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Q. I live in a warm, humid climate and I haven't been able to find a commercial deodorant that keeps odor at bay all day. I tried a deodorant crystal and found that it worked beautifully, but I developed a rash after I’d used it for two weeks.
Now I just swab my underarms with rubbing alcohol in the morning and at night, and that works just as well. I also keep a small package of alcohol wipes at my desk so that I can refresh at work if needed. I am finally odor free and it costs much less than commercial deodorants.
A. Alcohol clearly has antibacterial activity, which might explain its odor-fighting success. Some people may find alcohol too irritating or drying for delicate underarm skin. Many readers of this column have also reported success with milk of magnesia applied to the armpits. It is non-irritating and controls odor without staining clothes.
I have been using unhydrogenated coconut oil. Its antibacterial properties can even kill any odor if it develops. Sometimes I wipe with vinegar first. ~ CB
For 15 years, I welded in Tampa, Florida. This was hot work, and I had the same problem. What I learned is that our sweat does not cause the odor. It is the bacteria that lives in the sweat that creates the smell. I then started looking for deodorant with antibacterial action. I found it in a Mitchum deodorant. When I began using Mitchum antibacterial deodorants, my odor problems went away. For the past several years I have been unable to locate Mitchum's antibacterial in solid form, but located Mitchum in a liquid form "roll on," which works as well as the solid form (found at Target). The liquid I found says "unscented, Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant." I have no side effects from the product and have used it for years. May it work as well for you as it has for me.