcohol with me and sometimes when it’s needed I wipe the armpits with a paper towel soaked in alcohol when in the bathroom. Also try to avoid running when not at the gym, be dressed accordingly, lose layers when needed, keep ac a little cooler when possible. Of course shower after the gym. Definitely there are exceptions when deodorant is needed, however most of the days we can avoid it. I also use from less to no soap when shower. My body naturally smells less, what I can’t say about the past when I used a lot of products. More products - more problems.

This is topic that personally doesn’t affect me, but I found interesting. I guess I’m lucky that I don’t have crazy armpit odor, so much so I haven’t worn deodorant for the last seven years and people think that it’s weird I don’t, but when I ask them if I smell bad they tell me I don’t. I do wear cologne on date nights and special occasions but for day to day I do nothing. Shower with soap and water and that’s it. I’m not one of those crazy hippy types, but honestly it was just a waste of money for me. So interesting video and although I could care less I watched the whole thing anyway!!

I find keeping my armpit hairs short and using glycolic acid every couple of days works really well for me (and an aftershave/perfume to smell good). Not so great when I get sweaty in the summer though.

I actually make my deodorant with alcohol and baking soda, been doing it for years, really the BEST deodorant EVER. literally 0 smell, it works all day it's cheap, only 2 very safe ingridients... it's great!

This isn’t quite the level of content I’ve got used to from future proof, normally great stuff but here we have a lot of anecdotal evidence and a general point that “natural” ingredients are safe without actually mentioning the ingredients, some of the most toxic substances on the planet are “natural”. I appreciate the ultimate point of “we don’t really know” but I feel like this was really just looking for views by fear mongering without any real evidence.

I use Magnesium Hydroxide, also called "Milk of Magnesia". It is primarily used as an antiacid, but it is also found in many skin products.

I have been using BAKING SODA as a deodorant replacement for years now & It freaking works! At least for me and my friends... I use it in the morning immediately after taking a shower and it prevents me from smelling bad all day. Best if the baking soda is very fine. I sweat, but i don't smell bad, even if I do physical activity. I wish it was common knowledge. I suggest to avoid using too much, just brush off the extra grains that didn't stick to the armpit. I noticed that when I don't brush off the extras, and then go for a run I sometimes get and irritation due to the friction of the grains of baking soda on the skin. That's why a very fine powder is the best in my opinion. Lately I've been trying lemon juice too and it does the job as well. You can also cut a lemon in slices, put it in the freezer, and use each day a new slice as a cooling natural deodorant. Hope this helps ;) (If I had not come across this options I'd be still using deodorant tho, thank god they have been invented and brainwased everyone into using them 😅)

Anti-perspirant detox made me a believer that it was trapping things it shouldn't. Native actually caused a severe allergic reaction for me. I found an amazing brand of deodorant (yes, expensive) but I can't recommend it only because they can't stay in stock as is! Thank you for this video though to make people aware of the health problems associated with this HBA item we have all taken for granted.

You know what also helps? Not wearing plastic. Wear natural fabrics (yes, I mean natural and I think this is a good word) like cotton and linen and viscose, not plastics like polyester. I stopped shaving during lock down (I know shock-horror!) and realised I didn't need deodorant as often. And then one day I got a deodorant on whim that is for whatever reason just a stick of rock salt that you rub on your underarms after shower (when you remember) and it works just fine. I have no idea if this has any consequence on my health whatsoever but I do feel a bit better knowing I don't put questionable paste on my skin everyday. So there's at least that. And no, I don't smell.

its kinda like shampoo, most don't always need it, but some often do :)

Since you mentioned the Victorian era, let me clarify a few things because, contrary to popular belief, they actually did care about hygiene (bear in mind many health related discoveries were made during the time period): Antiperspirants were not considered needed because: 1. The base layers worn next to the skin were designed specifically to pick up sweat and keep it away from shirts/dresses/coats/bodices; there were other accessories available as well for those that needed a bit more coverage. 2. Other things were used to prevent body odor, such as dusting powders that were either starch or talc based, along with ammonia for the especially conscious types (vinegar being a suitable alternative for those with sensitive skin)! Source: How To Be A Victorian by Ruth Goodman

Crystal deodorant for the past 10 years and it’s changed my life. No nasty goop feeling, no smell, no itching, the stone lasts for months. I used to have to use a thick layer of the “clinical strength” antiperspirants and I would still smell by the end of the day. This invisible and smell free stone keeps me non-smelly for days! Crazy

Whenever I used deodorant, I developed rash and itching. Eventually, stopped using it even though I was forced several times by my family to use it since my teenage years. I also agree on the fact that you smell way more with frequent application, coercing people to stick to it no matter what. It takes time for the body to reset the microbiome. Apart from Fossil Fuel industries, Cigarette Industries and Plastic industries, Cosmetic industries are the worst! I always feel we have never learnt to respect the nature of our planet Earth and in the same way we continue to treat our body as well! Thank you for making a video on this, much needed!

I never really used deodorants regularly, bc I live in a colder climate and basically never sweat(unless it's summer). No one ever told me I smell bad quite the opposite people like to hug me quite a lot...

Hmm, a reason why the victorian and edwardian women probably saw no need for deodorant might be the magic of wearing linen undershirts. Linen and similar fabrics like hemp are way more antibacterial than cotton. And you changed the undershirt daily if you could afford it plus there were things like underarm pads to protect your outer layers. Also looser constructed woven underwear instead of clingy thin knit jersey nowadays dries quicker and is more comfortable in summer. And as a pro tip: Just carry a fresh shirt. A T-shirt weighs not much and you have not just a dry nice shirt but also you can use the old as a towel after you washed your pits.

I tried Tom’s natural deodorant and developed a bad reaction that left me unable to wear anything for a year or so (I washed frequently). Then I started making my own (whatever is in Native and other “natural” ones can be mixed together at home). So far, no reaction and no bad BO (it’s been a few years). My grandma just used baking soda. I saw an experiment done by non-scientists that found lemon worked well…rub a slice of fresh lemon on, peel included. 🤷‍♀️

Thank you for the enlightening video! As someone who's used Old Spice for so long, I'll be making the conscious effort next time to get something better for my body. As expensive as it might be, a stick will last for a good while anyways.

I gave up and started applying the glycolic acid toner I use for my face to my pit regions at night. In the morning I use my even less expensive witch hazel there instead. The low pH of these products are acidic enough that it kills off the bacteria that cause odor. No I have no idea if I’m killing good bacteria too but there hasn’t been any rebound odor. The witch hazel is rather astringent so it can help me feel slightly dryer (compared to using nothing) for a couple hours after it’s applied. I also like getting to just use the skincare products I already buy for my other body parts on my my armpit skin instead of buying a designated deodorant for it. Sadly they don’t do anything for sweating so on occasions when I do sweat at least there’s no unpleasant aroma, it’s just uncomfortable during physical activity if my shirt has sleeves and looks gross on the pit part of non-sleeveless shirts. I heard that if you don’t have body odor problems you can just DIY an anti-sweat product on your own with baking soda, corn starch and an application tool like a big fluffy makeup brush. I might try that

Thanks. Now I know why I get lumps that come (when I use deodorant for a few days on a row) and disappear when I stop using them. Now it's the journey to find an alternative.

"Teenagers are awful." I enjoy that you recognize you were a sincere part of the movement that antagonized my migraines in high school. I'll take your sentiment as an apology. XP Edit: If anyone is looking for a nice alternative deodorant that doesn't cause their pits to flare, if you don't mind the charcoal getting on the inside of your clothes (doesn't stain), little seed farm's deodorant is nice. It uses goat's milk, jojoba, and charcoal. I don't go for any of the scents because they don't seem strong enough. The charcoal seems to really absorb smells, but it may not be for people who have things like hyperhidrosis. I'm not going to link it here because it's an easy google search and I'm not being paid by them. :3

I did the change to natural homemade deodorant just as a lost attempt, due to the Alzheimer’s paper, to see if anything would come of it. It’s truly eye opening how much exercise I can do now without smelling bad with the homemade one Set aside the harmful ingredient conversation for a moment, the homemade one is much more powerful than the traditional ones (you do sweat but your sweat doesn’t smell bad) In my case I just use 50% coconut oil and 50% baking soda. Works like a charm👌🏼

I haven’t used deodorant in at least 5 years. If you fix your diet and avoid eating caustic foods like chilli, onion and garlic (which should be avoided anyway if you ask yogis or Buddhists), and make sure to shower daily, you’ll never smell strong enough for people near you to consciously detect your scent.

i don't know why but my brain just went "Imagine if this video was brought to you by Old Spice"

The “smellier after deodorant effect” is 100% real. I’ve never been a deodorant person, I just never felt the need and so I didn’t really build the habit of using it, and I RARELY smell bad, even living in a tropical country. My husband, on the other hand, uses copious amounts of Old Spice every single day (I think he’s actually addicted), and he is a pretty smelly boy, haha. I do know that male and female hormonal balances vary, which of course is an important variable, but he definitely smells more than average (even compared to his family members), which leads him to use even more deodorant, and it’s just a vicious cycle. I, on the other hand, am WAY less smelly than other women I know (including family). And yes, I sometimes ask my husband to smell me, just to make sure I’m not delusional, haha. Bottom line: if you can, avoid deodorants at all cost. Don’t even get into it, you’ll just get trapped. 😅