What is natural deodorant? Why do we use it? What do we need to know when choosing a deodorant?
Find out here in our Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorant!
You probably can’t imagine life before deodorant. It’s a bit scary to think about, right? But, of course, we Aussies love our great outdoors all year round, from days at the beach to hikes through our stunning national parks. So it goes without saying that deodorant is a staple of our daily routine.
So, where did deodorant come from, and how did we get to the great variety of products available today? Let us fill you in!
Contents
Deodorant vs Antiperspirant – What’s the Difference
How are natural deodorants different from regular deodorants?
Effectiveness – do natural deodorants actually work?
Different Formulas Work for Different People
What to expect from a natural deodorant?
My natural deodorant doesn’t seem to be working!
How to Use Natural Deodorant – Tips
Who Can Use Natural Deodorants?
The History of Deodorant
Before deodorant as we know it today, there weren’t many options for keeping yourself fresh. In ancient times the noble and wealthy would douse themselves in fragrances to cover their natural odour.1 While others would simply wash in warm water to keep clean.
The 1800s
The first ever deodorant was called “Mum”, and was developed in the late 1800’s. It’s key ingredient was zinc oxide (commonly used in sunscreen). We’ve actually tried this ingredient in our R&D and didn’t find it to be effective. It also left a white residue (being zinc) so while it might have been great for preventing sunburn while sunbathing with your arms up, we have some doubts it was actually all that effective. However, this first deodorant was a waxy cream consistency stored in a metal tin. Even the OG’s of deodorant were a fan of tins!
The early 1900s
In 1909 the first ever antiperspirant was created by a Cincinatti physician. It was originally designed to help surgeons with sweaty hands avoid mishaps in the operating room, before it was sold as an antiperspirant.3 It was a red liquid you had to apply 3 times a week. We’re not sure how that would have gone with a white shirt!
It was met with scrutiny in 1914 by the Journal of American Medical Association due to its use of aluminium chloride, which can irritate the skin. Regardless of this scrutiny, it paved the way for many other brands and the antiperspirants of today.
The 1950s – 1970s
The original Mum deodorant formula was redeveloped in the 1950s to create the first-ever roll-on deodorant. This was an “innovation” based on the new-at-the-time ballpoint pen. However, as the first applicator, it positioned armpits as “dirty” places and not to be touched, which today we know is not the case.
In the 1960s, aerosol deodorants came to the market for the first time and quickly became the favoured choice over sticks and creams. However, a decade later, the FDA banned aluminium zirconium,4 the main ingredient in aerosol deodorant, due to its potentially harmful effects on the body and the environment. This led to a significant decline in the popularity of aerosol deodorant.
Then the 1970s came, and so did the first ever natural deodorant. However it wasn’t until the 2010s that natural deodorant really started gaining momentum. People were paying more attention to their health, and that of their family. This meant people were becoming more conscious of the ingredients they were putting in and on their bodies as well.
Today
There’s never been a better time in history where we have had the extraordinary abilities we have today to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families. We believe that great, effective natural products should also be affordable and part of our mission is to ensure that it always the case.
What Causes Body Odour?
Most people would think it’s something to do with sweat, and they’d be partly right.
Armpit smell, or “pong”, comes from bacteria feeding on sweat,5 but not just any sweat.
There are actually two types of glands that produce sweat on humans;
Eccrine Glands. These are regular sweat glands all over the body that produce a sterile, mainly salty solution.
Apocrine glands. These glands are found in the breasts, eyelids, ears, and hairy areas like your groin and armpits. These glands produce a milky fluid that most commonly occurs when you’re under stress.
Both sweat types are odourless; the odour comes from bacteria that feeds on sweat. But as you now know, not all sweat is not equal.
Regular eccrine sweat is very salty, which makes it hard for bacteria to feed on and thrive.
Apocrine sweat, however, is high in proteins and a veritable smorgasbord for smelly armpit bacteria, who thrive on the milky sweat produced by these glands.
Many regular deodorants use strong antibacterial chemicals like triclosan or parabens to attempt to manage the amount of bacteria in your sensitive areas. Aluminium based ingredients are common in antiperspirants, whose role is to block sweat glands and reduce the amount of sweat released.
No Pong works by using all-natural ingredients really effectively. The ingredients in our award winning formula create a water resistant environment in your armpits where smelly bacteria can’t survive and thrive.
Deodorant vs Anti-perspirant – What’s the Difference?
Deodorants and Antiperspirants have long been considered entirely different categories of products by the Australian TGA. In the U.S., antiperspirants are regulated by the FDA under the classification of a drug.6
Deodorants like No Pong prevent odour by creating a water-resistant environment in the armpit where smelly bacteria can’t survive. Other deodorants also aim to create an armpit environment where smelly bacteria can’t survive but use water-based formulations, so they just wash off when you sweat.
Other deodorants use strong fragrances to mask body odour. However, we believe the primary purpose of a deodorant is to stop odour at its source, so our fragrances are very light or fragrance-free.
On the other hand, antiperspirants use ingredients that physically block sweat pores and, in doing so, actually change the way your body functions. Categorisation differs between antiperspirants and deodorants because of this. These pore-blocking ingredients (usually aluminium-based compounds (salts)) fill underarm ducts, acting as a plug that prevents the release of sweat and odour.
How are natural deodorants different from regular deodorants?
Natural deodorants can be just as effective as regular deodorants, the main difference being their ingredients.
Traditional deodorants and antiperspirants often contain synthetic, artificial ingredients used as fillers, thickeners, preservatives, or as their active ingredients. They may also contain some of the questionable ingredients that can be found in some deodorants and cosmetics.
Natural deodorants like No Pong don’t use any synthetic or artificial ingredients at all. The ingredients we use to create our award-winning formula are all found in nature.
We have selected the highest quality natural and organic ingredients, including 100% organic essential oils, non-GMO corn starch, and sustainably sourced beeswax, to name a few.
The effectiveness of No Pong proves that there is no need to use questionable ingredients at all, if your goal is to eliminate body odour and feel fresh all day!
Effectiveness – do natural deodorants actually work?
Not all natural deodorants are created equally. Some definitely work. Others less so.
The main types of natural deodorant
- Solid crystal sticks need to be dipped in water and applied. Being water-based, they tend to wash off when you sweat (when you really need them!)
- Most roll-ons are water-based, which might not provide as much protection in a sweaty environment.
- Oil-based solid sticks provide greater water and sweat resistance and, therefore, efficacy under sweaty conditions. However, applying with a plastic applicator doesn’t necessarily provide the complete coverage that applying a cream deodorant does.
- Cream and paste deodorants. Apply these like any other face, body cream, or lotion, except to your armpits. Not only does this ensure complete coverage, but it also provides an important daily check that more than a few of our customers have found potentially life-changing.
Choosing a natural deodorant for effectiveness
Natural cream deodorants like No Pong are extremely effective. By harnessing the antibacterial and absorbent properties of natural ingredients and combining that with the water resistance of a coconut oil-based formula, you have the building blocks of a deodorant that will last all day.
All of our formulas have been clinically tested for effectiveness over 12 and 24 hours. A team of professional sniff testers performs this test.No, we’re not kidding; that’s a real job! They found that No Pong was incredibly effective for preventing odour at the 12-hour mark and still very effective at the 24-hour mark. We think that’s pretty impressive!
If you still need convincing, go online and read the reviews.
If you need help to discover the right No Pong for you, please get in touch! We’ve received so many queries over the years, so chances are, we’ve assisted other people with the same questions as you. Don’t be shy!
Detox Myths
One common myth surrounding natural deodorant is the need to “detox” after using a traditional deodorant in order for it to be effective.
We’ve heard people say that when switching to a natural deodorant, your armpit odour will smell worse as it needs to release the toxins from the previously used non-natural deodorant. While some people may experience a change or increase in odour when making the switch, it likely isn’t due to a “detox”.
Firstly, our skin is not a detoxing organ. That’s the responsibility of our liver.7
Most of what is coming from your skin when you sweat is salt. Our skin sweats to control our temperature, but not to detox.
Other Detox Claims and Myths
One commonly heard suggestion is to use a clay mask on your armpits to draw out toxins.
Dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal states that clay masks being able to draw out toxins is a myth. “The liver and kidneys really take care of detoxing the body from any harmful chemicals. There’s no way to get them out of the sweat glands or out of the skin,” she says.8
Another claim is that detoxing helps to reduce sensitivity to natural deodorant. It turns out this is mostly untrue as well. The application of any new deodorant, natural or traditional can potentially cause irritation or redness. Our bodies are all unique, and it’s more likely that a particular ingredient is the cause of the sensitivity for your skin type, so you need to work out what that ingredient is.
In a nutshell, there are no scientific principles or evidence to support the concept of detox periods.
No Pong is effective from the get-go by design. The scientific evidence to support this is our independent clinical efficacy test. Basically, people that have never used No Pong before have it applied to one armpit with the other left un-deodorised. The subjects are then “sniff tested” by certified testers at 12hrs and again at 24hrs!
No Pong’s high efficacy score at 12 and 24hr disproves the myth of needing a detox period in order for a deodorant to be effective.
Different Formulas Designed for Different People
Because all of our bodies are different, we have created three different formula’s that we believe cover the vast majority of people. Most people will find all of our formula’s to be effective right away.
If you find a new deodorant isn’t working quite the way you expected, why might this be?
Firstly, if you choose a deodorant that has been clinically proven to be effective you have the best shot at success.
Even then, your body’s chemistry may be different to others, which might require a different deodorant formulation. Factors such as genes, diet, physical regimen, stress, hormones, medications and supplements can all impact a deodorant’s effectiveness.
Sensitivity to deodorants – both traditional and natural – can occur due to a reaction to one or several ingredients. Our formulations, Fragrance Free Vegan and Low Fragrance Bicarb Free, are designed for people with more sensitive skin.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to deodorant, natural or otherwise. We have designed our range to suit the broadest number of people. You may just need to try different formulas before finding the right one.
At No Pong, Customer Love is our #1 value, and with our B.O. Free Guarantee, we will always go over and above to help you find the right formula for you.
What to expect from a natural deodorant?
Just like traditional deodorant, natural deodorant doesn’t stop you from sweating. Instead, its primary purpose is to kill odour-causing bacteria at the source and add a light fragrance (if your product contains fragrance).
Many natural deodorant brands are eco-conscious and opt for eco-friendly packaging for their products, although many still do contain plastic. Each year we Australians only recycle about 16% of our plastic, the rest, unfortunately, ends up in landfills.
No Pong uses a material called “tinplate” for our tins, a food-grade combination of tin and steel. It is 100% recyclable, and it degrades into non-toxic rust. You’ll also find that No Pong products and packaging are entirely plastic-free.
My natural deodorant doesn’t seem to be working!
Have you ever smelled odour on yourself, thinking your deodorant isn’t working, only to find that once you remove your shirt, it’s the shirt itself that smells, not your armpits? Maybe you’ve even washed some of your work or gym clothes and pulled them out of the washing machine with the odour still present.
Clothing can retain dormant bacteria
This is due to the material of your clothing harbouring your body odour bacteria9 even after washing. Cotton and especially synthetic materials can harbour odour-causing bacteria, with polyester holding significantly more odour. Polyester is actually hydrophobic at the fibre level, making it very difficult to truly wash as with even the deepest wash cycle, water still doesn’t touch all of the fibres.
When dry, these materials can smell and appear clean. However, when reactivated with heat and sweat, the dormant bacteria in the fibres can start to multiply and give off their characteristic B.O. smells.
Our early product testing showed us this first hand
Co-founder Chris experienced this first hand. In our very early days, he found that on some days, he would come home from work and smell B.O. It didn’t make sense. With co-founder Melanie and some very serious and dedicated sniff testing, they deduced that the B.O. wasn’t actually on his body. It was retained in his shirts and reactivated by the end of the day.
7 years on, Chris has changed most of his shirts, and this doesn’t happen anymore, as there’s no smelly armpit bacteria in the first place to wedge themselves deep into the seams!
How to Use Natural Deodorant – Tips
Natural deodorant comes in a variety of packaging that requires different application methods.
Many come in self-applicating packaging, like roll-ons, sticks and sprays. Others come in containers or tins, in a cream or paste form.
At No Pong, we believe it’s important to be in touch with our bodies, so we encourage our customers to get in touch with their armpits (literally) and apply directly with their fingers. We’ve had a number of lovely customers early detect lump in their armpits while applying their No Pong. Some benign, and some have been more serious like our amazing customer John.
However, if applying with your fingers really isn’t your thing, you can try using a clean paddle pop stick, the back of a spoon, or dipping the tip of an old roll-on into your No Pong.
After shaving and showering, how long should I wait to apply my natural deodorant?
When you shave or shower, your pores open up. When you apply a deodorant too soon after finishing up it can cause irritation in the area. We recommend waiting 15 minutes before applying your No Pong to give your pores time to close up again.
Can we use natural deodorant on other areas of the body?
Essentially, we don’t test No Pong on areas other than armpits. So we don’t recommend applying it elsewhere, especially in intimate areas. However, some of our customers have successfully trialled No Pong on various parts of the body, claiming it works remarkably well. We’re always so happy to hear this, but these are “off-label” uses!
Can natural deodorants cause ingrown hairs?
We haven’t found any indication of natural deodorants causing ingrown hairs. If you’re concerned about the potential of ingrown hairs, we’d suggest following these steps:
- Exfoliate – using a loofa, natural sponge, gentle exfoliant scrub or a dry skin brush
- Moisturise – apply moisturiser wherever you typically see ingrown hairs
- Wait 10-15 minutes after you’ve finished showering before applying your No Pong
- Don’t apply too much! A pea-sized amount will do the trick, then make sure you rub it in well.
Do natural deodorants last in high temperatures?
We designed No Pong to be temperature stable for up to 50 degrees Celsius. So, on the odd occasion where you leave your No Pong in a hot car or in direct sunlight, it will likely be able to withstand the heat. However, we recommend you keep your No Pong in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight and extreme heat.
Who Can Use Natural Deodorants?
Natural deodorants are not gender-specific, so anyone who wants to try them should hop to it. Like most deodorants, only consenting adults test No Pong in clinical trials. We do have a number of customers who have purchased for their teens and pre-teens with excellent results. However, if you’re wary of what ingredients you use on yourself or your child, check out our ingredients list before you purchase.
Are natural deodorants safe to use while pregnant and breastfeeding?
Yes, they are! No Pong is all-natural goodness, so rest assured that our products are safe for use while pregnant and breastfeeding. If you’re still unsure, look at our ingredients list before making your purchase.
Does natural deodorant work on hairy armpits?
No Pong is a gender-neutral product, so it’s suitable for both bare and hairy armpits. The product rubs in clear, so you’ll never have to worry about crumbles or white flakes.
References:
- https://fragranceconservatory.com/history-of-fragrance
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-advertisers-convinced-americans-they-smelled-bad-12552404/
- https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/02/14/odorono-ads-made-us-realize-we-needed-deodorant/97922010/
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/prohibited-restricted-ingredients-cosmetics
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/difference-between-deodorant-and-antiperspirant
- https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a30872010/armpit-deodorant-detox-myths/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/armpit-detox#health-claims
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4249026/
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