Ask Umbra on how not to sweat your deodorant 6

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1. 

   Tom Twigg Posted 11:07 am
   12 May 2009

   I like Tom's of Maine's "Woodspice" ... firstly, it is important to support Toms whatever they are doing, once mightily popular we are a disappearing group.
   
   
   
   Secondly, "Woodspice" is basically balsam fir scented, perhaps the best aroma on the planet. No morning can be complete without a whiff of balsam fir and a good cup of coffee (have yet to find any Tom's coffee, if you see some drop me a note ;^)
   
   

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2. 

   Todd Seib Posted 11:31 am
   12 May 2009

   Catch a whiff of this - I wipe down with 70% ethanol under my pits and it works. I figure some of the odor might be from bacteria and fungi and a good dose of ethanol should wipe out some of them. As for the alum crystal, I haven't tried it, but I was under the impression that alum was actually a aluminum sulfate salt.Sniff ya later,Todd

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3. 

   amazingdrx Posted 8:35 pm
   12 May 2009

   Vinegar! It kills the bacteria that produce the smell, without harm. Just use vinegar! More Kate! The camera loves her.

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4. 

   aleta Posted 10:44 pm
   18 May 2009

   I've searched for quite a while and so far I have not been impressed with most "natural" commercial deodorants.  The above commentors have had success with alcohol (ethanol) and vinegar, and if you look in the comments for the original Grist article you'll see that many also like baking soda.  They all do the same thing - they kill/inhibit growth of bacteria.  Check out the recipe in the comments of the deodorant review article for a stick deodorant made of baking soda & coconut oil.I've never had success with stick deodorants, and propylene glycol is the industry standard primary ingredient to give it a "stick" shape.  All the "natural" stick deodorants either have pg or they have tried to find an alternative - some brands have been more successful than others.  Personally, I think the easiest way to get around this whole dilemma is to just use spray or roll-on deodorant.  Some also like the rock crystal which I would not put in the stick deodorant category though it has a similar shape.  Note, though, that it has Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, so it does not pass the aluminum-free test.I wash my pits with baking soda in the shower, then in the daytime I use Weleda spray - it's just essential oil and alcohol.  I add lavendar essential oil to the sage scent that it comes with, and it combines with my natural scent to make a nice, mildly spicy, inoffensive (at least to me) odor.  I've come to a place where I've learned to accept that there is no way to eliminate the stink completely without harming myself in the process.A really healthy diet can also improve your b.o. greatly.

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5. 

   Leapfrog Posted 10:29 am
   20 May 2009

   Consider another "natural deodorant" that works better than anything P&G has made: Lavilin. Its recipe came from Israel. It's available online. I quickly overwhelm just about any deodorant (not antiperspirant) out there. This stuff works. Caveat: It requires non-standard application (smearing a layer on the armpit's "hair-growing area", first making sure it it CLEAN and DRY before application). But it lasts ME for 4-5 days. For workouts, I sometimes wear polyester shirts, which will get stinky in spite of the Lavilin, but post shower, still no reapplication required for days. I do not work for the company; I'm just impressed. Check it out!

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6. 

   Leapfrog Posted 10:50 am
   20 May 2009

   Oh, and let's be clear: Tom's of Maine was a great small company until 2006. This, from the TomsofMaine.com web site:"From this small start, Tom's of Maine grew and developed into a
   different kind of company, one based on the belief that people and
   nature deserve respect. Over the years our product line moved from
   non-phosphate laundry detergent to natural personal care products such
   as the first natural toothpaste (1975) and deodorant (1976). We’ve
   grown in size and in 2006, we became part of the Colgate-Palmolive
   Company..."Colgate Palmolive is a $15 billion multinational. From their SEC 10-K report:"On May 1, 2006, the Company completed the purchase of 84% of the outstanding shares of Tom’s of Maine, Inc., for approximately $100 [million] plus transaction costs. Tom’s of Maine gave Colgate the opportunity to enter the fast-growing health and specialty trade channel in the U.S. where Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and deodorants are market leaders."Just fyi.

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