# I smell bad. How can I prevent this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527 "2003-04-14T01:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/1 "2003-04-14T01:21:50Z")
Let’s address the obvious answer first: I cannot wear anti-perspirant/deodorant because it causes my pores to clog and cause very painful sty-like lumps that last for weeks. I think this is due to the aluminum zirconium or perhaps the corn starch. I found some deoderant without these ingredients and it simply amplifies the smell; the same goes for those “salt/crystal” deodorants. Oh, and I shower regularly, like every morning. But that doesn’t help at 2 in the afternoon, especially now that it is getting warmer. I keep my underarm hair plucked or shaved because when it isn’t it seems to make the B.O. get worse faster. So, dopers, I need some advice. I would very much like to be a sweet smelling girl all the time, not overpoweringly perfumed (because that’s just as bad) and not smelling like dirty human. Thanks in advance, everyone around me appreciates it as well. ---
**Author:** ![DEVA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@DEVA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DEVA)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/2 "2003-04-14T02:03:21Z")
Tried talcum powder or baby powder? Or even baking soda? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/3 "2003-04-14T02:08:11Z")
Visit a health food store. They may have some organic deodorants that work for you. It sounds like it’s an allergy to deodorant and not another underlying medical problem. In other words, you can’t wear deodorant, ergo, you have an odor. It’s not like you do wear deodorant and _still_ have an odor. You may also want to see a dermatologist. They may have some advice as well. ---
**Author:** ![Omorka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Omorka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omorka)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/4 "2003-04-14T02:17:14Z")
Try mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with a quarter cup of baking soda, add a quarter cup of cornstarch, and dust that liberally on your pits and any other problem spots. Put half the mix in a spice jar, with an interior lid with big holes, and keep in your purse. Reapply at lunchtime and again in early evening. It coats your undergarments and you smell like tea tree oil, but it’s much better than smelling like sweat. I used to use this during my high school years, when my mother refused to buy me commercial deodorant. (If you want, you can add other oils as well - lavender and rose geranium both go okay with tea tree.) The issue is probably the aluminum, by the way - I have a milder version of the same reaction. (If it’s the cornstarch, obviously the above won’t work, although you might try the tea tree/baking soda with arrowroot instead.) I’ve found that I can just barely handle the Tom’s of Maine roll-on antiperspirant/deodorant, which uses buffered alum for the aluminum content, and doesn’t contain any cornstarch. If you haven’t tried that, you might give it a whirl. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/5 "2003-04-14T02:28:42Z")
I’ve got an occasional similar problem, usually in the winter. For a long time Secret was all I could use, until I started having reactions to that. What I did then was started using an anti-bacterial ointment below the deodorant - and I only put the deodorant on when I was going to be out for the entire day, and felt like I needed something. Now it’s faded back again and I’m having no reactions at all to Secret. Tom’s of Maine may be an option for you - I had a stronger reaction to that than to any other type I tried. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/6 "2003-04-14T03:42:23Z")
And until you find a deodorant or antiperspirant product that works for you, I would recommend keeping a little packet of antibacterial wipes in your purse. Pop into the restroom around lunchtime and give yourself a quick swipe under each arm. I know Dove makes these, and they’re supposed to be OK for sensitive skin (my skin’s not sensitive, so I don’t have any experience with whether or not they cause a reaction.) ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/7 "2003-04-14T04:15:35Z")
I’ve been taking chlorophyll capsules for the past week and I think that they are helping with late day breakthrough underarm odor. I seem to be a bit less whiffy, anyway. 😃 I found them at a health potion shop in my local mall for about six dollars US for sixty capsules. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/8 "2003-04-14T04:41:09Z")
Wipe your armpits with rubbing alcohol. Kills the bacteria on contact. Also, put alcohol in spray bottle and spray the pits of your t shirts. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/9 "2003-04-14T05:16:58Z")
Well… just as a suggestion. There was a time I was without anti-perspirant/deodorant for a week. The place I was staying had an extraordinarily strong (water pressure wise) shower will the ability to deliver very hot water wth a needle jet spray pattern. After blasting my underarms and skin in the morning with that baby with the water set as hot as I could stand, I was pretty much stink free the entire day without deodorant. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/10 "2003-04-14T05:42:34Z")
Witch hazel might be worth a try. Definitely have a look at the HFS. You guys don’t have Lush do you? Their solid deodorant is aluminum and corn flour free. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/11 "2003-04-14T08:00:02Z")
Your pits are reacting because of the zirconium, because it’s cubic zirconium. I suggest you stop being so cheap and buy some actual diamonds. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/12 "2003-04-14T11:54:00Z")
Another factor to consider: not all soaps are created equal. Some of the nicer soaps may smell real nice, but they don’t have a whole lot of antibacterial action, so they’re only marginally effective at preventing the growth of the little odor-causing buggers. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/13 "2003-04-14T13:05:50Z")
If I’m not mistaken, Botox has been used to stop excessive sweating. That suggestion might be a bit pricey, though. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/14 "2003-04-14T15:50:40Z")
What’s your diet like? Under a lot of stress? These two items will affect how you smell and how much you will smell. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/15 "2003-04-14T16:33:16Z")
You may try Drysol. You apply it once a week to stop you from having any wetness at all and then you can simply use a light fragrance to mask the bacteria or swab with alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/16 "2003-04-14T17:16:55Z")
I guess I just approach problems like this differently from everybody else. First, are you sure you do have BO? I understand that the perception of a problem for both that and bad breath are as common as actually having a problem. Assuming you do in fact have a problem, I can tell you what I do. I find nothing kills bacteria like a long immersion in a chlorine solution. That is, I swim regularly at a clean pool. Works well enough that a few years back my wife of almost 20 years was surprised that I still don’t use deoderant. ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/17 "2003-04-14T19:09:44Z")
[Best online price I’ve found on Lavalin](http://www.outletnutrition.com/733739080127.html) [Scroll down for a picture of the Lavalin box](http://www.pacwestserv.com/deodorants04_pitrok_lavilin_naturallyfreshdeodorant.htm) I use this stuff. I buy mine at the health food store. You put a _tiny bit_ on at night before you go to bed then wash off in the morning. You only need to use it once a week. According to the package, it kills the bacteria under your arms that causes you to smell. I love it. I put it on every Sunday night then don’t worry about deodorant again until the following Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/18 "2003-04-14T21:00:43Z")
Irreventone is right about Chlorophyll, altho that workds better with flatulance & bad breath. Enola has a point also- but I use the Wintergreen rubbing alcohol instead. Has a nice smell to it. There are several deoderants that aren’t anti-persperants, and are also “all natural”, Toms makes one. Not as strong as regular deoderants, of course. But if you combine it with internal chlorophyll, rubbing alcohol on the pits, THEN, after it has dried- “Toms”, it’ll be much better. Those “all natural” deoderants that use Tea tree oil work best for me. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/19 "2003-04-14T22:47:39Z")
I would use an anti-bacterial soap for starters - like Dial. Then perhaps you could try one of those pit-stones. I know someone who claims to have had good success with them. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-smell-bad-how-can-i-prevent-this/168527/20 "2003-04-15T01:04:11Z")
Wow, thanks guys for the advice. I will have to try many of these suggestions - to find the easiest and most-effective one. I tried Toms and it made me smell like Fruity Pebbles ® in the morning and then I just got stinky. I haven’t thought of any of the others, thanks again! No, I’m not sure its really a _problem_ per se, but I can smell me sometimes, and I’d rather smell fresh. Ya, stress does make it bad, so does being outside. Prevention is the way to go.