The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Eliminate Onions From Your Diet!
Posted by Janet (NYC) on 07/04/2006
★★★★★
I think onions are without a doubt the main cause of bad underarm body odor. I made this discovery years ago when working in an office. Every few days, the receptionist would start reeking by mid-day. It was so bad you didn't want to stand anywhere near her. I decided I had to say something (no one dared too). She was completely mortified, but identified the onions on hamburgers that she ate as the culprit. She stopped eating onions and never had a problem again. I also start to reek if I eat onions 2 days in a row. I think this is the issue for people with bad BO... get rid of the onions!
Stop Using Soap
Posted by Hi (syd, aus) on 06/21/2007
★★★★★
i was told that underarm BO is caused by bacteria feeding on soap residue. supposedly if u wash under your arms with water only, & dont get shampoo or conditioner under your arms you should be stink free. (this may take a few days) lol
Stop Using Soap
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 11/28/2007 490 posts
★★★★★
I learned from a patient back in the 60's that she had never used deoderant. I was aghast and told her that most people who didn't use deoderant, I could smell a block away when they lifted an arm. She replied, "My father was a chemist and he told me that if you didn't use soap, you didn't need deoderant, because soap is what makes you stink" so she had never used soap. I filed it away in my little brain in hatever area we file stuff like that in, until 1980. At that time I lived close enough to the office, I could run home and bathe and eturn within l5 minutes, if I found my failure to use deoderant as well as soap, failed me & I stunk! Lo and behold - I have not used soap, except for occasional handwashing. I figured the rationale behind that one must be that soap is alkaline and must destroy the slightly acid mantle our skin is supposed to have. As I tell people, you do have to bathe, but just use a good, thick wash cloth and water, and you don't stink. I am happy to do without it as soap makes me itch.
Iodine
Posted by Lisa (Riverside, Ca) on 07/17/2007
★★★★★
I swab iodine under my arms each morning to keep smelling fresh. I live in a very hot climate. In the summer--iodine is a must.
Avoid Deodorants
Posted by JD (Knoxville, TN) on 08/12/2007
A few years ago, I started to get a very strange sensation in my left armpit. It felt like the lymph nodes in that area were swelling. I switched from one commercial brand of deodorant to another to try and stop the uncomfortable sensation, but nothing worked. Then I went online and started to research what was in deodorants! YIKES!!! After my internet research, I decided to stop using deodorants with aluminum (basically all commercial brands). Well, the weird sensation disappeared after several days and I have to say that my BO started to smell a lot better too. I am not convinced the commercial deodorants do much at all, other than stop you from perspiring for a time. But you have to ask yourself -- why would you want to stop the body from perspiring? The armpit area is loaded with lymph nodes!
Avoid Deodorants
Posted by Erin (Fremont , Mi) on 01/15/2008
Breast Cancer History Breast cancer runs in my family. My aunt is fighting it now. Not to mention from using regular store bough underarm deodorant as a teen myself I use to get lumps under my arms/right in the pit area. They had to be lanced and drained at the hospital. From that point on I did alot of research and found that the aluminum they put in the deodorant clogs the glands under your arms which inturn are very close to the breast. I have not used store bought deodorant for about 15 yrs now-I only use all natural from health food store and never had a problem again. Just wanted to let you ladies and men too know to STOP USING REGULAR STORE BOUGHT DEODORANT ONLY USE NATURAL. Thank you have a wonderful week all
Cold Showers
Posted by Ron (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) on 09/02/2007
★★★★★
I started taking cold showers about five weeks ago. I started with Scottish showers (hot/cold) and then after a couple of days I tried the cold ones. I just love them: it gives me enough energy to last throughout the day and my overall mood has improved.Now my daily routine includes a Scottish shower in the morning and a cold one before I go to sleep. Usually it takes no more than 10 minutes to shower. I start from the feet, arms, armpits and then the chest. In the beginning I expected to catch a cold, which didn't happen (good thing), although I sneeze a lot more (bad thing). I've discovered that I have less BO and I am cleaner after showering, although I don't use soap or duche gel. Also, for the ones who want to try it: take it easy; go from hot to lukewarm, and then gradually go to cold. Try it for 3 weeks and then decide if you don't like them. Try it.
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Steve (Phoenix, USA) on 09/20/2007
★★★★★
I have become a huge fan of Ozonated Olive Oil. First off it's definitely the best all natural underarm deodorant I've ever used. Only have to use it every other day. It works for insect bites, speeds wound healing, burns, etc. But I've found it really helps reduce wrinkles if used consistently over a couple week period. I suppose the oxygen is being absorbed into the skin and rejuvenating the tissue. I'm going to keep experimenting with this and see how far I can turn back the clock. It's not even that expensive. I bought a 1 oz jar online for only $5.99 and it usually lasts our family of four about three months. Great stuff!
Mouth Rinse
Posted by PD (Madsion, NJ) on 10/27/2007
★★★★★
All of a Suden I started having a body odor which led to Underarm odor. I went to walgreens and bought some BreathRx Antibacteial Mouth rinse. I applied it to my arms. Stung like at first because it is combating the bacteria under your arms. I work like a Charm!! I use to wash 3 times a day under my arms now I just wash morning and night. No more odors. The more you use it the less you sting and the better you smell. Keep using it until you feel no Sting. Pray Always that God will heal all problems!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sandy J (In the sticks, Nevada) on 07/28/2007
★★★★★
I have been taking ACV for about 6 weeks now. I feel very good, but haven't noticed any miracles. I DID notice that the whites of my eyes are much whiter now--like a child's.
However, I tried ACV as a deodorant as described by one of your readers and was amazed. I had tried this before without much luck. The trick is to use NO SOAP in the shower (I have been taking cold ones), just rinse as well as you can and then apply to your body. And I mean that I have used this in place of soap on ALL parts of my body. Proceed with caution if you have sensitive skin, but it didn't sting or bother me in any way, other than the smell. The smell goes away when the vinegar is dry. I truly put this new deodorant to the test. I hoed weeds in the morning, went to a grueling hour long Tae Kwon Do class (cold shower rinse afterward and NO reapplication of ACV) and spent the rest of the day as normal. The next morning -- still no odor. For me this is a miracle -- even toxic, nuclear waste type deodorants would not last that long for me! Thank you so much Earth Clinic and all of you who have shared your results -- you are changing lives.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sandy (In the sticks, Nevada) on 11/24/2007
★★★★★
I have been using ACV for months now instead of deodorant. I use cold shower therapy and no soap and the vinegar is working great. When you apply it, be sure to go over the area well and not miss a spot. Cut the vinegar with water if you are sensitive. I have showered in the morning, applied ACV, done a vigorous Tae Kwon Do workout (1 hour)at noon, reshowered and NOT reapplied ACV and gone through the day without odor. In fact, sometimes it lasts until the next morning! I do believe there is something about anxiety perspiration that is different than our everyday perspiration however, because whenever I have a big social event or an occasion where I may have to do some public speaking, the vinegar has failed me. I have to rely on that nasty commercial deodorant on those days and I hate it! I would love to get some feedback on using ACV like this.
Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by RJ (Cleveland, Ohio) on 01/30/2008
★★★★★
Remedy - Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
Ailment - Natural Underarm Deodorant
I have been using for two weeks now, apply hydrogen peroxide and baking soda under my arms for a natural deodorant and have had excellent results. I was trying to eliminate the harmful ingredients from store bought deodorants, like aluminum being applied where our glands are and trying to eliminating absorbing the toxic metals and ingredients.
What I do is, after taking a cold shower (you can do hot one too), I take a cotton swab/pad and put the hydrogen peroxide on the pad and then wipe under my arms. This helps to clean the area and it will be slightly damp to hold the baking soda from the next step. Then I take the same pad and put it in the box of baking soda and get some on the pad. Then wipe the pad under the arm spreading the baking soda around for good coverage. You don't want to put clumps on, just spread evenly leaving an even whiteness. It should not be in a paste, it should be almost like a dusting. Make sure your under arm is dry before putting on a shirt and you are ready for great day.
The whole amount is under $1 USD and it lasts longer than the store bought brands. For me I would be usually pretty ripe by the evening or morning using traditional deodorants, but this has been lasting longer and with less smell when it does wear off. Give it a try, I've been pleasantly surprised.
NOTE 1: Be careful if you have chaffing under your arms, the peroxide may sting.
Note 2: It may take longer to apply than traditional deodorants and until you get used to doing it, I would recommend putting it on with as few as clothes as possible as to not have powder falling off onto your good clothing.
Good Luck!
Baking Soda
Posted by Kathryn (Melbourne, Victoria) on 10/24/2006
★★★★★
For some reason, a persistent rash flared up in one arm pit, and over the course of 12 months or more, it did appeared in the other. It got so bad that the skin broke from excessive itching. Everything and anything I used to wash with caused a flare up, except Pinetarsol. I really wasn't happy with having to use this long-term, but it was all that could keep it to a minimum. Nothing reduced it completely. Not even a cortisol cream. Luckily, I was recommended a honey-based cream which now stops the rash, but the sensitivity to deodorants, whether they be chemically laden or not, still exists. I just resigned to the fact that being a little smelly was an option I could live with when compared to the horrible rash. A friend suggested patting on some bicarb soda - how obvious! Absorbs moisture and eliminates odour's. It's fantastic that something so simple is so effective. I pat on a little in the mornings, and I an odour free for the whole day. I believe it works better than conventional deodorant. And it does not create a rash flare up. So at last, I am rash free and odour free!
Baking Soda
Posted by Jane (Los Angeles, California) on 06/25/2007
★★★★★
baking soda, wonderful cure for body odor!!! i had been suffering for years with stinky pits. just dust some baking soda under your arms a couple of times a day, and like magic, the smell completly disappears!!! it helps to know that i also have an allergy to the aluminum in reg. deoderants. however, it didn't stop me from trying everything on the market to try to stop the smell! it's a wonderful cure!!! thank you earth clinic for your help!!
Baking Soda
Posted by FK (NYC) on 07/28/2007
★★★★★
The baking soda remedy for body odor was the lucky charm! I tried the zinc oxide remedy after reading it on your site. I think it worked but my armpits were way too greasy! It was very uncomfortable. After that I tried baking soda on my armpits and let me tell you -- it's a winner. Lasts all day and is much better than any natural or chemical deordorant I have ever tried. I now wet the baking soda down before applying it.. otherwise it is gritty. I think baking soda is probably one of the safest remedies to put near your lymph nodes. No way aluminum! I wonder if some day they will attribute some cases of breast cancer to the aluminum in deodorant and location of the sentinel lymph node. Just a theory of mine
