The Reason Why Your Deodorant Is Not Working - kaia naturals (2024)

MARCH 2023 | 5 MINUTE READ

  • 1

    "MY NATURAL DEODORANT IS NOT WORKING"

  • 2

    THERE'S STILL HOPE

  • 3

    THE STAGES OF DETOX

  • 4

    NOT ALL NATURAL DEODORANTS ARE CREATED EQUAL

  • 5

    HOW TO MAKE NATURAL DEODORANT WORK

The Reason Why Your Deodorant Is Not Working - kaia naturals (1)

By Madame Sweat

"MY NATURAL DEODORANT IS NOT WORKING"

The first thing I often hear from consumers, and even close friends of mine, is that “Natural deodorants simply DON’T work!” I am going to admit that I had tried for years to use natural deodorant without success, until I figured out why…

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THERE’S STILL HOPE

Now you may be thinking “well…I’ve tried a dozen different natural deodorants, and they are never strong enough to mask my odor!”  The good news is you’ve probably thrown out a lot of deodorants that actually DO work. The bad news is…you probably threw out some really good deodorants!

The real reason none of the natural deodorants you have tried have worked for you is simply because you didn’t give it time. When switching to natural deodorant, your body – and more specifically your underarms – will go through a natural transition period commonly known as an armpit detox.

The fact of the matter is, if you’re someone who is using natural deodorant for the first time after using antiperspirants for years, your body might need a little time to adjust.

Now, some more good news…there’s a way to mask the effects of ‘detoxing’ to help make ANY natural deodorant work for you, no matter what stage you are on. But first, let’s talk about what happens when you detox.

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THE STAGES OF DETOX

Simply put, the reason your natural deodorant is not working is because your body is trying to adjust and change the way in which it works. Normally, when using antiperspirant, your armpits don’t have to do a whole lot to block odor and sweat. Aluminum that is found in antiperspirants will take care of all that, as they block the pores in your underarm area, which prevents sweat from breaking through.

With natural deodorant however, your underarms are now adjusting to a ‘new normal’. They can finally breathe and let out all the sweat and bacteria that has been locked up for years.

Many scientific studies have discovered that when you stop using antiperspirants your underarms begin to overproduce bacteria and sweat for a temporary period. And when there is an over production of sweat and bacteria in the underarm area, it will ultimately lead to unwanted body odor that your natural deodorant won’t be able to cover up. Hence the smell…

Again, this is temporary! This entire process normally takes 4 weeks, and after that, your underarms will have adjusted to the new norm. Now keep in mind that your body chemistry can also affect the duration of your detox. So for some it could only take a few days to adjust, while for others, it could take a month or maybe slightly more.

NOT ALL NATURAL DEODORANTS ARE CREATED EQUAL

After the detox process is over, you can start to really feel out the different types of natural deodorants out there in order to find one that really works for you.  This is because not all deodorants are created equally, so keep this in mind as the human microbiome in the underarm area is very complicated. Therefore, finding success with natural deodorants just requires some knowledge.

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HOW TO MAKE NATURAL DEODORANT WORK

Now just because the detox stage is inevitable, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to suffer the consequences. I mean let’s face it, nobody wants to go an entire month feeling like they need to ‘social distance’ because of the way they smell. Read this if you want to find out how to avoid the ‘smelly’ side-effects of an armpit detox.

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Written by Madame Sweat

Clean beauty industry maven and product developer Madame Sweat (Mary Futher) founded kaia naturals after spending 20 years working for global beauty companies. She now shares weekly modern hygiene etiquette advice and solutions for “unsexy” body taboos, with her social media followers and readers.

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All content found on this website is created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.

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@madamesweat

Clean beauty industry maven and product developer Madame Sweat (Mary Futher) founded kaia naturals after spending 20 yearsworking for global beauty companies. She now shares advice on modern hygiene etiquette for grooming, hosting, home and travel on Instagram, TikTok and her popular blog called The House of Hygiene.

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The Reason Why Your Deodorant Is Not Working - kaia naturals (2024)

FAQs

The Reason Why Your Deodorant Is Not Working - kaia naturals? ›

The real reason none of the natural deodorants you have tried have worked for you is simply because you didn't give it time. When switching to natural deodorant, your body – and more specifically your underarms – will go through a natural transition period commonly known as an armpit detox.

Why isn't my natural deodorant working anymore? ›

There are a few situational reasons that may have contributed to its downfall, such as ever-changing hormones, increased stress levels, new medications, or even a new workout routine. Any of these can lead to an increase in bacteria living on your skin.

Why do I still smell after using natural deodorant? ›

"When switching from an antiperspirant to a deodorant, you are removing the aluminum and releasing waste which has been blocked. This is a natural process as part of our body's built-in mechanisms, but it may contribute to releasing some slightly unusual body odor in comparison to what you are used to.

Why does every deodorant I use not work? ›

Internal factors, like what you're eating, and external factors, like your environment, can impact how well your deodorant works. Increased humidity and altitude affect your “BO” profile, not just how much you sweat but also your microbiome and how it reacts to sweat.

Why is my deodorant not effective? ›

If your deodorant is no longer effective, you may need to re-evaluate your deodorant routine. Several external and internal factors can affect your deodorant's effectiveness. These include humidity, altitude, and the microbiome of your skin. Also, certain foods, can affect the performance of deodorant.

How can I make my natural deodorant work better? ›

Dry it out

We recommend applying to dry skin versus when it's wet so your skin can absorb the formula more easily. If your skin's surface is wet, it's less likely to absorb the product. Not to mention, some ingredients used in deodorants may react poorly to the water left on your skin, causing some unwanted irritation.

Why do I still sweat with natural deodorant? ›

Natural deodorants typically contain ingredients that can help absorb moisture, but these ingredients aren't as effective as the products in antiperspirant that actually plug the pores creating the sweat. But this isn't a bad thing! Sweat is natural. Plus, you may not sweat as much as you think.

How to detox your armpits? ›

Armpit masks for detoxing often involve charcoals, clays, or apple cider vinegar. You mix up the ingredients, so say proponents, and slather them onto your pits, keeping your arms raised above your head as they dry.

Do any natural deodorants actually work? ›

Natural deodorant reduces the scent of the sweat, but does not reduce the amount of sweat the body produces,” Collins told Verywell. “So if your main concern is the appearance of sweat in the armpit area of your shirt, deodorant will be completely ineffective in reducing the dreaded armpit sweat marks.”

What's the best deodorant for stinky armpits? ›

Best Overall

Give your pits the protection they need with our top pick, the Uriage Clinical Strength Deodorant. It's a roll-on antiperspirant that glides on in just a few swipes to keep sweating at bay. The aluminum-based formula works by reducing underarm wetness, though it also targets odors.

Why do my armpits smell no matter what deodorant I use? ›

The primary cause of armpit odor is not the sweat itself, but the bacteria that thrive in the warm, moist environment of our underarms. When we sweat, these bacteria break down the proteins and fats in our sweat, producing the distinctive smell we associate with body odor.

Why do I only smell when I wear deodorant? ›

However, unlike antiperspirant, deodorant does not block sweat. Thus, the potential mingling of sweat and bacteria might lead to unexpected odors even after deodorant has been applied.

Why is my natural deodorant not strong enough? ›

The main culprit is the bacteria on your skin. The best natural deodorant for you will be the one that deals effectively with that bacteria. Some people find success with a formula that includes baking soda while others may need to go for ingredients like zinc, magnesium, or clays.

How do you get rid of armpit odor when deodorant doesn t work? ›

How do doctors treat bad body odor?
  1. Keep your skin clean by taking a daily bath or shower with antibacterial soap. ...
  2. Keep your armpits shaved, so sweat evaporates quickly and doesn't have as much time to interact with bacteria. ...
  3. Regularly wash clothing, and wear clean clothes.
  4. Wear loose-fitting clothing made of cotton.

How to fix deodorant that won't spray? ›

Both Halter and Poepping recommend trying the warm water method first, but if that doesn't work there's another quick fix you can turn to: Inserting a needle into the release mechanism to physically loosen the clog. "This will often do the trick and get you back spraying happily," Halter says.

What is the strongest deodorant for a woman? ›

Women who sweat a lot, look no further than Certain Dri's clinical strength antiperspirant/deodorant, which lives up to its name. It's made with a high 25% concentration of the sweat-stopping active ingredient aluminum. "I recommend this for those who have excess sweating and need better control," Dr. Luke explains.

Is natural deodorant less effective? ›

It is less effective in reducing sweat, which is a downside for those who perspire heavily. You may need to reapply natural deodorant frequently throughout the day. You may still experience sweating even when applying deodorant, especially if you are used to antiperspirants.

Can you build a tolerance to deodorant? ›

Your body builds up immunity

Most deodorants use ingredients like aluminum to stop sweat, or alcohol to mask B.O. Over time, your body builds up a tolerance to these chemicals, so the more you use these types of deodorants, the more you have to reapply. A little counterproductive in our opinion.

How long until your body gets used to natural deodorant? ›

Since you're no longer blocking your sweat glands and shrinking your pores with antiperspirant deodorant, your body has to relearn how to sweat naturally. This can take up to 30 days.

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