I smell bad

[DesertBlossom]

Could also be titled "Every natural deodorant I have tried has failed me." And I've tried several.

 

Baking soda (gives me a rash)

Crystal deodorants (the solid and the roll-on)

Tom's, in all the flavors

Milk of Magnesia

Hydrogen Peroxide 

and probably others...

 

Maybe I am expecting too much?  At 24 hours after my last shower I don't expect to smell like roses. But at 12 hours (or less) I am already getting a BO smell. Perhaps only to me and my delicate nose when I press it to my armpits. But if I can smell it I worry that others around me can smell it too.

 

I don't want to switch back to antiperspirant.

 

Is there any hope for me? 

 

 

[Miss Peregrine]

Schmidts?

[jen3kids]

A friend of mine suggests showering at night and then wiping your armpits with tea tree oil.  She only uses deodorant when working out/playing sports.  

 

 

[Acadie]

I really like Primal Pit Paste in Jasmine. Pretty sure one of the active ingredients is baking soda, though--did it irritate you as an ingredient or did you use it straight up?

 

A little natural fragrance helps too (I think PPP uses essential oils). Also this may seem weird but...do you shave your armpits? Sometimes I notice the stink when I haven't shaved for several days. 

 

On mornings when I'm not showering, I wipe my armpits with rubbing alcohol and reapply deodorant after that.

 

That said, if I'm going to a wedding on a 90 degree day in a sleeveless dress I use conventional antiperspirant. There are some things that natural deodorants just can't do. 

 

Amy

 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2017 by Acadie

[itsheresomewhere]

Schmidt's sensitive is great for winter for me but fails big time in the summer. Milk of mag was huge failure. In the summer I have to use antiperspirant.

 

Native is supposed to be great according to several friends. I haven't bought it yet so I can't tell you personal experience.

[Learning fun]

So I use the roll on magnesium type then the Toms 24 hour. If I don't apply them both then there will be stinkage.

[Rosie_0801]

Are you drinking enough water?

[Anne]

I like Native. Works pretty well for me.

 

Anne

[Miss Peregrine]

A huge layer of BO disappeared when I stopped eating meat.

[Southern Ivy]

I like Native. Works pretty well for me.

 

Anne

 

My mom uses Native. She had prescription deodorant because she was stinking so bad through peri-menopause. She would apply the prescription deodorant 3x a day and would still need 2 showers a day. It was bad. 

She got a free sample of Native and figured why not. She now raves about it. She even texted me "I have the most awesome deodorant!" lol 

 

I say Native is worth a shot. 

[DesertBlossom]

A friend of mine suggests showering at night and then wiping your armpits with tea tree oil.  She only uses deodorant when working out/playing sports.  

 

Why at night?  Because it seems like if I want to get through the day without being stinky, I should shower first thing. Hmm... 

[DesertBlossom]

Are you drinking enough water?

 

I think so. Usually anyway.

[DesertBlossom]

I really like Primal Pit Paste in Jasmine. Pretty sure one of the active ingredients is baking soda, though--did it irritate you as an ingredient or did you use it straight up?

 

 

It's been years, but I think I've tried it as an ingredient and also straight up.

[DesertBlossom]

I really like Primal Pit Paste in Jasmine. Pretty sure one of the active ingredients is baking soda, though--did it irritate you as an ingredient or did you use it straight up?

 

 

Both. 

 

Also, Native says it has baking soda in it so I'm leery. Curious, but leery.

[73349]

Schmidts?

 

:iagree:  I was going to suggest this also. Their bergamot & lime is working great for me, where stuff like Chagrin Valley did not. Plain baking soda doesn't bother my skin, but is only effective for me in cold weather. I've seen Schmidt's recently in Earth Fare and Whole Foods as well as on Amazon.

[Miss Peregrine]

:iagree:  I was going to suggest this also. Their bergamot & lime is working great for me, where stuff like Chagrin Valley did not. Plain baking soda doesn't bother my skin, but is only effective for me in cold weather. I've seen Schmidt's recently in Earth Fare and Whole Foods as well as on Amazon.

That scent is really good. I find it at Target.

[Acorn]

I think Schmidt’s bergamot and lime is the best I’ve tried. However, it feels so rough during application that I hate scratching myself every morning.

[Miss Tick]

When my old and sadly discontinued deodorant stopped working for me, I could spritz with vinegar after my shower, apply deodorant as usual after it dried, and after a few days my flora(?) seemed to go back to normal and I could use my deodorant as usual for another year or two.

 

So maybe if one worked ok for a while you could revisit it with a dose of vinegar?

[stephanier.1765]

My DH works outdoors in the Florida heat and gets by with just rubbing lemon on his pits. His deodorant had started to give him a rash so he did a little detective work and came up with lemons. Who knew.

[gardenmom5]

have you ever looked into your diet for if you are reactive to certain foods?

[KungFuPanda]

Do unnatural, chemical-laden store bought deodorants cause problems for you?

[klmama]

I gave up on natural ones, but maybe I'll try one of these I've never heard of.  I'd love to be rid of the aluminum. 

 

Just FYI, if you use regular antiperspirants, the bacteria in your armpits changes and the ones that proliferate produce stronger odor.  Once every week or two I use some my teen's benzoyl peroxide foaming wash to kill it off, and that makes a huge difference.  

 

 

[Terabith]

I tried for a long time to give up deodorant with aluminum, but even when I didn't smell BAD, I smelled metallic.  I lasted six months before deciding I couldn't live like that and went back to Secret. 

[Liz CA]

Don't know if this would work for you: I mix up coconut oil with a little essential oil - whatever scent you like. Sometimes I have added baking soda which you can leave out. In the summer, it gets pretty liquid unless you refrigerate it but it has worked for me for years.

[Rosika]

I've never worn deodorant every day. I do smell human by the end of the day, but I help counter that by a quick pit wash every time I go to the bathroom and am washing my hands anyway. I also drink a lot of water. 

 

The one exception I make for deodorant is pregnant and postpartum. I don't know what happens to my body chemistry, but my "human smell" become straight up FUNK. Because I nurse on demand, I try to avoid the typical store deodorants. Coconut oil works some, but only for "stay around the house" days; it wouldn't work for me if we went to the park or something. I can't to baking soda, it gives me a rash. I've had moderate luck with straight milk of magnesia (and a vodka rub at night or after showering - any alcohol works to kill the bacteria) but it's messy and sticky. 

 

I now use Piper Wai. I saw it on Shark Tank, was skeptical because I had tried every natural deodorant on the market but still desperate enough to give the product a shot. I love it! It's activated charcoal, and I think Primal Pit Paste now makes its own version of it. (I got a very bad rash from PPP but my sons use it and love it.) My daughter and I prefer Piper Wai - she uses the roll on while I prefer the goop.Just one more suggestion. It's not cheap, but I can use it sparingly and I only use it on days I'm leaving the house. I still just use coconut oil on at-home days, with water wipes during potty breaks. 

 

Something tells me that as I enter menopause my body chemistry is going to require daily deodorant. I'm so glad I found Piper Wai because it's the first natural deodorant I feel truly confident wearing to leave the house. 

 

I think there's also a natural detox period people forget to account for. Transitioning from one deodorant to none, or from chemical to natural .. there's going to be an adjustment period. The smell and sweat will get worse before it gets evens out. Winter is a perfect time to experiment with change.

 

Have you asked other people if you smell? I've found kids to be particularly "helpful" and honest  :glare:  :lol:  I think sometimes we're more sensitive to our own smell. Which is weird because I swear my boys have all gone through periods where they're oblivious to theirs ... :w00t:  

[Corraleno]

Both. 

 

Also, Native says it has baking soda in it so I'm leery. Curious, but leery.

 

The Sensitive version does not have baking soda. If you place an order, this link will add a free travel size: https://refer.nativecos.com/x/5H0piV

[kiwik]

I am too strong smelling for natural stuff, I hate anti perspirants, have sensitive skin and I don't like scents. The only thing I have ever found that met all my criteria is Linden Voss unscented deodorant. If the stop making it I will panic. As it is it has doubled in price since I started using it.

Edited November 17, 2017 by kiwik

[chocolatechip]

I hate to be the Debbie Downer, but I'm in the same boat as you. No natural products really work or they make me sweat buckets (Crystal worked well for smell but I swear it made me sweat twice as much. Not okay.)

 

So, I went back to aluminum antiperspirants. Le sigh. 

[mathnerd]

I have heard that gut bacteria imbalance causes bad BO due to yeast overgrowth. Try to check if your diet has too much simple carbohydrates and try taking a probiotic supplement or drink kefir. I used to have bad BO immediately after a major surgery I had. It could be related to the many antibiotics I had to take during that period. 

[KungFuPanda]

I do NOT think people are sensitive to their own smells. There are just too many smelly people walking around for this to be true. I’d argue that people MUST be less sensitive to their own smell because they are used to it.

[EKS]

When you get out of the shower, wipe your armpits with rubbing alcohol.  Let dry.  Use your regular deodorant.  Repeat for a few days.  After that you should be good for a while.  When it happens again, repeat the process.  

[milovany]

You want Lavilin.  You're welcome.  :D

 

Seriously, lasts for days even if you work out, shower, shave, etc and it's chemical and aluminum free. It's a thick white paste that you spread on with a plastic applicator (think the zinc sunscreens but probably even thicker); you just need a thin layer. Lavilin works wonderfully, at least it has for me.  I've been using it for a couple of years now.  If you search around at Amazon, there's a newer formula than the one I linked, and other application options to make that part easier, but from the reviews I read, it doesn't work as well.  

 

ETA:  It seems expensive, I know!  But you get two and you don't have to apply it every day.  One container can last for a couple of months.

Edited November 17, 2017 by milovany

[Cosmos]

I don't think decreased effectiveness at 12 hours is "failing". That's my experience with natural deodorants as well. Can't you just reapply (give a quick wash first if you want)? It's easy to carry some in your purse for quick touch-ups as needed.

[DesertBlossom]

I have heard that gut bacteria imbalance causes bad BO due to yeast overgrowth. Try to check if your diet has too much simple carbohydrates and try taking a probiotic supplement or drink kefir. I used to have bad BO immediately after a major surgery I had. It could be related to the many antibiotics I had to take during that period. 

 

I'm actually about 3 weeks into a Whole30 diet. And maybe I just need more time, but I haven't noticed a decrease in smell.

[Reefgazer]

Mitchum for men. Seriously strong deodorant, and works. Eat more veggies and less meat.

Edited November 19, 2017 by reefgazer