Who stinks in here? Oh.

January 19, 2007 5:03 PM

Deodorant failure! How can I stop deodorant burnout?

This is pretty embarrassing, but I guess it happens. I did fine for a while using Dove, but then it quit working. So I switched to Secret Ultra Platinum or whatever. It worked the first day, but judging by my stinky pits, it doesn't work anymore. People tell me they can't smell me, so it's not totally out of hand...yet. I don't want to be the stinky girl! I shower every day, sometimes twice, so it's not that either. Any suggestions for a good ladies' deodorant/antiperspirant? I'm at my wit's end with this.

posted by skilletfish to health (49 comments total)

IANAL, but I use the Arm and Hammer stuff. It's great. I believe they have a neutral scented one, and there is definitely a men's one that is pretty unoffensive; my SO (who is a lady) has used it before and likes it well enough. In fact, I know a lot of women who use men's antiperspirant.
posted by rossination at 5:13 PM on January 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

IANAL?

Anyway, I have to switch every few months. I rotate between three or so brands. Tom's of Maine makes some delicious-smelling natural deodorants, and I also like Nivea's 24-hour roll-on.
posted by Brittanie at 5:24 PM on January 19, 2007

I use men's unscented Speed Stick. Most other anti-perspirants don't seem to work well for me, which is odd because I think they are generally the same stuff. So you might try that brand. It is strange that some brands just don't work when I use them.

I noticed that women's unscented Speed Stick costs way more than the men's version, when you figure the size difference in. It seems like a scam to me. If they're unscented, don't ever bother getting the women's.

I'm not entirely sure that women need a different one, unless the scent is an issue. I always thought the "made for a woman" schtick was just Secret's marketing and had no basis in reality.
posted by litlnemo at 5:29 PM on January 19, 2007

Did the Secret only work for 1 day total? As guy, I've had deodorant burnout before. Usually I just switch back and forth between my Degree and Speedstick when it happens. My only thought is that maybe Dove and Secret are simliar enough that it's affecting your burnout.
posted by Cog at 5:29 PM on January 19, 2007

Wow.. I've never heard of "deodorant burnout"... fascinating...

color me informed...
posted by jmnugent at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2007

Mitchum Unscented Clear Gel is a serious antiperspirant, and doesn't have a scent to clash with other toiletries.
posted by paulsc at 5:32 PM on January 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Seconding the Mitchum. I've been using it for a couple of years. Even on the London Underground in the summer it keeps me from having sweaty underarms.
posted by essexjan at 5:36 PM on January 19, 2007

Deodorant "burnout" is pretty common. I like to think of it as my body building up a tolerance for a particular kind of deodorant. Just go to the hygiene aisle at the market and grab one at random, they're all pretty much the same stuff. I buy a different brand every time I run out.
posted by CRM114 at 5:38 PM on January 19, 2007

The Mitchum stuff is supposed to be strong, but they use something that I am allergic to, apparently. Not fun to have burning armpits all day. I don't know what they could be doing that's different from other brands. But YMMV, and probably will.
posted by litlnemo at 5:43 PM on January 19, 2007

(first responder said IANAL = I Am Not A Lady)
posted by Merdryn at 5:52 PM on January 19, 2007

This happens to me, too. I am glad to know it is somewhat common, I was starting to worry.

When it happens to me, I switch to aerosol for a while. I know, bad for the environment (but good for stinky pits).
posted by necessitas at 6:04 PM on January 19, 2007

mitchum cured my burnout.
posted by mdpc98 at 6:06 PM on January 19, 2007

Stop using it. No woman who showers daily (or more often) needs deodorant unless for some odd reason you're going unwashed from a workout to a meeting.
posted by zadcat at 6:07 PM on January 19, 2007

I'm a reasonably prodigious sweater who had problems with unattractive damp pits (and occasional odor) for years. I used the most heavy duty lady's stuff I could find to little avail then switched to men's with only slightly better results.

Now I use this seriously hardcore stuff called Certain-Dri. It's an unscented rollon that you use at night. I use a tiny amount, maybe 3-4 strokes (more than that and it burns like crazy) and I only need to use it every two or three days. No damp pits, no smell, and no yellow pit stains on white shirts (which, as I understand it, comes from a reaction between sweat and the aluminum in antiperspirant).

Honestly, it's a godsend, so you might think about trying it.
posted by mostlymartha at 6:08 PM on January 19, 2007

[Thank you, Merdryn, for clarifying my needlessly complicated acronym]
posted by rossination at 6:18 PM on January 19, 2007

zadcat, I will assume you're a man, because a woman would already know females possess sweat glands the same way men do.
posted by schroedinger at 6:26 PM on January 19, 2007

Okay, I get it.

No woman who showers daily (or more often) needs deodorant unless for some odd reason you're going unwashed from a workout to a meeting.

I beg to differ — I have a high metabolism and I sweat like crazy all the time. And I'm stinky.

I will nth Mitchum — Lady Mitchum is one I regularly rotate.
posted by Brittanie at 6:27 PM on January 19, 2007

Bathe with yellow Dial soap and use Mitchum anti-perspirant.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:28 PM on January 19, 2007

Whoops. Yeah, I used Certain-Dri as well. It's prescription deodorant, and because it hurts so bad to put on I would not recommend you pursue it unless you absolutely run out of other options. I found it impossible to use if I shaved my armpits, took a shower within a few hours prior to using it, or did any activity after application that involved sweating (like sleeping in a non-air conditioned room). It stings. But it definitely works.
posted by schroedinger at 6:29 PM on January 19, 2007

Schroedinger, I get crazy stinging if I use more than just the smallest amount, or if I've just shaved, bathed, or sweated in recent hours, but I think that's why they want they want you to use it at night; I think they're assuming you shower, etc. in the morning. Otherwise, I'm totally fine. Still, I think it's a worthwhile caution, even if I am devoted to the stuff. It may also have something to do with how sensitive one's underarm skin is.

Also, I'm not sure it's prescription. I get it with the regular stuff in an aisle at Walgreen's.
posted by mostlymartha at 6:35 PM on January 19, 2007

Used Dove for about 2 months and can personally attest to the Dove burnout. Back to Lady Mitchum.
posted by Carnage Asada at 6:39 PM on January 19, 2007

Agree with Mitchum. The gel doesn't irritate my pits, whereas many many deodorants do (including their solid).
posted by nevers at 6:39 PM on January 19, 2007

Sweaty girl here.. I rotate dove (because it doesn't stain!) and Right Guard XXXtreme (yes this is men's, but whatever, it works). I used to not wear it and the only person who gave me crap (my dad) STILL gives me crap to this day, insisting I smell like a goat. I definitely sweated--comparable to when using antiperspirant--but it didn't get the rank wet-dog smell like when you use antiperspirant. So it may be premature to just write off zadcat's suggestion as bizarre and sexist ...
posted by shownomercy at 6:46 PM on January 19, 2007

I don't think you can stop deodorant burnout completely. (My totally unsupported theory is that it happens because the smelly bacteria develop immunity to that brand's blend of chemicals, sort of like drug-resistant TB, but this may have no connection to reality whatsoever.)

But even given that, anything that generally makes you less smelly will delay the need to switch between brands. Hydration is key, for some reason; being dehydrated makes me smellier. You also might want to switch bath soaps, at least temporarily --- not all soaps clean armpits equally. Diet, for some people, can play a big role --- some people really exude smells like garlic and alcohol, while others do not.

Finally, you should make sure that this isn't just in your head. Sometimes people are convinced that they are smelly, but really they are not. (Although the reverse is often true, as well.) If other people are telling you that you are not smelly, they are probably telling the truth, and you don't need to switch deodorants just yet.

Personally I prefer the Toms of Maine unscented deodorant, but I rotate in other brands periodically (maybe one month in six), and that seems to do the trick.
posted by Forktine at 6:48 PM on January 19, 2007

I've never heard of burnout, and I've been using the same brand for years now. My armpits can raise an impressive stink in no time if I have no deodorant or antipersperant, so I tend to use a LOT of it, and it can last for days (as I have discovered when away from shower facilities).
posted by tomble at 7:17 PM on January 19, 2007

I agree with Forktine. I use Toms of Maine as well. Nothing better for me. And no allergic reactions like from some others.
posted by JayRwv at 7:39 PM on January 19, 2007

I don't understand why everybody doesn't use - or at least try - those salt-crystal rocks they sell in health food stores' home/hygiene sections. $4 for a rock, and they last about 2 years. They leave no scent, are completely natural, and completely solved my problem. The only reason I can think of that they haven't completely taken over the market is a) advertising, b) advertising. They have no fakey gross scent either. Although one friend of mine said his sweat busts right through them in about 4 hours. On me it works for 2 days. I'm a previously stinky male. And a huge convert. Especially since those chemically products cannot possibly be good for your system, and have been shown to be positively correlated with breast cancer. 2cents, or 4 dollars.
posted by wavejumper at 8:17 PM on January 19, 2007

Large, hairy-pitted male here. I sweat a fair bit and don't use an antiperspirant, but this hasn't made me smell offensive since I learned the trick of using a tiny bit of shampoo to clean out the pits when I shower - works way better than soap, for me.

Actually that's not quite right. If I wear anything next to my skin other than pure cotton, I do smell pretty rank by the end of the day. But since I hate the feel of synthetics, I never do that anyway.
posted by flabdablet at 8:31 PM on January 19, 2007

I used to use various unscented clear gels (Mitchum, Dry Idea, & Almay) and thought they were great, even though they didn't exactly deodorize or anti-perspire me, and even though they'd mark all my shirts with the dreaded yellow Rorschach stains. Which just goes to show how low my standards were after an adolescence spent trying nearly every other deodorant on the market.

But now, like mostlymartha, I use Certain-Dri at night, and Crystal Stick Roll-On during the day. (Crystal Stick also makes the salt-rock crystals that wavejumper is talking about, but I'm a little too low-maintenance to run water over my deodorant before every use). Yeah, Certain-Dri stings like a fucker if you use it after shaving or within a few hours of bathing, but you don't have to use it every day, and man does it ever work. So that's my recommendation. Just make sure you keep it in a place where you'll remember to use it, or have some emergency backup Plan B antiperspirant around, because putting on deodorant at night is a weird habit to adjust to.
posted by granted at 8:50 PM on January 19, 2007

No woman who showers daily (or more often) needs deodorant unless for some odd reason you're going unwashed from a workout to a meeting.

Are you saying I have a penis without my knowledge?
posted by granted at 9:02 PM on January 19, 2007

granted - certain dri now makes an a.m. "refresher." I don't know if it is a deodorant (or what it is, exactly), but I saw it at target the other day.

Certain dri doesn't work for me at all. Because it is mainly for perspiration issues, it doesn't help when my deodorant stops working. It is never the anti-perspirant that stops working, it is always the deodorant that is the problem for me.
posted by necessitas at 9:04 PM on January 19, 2007

Mitchum. My friend's mom used it, told him about before his trip to Europe where he took only a single change of clothes, and he told me about it. He swears by it, i swear by it, she swears by it.

It *is* strong stuff, as litlnemo has mentioned, but personally, I've only noticed irritation with the fragranced stuff. It's definitely worth a shot. Definitely worth a try.
posted by fishfucker at 9:18 PM on January 19, 2007

seconding the rock crystal. they also have it in spray variety which is easier to apply. I used to have to constantly switch deodorant/antiperspirants, none of which ever worked fully to begin with. I originally started using the rock crystal because I didn't want antiperspirant staining my clothes, but it has the added benefit of being the best thing I've ever used (and my clothes aren't stained anymore)
posted by illegiblemess at 9:28 PM on January 19, 2007

I'd recommend the certain-dri, too, and you can get it in the deodorant aisle these days without a prescription. As long as you can keep your pits dry after you apply it, it won't sting or itch (in my experience). Keeping a sheet pulled up under my armpits while I fall asleep seems to help avoid the sting/itch, I've found - I would assume it helps absorb the minimal sweat that might otherwise cause the adverse reaction. I still use regular deo/antiperspirant after my morning shower, and the combo seems to do the trick.

I heard somewhere a while back that these products stop working because of normal changes in your body chemistry over time, not because you've developed an immunity from using the product for so long. Unfortunately, I can't find a reference.
posted by vytae at 9:52 PM on January 19, 2007

those chemically products...have been shown to be positively correlated with breast cancer

Cite plz.
posted by booksandlibretti at 10:20 PM on January 19, 2007

I can completely relate to your perspiration problem, even though I am a man. It's very embarassing and it affects your life. At a certain point, I got so fed up with it that I asked my doctor. He prescribed a strong anti-perspirant, Drysol. It works wonders. I did experience a severe "prickly" sensation for the first 8-ish times I used it. I would have to take a shower after a few hours to wash it off, because I couldn't sleep. However, the prickling goes away after a couple of weeks. Even with the prickling, I'm so glad I used it. It changed my life and I can now wear all kinds of fabrics, because I don't have to worry that moisture will show.

For about a week, you have to put it on every night and shower in the morning. For the next few weeks, you only have to put it on 2-3 times a week. Then, you only have to use it once a week. After six months or so, I completely stopped sweating under my arms. It has now been 5 years and I only have to apply it a couple of times a year.
If you don't want to ask your doctor, you can always order it online from Canada. Drysol doesn't require a prescription in Canada and it's very easy to find online. It's about $20 for a bottle, which will last for several months.
posted by HotPatatta at 10:45 PM on January 19, 2007

I see a lot of Tom's of Maine in the natural/organic/non chemical group, but no recommendation yet for my fav natural brand, Alba. Available at Whole Foods and other fine places (including that site, too!) Does as good a job if not better than any main chemical-laden brand, and has a very pleasant smell. Probably the best natural brand of anything I've tried (although Giovanni's hair products are great). If you're suddenly stuck without Alba, witch hazel works in a pinch too.

The 'burnout' problem isn't completely crazy - your hairstylist tells you to switch shampoos every couple of months since there's a buildup of residue, no? Although the burnout from deoderant might be a body's tolerance for that deoderant...who knows.
posted by rmm at 11:24 PM on January 19, 2007

Drysol is actually a stronger version of Certain-Dri (20% aluminum chloride vs. 12%, IIRC).
posted by granted at 11:37 PM on January 19, 2007

I noticed when I stopped using deodorant/antiperspirant years ago that bad pit smells are more related to diet than working hard or sweating a lot. Maintaining hydration helps a lot too. I am not, nor do I smell like, a hippy earthchild. This natural feedback is good for letting me know when and how I've overdone it with food or drink which is harder for the body to process. I shower once a day with Ivory and I'll shower again sometimes before a date or special event. When I ask friends or cow orkers what I smell like after sweating a bit, they say "nothing" or "tide." Even if you would never consider giving up the pit products, improving your diet will go a long way towards preventing body odor.
posted by roboto at 1:41 AM on January 20, 2007

I'm with roboto. The reasons I gave up on antiperspirants are that (a) I perspired anyway (b) antiperspirant plus my sweat smells way worse than my sweat alone (c) yellow gunge buildup on my shirts (d) rubbing a crystal stick in my armpit every morning eventually just made the crystal stick smell bad.

Getting the pits squeaky-clean with shampoo every morning has made all my stinky pit problems just go away. I now have a variety of subtle pit smells, none of which are bad, and all of which relate very much to what and especially how much I've been eating.
posted by flabdablet at 3:04 AM on January 20, 2007

rock crystal - if you apply it after showering but before drying yourself you don't even have to run water over it...staying hydrated is also important as is diet in general...
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:15 AM on January 20, 2007

One of the reasons the "anti-perspirant leads to Breast cancer" debate is still doing the rounds is the increase noted in Breast CAs in general in the 60s & 70s and specifically CAs of the Upper Outer quadrant.
Since that time some of the harmful chemicals have been removed from anti-perspirants, but really who is to know what will be proven in the future to be carcinogenic.
The reality is you do all the research you can, check the ingredietents of your particular brand and then make an informed choice for your comfort.
posted by Wilder at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2007

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned baking soda. Baking soda is an incredibly good natural deodorant; apply a thin paste during the morning to your armpits and you'll smell fine all day. I don't know WHY it works, but it's as good or better than any commercial deodorant, and is incredibly cheap.

The only downside I've noticed is that my pits will occasionally get a little irritated: I believe this is from the graininess of the paste. When that happens, I switch to Arm and Hammer stick deodorant (with, natch, baking soda) for a day or two and then go back to the powder.

This works extra well with Mitchum, which is an antiperspirant, not a deodorant. My father used this combination, and while he claimed that he got quite rank on his own, I don't remember him ever smelling bad. Mitchum at night and baking soda in the morning completely suppressed all unpleasant odor. Personally, I do fine without the Mitchum.

I don't think you will ever get burnout from baking soda.
posted by Malor at 5:42 AM on January 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you're overly sweaty, I believe there is a botox procedure that you can get done. More info here.
I've always had a problem with deodorant/antiperspirant not working well, not even Mitchum worked for me. Then I found Men's Ultra Dry Degree and that's the ONLY thing that works on my stank man-pits.
posted by ganzhimself at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2007

I bought Drysol last year and MAN that stuff is evil. It doesn't matter what I do, it burns like hell and then after a few days I get a major flare of psoriasis in my pits. I sincerely think that people who use it regularly and without irritation are the minority with pits of steel.

I pretty much stopped using anti-perspirant because of the aforementioned ruining of clothes and risk of cancer, so I use the Adidas Absorb-Deo with cotton in it during the day. (I use the men's one that smells kind of like basil because I hate women's scents.) It doesn't prevent wetness much, but it just smells like the deodorant instead of foul pit stink. At night I sometimes use Mitchum unscented gel, because I'm generally not wearing clothes I care about to bed. I find the Mitchum does help a little the next day.

I still have to wash my shirts after one wearing, though, no matter what I do.

I actually worry about sweating on my face more than anything, because it is so visible . I seem to break out in a sweat whenever I come indoors in the winter and I haaaate it.
posted by loiseau at 9:37 AM on January 20, 2007

Wow, such thoughtful responses! Too many good ones to pick as best! Thanks for the advice - I'm definitely going to try a lot of these. You guys rock.
posted by skilletfish at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2007

I do fine with Degree -- better than other brands. I put the effectiveness of various brands down to personal body chemistry. I do switch to Tom's deoderant in the winter, though, because the Degree eventually starts irritating my skin.
posted by desuetude at 5:59 PM on January 20, 2007

i get burnout too, and all i can do is keep rotating. for me, tom's of maine is tom's of stinky, sticky pits, so for a break from antiperspirants, i use this stuff: mennen speed stick ultimate deodorant-- only i couldn't find a photo depicting the particular scent i like, which is packaged in purple.

it's a men's product with an almost grapey scent that ends up being unisex. i usually have to use antiperspirant- but that purple mennen ultimate is the one and only deodorant that will keep my stank in check for a couple weeks at a time.
posted by twistofrhyme at 6:43 PM on January 20, 2007

I'm also a prodigious sweater, as someone above said, but I don't usually have trouble with odor, it is just the amount of moisture.

There have been days I have forgotten to put anything on and even at the end of the day there was no odor (verified by others) but I notice the wetness almost immediately.

And it's not so much that I SOAK my shirts, but it is ever-present, even in cool weather... even if I actually feel COLD. But I hate getting damp circles under my arms on my shirts. Hate it, hate it, hate it. And I've fought it for 20 years at least. I see no real difference in amount of sweat whether I use anti-perspirant, deodorant only, or nothing.

I think the crystals are bunk, but I'd be willing to try rubbing a live hedgehog under my pits if it stopped the moisture production.
posted by Ynoxas at 9:25 PM on January 21, 2007