Chemical Free Ways to Get Rid of Underarm Odor

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Over 90% of the general population has the genetic makeup that causes them to get underarm odor when this area begins to sweat. Underarm odor can occur in as little as five minutes after a shower in most people, so it’s no wonder that wearing a deodorant and/or antiperspirant product is so prevalent.

If you are not one of the minority who does not have the genetic rarity that spares you the specific type of bacteria that causes underarm odor, you likely wear some sort of protection so as not offend your delicate sense of smell. Or anyone else’s for that matter.

Baking soda

Baking soda is an excellent all-around deodorizer, and this characteristic is certainly not moot when it comes to deodorizing your underarms.  Baking soda can be found in some natural deodorant formulations, but you can also make a simple paste and apply it to your underarms.

Choose an antibacterial essential oil that does not cause irritation in higher concentrations

The paste can be made from baking soda, a little bit of water and a potent antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree oil or even lemon and orange oils.  Rosemary oil is also an excellent antibacterial, and newer research is showing it may be even more effective at controlling bacterial growth that causes underarm odor, and also at killing the bacteria that causes acne.

Rosemary oil is very potent and has a distinct aroma that may be a little much to take, so if you have a sensitive nose you may want to stick to the citrus oils instead.  It will not take much more than a drop or two of rosemary oil for you to smell it. When mixing the oils with the baking soda, use enough so that you can smell a strong scent of the oils. This ensures you’ve got enough of a concentration for all day odor protection.

There are numerous other essential oils that are great at killing underarm bacteria, but the key here is to find one that also is not known to cause skin irritation when applied in higher concentrations, and these fit that bill.  Try doing a patch test on your skin first before landing on the essential oil you use. Even though essential oils are pressed from plants, people can still have allergies to them just like any other organic material.

Vinegar keeps bacteria at bay

Some may think that smelling like vinegar is just as unappealing as smelling like body odor.  However, white vinegar and apple cider vinegar have strong antibacterial properties and can be effective when swabbed alone under the arms.

The smell of the vinegar should evaporate after twenty minutes or so.  You of course should wait for the vinegar to completely dry before dressing so it doesn’t get on your clothes, just like you would any other liquid or roll on format of deodorant.  If the pure vinegar is a bit too much, you can dilute it and you can even mix it with purified water and an essential oil as mentioned above to dull the pungent smell and to perhaps boost the odor-reducing power of your natural deodorant concoction.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice, squeezed freshly, and diluted a bit with water can work very well as a natural deodorant as well.  Since it can be somewhat acidic when applied directly to the skin, you can dilute with water and you can even add it to your baking soda paste for extra protection and an extra citrusy smell.

The important thing with any of these natural deodorant options is that you apply them thoroughly, to the entire underarm area, and let them dry completely before putting your clothes back on. This way, you can stay dry long enough for the formula to sink in and provide the antibacterial coating of protection you need against odors all day long.

Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com, which offers in its line of healthy body and hair care alternatives a powerful Natural Deodorant, Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Vitamin C and MSM face cream, and a popular Natural Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Deep Hydration Conditioner for silky, manageable hair.

 

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Danna Norek
Owner, AuraSensory.com at AuraSensory.com
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory, a line of naturally inspired and effective hair, body and skin care products free of harmful chemicals.