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AIBU?

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Original poster

To still be wearing Impulse body spray

92 replies

Harara · 27/04/2024 14:56

Started wearing it as a teen, as an underarm deodorant (I do one spray for each armpit, I’m not dousing myself in the stuff). Have just stuck with it and never really thought about it until recently. At a certain point there were news stories about antiperspirants potentially being carcinogenic (Impulse isn’t an antiperspirant), so I guess that discouraged me from switching. I did actually try a couple of natural deodorants recently, one with baking soda and one without, but they both gave me quite bad underarm rashes.

When I googled ‘Mumsnet’ and ‘Impulse’ just now a forest of posts came up talking about how vile cheap and sweet-stinky it is! I know some of them can be but I honestly don’t think the one I use is bad. However it did make me think that perhaps it’s weird to have stuck with it past my teenage years. I also honestly don’t know if it potentially has carcinogenic or unsafe qualities. I try not to spray it on newly broken skin but I will sometimes put it on the day after I have shaved my armpits, when it still stings a bit, so maybe there are risks of it going into the bloodstream?

Would love recommendations for things that are more ‘grownup’ and maybe a bit more subtle in smell, but also aren’t reputed carcinogenic or otherwise harmful, and also aren’t Native or Tom of Maine ‘natural’ ones given that both of those (even without baking soda) gave me severe underarm rashes. It seems quite hard to find something good! What do adult women use?!

OP posts:
JobMatch3000 · 27/04/2024 21:59

I would still wear it if they hadn't discontinued my favourite scent. Excited to hear they might be introducing some again...

Original poster
Harara · 27/04/2024 21:53

CJ0374 · 27/04/2024 20:36

OP- You clearly have friends/family who are too polite to tell you that you stink, or they are so used to your 'natural' smell, they know nothing different! Its not a deodorant nor anti-perspirant as you said. Not even a perfume- its alcohol and mostly synthetic fragrances!
Buy a fragrance free anti-perspirant and use the impulse as a 'fragrance'.

Edited

Trust me, I have people in my life who would tell me.

OP posts:
saturnspinkhoop · 27/04/2024 21:52

OP, YANBU and thank you for this thread because I’ve found out that O2 is back! I used to love that scent.

JenniferBooth · 27/04/2024 21:45

Viewfrommyhouse · 27/04/2024 20:21

I still wear Charlie (Red) from time to time 😂

I finished a bottle of the Charlie Red perfume just yesterday The perfume not the body spray. I bought it for nostalgia reasons. It lasts longer on my skin than some more expensive stuff has done. £4.99 in Savers

MistyGreenAndBlue · 27/04/2024 20:58

BertieBotts · 27/04/2024 19:33

Meh, I like it. I have never used it under my armpits, though. It's not a deodorant, it's a body spray.

Deodorants are products which either look to neutralise the smell of underarm sweat bacteria, or block the pores to reduce the amount of sweat in the first place. Impulse does neither of these things, it doesn't neutralise a smell, it adds its own smell over the top.

You are describing antiperspirant not deodorant - they are not the same thing.
Impulse is a scented body spray otherwise known as deodorant.

CJ0374 · 27/04/2024 20:36

OP- You clearly have friends/family who are too polite to tell you that you stink, or they are so used to your 'natural' smell, they know nothing different! Its not a deodorant nor anti-perspirant as you said. Not even a perfume- its alcohol and mostly synthetic fragrances!
Buy a fragrance free anti-perspirant and use the impulse as a 'fragrance'.

qotsa · 27/04/2024 20:24

I don't get how people are saying it smells gross as if it's only one smell. There were loads of different ones last time I looked. They are quite different some of them. I haven't bought any for years but I know some of them were ok.

fashionqueen1183 · 27/04/2024 20:23

Harara · 27/04/2024 18:25

Oh - but I never used it as deodorant, just a body spray. Not sure how good it would be for your under arms?

Yeah I have been wondering about this. I swear there used to be a point where it had the word ‘deodorant’ on it, but I did notice it’s now only described as a body spray and ‘fine fragrance’ (lol). The instructions don’t say anything about whether it can go on your armpits or not, just that you shouldn’t use it on broken skin.

Show quote history

Yeah I could imagine it might sting? Hmm I can’t remember either but don’t think I ever thought of it as a deodorant. Just something to coat myself in 🤣

Viewfrommyhouse · 27/04/2024 20:21

I still wear Charlie (Red) from time to time 😂

daliesque · 27/04/2024 20:18

The stuff about deodorant being carcinogenic is absolute bollocks. There's no evidence at all that it is true and, in fact I happen to know there is unpublished data that disproves it completely.

It was never spray deodorants anyway, but roll ons and the chemicals were a group called parabens. Where oestrogenjc activity was detected, it was at really high concentrations that never get reached in a human body. I've had to reassure women so many times over the years that they did not get breast cancer because they used deodorants. It's really dangerous science.

sweetpickle2 · 27/04/2024 20:17

I'm amazed you've been able to use it as a deodorant all these years- I would be honking.

I like Fussy, I'm a sweaty betty and it works well for me.

BabySnarkDoDoo · 27/04/2024 20:16

I prefer a roll on for underarms as I have memories of school friends using it as a deodorant and smelling of BO+ Impulse, but would use a squirt of body spray like Impulse on my chest in place of a perfume. If you're not a smelly teenager I can see a problem using it underarms on sedentary days. Thanks for starting this thread, I hadn't realised they'd brought back O2, so I've just added some to my next Morrisons delivery, hopefully it smells the same!

craxy · 27/04/2024 20:08

JenniferBooth · 27/04/2024 19:22

@craxy People buy what they can afford. And you would probably be the first to moan if people were spending their UC on expensive perfumes.

Why would you think that? I have no idea what you are on about or why you think it's acceptable to throw some random accusation at people. Be better.

Jeannie88 · 27/04/2024 20:05

I've always thought of impulse as a body spray and have never used it as deodrant? Xx

WhatFlavourIsIt · 27/04/2024 19:59

But it's not a deodorant it's a body spray. If I used just a body spray, I'd smell like a pasty shop by the end of the day. I would use an anti persp (deodorant) and a body spray just for scent. But if it works for you, then stick with it.

Springchickenonion · 27/04/2024 19:43

I've just started using wild refillable deodorant and I quite like it! Then wear a light scented perfume.

But if it ain't broke..... then carry on

Smartiepants79 · 27/04/2024 19:42

I’m very surprised you’re getting away with using this instead of an anti-perspirant or deodorant.
I’m not a sweaty or smelly person but I’d still have BO if I didn’t use a proper deodorant every day.
Impulse is essentially very cheap perfume, nothing more.

JenniferBooth · 27/04/2024 19:40

doneandone · 27/04/2024 19:36

@JenniferBooth not tried the new ones, think I'll give them a miss then 😬

YY They are awful Ted Baker did some lovely ones a few years ago like Floral Bliss and Opulent Crush. The latter smelled like an expensive perfume. And they were in nicer containers then too.

SwordToFlamethrower · 27/04/2024 19:39

I've started using my teenage self favourite spray! I'm so happy! It reminds me of clubbing and holidays and fun :)

It's the lime green one by the way called O2

Original poster
Harara · 27/04/2024 19:36

Youdontevengohere · 27/04/2024 19:32

Does it actually work as a deodorant though?

Show quote history

I think so? I only use it for sedentary days though - if I’m doing exercise that makes me sweaty I would wash with soap and water, towel dry and then apply it afterwards. I haven’t had any complaints!

Interestingly it is described on e.g. Amazon as a deodorant but the bottle itself no longer uses that word. As I said above, I do believe that it used to, and that’s why I started using it in that way, but I couldn’t say for sure.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Impulse-True-Love-Spray-Deodorant/dp/B0B2X2BQ62#:~:text=Impulse%20True%20Love%20Body%20Spray%20Deodorant%20150%20ml%20is%20part,or%20just%20on%20the%20go.

OP posts:
doneandone · 27/04/2024 19:36

@JenniferBooth not tried the new ones, think I'll give them a miss then 😬

BertieBotts · 27/04/2024 19:33

Meh, I like it. I have never used it under my armpits, though. It's not a deodorant, it's a body spray.

Deodorants are products which either look to neutralise the smell of underarm sweat bacteria, or block the pores to reduce the amount of sweat in the first place. Impulse does neither of these things, it doesn't neutralise a smell, it adds its own smell over the top.

browneyes77 · 27/04/2024 19:32

I’m 46 and I still use Impulse (Tease is my go to).

I use it daily if I’m not really going anywhere or only popping out to the shops.
I switch to perfume if I’m going out to see friends, my DP etc.

If you’re happy using it, then I don’t see the issue.

My mom is 79 and she uses Impulse too!

We don’t use it as deodorant though. Just as it’s intended use as a body spray.

Youdontevengohere · 27/04/2024 19:32

Harara · 27/04/2024 19:30

Because I’m using it as a deodorant.

Show quote history

Does it actually work as a deodorant though?

Original poster
Harara · 27/04/2024 19:30

WhatFlavourIsIt · 27/04/2024 19:20

If you like it, then it's not unreasonable to use it. I have to ask, though, why are you spraying it under your armpits ?

Because I’m using it as a deodorant.

OP posts: