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

I washed my face with imperial leather this morning, I feel really clean!

@MaryLennoxsScowl

I have already swapped to powder for the dishwasher as the tab things weren't dissolving properly, it's a half size one so I assumed the tabs were too big.

I break them in half. Pop them on the draining board and stick a pointy knife into them and they break, or you can break some just with your hands. You don't need as much detergent as they say. Plus this saves money. Now and then I run a lightly soiled dishwash with no detergent at all. It's fine.

Two showers in a row now I've used soap and I smell all soapy, even after a long train and Tube journey, normally by now (9.30am) I don't smell of anything really (that I am aware of).

I've always had soap, prefer it for my hands and always used it to wash make up off my hands after putting it on, always a bar in the downstairs loo, and use it to clean my specs, so I didn't need to buy any - the current one is from Sainsbury, this one, it's lovely: www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/soap-handwash/little-soap-company-english-lavender---citrus-bar-soap--organic-110g

I thought I was doing well with SLS and paraben free shower gel, but I now totally understand the slight slime feeling of it left on the skin. I have tons of the dratted stuff though!

Day 1 of lovely French rose petal soap. Smell is glorious.

I even washed my face with it.

Love it.

Ooh, which one TheHamptons?

I grew up in the days before shower gels, at a time when daily showers or baths were too expensive for most people. People washed daily - face, bits and pits - with soap. No-one smelled.

After a brief flirtation with gels, handwashes etc, I went back to using soap a few years ago. My skin has thanked me for it and it is much cheaper too. I use a verbena one from l'Occitane. It's a great big bar that lasts for months and makes the bathroom smell heavenly. I am going to try some of the recommendations on this thread too.

For those new to soap - keeping the bar dry between uses not only avoids the slime experience but makes it last longer too. Try to find a soap dish with ridges to raise the bar up from the bottom of the dish.

Imperial Leather should be stored with the label downwards - it forms a little platform to keep the soap from getting a soggy-slimy bottom.

The older soap is the harder it becomes. The harder it is, the longer it lasts. So, don't wait until you run out. Buy soap in advance, unwrap the bars and store in underwear drawers until needed. Makes the drawer and contents smell lovely and the bars age and harden.

Frenchsoap.com

So many lovely things!!

Ooh, thanks - added to my list!

Even though I felt like the soap was better than shower gel/cream and getting dry quicker was good, it hasn't worked any better for me. I don't have any excessive sweating problems but thought it might keep me feeling fresher longer but I do t think it did. The initial feeling was nicer than shower gel but it didn't last as long for me so I'm going back to the dove body wash.

I do, do a final pits wash with hibi scrub though which might make the difference.

It's made me appreciate soap again though so I'll probably buy it whenever I spot some especially nice smelling ones. I like the idea of keeping the unused bars in linen drawers.

Don't bother with any normal deodorant. Go for natural salt stick ones as thru are amazing. Keep you dry all day and the salt kills any bacteria and therefore smell.
Plus you are avoiding all the disease causing toxins in other types of deodorant

Boo
Can you recommend any salt deodrant. I bought one I have to apply when armpits are wet and forget most days. Wondered if there was an alternative. Thanks

Not rtwt but can wholly recommend floris soaps

They do have spray salt deodorant but I prefer the type you have to wet

@chocolatespiders just wet the stick. Thoroughly. It will work.

I have to disagree that the salt sticks stop you sweating. They don't - they are not anti perspirants - but they do stop you smelling.

Blahblah, thank you and I am actually seriously considering trying a crystal stick one (although I tried one many years ago and it was NOT a success...) Will buy one and see.

However, can you maybe add a bit more about this 'toxins' and disease thing... the only reason I tried a crystal stick one years ago was because my mum put the fear of God into me about deodorant 'causing' breast cancer and though I don't deny it perhaps isn't great to use more chemicals than neccessary I don't know how far I accept, without peer-reviewed scientific evidence, that deodorant 'causes' diseases etc, specifically breast cancer (which as far as I'm aware has a strong genetic element)

In essence, my mum is prone to believing any old nonsense (not saying that you do this, btw!!) so I eventually stopped listening to her about deodorant as it honestly did sound so unlikely.

Can anyone else shed any light on this mysterious deodorant/'toxins' thing, as it does occasionally alarm me (but I had such a miserable experience with crystal deo in the past that it would have to be profoundly compelling evidence to persuade me tbh!)

It is true. If you look at the ingredients of deodorant . Here I have found a link for you.

Ironically since switching to salt stick I haven't stunk once all day and have remained pretty dry, wheras with roll ons I had to reapply at least three times a day.

dontmesswithmama.com/7-toxins-lurking-in-your-deodorant/

Along with the salt stick deodorant I have been using Dr organic products for a while, shampoo, body wash, face cream, etc as they are all toxin free also.
I have have just recently discovered non toxic eco cleaning fluids too, all plant based and healthy to use . Toilet cleaner, cleaning spray, fabric conditioner, limescale cleaning, fabric detergent.
Any toxin and chemical reduction is a good thing, especially when you have children. And I can't forget the charcoal toothpaste and I keep forgetting to get flouride free mouthwash but I do intend to lol. Plus I spend a small fortune on natural health supplements alongside a low carb , low wheat, low to no soy , organic food, and a low processed sugar diet.
Can't be too careful these days and I'm setting my children up for a healthy lifestyle

I am fully converted to using soap (a lovely coconut one at the moment), instead of shower gel. Today I had a stand up wash instead of a shower this morning, not done that in 30 years...felt just as clean

I cannot find a deodorant that a) does not contain massive amount of aluminum and pore blocking shit
And b) works. All the natural deodorants I've tried don't do anything! And I work out everyday so I'm sick of smelling . I eat really well , shower daily with bar soap, scrub and shave armpits but yeah
I read that adding chlorophyll to your water helps with BO?

I'm going to try making my own deodorant today with tea tree oil (powerful), essential oil, Shea butter, coconut oil, and baking soda.

No, antiperspirants do not cause breast cancer

And the active ingredient in salt crystal deodorants is alum - aka potassium aluminium sulphate

Shows how little you know bore because my deodorant is 100 percent salt . The packaging clearly states no aluminium.

Whatever. You know ur pitz best hun.

blahblah the salt of the earth one?
contains potassium allum (=aluminium salt)

Yes, salt sticks are alum, which is an aluminium salt.

Just to be misleading and disingenuous, they say that they contain 'no aluminium chlorohydrate'. Which is perfectly true, but they contain aluminium potassium sulfate instead.