EDITOR’S SUMMARY: When it comes to addressing body odor that can be embarrassing and hinder self-esteem, there are many options. Whole body deodorants are being marketed like crazy on social media, particularly aimed at women. Unfortunately, these products are part and parcel of a “quick-fix society,” urging you to rise to the occasion, but only touching the superficial layer of symptom relief. The problem is that when the root cause is not met with care, your symptoms can often pop back up, or surface elsewhere. Take careful consideration to compare natural methods for getting rid of distressing body odor, while also identifying the source of the issue at hand.
By Kathryn West
When the terms “body odor” or “B.O.” come to mind, deodorant is usually not far behind. These underarm applicators have been rubbed and sprayed on bodies since they first went commercial in 1888 (previously, perfume was the main source of masking unpleasant body odors). Regular deodorant, however, is apparently not enough for today’s odor-repelled population. Judging by the swell of advertising for a new type of product called “whole body deodorant,” modernites are in need of complete deo-dunking, and whole body deodorant brands have just the cure for your fetid physical fragrances.
Basically, this new product is repackaged body spray (remember Axe?). It’s all the rage right now, trending on social media and television commercials, emphasizing the “need” to freshen up “down there.” Not just for armpits anymore, these all-body deodorants are hitting the shelves by storm, encouraging you to control your scent from “pits to bits.” This body “care” product covers regions such as the groin, feet, skin folds, thighs, pubic area, chest, and buttocks. Companies are marketing the deodorants through affiliates, so-called “experts,” who are getting paid to promote them. Spate, an artificial intelligence tool for tracking consumers’ needs based on billions of behavior signals, reported that “searches for body deodorant have grown 27 percent since last year. The #FullBodyDeodorant hashtag on TikTok has more than 23 million views.” Google trends, meanwhile, reports that search interest for the term “whole body deodorants” increased by over 1000% in the past 12 months.
But does this increase stem from actual consumer demand, or is the “need” being created by the constant marketing of these products? How many times must you hear that you smell before you start to believe it? As evidenced by advertising, these companies certainly want you to feel inferior in your natural state. While whole body deodorant companies mostly target women due to high demand for the women’s line (and other probable reasons beyond the scope of this article), there are products for men as well. According to a story in the New York Post, “Everyone is now using full-body deodorant: ‘People are just struggling with body odor’”:
“Unilever research found that 15% of Americans sought a whole-body product for odor, while a survey by the Dove Men + Care line concluded that 76% of men would try a whole-body deodorant, while only 2% were current users.”
These deodorizers are offered in a variety of topical applications, including cream in a tube, sticks, sprays, and even on-the-go wipes. Marketed to the masses of real or perceived stinky citizens everywhere, manufacturers claim that their products help control body odor for up to 72-hours, are dermatologist-tested, not problematic for sensitive skin, and safe and effective for daily use. But are they? (And haven’t you heard this “safe and effective” narrative somewhere prior?) Before even asking that question, however, plumbing the obvious might be a good idea—deciphering whether deodorants applied to your entire body are in fact necessary at all.
As with many things in life, it depends on who you ask. The insinuation from companies is that the human body reeks, so you need to apply these products all over yourself to be an acceptable member of your community. Could this be a contributing factor in making women especially feel like their natural, clean body odor is unacceptable? “It’s not necessary at all,” says Dr. Karen Lal, double board certified dermatologist, in referring to whole body deodorants. Americans, however, would disagree. The United States uses more deodorant than any other country. A total of 87% of men and 90% of women use them, and 31.5% of female teenagers apply them several times per day.
Inside the Tubes and Sprays: Effects of the Ingredients
It can be confusing from the outset, including basic terms like “deodorant” and “antiperspirant.” To be clear: Deodorants are not antiperspirants, but the two are often packaged together under the same B.O. umbrella. On one hand, antiperspirants combat moisture and sweating (by the way, sweat on its own has no odor), with aluminum as the active ingredient, and aluminum-free antiperspirants do not exist. According to the Health Department at Ohio State University:
“The apocrine glands produce odor when bacteria normally found on your skin mixes with sweat. Antiperspirants, with ingredients such as aluminum chloride, act by forming a plug that blocks the secretion of sweat from the eccrine glands.”
They’re in the category of drugs, and therefore regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Deodorants, on the other hand, target odor, not sweat. They’re considered cosmetics, not subject to FDA approval, and do not require safety testing. Deodorants mostly contain antimicrobial agents to inhibit bacteria growth, and ingredients to absorb moisture.
So what’s the big deal about wanting to sport a pleasant smell? As usual, it comes down to ingredients. Deodorants often contain fragrances to mask odors. Fragrance, an ubiquitous term without explaining what it actually is, slithers into a plethora of products, from household cleaners to cosmetics, to you guessed it … whole body deodorants. But any synthetic product that is marketed to smell like “fresh summer rain” or “tangerine dream,” likely contains a slew of chemicals. And unlike natural essential oils, these fragrances can be toxic.
According to James Coleman, Ph.D., deodorants often contain parabens—preservatives to ward off bacteria, fungi, and yeast—that promote breast cancer. In addition, the aforementioned fragrances in deodorant can consist of over 2,000 chemicals, including carcinogens. So when you put whole body deodorant on your skin, you’re absorbing known cancer-causing agents and hormonal disruptors.
Allergic contact dermatitis is another frequent unwanted effect of artificial fragrance. According to a recent research article from SpringerNature, “Ubiquity, Hazardous Effects, and Risk Assessment of Fragrances in Consumer Products”:
“… cosmetics were the culprits in 42% of patients with fragrance contact allergy. Most common sources were deodorants…their persistence and skin penetration are enhanced by occlusion, moiety, hair follicles and shaving irritation. The exposure depends on the frequency of application and the fragrance concentration.”
Going deeper, companies often hide toxic chemicals under the catch-all term “fragrance” through highlighting certain ingredients that can be beneficial or neutral. Two examples are tapioca powder and cornstarch. In the February 2024 Oprah Daily article, “We’re in Our Body Deodorant Era – Here’s Why You Might Want One Too,” the piece lists a handful of popular whole-body deodorants and their key ingredients. What doesn’t get mentioned are the other ingredients, including the fragrances and additives. While Axe, marketed to teenage boys, may have been the original body spray pioneer, the current leader of whole body deodorants is the brand, Lume, developed by a medical doctor. Lume features key ingredients such as mandelic acid and arrowroot powder.
Here’s a quick primer on those two: Mandelic acid is derived from bitter almonds. It’s an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which is a type of acid used in skin care, and is mostly applied for acne treatments. Even though it’s one of the more gentle AHAs, it can still be irritating to your skin. Arrowroot powder is a safe, natural starch extracted from tropical tubers. The full list of ingredients in Lume’s Whole Body Invisible Cream Deodorants is Water, Mandelic Acid, Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder, Tapioca Starch, Isoamyl Laurate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Floral Pyranol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sandalrome, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate.
Who knew not smelling bad required so many chemical irons in the fire? As you can see, fragrance isn’t the only problematic ingredient. Dipropylene Glycol, often used in cosmetic products as a solvent, can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Sodium benzoate, a preservative, has been shown to increase DNA damage, disrupt hormones, and negatively affect the kidneys and liver. Does this sound like something you want to rub all over your body, including your privates? Lume doesn’t come in a spray, but other brands such as Secret and Native do. Most aerosols contain benzene, a known carcinogen. According to an article in the Washington Post that confirmed Secret deodorant contains benzene, the warning is clear. From “Aerosol hair products tainted by benzene may still be on store shelves:”
“The issue appears to be related mostly to butane-powered propellants that create pressure inside an aerosol can, which is what ultimately allows us to spray a fine mist of the product when we press the nozzle. Butane is a petroleum-based propellant, and if it isn’t refined well, there’s a chance that the end product could contain traces of benzene, said Chris Cappa, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of California at Davis.”
‘“Aerosol sprays appear to be one of the highest-risk categories for benzene contamination in consumer products,”’ said David Light, the chief executive of Valisure, who also warned in May 2021 of benzene contamination in sunscreen products. ‘“We don’t want to scare people into never using an aerosol can ever again, but it is a real risk.”’
Lume and other brands strictly state that whole body deodorants should never be used internally. But if you are smearing this stuff on your pubic area, for instance, there’s a high probability that some of it will be absorbed inside your vagina. According to the scientific journal, Drug Metabolism Reviews, the vagina is “capable of absorbing a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds …” That’s because the vagina is what’s known as a mucous membrane—”mostly of endodermal origin and is continuous with the skin at body openings”—meant to both secrete and absorb fluids more effectively than other skin types. It absorbs chemicals without metabolizing them, which is why some scientists have researched administering drugs to female patients vaginally. One biophysics professor described vaginas as “highly water permeable in a way our skin is not.” Water gets through, yes … and presumably other liquids, including whole body deodorant.
Remedying Body Odor: Getting to the Source of the Scent
Your body odor is intrinsically connected to the health of your gut. If the microbiome, containing microbiota—cells, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites—in your digestive tract is not functioning properly, it can contribute to a strong, lingering scent. Herein lies an area of your health you can address from the inside out, while also taking steps to restore digestive issues. From the WellNest, “3 Surprising Causes of Body Odor Worth Knowing”:
“Irregular intestinal transit time, a leaky gut, and other manifestations of compromised gut barrier function may ‘“increase the penetration of bacterial metabolites to the circulation.”’
It is that bacterial growth, and the interplay of the “good” and “bad” that ultimately becomes the major player in how you smell. When it comes to foul body odor, microbes are often at the root of the issue. Furthermore, the microbes on your skin metabolize compounds of your sweat that can produce a less than pleasing scent. The make-up of skin microbiota varies from one location on your body to another. Did you know your right armpit can have a vastly different flora compared to the left? “Common skin bacteria that produce body odor include members of Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus and Cutibacterium genera.” From the 2020 scientific study, “Microbiota and Malodor—Etiology and Management”:
The accumulation of odorous compounds might result from diet, specific composition of microbiota, as well as compromised function of the liver, intestines and kidneys. Evidence-based guidelines for management of body malodor are lacking and no universal treatment exists. However, the alleviation of the symptoms may be achieved by controlling the diet and physical elimination of bacteria and/or accumulated odorants.
Therefore, it makes sense that what you eat, as it travels through your esophagus, stomach, and intestines, affects your body odor, or lack thereof. The Cleveland Clinic further explores this thought: “Essentially, the foods that will negatively impact your body odor are the ones that are high in sulphuric acid.” It lists seven foods which can change your scent, including spices, garlic, onion, red meat, cruciferous veggies, asparagus, alcohol, and fish. On the other hand, foods that will keep you smelling fresh include apples, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. That said, it’s not just a matter of what you eat that affects your odor, but rather, how your body processes what you ingest. It’s normal that humans have certain scents and pheromones, so blocking natural secretions with whole body deodorants may be a questionable approach to taming your odor. But that landscape is exactly where we find ourselves. Ricki Lewis, Ph.D., states:
“It seems unwise to smear on something that can instantly obliterate a microbial community that has evolved over millennia, providing our natural odor.”
Staying hydrated is also crucial. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to detox your ecosystem and reduce body odor. From “9 Health Benefits of Drinking Water And Prevent Dehydration”:
“Similarly, water helps release toxins through sweat. If your body is dehydrated, you are unable to release these toxins (bacteria), which when accumulated leads to an unpleasant body odor, especially in the armpits, feet, and groin area.”
If you still feel enthusiastic about using a whole body deodorant, before you take the leap, consider this: Underlying causes of body odor such as stress, hormones, emotions, health conditions, and physical activity may not be remedied by using a synthetic product. Conduct a test patch on a small, less sensitive area of the skin first to ensure you don’t have an adverse reaction. Fragrance-free is always the way to go when the option exists. Other ideas to decrease irksome body odor may include the following:
- Bathe or shower regularly
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet; avoid processed foods
- Try an elimination diet to pinpoint sensitivities
- Take a high-quality probiotic and/or digestive enzymes
- Swab probiotic treatments on the underarms to effectively reduce the severity of body odor, while keeping the diversity of microbes intact
- Wear breathable fabrics, such as cotton (organic when possible) and silk, or synthetic clothing designed to wick away moisture
- Choose open-toed shoes or cotton/wool socks
- Wear cotton underwear
Benzoyl peroxide, typically used for acne, is an organic compound and bacterial agent that can help with body odor. Dab on desired areas such as armpits, and leave on for a minute. Since it can be drying, use an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide cleanser in concentrations less than 10%. Serious skin reactions can occur with benzoyl peroxide, so avoid it if you have dry or sensitive skin. While considered safe for most people, start slowly and work your way up to once a day if your skin can tolerate it. Keep it away from high temperatures, as it can decompose into the carcinogen, benzene. Be sure to use products with recognizable ingredients and names you can pronounce.
Thankfully, there are natural stone crystal deodorants, made with botanicals and minerals, such as salt. You can also look for homemade deodorant recipes using essential oils. Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton pad and dab on where needed. Eucalyptus and Clary Sage smell fresh, and are less likely to cause a reaction than other essential oils. Test a small location on your body first, and stay away from vaginal areas. A rash can occur with essential oils, sometimes lasting a number of days. You can mix the essential oil with coconut oil to make your own deodorant, but it may stain your clothes. Home remedies like apple cider vinegar, green tea, lemon juice, or witch hazel can help balance your skin’s pH to help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and apply to affected areas. For the pubic region, dilute with water in a spray bottle.
There are various homeopathy remedies available to help treat body odor, including Hepar sulph, Sulphur, Rheum, and Psorinum. Since your lymphatic system transports toxins and fluid out of your body, lymphatic drainage massage can help clear B.O. When not working properly, toxins can get trapped inside your body. This affects your skin’s ability to protect you from bacteria, leading to the formation of body odor. Regular visits to your chiropractor may also aid in draining your lymph.
Tackling the root cause of your body odor vs. applying a continuous “band aid,” by way of external products, will allow you to embark on a functional medicine approach. As you are able to get to the source of your imbalance, holistic or conventional treatments, or a combination of both, may finally give you the relief you are seeking. If excess body weight is a symptom you experience, research shows it may be adding to your unwanted body odor. This is due to increased skin folds that collect bacteria and sweat, which produce an environment that can increase your scent.
You might also consider doing an armpit detox. This protocol uses natural substances, such as bentonite clay, baking soda, and activated charcoal to draw out bacteria and residue that may be causing a stronger body odor. As the largest organ, your skin is home to millions of microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Doing this practice can help contribute to a healthy skin microbiome. When is the best time to do the detox? The protocol from “Armpit Detox: How and Why to Do One” states:
“People most often do this when switching to natural deodorants (which don’t block sweat but reduce bacteria growth) in order to help these products work better. When ditching antiperspirants, some people also temporarily experience excessive sweating as their sweat glands adjust, so cleansing the area can be a way to keep B.O. in check while this happens.”
In summary, adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, unprocessed, organic food, deep sleep, reduced stress, appropriate hydration, and regular bathing, including tending to the condition of your gut, and taking serious steps to heal it, will improve the way you smell—far more than a cacophony of chemicals advertised slickly on YouTube and other social “marketing” channels. And making informed choices when deciding what to put on and in your body will leave you feeling more empowered than falling into line by default. Anyway, there’s probably someone out there who thinks you smell like roses (which, by the way, are entirely edible, natural, and healthy).
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Published on August 01, 2024.
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