Whiffy armpit update

[JessiCake]

A brief new thread, just so anybody interested (I still can't believe how many of you were nice enough to post with advice!!) doesn't have to trawl through.

Staggeringly, it seems as if a mere switch to SOAP has pretty much done the trick

I've not even broken out the new deodorant yet because I've washed with soap these past two mornings and even with my old deodorant I am fresher at 7.30pm than I was at 9.30am that morning I posted.

Only change - soap instead of shower gel.

I can't believe I have let my lovely tops get whiffy all these years when it was a simple a solution as that!!!

I will def try the new deodorants (Sure is my first one to try out) as the problem isn't TOTALLY solved (about 80% improved, though) and I've had relatively non-busy/running aorund days, so I would want a strong, reliable deodorant for a busy or warm day.

But really, for any other sufferers, I had to start a new thread just to say SOAP SOAP SOAP.

What the hell is (or is not) IN shower gel, that it does such a crap job?

Massive thanks again to everyone.

Yours un-whiffily
Jessicake

Soap.
Any soap - I use Dove because of dry skin.
Sometimes I need to wash arm pits twice as anti-perspirants create a strange waterproof barrier that needs proper washing/scrubbing.

Antibacterial soaps are really good for whiffy arm pits - I think Dettol make one.

Tiddlywinks I LOVE Nesti Dante soaps as well; they smell fabulous and are far better than shower gels

This is interesting. I started using soap in the shower a couple of years ago after being a long time user of shower gels. I feel cleaner if i do a scrub of any whiffy bits using soap, but because i still love my shower gels I then also tend to use shower gel on arms, legs, boobs, belly and back. A double cleanse, if you will! 😀

A plumber once told me that shower gel leaves far more residue to clean on shower glass enclosures.

I have never used gel - been a soap user for 60+ years.

I've just bought some cidal and a soap box for DS , leaving for uni tomorrrow. He suffers with sweaty pits and they stink, as do his clothes. I'm going to get some for us as well, this makes perfect sense I think ! Also going to convert to soap powder as I don't think liquid tabs leave a lingering fresh smell.

Love mumsnet!

Just bought dettoll soap due to this thread

Pears all the way

Oh interesting, I've been thinking lately my deodorant wasn't really cutting it.

Could you link to your other thread OP, I'd be interested to read that too?

I also still use shower gels, but do a soap scrub first. Always!

Yes, to dettol soap, yes to Cidal soap as well.
Nivea soap is lovely as well, and I feel and smell 'soapy' afterwards. Lovely.
My ultimate favourite though is black African soap from Amazon.
The lather is so creamy, and the smell is unreal, it fills the whole house. I use it on my face, and all over with no problems at all.
You will feel so fresh after, and i can always smell it on my skin hours later.
My son's adore it too.

any soap.
I like picking up unusual handmade soaps on markets (have a heather/ewesmilk one on the go right now) but also have a good supply of ordinary imperial leather.
I also use it for hands as liquid soap makes my eczema flare up.

Hmmm....soap on my body has always left it feeling tight and dry. I don't like the environmental waste of shower gel bottles though so wonder if I should try soap again.

My theory (and er, I am a microbiologist so not entirely a theory!) is that shower gels leave a residue on the skin that stops deodorants working properly

I think you're on to something there because the only time I ever used a shower gel I felt sticky from head to foot for the rest of the day.

OP, have you tried Mitchum?

The last thread detailed all the deodorants the OP had tried. I agree with soap. My son has just started getting sweaty and shower gel and even those fruity clear soaps weren't getting rid of the smell. After a bit of research I found Cidal soap (buy from Amazon quite cheaply) which works a treat. I've added it to a regular order.

I never use shower gels! I only use simple soap or a shop own brand version. I find I am less smelly and feel fresher for longer!

The last thread detailed all the deodorants the OP had tried

Its good that you saw it. I didnt.

@retainertrainer. I've just seen your post above. Exactly the same here- 9 year old. Cidal soap from Amazon fixed the problem.

Old Thread

Hello, I'm the (less whiffy!) OP!!

This is the original thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3032440-Help-from-anyone-else-whiffy-of-armpit

Thrilled my slightly embarrassing threads are informing others, and wondering if I should take my commission from the Soap Council now...

Seriously, I'm just grateful to the posters who suggested plain old SOAP in the first place. Honestly a lightbulb moment.

fwiw, for those who are now asking, i am using Imperial Leather (old-skool) but Simple worked OK the first day I tried it out. I will def have a look at Cidal too, I remember that from my youth and quite like the scent.

Another day of decent freshness to report (and I've been physically quite active today, hoovering in a warm house and mucking about with my DD) and again, I'm fresher at the end of the day than I would have been mid-morning after shower gel.

Still not upgraded my deodorant, I'm taking it one step at a time so I know what REALLY works iyswim.

Mumsnet rocks in these situations, I have to say. Could I ever have said to anyone in RL that I was worried about smelly armpits...? NEVER.

Cross-post Haffiana! Thank you!

Glad its working out for you Jessi.

Can I make another suggestion that you might like to consider if you ever have to change soaps again?

Its Morrocan Hammam Soap.

Its fabulous stuff and when I have a Morrocan Hammam I can tell the difference for quite a few days. Not that I have the problem you had but it just generally seems to do a really good job of cleaning you. In fact a Moroccan friend told me that in Morocco she would go to the Hamman every week and could then get away with a cats dicht for a good few days afterwards which was really good considering loads of the family shared one bathroom and no one had the luxury of daily showers at home.

You can buy it online.

This is a revelation!
I've had this problem since having ds 3 years ago when deodorant stopped working. I then developed an expensive shower gel habit (l'occitane) which I will now convert to an expensive soap habit
Thank you OP

So soap just rubbed all over ot rubbed onto a flannel...
(Never used soap ever!)

I'm honestly feeling warm and fuzzy here (which makes a nice change from stinky and embarrassed)

Absolutely chuffed to have actually helped anyone else discover this too!

Slight whiffiness is such an awful problem as (in my case) I think you just sort of get used to it and assume it's unsolvable.

When it appears to be solved by something so embarrassingly obvious simple as washing with soap, it's a revelation.

All hail soap.