The Benefits of Natural Deodorants

Bodily odor is considered a huge taboo in American culture. Smelling soaps, fresh smelling fragrance sprays, and deodorants are among the chief combatants of such smells. However, as any observant consumer can attest to, deodorants have moved on beyond their original calling of an odor eliminator to the world of anti-perspirants. Whenever the American public decided that any sign of sweat on a person's body was unattractive, the deodorant world definitely decided to cash in on this viewpoint. Because of that, most deodorants are now advertised in terms of their sweat preventing ability, rather than their odor eliminating powers. A closer look at the issue, however, will reveal that while considered unsightly, sweating is actually a normal part of a healthy body's means of cooling itself. Preventing the body from doing such can actually have negative consequences, often unknown or unthought of to the general public.

Additionally, medical research is questioning the wisdom in the regular use of part of the chemical compound in the main ingredient of anti-perspirants-aluminum-as it may increase the chance of other health problems later on in life. (Most deodorants list either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium in amounts ranging from 10-20% as the main anti-perspirant ingredient in their formulas.) Regardless of what new medical research may determine regarding the health risks of aluminum based products used in such a manner, the fact remains steadfast that the human body actually does have a need to perspire-even if it is "unsightly." Since nobody wants to smell bad, however, a few deodorant companies have decided to produce products that offer their customers the chance to be odor-free without having to use an anti-perspirant.

One of these companies is Tom's of Maine, and they provide a long line of "natural" healthcare products that do not contain many of the chemicals commonly found in most hygiene items today. Their deodorant line is available in several different scents, all of which fight odor through the use of "hops extract to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria." All of these products are also "aluminum free," and as such, do not prevent the armpits from sweating. Personally, however, I have found that Tom's of Maine brand deodorants work just as good as their anti-perspirant cousins in fighting odors.

The other company that produces a reliable deodorant that is both "aluminum and paraben free" is Arm and Hammer. Their natural deodorant is usually sold in the men's deodorant section of deodorant aisles, as it has a more "manly" fragrance to it. (Tom's of Maine's deodorants, on the other hand, are more gender neutral.) Again, after trying Arm and Hammer's natural deodorant I would have to attest to its wonderful odor-fighting properties; it worked just as well (or perhaps even better) than any of the anti-perspirant deodorants that I had used in the past.

Overall, these brands of deodorants are great alternatives to anti-perspirant deodorants. They are fresh smelling and leave you the same way. Although they may be more expensive than other deodorants, they are well worth the investment. Your sweat pores were made to be available to keep you cool; why sweat everywhere else on your body except for your armpits?