Shopping for an Australian natural deodorant? This guide covers everything that comes before the shop.

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!

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. Its 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 — who knew they’d still be a thing today?

The early 1900s

In 1909 the first ever antiperspirant was created by a Cincinnati 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 zirconium-containing complexes from aerosol cosmetics.⁴ 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 make sure it always is.

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 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.

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 where B.O. cannot survive.

Deodorant vs Anti-perspirant – What’s the Difference?

In the U.S., antiperspirants are regulated by the FDA under the classification of a drug.⁶

Deodorants like No Pong work by creating a water-resistant environment where B.O. cannot survive.

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.

Our ingredients include essential oils, corn starch and beeswax, to name a few.

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

No Pong is highly effective. Combining absorbent natural ingredients with the water resistance of a coconut oil-based formula gives you the building blocks of a deodorant that lasts all day.

Our three base formulas (Original, Low Fragrance Bicarb Free and Fragrance Free Vegan) 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 No Pong was highly effective for up to 12 hours and still very effective at 24 hours. 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!

In that test, No Pong was highly effective for up to 12 hours and still very effective at 24 hours on people who had never used it before.

How long does it take to get used to a natural deodorant?

Most people find No Pong works from the first day. When people do notice a change, it’s usually in the first week or two, and there are good reasons for it. Your armpit bacteria shift when your routine changes (Callewaert and colleagues, 2014), and a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist notes that switching products can make odour stronger at first (Cleveland Clinic). Clothes can also hold onto old odour (see “My natural deodorant doesn’t seem to be working!” below).

What helps: a pea-sized amount per armpit, rubbed in well on clean, dry skin, and a fresh wash for the shirts that hold onto smells. If a formula doesn’t suit your skin, try another: Bicarb Free is designed for people sensitive to bicarb.

Different Formulas Designed for Different People

Because all of our bodies are different, we have created three different formulas that we believe cover the vast majority of people. Most people will find all of our formulas 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. 

Which No Pong formula is right for me?