Body Incense: An Alternative to Toxic Deodorants

It's no secret that commercial deodorants are laden with toxins. Most deodorants that you buy at your local drugstore contain aluminum chlorohydrate (a neurotoxin that is linked to Alzheimer's Disease), parabens (preservatives with estrogenic properties that are linked to breast cancer) and propylene glycol (an anti-freeze neurotoxin that causes dermatitis, kidney and liver failure). While many Americans are aware that deodorants are toxic, most continue to use them anyway. This is because there really are no products that perform the same way. They don't want to smell bad, and who can blame them?

Health food stores usually carry a variety of non-toxic deodorants, and these are made from aloe ingredients or even salt crystals. The problem is, most natural deodorants simply don't work, or if they do, they don't last very long, or they give up when you need them most - during a workout. Often, people are unprepared for the realization that a natural deodorant is not quite analogous to commercial deodorant; meaning, it's meant to be just a deodorant and not an anti-perspirant; in other words, you're going to keep sweating. There are two reasons that natural deodorants don't have anti-perspirant properties; 1) because the chemicals used to stop perspiration are toxic, and 2) because our bodies are supposed to sweat. It's one of the main ways that we rid ourselves of toxins, and commercial deodorants/anti-perspirants don't allow that to happen. But if natural deodorants don't even really do much deodorizing, then what's the point?

I came across my solution on the internet about a year ago. It's a body incense called Scent of Samadhi. Body incense is not a deodorant per se; it's more of a perfume, but with stronger odor-eliminating qualities. It's not like the sticks of incense that you burn, either. It comes in a powder form in a little pot, and you apply it by putting a bit of it on your finger and rubbing it wherever you please. This includes your underarms, which is what I do, and sometimes I rub it behind my ears as well. It smells absolutely divine! I often find people sniffing the air around me, trying to figure out what that wonderful fragrance is. It's a completely natural blend of Ayurvedic herbs, sandalwood, clove oil and tulsi. If you're not a fan of the smell of incense, don't worry because Scent of Samadhi doesn't have any of the overwhelming, smoky qualities of normal incense. At the same time, it is rather strong, so just a little is enough to last the entire day. I've come out of sweaty yoga classes still smelling great, so I know it works! It's probably worth it to note that this is not an anti-perspirant. Your body will be allowed to sweat as it normally should, but without the accompanying odors.

Scent of Samadhi is available from a number of vendors online, but I get mine from The Raw Food World website. Try it out for yourself!