About B.O.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but the number one natural products question I’ve gotten for years is, “What is a good natural deodorant?” The overwhelming number of times I’ve been asked this might have to do with the number of moms I know with kids using deodorant for the first time. I have a few I usually recommend, but it does take some trial and error to find what works for you. Personally, I really like this one by Earth Science which is aluminum free and it uses lichen as the replacement for some of the harsh ingredients of ‘regular’ deodorant. The herbal scented one is great too. Another thing to consider if you have a strong odor of any sort, including bad breath, is to drink chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is full of nutrients and removes bodily odors so if you are self conscious of one or more of your own, give it a try.

I’m sharing the following from New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.

Title: Say N.O. to B.O.

Author Credit: Jessica Rubino
Jessie is New Hope Network’s Director of Content Marketing, and beauty writer.

We’ve all been there: nonchalantly giving your pits a whiff after a workout or a stressful day. Could it be … me?

The good news is that if you were born with a specific gene, ABCC11, you will never stink (hooray!). The bad news: The gene is prevalent in East Asia, but rare in America. So how can the rest of us keep the dreaded B.O. at bay—and, what if we want to do it naturally?

The culprits
We all know when we have it, but how often do we think about what causes it? Sweat is the short answer—but not the complete one. At the most basic level, the mixing of sweat and bacteria causes odor, but it’s a lot more complicated than that. Each of us has a unique odor, determined by a range of factors. And the folks who study this stuff (yep, there are people who study stench and sweat; most often they’re called organic chemists) have dug deeper to learn more about how odors can indicate deeper health issues. Sometimes how a person smells can be linked to rare conditions, such as TMAU (or trimethylaminuria), according to George Preti, PhD, an organic chemist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Other more common health concerns, such as diabetes and liver and kidney disorders, can also alter body and mouth odor when they are advanced or unregulated, Preti says.

Other times, it can relate to lifestyle, according to experts, who say that simple tweaks can also make a difference—and that includes assessing the foods you eat. Some preliminary evidence suggests diets heavy in certain foods, including sulfur-containing cruciferous veggies and red meat, may trigger foul smells. A low-carb diet may also be a concern, because when your body has fewer carbs to burn for energy, it burns fat, which can affect your odor.

The stress connection
These days, stress reduction seems to be a cure-all, doing everything from supporting healthy inflammation response to clearing your complexion. So it may come as no surprise that reducing stress in your life can also diminish body odor. The type of sweat you release when you’re stressed is different from the kind from a hard workout, because it comes from a different type of sweat gland (apocrine versus eccrine), Preti says. A hard workout equals watery (and often not that smelly) sweat from eccrine glands. The apocrine glands, however, are found in your pits and release sweat when you’re struggling to meet a big deadline, arguing with a friend or running late for your kid’s school concert. These psychological stressors trigger the apocrine glands, and the resulting sweat contains a higher concentration of fat and proteins. It’s a less wet sweat but a more potent-smelling one.

Deodorants vs. antiperspirants
Although we often use these terms interchangeably, there’s a big difference between deodorants and antiperspirants. (Note: Some products function as both.) “There’s a lot of confusion in the category, and there’s one fundamental difference,” says Eric Rabichow, COO of French Transit, Ltd., a California-based company that manufactures mineral-salt deodorants. “Deodorants are considered cosmetic products because they simply control odor, while antiperspirants are regulated as drugs because they affect the body’s physiology by blocking the pores.” Deodorant quells B.O. by using ingredients that tackle odor but not sweat. Antiperspirant blocks ducts to prevent your body from releasing sweat. These generally contain aluminum, which has become known as “the sweat blocker.”

Au naturel
Sweat isn’t really the biggest villain in all of this. In fact, sweat can be your friend—releasing toxins and regulating your body temperature. But we all want to keep it in check and, more importantly, ensure it doesn’t give off an unpleasant odor. Tackling these problems naturally doesn’t need to mean avoiding deodorant. Today there are a host of mineral and plant based options that really do work by getting to the odor’s source, without blocking sweat or making you smell like a rental car. One important thing to note when shopping for a natural deodorant: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to inhibiting body odor. “Different ingredients found in different antiperspirants and deodorants can impact people in different ways,” says Rabichow. “Each person’s body chemistry and bacteria on their skin is completely different, so the reaction to a specific deodorant or antiperspirant will be fairly different for each individual.” To find what’s right for you, we recommend sampling, sampling and sampling some more until you identify a product that works well with your body chemistry.

Where to start? Mineral salts were one of the first natural alternatives and continue to be a popular one; they create a barrier that prevents odor-causing bacteria from forming on the skin. Beyond salts, many current options contain a base of arrowroot powder and/or baking soda to absorb wetness and plant-based butters and essential oils to nourish skin and neutralize odors. The charcoal craze, too, has made its way into the deodorant space to draw out impurities, as have new (and sometimes resurrected old) deliveries, including pit pastes and on-the-go wipes. As for the question of whether you need deodorant or antiperspirant … Generally, sweat is good and even necessary. So if you see a product labeled just “deodorant” (as is the case with most natural brands), it could very well get the job done.

DONATE IT! Everyone Needs Clean Personal Care
People don’t often think about donating personal care items. But basic products such as soap, feminine care, deodorants and shampoo are in high demand. “Many people do not realize these items are not covered by food stamps,” says Michele Orpin, director of operations at Giving the Basics. This Kansas City–based nonprofit distributes a range of personal care items to those in need. When you do give, consider donating nontoxic personal care products to reduce others’ exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Odor Eaters
Give these leading natural brands a try to banish stench and feel fresh all day.

Schmidt’s / Edens Garden Earth + Wood Natural Deodorant
Schmidt’s has impressed us with its natural odor-quelling prowess, so we were psyched to see its latest—a collaboration with essential oil company Edens Garden. This blend contains a base of magnesium hydroxide, coconut oil and arrowroot powder to soak up moisture and odor, plus cedarwood, patchouli and vetiver oils to lend a fresh and complex scent.

Earth Mama Organics GingerAid Deodorant
One word: brilliant. Earth Mama developed a line of deodorants with ingredients that cater to a woman’s changing hormones and sensitivities during and after pregnancy, when fluctuating hormones can affect pH and more. Containing refreshing organic citrus and settling organic ginger, this deodorant was formulated especially for mamas who can’t stomach the morning deodorant routine because of nausea.
Crystal Essence Chamomile & Green Tea Towelettes
The natural deodorant go-to continues to innovate with both ingredients and packaging. One of its latest launches contains mineral salts and essential oils but in a convenient, on-the-go wipe that you can stash in your purse or leave at your desk for some of your most, er, stressful moments. (End article)

One last word from me (Kristen) is that you might have to apply a natural deodorant more often throughout the day than a ‘regular’ deodorant, so don’t necessarily throw out one that doesn’t last all day but instead try touch ups throughout the afternoon to see if that works for you.

Thank you for reading!