Every man and a woman sweat and stink on a daily. This is why since I was a young man I have been searching for a cheap and effective, best deodorant that works. This is what I have previously tried to stop the bad smell under my arm pits:
- Shaving/trimming armpit hair: This only helped a little, the sweat still had a foul odour.
- Commercial/Aluminium deodorants: Not only is aluminium a toxic metal that we have no use for in our body, it also just masked the smell temporarily (few hours at best). These deodorants also clog up your pores which allow toxins to build up leading to inflammation and possibly cancer. Aluminium has been linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Deodorant crystals: Two applications a day definitely helped, but the odour stubbornly remained.
- Applying 95% ethanol alcohol: Pure ethanol sterilizes everything which can help with smelly arm pits but it’s also expensive and must be applied twice a day (it also burns like crazy)
I am one of those men who showers and shaves before bed time. I normally don’t sweat during my sleep unless it’s a hot and humid night.
One day while researching natural deodorants online, I found some interesting facts about Sodium Bicarbonate and how simple and effective it is as a natural deodorant.
That same evening I went to my local shop and bought a 200 gram packet of Sodium Bicarbonate. It cost me about $2 AUD.
When I got home, I had a shower, rinsed my arm pits with water and I made sure not to use any soap or shampoo.
Now the fun bit, trying Sodium Bicarbonate as a natural deodorant.
I got out of the shower, towel dried myself but left my arm pits as they were, wet. I then opened the packet of Sodium Bicarbonate, and put 2/3 of a teaspoon in the palm of my hand. I then sprinkled some water, just enough to turn Sodium Bicarbonate into a watery paste that is runny.
I then used my three fingers on my right hand to apply it under my left arm pit and vice versa. I made sure to spread the wet paste around to cover my entire arm pit area. Be careful not to rub too much as it can be sensitive, 5 seconds is enough.
The next day I stuck my nose under both of my arm pits and I smelt… NOTHING!
I did not shower since the application of bi carb soda either. I was very impressed. I don’t like showering every day, sometimes I don’t shower for two or three days and Sodium Bicarbonate was the odourless solution that I was searching for. The reason I don’t shower daily is because Australian water is full of industrial chemicals such as sodium fluoride, chlorine as well as other heavy metals with traces of pharmaceutical drugs that end up in the tap water. Every time you shower, your body absorbs these chemicals.
To make sure you never stink again, you can apply sodium bicarbonate once a day, after showering or wet your arm pits for easier application. I’ve even gone two days between applications and I still did not have stinky arm pits.
Here’s the science behind why sodium bicarbonate works:
Sweat has an acid reaction, Ph of 5.2—6.75 which is because of the fatty acids or acid phosphates of sodium and potassium which it contains. It also has NaC1, KC1, alkaline salts, organic acids and urea. Small amounts of unstable fats and oils are secreted in sweat and hydrolysed to their corresponding fatty acids and glycerine.
Free fatty acids are secreted. Most of these acids are volatile and have a bad smell. These are butyric acid, formic acid, caproic acid and valeric acid.
The following are among the possible explanations of the manner in which sodium bicarbonate acts as a deodorant in the axilla.
- It forms a sodium salt with butyric, caproic and valeric acids. These sodium salts are comparatively mild in odour in comparison to the volatile “rancid-smelling” fatty acids.
- By changing the Ph of the axillae, the bacteria which decompose the fats are unable to act.
The 200 gram packet of sodium bicarbonate that cost me $2 ended up lasting me for three months, possibly longer.
There are a lot more uses for sodium bicarbonate for health and hygiene, you can even take it internally.
Grab a book titled: Sodium Bicarbonate : Nature’s Unique First Aid Remedy.
Your friend,
Alex
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Matty Smith says
Cheap and effective. I also use it to clean my coffee cups.
Thank you.
Been using bi carb soda as deodorant for many years, great article Alex. You can also use it as an antacid.
Cheap as!
So cheap and effective huh? I love it.
It’s non toxic unlike other commercial crap. Bravo. Thank you.