The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Reader Recommendations => Topic started by: James on May 09, 2012, 09:44:29 AM
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I used a rock deodorant as a kid for many years, my parents got it for us to try and it seemed to work just fine back then. But over the years I just started using regular deodorant and didn't think much about it. Over the past year my wife and I have switched to rock deodorant and it has worked well for both of us. I figure it paid for itself by now, and we are well into profiting from the switch. Both rocks are just slightly smaller than when we got them, they should last for many years.
The only down side we have noticed is that it is a anti-odorant, not an antiperspirant, so I sweat more when exercising, etc. But there isn't an odor that we or others have noticed, if you can deal with the perspiration then it isn't a problem.
The rock is just a chunk of Alum, which has natural antibacterial properties. It works by preventing the bacteria that causes order, it doesn't depend on shutting down your natural sweat glands and giving you a fake smell to make you feel better about your hygiene. Just get the rock wet after you get out of the shower and rub under each arm. Quick and simple, and no deodorant stains or residue on your shirts.
It's simple, cheap, and keeps hunks of plastic out of the landfills. We just went with something from Amazon, but I know there are plenty of other sources out there.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A80BWY
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Interesting.
I hate to sweat, but I'm generally not a soaked-under-the-arms sweater anyhow. But maybe that's because of the regular deoderant I've used almost-daily for the last 20+ years?
My bigger problem is that when I am active my armpits smell like a man, no matter what scent my stick is.
So an anti-oderant is really what I'm after, more than an anti-perspirant.
I'll see what they have at Sprouts next time I'm in and give it a shot!
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I've heard of this before. Only positive things.
The one you linked to has great reviews, and this other one (slightly cheaper, so it's the one I went with) has glowing reviews as well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FVA6XU/
Just ordered one.
Thanks for the recommendation!
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Shoot, I like that basket much better than the little plastic tray mine came in... :D
Unfortunately the one you got is about half the size, so by ounce it is almost twice as expensive... I don't think that's a big deal, just fyi for anyone interested.
They say it takes a week or two for the transition because it takes a while to get rid of the bacteria that causes you to stink. Worked just fine right away for us, but if anyone tries it you might want to give it a full couple week trial before passing judgement.
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Unfortunately the one you got is about half the size, so by ounce it is almost twice as expensive... I don't think that's a big deal, just fyi for anyone interested.
Do you think that will matter? I can cancel and order the bigger one.
But with the comments I see about people's lasting 10 years or more (for the single rock) does it matter if I have a bigger one or smaller one?
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Do you think that will matter? I can cancel and order the bigger one.
But with the comments I see about people's lasting 10 years or more (for the single rock) does it matter if I have a bigger one or smaller one?
I personally wouldn't want the smaller one as much. Not because of any sense of cost or value, but simply because it's easier to hold the size I got and rub it under your arm. The one I had growing up was smaller than the one I have now, and I do remember it was harder to hold onto at times. Also the smaller it gets the less coverage, so it isn't quite as "quick". But all of that is extreme nitpicking, I doubt it's a big deal.
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Makes sense. I went ahead and cancelled and ordered the one posted in the OP. Thanks for the fast replies! A+++ would recommend.
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So I happened to be at Sprouts yesterday getting some snacks, and I picked up a crystal for less than $4.
Today is day 1. I had a mild sweat-inducing situation right off the bat at work this morning, but as of now I don't smell anything.
The one I got is similar to this, but a generic that says "Sprouts!" on it:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XqJVSXoA7t0/TPl9vTm2EbI/AAAAAAAAADw/PHBNwykU7W8/s1600/boris+)
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(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XqJVSXoA7t0/TPl9vTm2EbI/AAAAAAAAADw/PHBNwykU7W8/s1600/boris+)
I can totally see that being sold out of some guy's trench coat on a street corner.
"Psst, hey buddy! Many fine deal here! Have genuine Swiss watch, nylon for sexy lady? Would you like to buy an 'O'? Rock deodorant... you like? We negotiate!"
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I love this stuff...but I found that I invariably drop and break mine and then it has a sharp edge that hurts. I tried filing it down and that made more parts break off. Do I just need to be less of a klutz or has someone figured out a great method not to ever drop it or to smooth it after you have?
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My wife dropped hers and it chipped on one side, but it wasn't a big break so she just uses the other side. They certainly are a bit slippery, the ones with a handle built in might be easier to hold on to.
I'd suggest trying fine sandpaper or green scrubby to smooth off the rough area while wet, but I don't know how well that would work.
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Neat! I saw these years ago but forgot to go back and research them. I'm game to try anything different than what I use now(Dove, the only thing that actually works sometimes)and I happen to have Amazon gift cards from my Swagbucking so I can try it for free. :D
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Its nowhere remotely near as inexpensive as a $4 rock that lasts 10 years, but I have found plain old alcohol based hand-sanitizer does the exact same thing.
A $4 pump bottle from walgreens lasts 2 people about 3 months.
I've used the rock before, but I find the sanitizer easier and more comfortable to use (no slippery, no sharp edges, easier to get the whole weird shaped underarm area, and easy to refill little travel containers from the bulk bottle, so as to put one in the car, one in the gym bag, etc.
Even if you don't use it at home, its a good trick to have when you are out in the world, getting unexpectedly sweaty, and come across a public hand sanitizer station.
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But sanitizer has a heavy load of alcohol, which in heavy doses can be a pretty strong irritant.
This reminds me of a germaphobe I met once who used so much sanitizer on her hands that she got horrible blisters and her hands were peeling. To which I pointed out to her that more germs were going to be able to hide on her skin and that she would be better off just washing her hands with plain soap and keeping her skin healthy with a lotion. But i guess you wouldn't be using all that much on your armpits.
In other news, I got home yesterday from work and made my husband sniff my pits. He said one of them was mildly smelly, the other was fine. I'm going to call that a success, based on the running around and BS I had to put up with yesterday. :)
Thanks for the tip, Mr James!
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Oooo... This might sound particularily useful overseas. I remember reading a few articles that Deodorant is hard to get even in industrialized countries like Japan. This was a few years ago though so this might've changed.
Even so, this would be a great backup plan, especially if it lasts so long
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But sanitizer has a heavy load of alcohol, which in heavy doses can be a pretty strong irritant.
It has to, the alcohol is the active ingredient. Thats one reason I feel better using it than conventional antiperspirant which has all sort of weird crap in it.
The only time it causes any irritation is if I apply it immediately after shaving (which, btw, is another super effective way of reducing stink - the hair traps the sweat, and gives the stink bacteria more surface area to live on)
One pump squirt, less than you might use on your hands, lasts all day of moderate activity, maybe 1/2 a day with a serious workout
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I really had no idea these existed. I have always worried about the chemicals I'm rubbing into my armpits every days by using traditional deoderant. It did seem really unnatural to try and block sweat from coming out as well.
Not concerned with sweating, just concerned with smelling. So hopefully this will do the trick. Ordered one...
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I use plain old rubbing alcohol applied with a ball of cotton when I start to smell. I also apply plain old baking soda; I just grab a pinch and pat it on.
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The alcohol certainly makes sense, anything that was antibacterial enough to kill what's there should work about the same. Since just about everybody has alcohol at home in some form, it might work to try alcohol for a while to see if just killing the bacteria and avoiding the smell is enough, or whether you really require the antiperspirant as well. I think long term the rock has advantages, but it might have a bigger up front cost and is a uni-tasker...
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I have always worried about the chemicals I'm rubbing into my armpits every days by using traditional deoderant.
The aluminum in many of the normal deodorants is considered bad for you by quite a few sources. I've been trying to figure something else out for awhile now. I'll have to try this rock
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Been using it for the last 5 days. I like it. No junk under my arms.
Haven't "stress tested" it in a high sweat test yet, but it seems good.
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I've been using it since the 10th. The first couple of days were fine, then I had a day of heavy lifting at work and when I sat down at my desk I nearly DIED at the funk coming from my shirt. I spent as much of that day in solitude as possible. But then when I got and took off my sweater, I sniffed it and it smelled just fine!
I think James is right, it will take a few weeks of my body getting used to doing it's own thing. I do feel more dampness when I'm doing work, but it dries and so far no one has told me I stink. My clothes smell fine when I get home from work.
Today I'll be riding my bike in to work, so that will be the next test.
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After reading the reviews, I went out an purchased a rock crystal deodorant (I needed a new one anyway as mine was not working so well). I bought one from Walmart for about $3 but it appears to be a travel sized one (4 oz I think) and the box states it should last a year. I've been using it for 4 days now and it seems to be performing as expected (no stink!). I even had a few sweaty activities and did not get stinky as a result. So thanks all for the reccommendation!
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Been using mine for at least a week now, its really working out nicely.
I spend at least 10 hours a week doing high intensity exercise (competitive badminton), and I sweat just as much as I did under traditional deodorant, and no smell. Through my stress testing it really does block sweat odor. Pretty cool!
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I spend at least 10 hours a week doing high intensity exercise (competitive badminton)
Really? More details! :D
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I was on the badminton team my sophomore year of HS! I remember some of the kids took it REALLY seriously. I just wanted to be able to say, "Hey! I played badminton in HS!"
But yes, it can be a fast moving, intense sport! One of my teammates went after a shot so hard she broke her tailbone.
(http://blog.nj.com/olympics_main/2008/08/large_badmin16.JPG)
That guy is not my friend. But he's intense.
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I spend at least 10 hours a week doing high intensity exercise (competitive badminton)
Really? More details! :D
Badminton is an amazingly popular sport all over the world - just not in the united states ;)
Its a really, really fast game - especially doubles. Takes a lot of quick reflexes. Most people think of "outdoor/backyard badminton"... but real badminton is always played indoors on regulation courts and equipment.
Just watch for 5-10 minutes of each to get a feel for it:
* championship doubles play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLWbf8wGPA
* championship singles play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI8Od4jBpUc
I am nowhere near the skill of championship players... but I play several nights a week and eventually will start moving myself towards tournament play again. I used to compete at the state-level just after high school for men's singles.
In bigger cities you can find dedicated badminton clubs. For example, near Seattle there are two 24-hour dedicated badminton Gyms/clubs. This is my "gym membership" in my budget and it always will be. I pay about $400-500 a year for membership, but I can go train/play anytime I want which is great. These clubs also have professional coaches/classes available. But I use it heavily and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Its worth the ROI for someone like me.
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James, thanks for the tip. It's working great for me.
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I had one of these before. It lasted like three years. I should get another one....
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I have never used this kind of deoderant, but have been curious about how well it would work. It would be great to trade a chemical product for something so simple and eco-friendly! Thanks for the information! I will get one next week....this weekend is our "buy nothing" weekend. :)
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Glad it is working for so many people!
This is my first full summer using it, and I've found there are certain times the lack of antiperspirant is annoying. My brother got married a few weeks ago and I used regular deodorant with antiperspirant to keep more dry when all dressed up down in Georgia. I don't mind sweating when I am working, and I don't normally need the antiperspirant when I'm not working hard, but I'll keep some around for that rare occasion I want it.
I can certainly say I enjoy not throwing away all those chucks of plastic from regular deodorant. It's not going to save the world, but it works and has no down side for me.
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James, thanks for the deodorant suggestion. I am going to purchase them today-one for each member of the family. My 10 year old daughter gets some bad body odor already (although I did check her showering technique to make sure she was actually washing herself) and I am hoping it works. I too get concerned about the number of chemicals in regular deodorants
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The other day I swiped on some deoderant for the first time in months. I felt like it made me smell worse! Maybe it was because I was already sweaty when I used it, or maybe my body has fully adjusted away from the chemicals.
In any case, I won't use deoderant again.
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I use plain old rubbing alcohol applied with a ball of cotton when I start to smell. I also apply plain old baking soda; I just grab a pinch and pat it on.
Well played.
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Alcohol also works for ingrown hair prevention. It's the part that works in aftershave. Yes, it burns. Dig it. :o)
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So after reading all the great stories, I bought some of my own and have been using it for a few weeks. To be honest, I don't know why it isn't more popular! It works great, honestly I smell better now than I did ever using deoderant, and is less gross to put on. I actually got the one with the small plastic handle because me and my wife can be klutzy at times, so it is really easy to put on.
I think the only downside is that if your clothes get a decent amount of sweat during the day (and not being an anti-perspirant, my underarms are definately wetter), they can start to smell on their own.
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I have considered using rock deodorants in the past to avoid the toxicity of regular deodorants. They definitely seem like an upgrade over the normal ones in the store, but if you are looking for a new deodorant for health reasons, not just money reasons you might try something else. Alum, while completely natural, does contain aluminum. I usually use a combination of coconut oil and baking soda. Here's an article written by one Dr. Mercola discussing rock deodorants.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx)
Either way rock deodorants seem better for you and more cost efficient than regular ones, so it's definitely a step in the right direction!
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I use it as a mild deodorant for everyday office-type activities. If I'm doing any significant exercise, I find it won't be enough (although I usually just shower afterwards)
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I'm just now trying it, too! First day's run was fine. I did break a small sweat and by the end of the day I did have a small but it was very slight and if anyone was close enough to smell me they would be asking for a sexual harrassment complaint. I've struggled with women's deodorant/anti-perspirants since they tend to make me smell like cat piss when I get warm and start to sweat. Not good. The men's products work fine on me but I just HATE the fake-o fragrances in both the men's and women's products, especially if I'm trying to recover from a migraine. It's nice to have an un-scented, inexpensive option. :)
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I looked into rock deodorant about a year ago but ended up making my own deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and a few essential oils. It took a few tries but I have customized it for my own bodies needs and I can make it smell however I want. I use a bit of tea tree oil for extra anti bacterial strength and a bit of lavender to even out the tea tree. I infuse the coconut oil with chamomile to be extra soothing on my skin and have decreased the amount of baking soda. There was a two week period where my body detoxed from commercial anti-perspirants but after that my sweaty levels really went down to lower than they were before.
The only issue I have is that the shoulder with metal in it smells different (worse) than the shoulder without, but I can hardly blame the deodorant for that.
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I have considered using rock deodorants in the past to avoid the toxicity of regular deodorants. They definitely seem like an upgrade over the normal ones in the store, but if you are looking for a new deodorant for health reasons, not just money reasons you might try something else. Alum, while completely natural, does contain aluminum. I usually use a combination of coconut oil and baking soda. Here's an article written by one Dr. Mercola discussing rock deodorants.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx)
Either way rock deodorants seem better for you and more cost efficient than regular ones, so it's definitely a step in the right direction!
This post got me thinking. This weekend I bought a stick of Tom's of Maine unscented, and it's also free of crazy stuff like aluminum or alum. It is only a deodorant, not an anti-perspireant. So far I like it. It has no smell and has really nice stuff in it like aloe...no chemicals.
I've only been using it a few days, but already I love that it doesn't make my pits feel like they've been coated with something, and I don't have any smell. If I skip a day showering, by the next morning I detect a faint smell, so this probably means I can't skip more than one day of showering, lest I want to stink.
The real hardcore test might be the gym. If this deodorant can't hack it there, then I'll reserve my old "chemical stick" for gym activities only.
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The real hardcore test might be the gym. If this deodorant can't hack it there, then I'll reserve my old "chemical stick" for gym activities only.
The thing is... if you expect to be doing a workout in which you do not sweat/stink afterwards, you're doing the wrong workout in my opinion :)
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I've been using rock deodorant for a few weeks now, and here's what I've noticed: At the end of the day/workout/whatever, I don't stink, but my undershirt does.
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The real hardcore test might be the gym. If this deodorant can't hack it there, then I'll reserve my old "chemical stick" for gym activities only.
The thing is... if you expect to be doing a workout in which you do not sweat/stink afterwards, you're doing the wrong workout in my opinion :)
Of course I expect to sweat, I just don't want to be wafting BO everywhere in the process. The workouts are already at that level, but I'd like not to funk up the place.
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Of course I expect to sweat, I just don't want to be wafting BO everywhere in the process. The workouts are already at that level, but I'd like not to funk up the place.
The alum (which is what the rock is) kills the bacteria that make your sweat smell like BO. So you still sweat, but it shouldn't smell, which is what my experience has been.
I've been using rock deodorant for a few weeks now, and here's what I've noticed: At the end of the day/workout/whatever, I don't stink, but my undershirt does.
I've noticed that also, but only when I wear synthetics. If I wear cotton or wool (I wear a lot of wool), the shirts don't smell, and I can wear them for many days (or even more than a week). But I have some shirts that I wear to run in that are synthetic. They seem to smell if I don't wash them right away. No idea why, just an observation. So I've just been gradually switching to more wool for working out. If you have a wool shirt you might want to experiment just to see if that changes anything, or even cotton if you are using synthetics.
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I second the vote for Homemade Deodorant. Over the past few years, I've tried just about every natural deodorant on the market (and spent a couple hundred dollars in the process), and NONE of them worked. Not even the rock.
Then I made my own-- NO stinking (despite many marathon training runs), and it costs less than a dollar to make (and lasts a few months!).
Basic Recipe:
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
6 to 8 tablespoons coconut oil
It will be a bit liquidy in warmer temperatures and can solidify when its cold. Personally, I just popped it into an old Tom's roll-on container and that works fine; if it gets hard, I put it in a cup of hot water for about a minute and it's usable again.
Note: I actually found it a bit irritating to my skin at first, but some googling said to change the ratio to less baking soda and more cornstarch if that's the case. Worked perfectly. And since it's <$1 vs. the $4-$5 commercial deodorants, it's mustachian, too!
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I have tried the rock deodorant for a few weeks and it didn't work at all for me. I was noticibly stinky from three or four feet. This was the summer, and I tend to sweat quite a bit head to toe when I get heated. Maybe it would need to be smeared over my entire body to work?
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I ended up making my own deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and a few essential oils. It took a few tries but I have customized it for my own bodies needs and I can make it smell however I want. I use a bit of tea tree oil for extra anti bacterial strength and a bit of lavender to even out the tea tree. I infuse the coconut oil with chamomile to be extra soothing on my skin and have decreased the amount of baking soda. There
This is what I am currently doing as well.pour mine into recycled empty tp tubes and just sort of unwind the cardboard as I need too. This works really well. I do keep mine in the fridge because one warm late August day my entire stick melted into a puddle in my bathroom. :(
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This is what I am currently doing as well.pour mine into recycled empty tp tubes and just sort of unwind the cardboard as I need too. This works really well. I do keep mine in the fridge because one warm late August day my entire stick melted into a puddle in my bathroom. :(
I don't use a stick, I have a small glass jar and I just scrape out (or dip in depending on the temperature) what I need. If I had to walk into the kitchen every time I was getting dressed I know I wouldn't use it.
I don't take it with me on trips for fear of leaking, so I keep a travel size "regular" deodorant on hand for those times.
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Of course I expect to sweat, I just don't want to be wafting BO everywhere in the process. The workouts are already at that level, but I'd like not to funk up the place.
The alum (which is what the rock is) kills the bacteria that make your sweat smell like BO. So you still sweat, but it shouldn't smell, which is what my experience has been.
I've been using rock deodorant for a few weeks now, and here's what I've noticed: At the end of the day/workout/whatever, I don't stink, but my undershirt does.
I've noticed that also, but only when I wear synthetics. If I wear cotton or wool (I wear a lot of wool), the shirts don't smell, and I can wear them for many days (or even more than a week). But I have some shirts that I wear to run in that are synthetic. They seem to smell if I don't wash them right away. No idea why, just an observation. So I've just been gradually switching to more wool for working out. If you have a wool shirt you might want to experiment just to see if that changes anything, or even cotton if you are using synthetics.
+1 for wool. I don't know that much about cotton, but I know wool has natural anti-bacterial properties, along with excellent breathability. Under Armour and such are essentially plastic, which is why the stink is easily perceived.
A good investment for winter bike commuters (I'm starting this week!) is a wool baselayer (Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool, etc). You won't stink nearly as much at the end of the ride and it regulates body temp much better than synthetics, so you won't sweat as much to begin with. This leads to shorter clean-up time at work. They are pricey, but Amazon sometimes has them at quite deep discounts (I got mine 40% off), so it's worth a look.
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+1 for the rock deodorant, thanks for the tip!!
I never even knew this existed, and maybe if I did see it I automatically ignored it as being part of the "homeopathy woo group". I stand corrected!
Since the Amazon linked items either didn't ship to New Zealand, or they charged $50 for shipping ( o.0 ), I ordered some rock deodorant locally from HealthPost. They shipped it pretty quickly and very happy with the product. I'm hoping it lasts a long time - the blurb on the product says "Lasts one year!" but at that rate I"ll only break even on what I'd use normally in a year, since it was $18 for 100g.
http://www.healthpost.co.nz/natural-beauty-and-personal-care/natural-body-care/natural-deodorant/BCS/Deodorant-Stick.html (http://www.healthpost.co.nz/natural-beauty-and-personal-care/natural-body-care/natural-deodorant/BCS/Deodorant-Stick.html)
As for the rock crystal itself, it worked like a charm for me. My biggest problem was that some of my cotton shirts would start smelling as the bacteria gets into the cotton, with this I've found that it has gone down to barely noticeable.
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So this morning as I was deoderizing, I started thinking about how my stick still looks like it's got a good year left on it, even though I've been using it for so long. Why was I thinking about deoderant? Who knows. Weird shit goes through my head all day. Anyhow, I think my husband has bought 2-3 sticks of regular deoderant in this same time frame, so yeah, I'm saving money with my rock! Yay!
Then I turned around to dry it off on a towel, and it flew out of my hands and SHATTERED on the tile floor.
So for the record, 1 $4 rock of salt lasted me 9 months. Not bad, and better luck next time.
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Ah bummer. Yeah, I've had mine maybe nine months and it looks barely used. I'd expect to get 3-4 years, maybe more.
Really appreciate the recommendation, I'm still loving it, and my wife keeps talking about getting one.
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thanks for the tip, I can't wait to get one when my current one runs out. oddly enough I found that my stinky armpits almost disappeared when I stopped eating sugar and processed foods, and only washed vigorously w/ water. I still use a deodorant only on work days just in case.
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So this morning as I was deoderizing, I started thinking about how my stick still looks like it's got a good year left on it, even though I've been using it for so long. Why was I thinking about deoderant? Who knows. Weird shit goes through my head all day. Anyhow, I think my husband has bought 2-3 sticks of regular deoderant in this same time frame, so yeah, I'm saving money with my rock! Yay!
Then I turned around to dry it off on a towel, and it flew out of my hands and SHATTERED on the tile floor.
So for the record, 1 $4 rock of salt lasted me 9 months. Not bad, and better luck next time.
My wife and I have both dropped ours from time to time and lost chips and chunks out of them. But they smooth back out over time and continue to work well. Haven't had one shatter completely yet, but I can see it happening. I've got two years on mine and from the wear I expect to get about 5 years from it, it was a pretty big rock to begin with. We'll see if I shatter it before then... :)
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I have been using mine now for about a month or two and it works great. I still sweat but no BO and the stick should last me a year or two at this rate.
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Just wanted to say "thanks" for this thread.
I'd never heard of these before, but 3 weeks ago I ordered one and it's great! Much better than my previous deodorants, in terms of how I smell at the end of the work day, and will save me money (although I need a few months before I'll break even)
A great find!
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I have to say, when I started reading this article, I thought, "oh great, here's someone hawking a magic rock that you rub on your armpits to keep other people from thinking poorly of you".
But then I did a little googling and found that there's some truth to this "magic rock": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_alum
So I stand self-corrected. I'm probably not going to rush out and grab one myself, though. Sweat has no odor, it's only after you've done some sweating and then let the bacteria fester for awhile that stuff starts to smell. So my solution to that is to simply take a shower after I've had a good sweat.
On the rare occasion that I do wear deodorant, I have to use to spray-on kind because I found out when I was a teen that I am allergic to the stick and roll-on types for some reason. Not just a little allergic, but scratching-my-armpits-until-they-bleed allergic.
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Long ago I considered using the alum stone, especially after joining a safety shaving forum. A forum dedicated to shaving-maybe weird, yes, but these guys were my first exposure to mustachian thinking by convincing me to ditch my Stupid Shaving Syndrome and go safety.
However, I think I'm going to go the "make my own deoderant" route after reading this:
http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2010/3/8/exposing-more-truths-about-alum.html
I don't want to rain on anyone's parade here, but it irritates me no end when I see the words the words "natural" and "healthy" haphazardly used as evidence of "goodness" and placed on a label. They really mean very little and are used too often to give people the warm and fuzzies. I feel a bit mislead after reading about the various claims pretty thoroughly deconstructed there.
For now my family has an endless supply of Arm and Hammer aluminum and paraben free sticks purchased a couple years ago on special for a buck a piece. Till then I have time to create my own recipe, or borrow one you fine folks'. :)
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I bought a different one 3 years ago for les than $5 and its less than half gone. love it, and as far as i know i am never stinky.
I also quite using shampoo completely 3 years ago., after a 2 week adjustment period my hair was the shiniest and softest its been in years. I just rinse it out in warm water when i shower.
For the record i am a male with short to medium length hair, depending on the time of the year. I also run an average of 10 miles a day and have no issues not using shampoo or "real" deodorant
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For people making their own deodorant and having trouble with liquefaction issues: you can add beeswax to increase temperature stability (as seen here: http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2013/06/homemade_natural_deodorant_travel-friendly.php)
Yes, I am linking a food blog for deodorant-making reference!
As far as I can tell, we have not yet reached scientific consensus on risks associated with Al-based antiperspirants. I'm personally avoiding them for now.
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I don't want to even think how much I've spent on deodorant rather than buying one of these over the past decade or so.
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I ordered the product and tried it out and my girlfriend did a sniff test and was emphatic that it did not work. I was really hoping it would.
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I ordered the product and tried it out and my girlfriend did a sniff test and was emphatic that it did not work. I was really hoping it would.
Was it a blind test (i.e. you put it on, she had no idea, and just thought you were smelly and brought it up), or was she biased (i.e. you put it on and then asked her to smell you)?
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I wore it for a day and asked her to check
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If one of the purposes of going the "rock" way is to reduce aluminum exposure then I'm afraid that won't help because Alum is a compound with aluminum being part of it.
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It's not that simple, vsanjay. I think the argument is that the entire chemical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_aluminium_sulfate) containing the aluminum in rock deodorant is less toxic as a whole to the human body than its alternatives in commercial antiperspirants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiperspirant#Health_effects).
I'm thoroughly unconvinced that either is harmful, but it's not like they must be equally harmful if they both contain aluminum.
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I just stopped using deodorant all together. I still have a stick and use if for an event, but day to day I just don't need it. Either that or people are being too polite to tell me I stink.
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That's how I am with soap, too. I switched to baking soda for shampoo, and I don't even use that every day.
Ewww...
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That's how I am with soap, too. I switched to baking soda for shampoo, and I don't even use that every day.
Ewww...
I'm with you on the shampoo... most are horrible petroleum based products. I actually use my old Suave shampoo for degreaser..you'd be surprised how well it cleans sludge off my hands. I use some Hemp oil based shampoo. Not sure if its legitimate or not.
I only shower every 3-4 days anyway. I've gone European. Or caveman, not sure which.
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Are they really that different? =P
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I wore it for a day and asked her to check
One day isn't enough. The rock works by killing the bacteria causing the odor. If you only used it one day, that wasn't enough to kill the bacteria and you probably smelled later in the day. Try using it daily before your regular deodorant for a week, then start skipping days with your regular deodorant, and I bet in a couple weeks you can stop using your deodorant and your gf won't even notice.
Having said that, I don't think it's so important that everyone switch, just want to be sure people understand how it works before giving it up as not working.
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A month or so ago I came across this thread about the same time I ran out of my last stick of deodorant. Went to an Earthfare and bought the rock deodorant. It took about a week before it started working but now it is great. I then found a mostly used up stick of my old deodorant and tried that again, I could constantly smell myself! I feel like now that I've gone rock deodorant I can't go back!
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That's how I am with soap, too. I switched to baking soda for shampoo, and I don't even use that every day.
Ewww...
I'm with you on the shampoo... most are horrible petroleum based products. I actually use my old Suave shampoo for degreaser..you'd be surprised how well it cleans sludge off my hands. I use some Hemp oil based shampoo. Not sure if its legitimate or not.
I only shower every 3-4 days anyway. I've gone European. Or caveman, not sure which.
I'm similar.
And I have to say, a few years ago I never would have thought I'd associate with smelly hippies, or be one myself. Apparently what we believe has no effect on the future...
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Man plans (to shower), God laughs.
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I recently started a thread concerning my own deodorant woes, it included a review of these two homemade deodorants:
-----------------------------------
Coconut Oil Deodorant
1. 5 Table Spoons Coconut Oil
2. 1/4 cup Baking Soda
3. 1/4 cup Cornstarch
Shea Butter Deodorant
1. 3 Table Spoons Shea Butter
2. 3 Table Spoons Baking Soda
3. 3 Table Spoons Arrowroot Powder
4. few drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
5. few drops Rosemary Essential Oil
---------------------------------------------------
Although both recipes work, the coconut oil based one stains clothing white and gets runny in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
As for the Shea Butter based one, I just started using it today; so far it works very well as a deodorant, and has a higher melting point than coconut oil. It still gets runny in late summer Miami, but it at least doesn't seem to stain my clothing. Maybe if the recipe is changed to include less Shea Butter and more arrowroot powder, It'd provide better results.
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I also successfully started using alum about a year ago. More recently I dropped my rock and it shattered into a million pieces. I gathered up the pieces, put them in a small plastic travel shampoo bottle and filled it with water. Now I just use the alum-water as deodorant and fill it up with more water when it gets low. There are still crystals in it, so I know the water solution is saturated. It works great, and is actually more convenient than getting the rock wet anytime I want to use it.
Next time I need more alum, I'm just going to get the kind that looks like table salt and dissolve it in the bottle with water. It's a good bit cheaper per once than buying the rocks.
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Anyone elses's rock starting to smell? Still works well, but my wife is complaining that the rock smells "like an armpit." She wants me to buy a new one for her.
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Mine's fine 18 months in (including use by 2 people for 6 months or so of that), but it is noticeably smaller and cracking down the middle (besides corners that have broken off).
I'm anticipating replacement around the 2 year mark.
If the wife wants a new one, doesn't seem to be an extravagant purchase or something worth thinking twice about. Sure.
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I have a somewhat related question.
If you wear a lot of dark shirts, do the armpits of your shirts get kind of weirdly bleached out? I don't know if it is my sweat doing it or the antiperspirant (which I sometimes sweat through).
Anyone know if the rock or any of the other remedies mentioned in the thread help mitigate that?
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I have a somewhat related question.
If you wear a lot of dark shirts, do the armpits of your shirts get kind of weirdly bleached out? I don't know if it is my sweat doing it or the antiperspirant (which I sometimes sweat through).
Anyone know if the rock or any of the other remedies mentioned in the thread help mitigate that?
I believe that happens to my wife on occasion with her deodorant, and I think the rock helps, but I don't have an apples to apples shirt comparison so I can't say for sure.
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I have a somewhat related question.
If you wear a lot of dark shirts, do the armpits of your shirts get kind of weirdly bleached out? I don't know if it is my sweat doing it or the antiperspirant (which I sometimes sweat through).
Anyone know if the rock or any of the other remedies mentioned in the thread help mitigate that?
That did happen to some of my shirts and hasn't happened since I started using the rock.
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Anyone elses's rock starting to smell? Still works well, but my wife is complaining that the rock smells "like an armpit." She wants me to buy a new one for her.
You leave it in water for a while, letting the outer layer melt off. Might get rid of the smell.
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I bought a rock a year or so ago, marveled at how great it worked. Then I started to wonder....is it really the rock, or am I just not a stinky guy? I started using nothing in summer, and that also works great! lol I haven't used anything under my arms for 6 months. I'm very active, too, like Iron Man training athletic, and I get my wife to get a deep sniff on me (what a wife, eh!), and I'm good.
So...try nothing before buying a rock!
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Was really skeptical of this at first but I'll give it a shot since soooo many people have raved about it. While it wouldn't really save that much it seems pretty neat.
[rant]Although I kind of cringe when people tout it being natural compared to the other chemical deodorants. Its a chemical. They're all chemicals.[/rant]
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Just a note - the rock crystal needs to be applied to clean skin only. You must wash your underarm before you apply the deodorant for it to work!
I write this because I too experienced a smell with my rock, I did some research online about application and how to successfully use this tool. When I realized that you are supposed to apply the crystal deodorant to clean skin, I saw consistent results. I had been reapplying at the end of the workday *without* washing the underarm area first.
I tossed my "smelly" rock that was bothering me and have not had a problem since. Thai crystal makes a liquid spray-on product that is very convenient.
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I've been using the crystal stick on and off, most of the time I don't even bother with deodorant. It's been about 8 years and nigh a complaint. Now that I am biking to work I may start using the stick again.
What I like the most about using the crystal stick is the same reason why I used to go with unscented deodorants, I can add my cologne without having to worry about how that smell mixes with my deodorants smell. My wife is Taiwanese and, as another poster mentioned, while I lived in Taiwan they simply don't use deodorant, and you couldn't buy it if you wanted it.
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I have been using and still use the rock deodorant daily for several years, and before that, I used to spend a fortune on conventional deodorant and anti-antiperspirants. With the rock stick, even after working out, or using the same shirt for several days, or even after biking to work, I had no noticeable body odour and my clothes smelled as fresh as when they came out of the washing machine even if I had sweated in them, but I must admit that until recently, I was doubtful about its magical properties and thought it was mostly BS. Because of my skeptic nature, I thought that this was mostly due to my physiology. Some people stink, other smell good, and I thought I was one of the latter group. However, on my last 3-week trip away from home, I forgot to pack my stick. After a few days without my stick, my body odour became so pungent that I could not stand to be around myself and started to stay at a distance from people, shaking my head in disgusted disbelief over the stench coming off me. I am a real cheapo and it broke my heart to fork $6 at the local pharmacy to buy another stick, but I had no choice: I stank. The stuff works, believe me, and I am not kidding!
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I originally dismissed this as hippy bullshit... but now I'm ready to give it a go. I probably spend $20 a year on traditional deoderant so this would save me money and packaging/waste. 2014 - the year rock deoderant becomes mainstream?
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This is what we used in the Philippines when I was younger. You can still purchase it but there's a lot more commercial deodorants in the market. Are you guy using the actual rock or the powdered form?
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This is what we used in the Philippines when I was younger. You can still purchase it but there's a lot more commercial deodorants in the market. Are you guy using the actual rock or the powdered form?
LOL I also thought for years that it was one of my wife's new age hippy bullshit thing...
I use the rock, I threw away the plastic thingy but I think it is called Crystal, and it is simply a mineral salt stick. It will last several years of daily use, unless it slips off your hands and the whole thing shatters in thousands pieces on your bathroom floor.
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I used my first one until I moved to the states, so around 6 years, but my wife threw it away when moving. Now I'm on my second stick for the last two years, but honestly I don't even use it every day and only since I read this post have I started putting it on every couple days if I remember. I'm biking to work now so I think it may be good to get back into using it, but I haven't noticed any stinkyness and my co workers haven't mentioned anything.
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I have always worried about the chemicals I'm rubbing into my armpits every days by using traditional deoderant.
The aluminum in many of the normal deodorants is considered bad for you by quite a few sources. I've been trying to figure something else out for awhile now. I'll have to try this rock
What makes you think there is no Aluminum in this rock?
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What makes you think there is no Aluminum in this rock?
My rock deodorant has a big sticker that says "Aluminum Free" right on the package.
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What is it then?
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What is it then?
Rock deodorants are simply alum, which always contains aluminum, whether is is potassium alum, ammonium alum or whatever alum, unless I am completely mistaken. But I think it is not in a form that can be absorbed by the body.
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I know. That's why I'm wondering what's in an aluminum-free rock deodorant.
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Alum. It's like aluminum. But shorter.
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What is it then?
Rock deodorants are simply alum, which always contains aluminum, whether is is potassium alum, ammonium alum or whatever alum, unless I am completely mistaken. But I think it is not in a form that can be absorbed by the body.
Quite right. The deodorant industry often has things like AL chlorohydrate, AL chloride, AL hydroxybromide or AL zirconium.
From a chemical perspective, there is little or no free alumimum in crystal rock deodorants, nor are the above present. What they do contain most frequently is potassium aluminum sulphate. This is a large molecular structure (much larger than the industry-used chemicals above). This molecule is sufficiently large that it is not thought to be absorbed by the human body...rather remains on the surface and inhibits microbial growth.
So, while labelling says "aluminum free", strictly speaking it may be (depends on what the definition of aluminum is for the purposes of labelling)...or they may be mislabelling...
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It means "almost free of elemental aluminum" and not "free of aluminum-containing compounds"?
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It means "almost free of elemental aluminum" and not "free of aluminum-containing compounds"?
Yeah, perhaps...
Anway, labelling aside. Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust!...Although there is no *known* function for Al in the human body, I would still be rather unconcerned about its potential health effects...why? Because the stuff is everywhere, including the food you eat and the dust you breathe. I suspect the human body wouldn't be averse to normal, everyday exposure. Alum, in rock deodorant is not something that I would worry about at all.
Did you also know that antacids like Mylanta and Maalox have a fair bit of Aluminum Hydroxide in them?
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This is an interesting discussion. Now I'm curious about the rationale behind the "Aluminum Free" sticker on my rock deodorant. That said, I am someone who does care about the safety of what I put in my body and on my skin, so I looked up Rock/Crystal deodorant in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database by Environmental Working Group. For those who are not familiar, they keep track of the known safety research on ingredients in cosmetic products.
Although the data is limited, it seems the ingredients in typical rock deodorants get low scores (between 1 and 3 points). These scores are low enough for me to feel comfortable with continued use of my rock deodorant.
Take a look if you are interested:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/516305/Crystal_Rock_Deodorant%2C_Wide_Stick/
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/521502/Thai_Deodorant_Stone_Thai_Crystal_Deodorant_Stone%2C_In_Bag/
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For what it's worth mine has a sticker that says "No Aluminium Chlorides" which are the ones found in stick deodorants, but still has Potassium Alum listed as an ingredient.
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I'm intrigued enough after reading this thread that I might buy one.
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Just shave your armpits. I did that years ago, it takes 10 seconds with an electric razor and you basically never smell again. Shower after workouts of course. I trim them every 2-3 months and basically no one's noticed.
This might not work if you're fat and sweaty as when that was the case for me, no amount of artificial anti-stink compensated for a long day of existance as a blob... But otherwise, yeah... no need for speed stick ever again!
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Well, I got curious and bought a stick from Sprouts that comes in a dispenser. Easy to use. Not slippery. Absolutely no perfume, which I love. Around $7 for just over 4oz. I've been using it for 4 days and so far, so good. No sticky weird residue like some other deos. No white stuff on my shirts. And so far no smell under arms! (But it's winter...)
Poxpower, I'm a girl but I have always wondered why guys don't just shave armpits, too, to help with the smell. Is it "unmanly" or something? Well, I notice that any length of hair makes the smell worse. And obviously, I still feel the need to use deodorant even with shaving, but it's so much better.
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Quite right. The deodorant industry often has things like AL chlorohydrate, AL chloride, AL hydroxybromide or AL zirconium.
From a chemical perspective, there is little or no free alumimum in crystal rock deodorants, nor are the above present. What they do contain most frequently is potassium aluminum sulphate. This is a large molecular structure (much larger than the industry-used chemicals above). This molecule is sufficiently large that it is not thought to be absorbed by the human body...rather remains on the surface and inhibits microbial growth.
So, while labelling says "aluminum free", strictly speaking it may be (depends on what the definition of aluminum is for the purposes of labelling)...or they may be mislabelling...
So you sweat, which puts H2O and NaCl on your skin. You don't think there's going to be any ion exchange happening to make aluminum chlorohydrates? Not that it really matters, because these also don't make it far in the skin either. I think fears about aluminum exposure due to antiperspirants are overblown. The train of thought basically goes "antiperspirants have aluminum->armpits are close to breasts->some studies find elevated aluminum levels in breast cancer->aluminum may be toxic->ergo, antiperspirants cause breast cancer". Right now studies say, eh, we don't know.
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Quite right. The deodorant industry often has things like AL chlorohydrate, AL chloride, AL hydroxybromide or AL zirconium.
From a chemical perspective, there is little or no free alumimum in crystal rock deodorants, nor are the above present. What they do contain most frequently is potassium aluminum sulphate. This is a large molecular structure (much larger than the industry-used chemicals above). This molecule is sufficiently large that it is not thought to be absorbed by the human body...rather remains on the surface and inhibits microbial growth.
So, while labelling says "aluminum free", strictly speaking it may be (depends on what the definition of aluminum is for the purposes of labelling)...or they may be mislabelling...
So you sweat, which puts H2O and NaCl on your skin. You don't think there's going to be any ion exchange happening to make aluminum chlorohydrates? Not that it really matters, because these also don't make it far in the skin either. I think fears about aluminum exposure due to antiperspirants are overblown. The train of thought basically goes "antiperspirants have aluminum->armpits are close to breasts->some studies find elevated aluminum levels in breast cancer->aluminum may be toxic->ergo, antiperspirants cause breast cancer". Right now studies say, eh, we don't know.
Not unless you are a hydrochloric acid secreting alien!
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This is an interesting discussion. Now I'm curious about the rationale behind the "Aluminum Free" sticker on my rock deodorant. That said, I am someone who does care about the safety of what I put in my body and on my skin, so I looked up Rock/Crystal deodorant in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database by Environmental Working Group. For those who are not familiar, they keep track of the known safety research on ingredients in cosmetic products.
Although the data is limited, it seems the ingredients in typical rock deodorants get low scores (between 1 and 3 points). These scores are low enough for me to feel comfortable with continued use of my rock deodorant.
See, with my "modified French approach," I don't even have to worry about that at all. By "French" I mean I don't use deodorant or antiperspirant. And by "modified French" I mean I actually wash my armpits on a daily basis.
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Poxpower, I'm a girl but I have always wondered why guys don't just shave armpits, too, to help with the smell. Is it "unmanly" or something? Well, I notice that any length of hair makes the smell worse. And obviously, I still feel the need to use deodorant even with shaving, but it's so much better.
Yes they probably think it's not manly. Since I do bike races, I "had" (sure...sure) to shave my legs so I thought "might as well try this" after I saw it on a bodybuilding site. I definitely notice the smell increasing as the hair gets longer.
When it's gone though, I can work out, wipe myself with towels ( including pits ), put on a clean shirt and go about my day without anyone noticing, even without taking a shower.
Btw not that it saves any money but shaving legs = you'll be made fun of for a week then no one cares, not even any of the girls I'd date.
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Quite right. The deodorant industry often has things like AL chlorohydrate, AL chloride, AL hydroxybromide or AL zirconium.
From a chemical perspective, there is little or no free alumimum in crystal rock deodorants, nor are the above present. What they do contain most frequently is potassium aluminum sulphate. This is a large molecular structure (much larger than the industry-used chemicals above). This molecule is sufficiently large that it is not thought to be absorbed by the human body...rather remains on the surface and inhibits microbial growth.
So, while labelling says "aluminum free", strictly speaking it may be (depends on what the definition of aluminum is for the purposes of labelling)...or they may be mislabelling...
So you sweat, which puts H2O and NaCl on your skin. You don't think there's going to be any ion exchange happening to make aluminum chlorohydrates? Not that it really matters, because these also don't make it far in the skin either. I think fears about aluminum exposure due to antiperspirants are overblown. The train of thought basically goes "antiperspirants have aluminum->armpits are close to breasts->some studies find elevated aluminum levels in breast cancer->aluminum may be toxic->ergo, antiperspirants cause breast cancer". Right now studies say, eh, we don't know.
Not unless you are a hydrochloric acid secreting alien!
How's that? Aluminum is Al3+ in both ionic compounds, and both will dissolve in water and dissociate to form various Al3+ species. Because they share this property, both are useful as flocculating agents for water treatment. I think you've have a lot of the sulfate complex still because it was there in highest concentration, but I think you'd end up with many other aluminum complexes as well.
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Bought my very first rock deoderant online a few days ago. Can't wait for it to arrive in the mail so I can test it out and post about the results!
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How's that? Aluminum is Al3+ in both ionic compounds, and both will dissolve in water and dissociate to form various Al3+ species. Because they share this property, both are useful as flocculating agents for water treatment. I think you've have a lot of the sulfate complex still because it was there in highest concentration, but I think you'd end up with many other aluminum complexes as well.
Aluminum chlorohydrate is man made. The most common way is by reacting aluminum with HCL.
For Instance:
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CEIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dedietrich.com%2Findex.php%3Fcmpref%3D67438%26lang%3Den%26module%3Dmedia%26action%3DDisplay&ei=rHLeUp6DKZKzsASN3ICgCg&usg=AFQjCNEi4rO7t4wgrojzf6AESfLggifZlQ&sig2=InQhaJg5-Yj2uBG5erfdZQ (http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CEIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dedietrich.com%2Findex.php%3Fcmpref%3D67438%26lang%3Den%26module%3Dmedia%26action%3DDisplay&ei=rHLeUp6DKZKzsASN3ICgCg&usg=AFQjCNEi4rO7t4wgrojzf6AESfLggifZlQ&sig2=InQhaJg5-Yj2uBG5erfdZQ)
Aluminum chloroydrate is not spontaneously made under the arm: ever.
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^.- I wasn't suggesting it was. It's a common ingredient in antiperspirants. People apply it to their armpits, that's how it gets there.
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Me and my lady friend have been using ours for a week or so. Seems to be effective and now there's one less P&G product in our lives!
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A lot of women in my old Facebook mommy group have used slices of lemon as deodorant. It seems like that would actually be expensive, but if you happen to have half a lemon lying around and you weren't sure what to do with it...
I second the "modified French approach." I only put on deodorant if I'm going to the gym. Otherwise, daily washing (not necessarily a whole daily shower) seems to be adequate.
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Very effective for me has been a mix of baby powder (talc free, natch) mixed with baking soda. I just lever off the baby power lid and dump an equal amount of baking soda in. Lasts a long time. If you don't like dealing with powder fall out on your floor (or clothes) I've also used baking soda mixed with coconut oil. Melt the oil and dump in enough baking soda so the final product feels slightly gritty.
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Poxpower, I'm a girl but I have always wondered why guys don't just shave armpits, too, to help with the smell. Is it "unmanly" or something? Well, I notice that any length of hair makes the smell worse. And obviously, I still feel the need to use deodorant even with shaving, but it's so much better.
Yes they probably think it's not manly. Since I do bike races, I "had" (sure...sure) to shave my legs so I thought "might as well try this" after I saw it on a bodybuilding site. I definitely notice the smell increasing as the hair gets longer.
When it's gone though, I can work out, wipe myself with towels ( including pits ), put on a clean shirt and go about my day without anyone noticing, even without taking a shower.
Btw not that it saves any money but shaving legs = you'll be made fun of for a week then no one cares, not even any of the girls I'd date.
I've shaved since I was a teen, but I still use alcohol gel ("hand" sanitizer) to kill stink producing bacteria. Makes it more effective, to be sure, but doesn't eliminate the need completely.
I really don't get how having furry underarms makes someone more manly.
Never had anyone comment on it.
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Update
Have now used the rock deodorant WITHOUT FAIL for the last 6 months. This includes biking to work, gym workouts etc. It even holds out over 48 hours. I highly recommend its use. Also, on my (2) wind up rock sticks I've maybe lost 6-8 mm on each one - estimate the two will last years. Cost was around $5 each.
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Update
Have now used the rock deodorant WITHOUT FAIL for the last 6 months. This includes biking to work, gym workouts etc. It even holds out over 48 hours. I highly recommend its use. Also, on my (2) wind up rock sticks I've maybe lost 6-8 mm on each one - estimate the two will last years. Cost was around $5 each.
Yeah, I've used it for about two years straight. I need to buy a new one though, it's gotten pretty small, in large part due to dropping/breakage. I don't have numbers on regular deoderant cost and length of time it lasts to compare, but I'm happy with the rock deoderant.
The wife uses it as well, except in summer. She sweats more than I, though, and even though it stops it from smelling, she doesn't like the sticky feeling.
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go VEGAN! None needed!!
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Do vegans still poop?
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Do vegans still poop?
OH YA!!! It's much enjoyable too! lol!!
Read "my beef with meat" It will make you switch! I've been vegan for a year and a half! Love it!!
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Read "my beef with meat"
I'd rather meet with beef. Sounds delicious!
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I've used crystals, but find that homemade coconut oil/baking soda 'cream' works more effectively. I reserve the crystal deoderant usually for travelling
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I ordered one of these, I've wanted one for a while but it's an add-on item for Amazon and I wasn't going to buy something just for it.
I figure if I'm going to be biking to work at all it'd be nice to have a good deodorant if I don't end up showering there.
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I ordered one of these, I've wanted one for a while but it's an add-on item for Amazon and I wasn't going to buy something just for it.
I figure if I'm going to be biking to work at all it'd be nice to have a good deodorant if I don't end up showering there.
Sounds great!
I found what works well for me when biking to work is stripping down for a few minutes and letting myself air out and cool off. Biking to work gets me warmed up, and if I just get right to work I end up getting wet pits and feeling like my clothes are nasty. So I time my ride to get to work 5 minutes early, use our locker room (or a bathroom would work), and strip down while I read some emails on my phone or just play a game, whatever. After a bit my sweating slows down and I have cooled/dried off enough to get dressed without feeling so nasty. I wear scrubs at work, but it doesn't matter what you wear, just that you don't get them wet to start the day with. I still sweat slightly for a while, I bike hard to work, but this gets me past the worst of it.
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It'll be interesting that's for sure - my morning ride will be about 26 miles ;)
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I've found a little trick when using these if you don't shower every day, it works best on wet skin and for the first 7 years I have always put the tip under the faucet and used it that way, but it didn't always feel like it worked out that great. Just recently I have figured out that if I instead get my hand wet and dampen my armpits a little then I just rub the dry stick on my now wet armpits, works great.
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I’ve used rubbing alcohol for years. A bottle will last me 6 months or more. I put it into a small squirt bottle. ($1 from the drugstore travel size section, for one about the size of a roll of quarters, )
I do two or three squirts per side. Usually lasts me all day. I wash and re-apply when necessary.
I’ve been using it for years. The alcohol keeps the odor microbes from setting up shop.
Gotta admit, Bakari, hand sanitizer is easier to apply. Hand sanitizer is my second choice if I catch myself without my spritzer. I like not having to worry about the aluminum and who knows what else they put into the standard stuff.
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I don't want to get this too off track because I'm interested in this rock deodorant thing.
However-
go VEGAN! None needed!!
What?
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I used these deodorant "rocks" back in the late 80s and early 90s. I worked at a natural foods co-op (single young man at the time), and adopted their use when the scare-of-the-month was aluminum in regular deodorants/antiperspirants. Nothing new about them. They save you from spending money on typical deodorants/antiperspirants, but that's about it. If you're under any heavy physical stress, they will not stop the stink. Ask the woman I ended up marrying. I had to stop using the deodorant rocks for reasons of olfactory civility. ;-)
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I used these deodorant "rocks" back in the late 80s and early 90s. I worked at a natural foods co-op (single young man at the time), and adopted their use when the scare-of-the-month was aluminum in regular deodorants/antiperspirants. Nothing new about them. They save you from spending money on typical deodorants/antiperspirants, but that's about it. If you're under any heavy physical stress, they will not stop the stink. Ask the woman I ended up marrying. I had to stop using the deodorant rocks for reasons of olfactory civility. ;-)
Make a deal with you... I won't generalize that it will work for everyone, if you won't generalize that it won't work for everyone... :D
I bike to work, I mow the lawn, I go jogging, I go mountain biking, I work around the house, and I don't smell. My wife is a HSP, I would hear about it really quick if I did.
Never said it would work for everyone, but many people use it with great results. To each their own.
PS I agree about the "scare of the month" club, I try to ignore them also... :)
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I've used crystals, but find that homemade coconut oil/baking soda 'cream' works more effectively. I reserve the crystal deoderant usually for travelling
I agree. I gave the rock deodorant a try a few months ago. It was winter (dry) here, and I don't sweat a ton. I feel like I really gave it a good try, but after a while I noticed body odor. I switched to a coconut oil/baking soda/corn starch/essential oil blend (tea tree, peppermint, wintergreen). I make it really dry so I just take a pinch and rub it on after my shower. I will still sweat a bit, but no body odor. If you smell the pits of my shirt I wore all day, you'd just smell coconut oil. For me, it is the right option.
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I hear ya, James. It's a deal.
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I just mix baking soda with a little water and smear on the pits. It doesn't get rid of too much of my scent, which my lady likes ;)
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I switched to natural stuff because I'm not a super-heavy sweater under normal day-to-day circumstances, and started with Toms of Maine deodorant, but found that it quickly irritated my armpits (after less than a year of use). I'd never had problems with fragrances before but heard similar complaints from other places online.
Now I use this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001ZZH0M/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001ZZH0M/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_1) It works great--I've used it for long bike rides/runs, intense workouts, etc. and although you do sweat, no stink! Also no irritation at all, and I like that you can spray it anywhere (which I guess you could do with the rock as well, but a bit harder to reach your back). Basically its rock in spray form, so I will definitely be getting the rock once this runs out after hearing how well it works.
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Well mine is getting pretty sad - dropped and fractured multiple times, and worn down from use.
Going to order another one. Amazon informs me that "You purchased this item on May 9, 2012." - so just over two years of use for $10 or so.
Don't remember how much regular deodorant costs or how long it lasts, so I'm not sure if I've saved any money, but I prefer the rock deodorant over normal anyways, so even if costs were the same, I'd be buying it.
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Going to order another one. Amazon informs me that "You purchased this item on May 9, 2012." - so just over two years of use for $10 or so.
Great meeting you and your wife at Camp Mustache this year! Didn't notice a stench at all.
It's always great to see that reminder and realize it's been a long time. I'm still using the deodorant I bought the first time I moved to Taiwan in 2006. I needed a two year supply so I bought two 1 year sticks; 8 years later and I've just barely opened the second stick. I haven't even looked into where to source them from anymore, but at this rate I may be FI before needing to buy another.
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I feel like it's so great to discover this community that uses things that I use and doesn't look at me like I grew a third head when I say I rub a rock on my armpits. I found out about this from my hippie friend in England and I'm still using the same stick that I bought over 6 years ago and it's barely rubbed away at all. They're starting to become more popular, I've seen it at Whole foods as well. I have a smaller travel rock as well but I've noticed that over time I don't really need to use deodorant anymore and I live in humidity city (DC) and bike to and from work every day. It's only a 2 mi bike ride and I'm not a heavy sweater anyways but I've pretty much stopped using the stick unless I know I'm going to be out in the sun all day. Tom's has a version that is dissolved and lavender scented with a roller ball applicator which I like for using when I'm not just out of the shower. I have seen spray versions as well but haven't tried those out.
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Haven't read the whole thread, but put me down on the why use deodorant or bath soap group?
I rarely use deodorant. My wife rarely notices unless I'm in sweaty clothes. One trick is to shave the arm pits. (males too) this keeps bacteria from breading.
I quit using bath soap in January. No soap, no shampoo. Wife never noticed. Skin is better than ever. Pimples on back cleared up. My face acne (at age 54) worsened so I now soap the face only.
I frequently go 2 days without showers now as well. Better in winter.
I know sounds crazy to a generation raised on "soap operas" and TV ads --- but it absolutely works. Skin nicer, hair nicer. Try it!
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I have used the rock crystal deodorant for a while.
I was curious how much it did for me, until I realized a ridiculously simple test: Put it on one armpit and not the other. I tried this, and the armpit with the rock gets smelly far slower than the one without.
After reading up on the ingredients in the rock, though, I'm probably going to stop using it also pretty soon. I might try shaving one of my armpits for comparison next.
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This thread is a fun trip down memory lane! I'm still using my deodorant rock 3 years later and still like it just fine. It's nice that when you make a change in your life it keeps saving you money in perpetuity and after you adjust to the change it's just a new normal. I'm still using a handful of cool tips I picked up here in the forum's early days (rock deodorant, baking soda for shampoo, home haircuts, showering less, no soap) and it's just life as normal now, but it's saved me a couple hundred dollars in the meantime. Pretty neat!
I have used the rock crystal deodorant for a while.
I was curious how much it did for me, until I realized a ridiculously simple test: Put it on one armpit and not the other. I tried this, and the armpit with the rock gets smelly far slower than the one without.
After reading up on the ingredients in the rock, though, I'm probably going to stop using it also pretty soon. I might try shaving one of my armpits for comparison next.
Hey, welcome to the forums! Shaving definitely helps, though I find it's not enough on its own if I'm going to be outside much in the summer (or inside much in the winter). Another option you may think about is homemade deodorant (as contrasted with the rock antiperspirant), which smalllife mentioned a recipe for on page 1:
I looked into rock deodorant about a year ago but ended up making my own deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and a few essential oils. It took a few tries but I have customized it for my own bodies needs and I can make it smell however I want. I use a bit of tea tree oil for extra anti bacterial strength and a bit of lavender to even out the tea tree. I infuse the coconut oil with chamomile to be extra soothing on my skin and have decreased the amount of baking soda. There was a two week period where my body detoxed from commercial anti-perspirants but after that my sweaty levels really went down to lower than they were before.
The only issue I have is that the shoulder with metal in it smells different (worse) than the shoulder without, but I can hardly blame the deodorant for that.
It won't help you sweat less, which is really the point for me. But it could help you smell better.
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Stone deodorant worked for me very briefly. I really liked the idea of it but when it stopped working I didn't really have a choice but to go back to regular stick deodorant. My wife still uses it though.
Here is a link to the post she made about it:
http://www.offthecheapend.com/personal-care/natural-crystal-deodorantstone-deodorant/
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The alcohol certainly makes sense, anything that was antibacterial enough to kill what's there should work about the same. Since just about everybody has alcohol at home in some form, it might work to try alcohol for a while to see if just killing the bacteria and avoiding the smell is enough, or whether you really require the antiperspirant as well. I think long term the rock has advantages, but it might have a bigger up front cost and is a uni-tasker...
Putting Everclear in a spray bottle and spritzing your pits with it works really well. I read somewhere that you should use Everclear instead of rubbing alcohol because it's not good for you to absorb rubbing alcohol regularly for reasons I cannot remember, but it makes sense to me intuitively since Everclear is safe to ingest and rubbing alcohol is not.
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Another option you may think about is homemade deodorant (as contrasted with the rock antiperspirant)
I don't think the rock is an antiperspirant, it kills the bacteria that causes smell causing it to be a deodorant. I sweat a lot more using the rock, but it doesn't smell. If I am going to be in a hot place and don't want to sweat I pull out my old antiperspirant stick.
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Serious question, has anyone tried just going without deodorant? I usually don't bother to shower or wear deodorant during the weekends, and I find I have to stick my nose into my pit to smell anything. Definitely not anything someone would notice unless they too were sticking their noses in my pits. At which point they would get what they deserve.
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Serious question, has anyone tried just going without deodorant? I usually don't bother to shower or wear deodorant during the weekends, and I find I have to stick my nose into my pit to smell anything. Definitely not anything someone would notice unless they too were sticking their noses in my pits. At which point they would get what they deserve.
During the summer I wear it because it's hot enough to make me sweat just walking to the car. In cooler weather I don't bother putting on any deodorant unless I'm going to be doing something that involves heavy sweating. So unless I go to the gym or go play some pick-up games of basketball, I don't find the need for deodorant. On the weekends, I'm much like you though. Very rarely do I put on my deodorant and the only way I smell anything is if I bury my nose in my pit.
Really considering ordering myself some rock deodorant after seeing so many fans in this thread.
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Serious question, has anyone tried just going without deodorant? I usually don't bother to shower or wear deodorant during the weekends, and I find I have to stick my nose into my pit to smell anything. Definitely not anything someone would notice unless they too were sticking their noses in my pits. At which point they would get what they deserve.
I think it is a very individual question. There are two smells to consider. One is the smell from our body and our sweat, which is usually pretty mild. The other is from bacteria which proliferates in our wet areas, and makes the typical "BO" smell. For those without a lot of sweat, who don't have strong normal body odor, I bet they could get by just fine without any deodorant. For me I find my pits don't smell much after one day, but the bigger issue is that without the rock killing the bacteria, my shirts start to smell. I like to wear my shirts a few days before washing (my button down shirts I wear over a t-shirt and wear many days), but without the rock killing the bacteria the shirts start to smell before they are dirty and need washing. So by using the rock my pits don't smell and my shirts don't smell. If I wore a new shirt every day I could probably get by without anything, since I work in a cool place. But I would need to take a shower after working outside or getting sweaty at all, otherwise I would probably smell before bedtime, especially in the summer.
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I got my rock deodorant about a month ago and it works great.
DW says my smell has completely changed.
thanks for this tip!
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Serious question, has anyone tried just going without deodorant? I usually don't bother to shower or wear deodorant during the weekends, and I find I have to stick my nose into my pit to smell anything. Definitely not anything someone would notice unless they too were sticking their noses in my pits. At which point they would get what they deserve.
Please ensure that you get an objective opinion on this before assuming that this is a success. I had to spend far too many warm spring days trying to concentrate in class near some folks who smelled strongly of body odour, but obviously were accustomed to their own . . . perfume.
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Serious question, has anyone tried just going without deodorant? I usually don't bother to shower or wear deodorant during the weekends, and I find I have to stick my nose into my pit to smell anything. Definitely not anything someone would notice unless they too were sticking their noses in my pits. At which point they would get what they deserve.
Please ensure that you get an objective opinion on this before assuming that this is a success. I had to spend far too many warm spring days trying to concentrate in class near some folks who smelled strongly of body odour, but obviously were accustomed to their own . . . perfume.
I agree, I highly doubt you are the best judge of your own stink, definitely a place to error on the side of caution...
With the rock there is nothing to be gained by not using it, you aren't going to save money or time other than about 3 seconds. And the rock works best with constant use since it kills the bacteria that cause smell. Allowing a few days for the bacteria to start up is just asking for smell, even if subtle.
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If you don't mind using your fingers to rub a deodorant on you.... you should try making your own using my recipe. Though of all of my testers, the ladies like it more, something about armpit hair :)
Anyway, I just wanted to offer it, it's so simple and as someone who is active and has sensitive skin, this works better than anything else out there for me.
You need:
Aluminum-Free Baking Soda
Cornstarch
Coconut Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil, 10 drops
Lavender Essential Oil, 10 drops
A drop of olive oil (only in winter for the northern hemisphere)
A small glass jar with lid (small jam jar)
I mixed together equal parts baking soda, cornstarch (about 3 tablespoons of each was about the right amount for the jar I use.) I blended in enough coconut oil to make a thick paste and added 10 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oils. These both have the advantage of smelling fresh and boasting anti-bacterial properties to help with the stink. The olive oil I add only when the temperatures drop to freezing to keep it a little softer.
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I'm 56 and the rock is the only type of deodorant I've ever used. I buy the kind with the plastic base and screw on cover. A plain rock is too slippery to hold on to.
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If you don't mind using your fingers to rub a deodorant on you.... you should try making your own using my recipe. Though of all of my testers, the ladies like it more, something about armpit hair :)
Anyway, I just wanted to offer it, it's so simple and as someone who is active and has sensitive skin, this works better than anything else out there for me.
You need:
Aluminum-Free Baking Soda
Cornstarch
Coconut Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil, 10 drops
Lavender Essential Oil, 10 drops
A drop of olive oil (only in winter for the northern hemisphere)
A small glass jar with lid (small jam jar)
I mixed together equal parts baking soda, cornstarch (about 3 tablespoons of each was about the right amount for the jar I use.) I blended in enough coconut oil to make a thick paste and added 10 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oils. These both have the advantage of smelling fresh and boasting anti-bacterial properties to help with the stink. The olive oil I add only when the temperatures drop to freezing to keep it a little softer.
This is similar to the recipe I use. Possibly more accurate would be the olive oil is an addition 'in cold climates in winter'. Believe it or not, there are places in the southern hemisphere that have 'winter'... I grew up in such a place :)
Other thing I would comment is that some people find a baking soda base is too irritant over the long term; if that's the case swap the baking soda for arrowroot powder. Works 'nearly' as well for deoderising ;)
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Read this thread early August last year, decided to track down a stick of rock as I was headed to the UK for six months and wanted something that I could take on the plane (and didn't want to have to work out a brand that I could stand over there). Also took a solid shampoo and solid conditioner bar, they're amazing so long as your hair is short. I've used my rock since then, and it is barely half used. would definitely recommend.
I'd be on to converting my partner to use it but he is one of those enviably rare people who just don't have armpit odor even without deodorant. However, does anyone in the 'make-your-own-recipie' group that have been posting on this thread have a solution for feet? I live with 4 guys. Homemade foot powder ideas would be welcome. Though I read somewhere that the rock is also good to be used on the feet- has anybody had success with this?
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I've been using the rock deodorant on and off for about a year, and it works great. Except... even though *I'm* not stinky, my clothes do get stinky. This isn't really a problem in the winter, but I could barely use it all summer. I'd get really smelly, but when I took my shirt off, I didn't smell at all--just the armpits of my shirts. I suppose when I sweat, the fiber of my clothes don't have the same antibacterial that my skin has thanks to the rock.
This is annoying, because I don't like stinking half way through the day, and it also means I have to wash my clothes way more often, and they take on more wear and tear (I have to dress professionally, so I try to wash my work clothes as little and as gently as possible).
Any suggestions on keeping my shirts from getting stinky when it's hot out?
Read this thread early August last year, decided to track down a stick of rock as I was headed to the UK for six months and wanted something that I could take on the plane (and didn't want to have to work out a brand that I could stand over there). Also took a solid shampoo and solid conditioner bar, they're amazing so long as your hair is short. I've used my rock since then, and it is barely half used. would definitely recommend.
I'd be on to converting my partner to use it but he is one of those enviably rare people who just don't have armpit odor even without deodorant. However, does anyone in the 'make-your-own-recipie' group that have been posting on this thread have a solution for feet? I live with 4 guys. Homemade foot powder ideas would be welcome. Though I read somewhere that the rock is also good to be used on the feet- has anybody had success with this?
I have not tested it out, but I've heard others who have success for stinky feet using the basic ingredients of dry deodorant: baking soda and cornstarch (or arrowroot powder). I think the baking soda is for the stink, and the cornstarch is for the sweat.
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I've been using the rock deodorant on and off for about a year, and it works great. Except... even though *I'm* not stinky, my clothes do get stinky. This isn't really a problem in the winter, but I could barely use it all summer. I'd get really smelly, but when I took my shirt off, I didn't smell at all--just the armpits of my shirts. I suppose when I sweat, the fiber of my clothes don't have the same antibacterial that my skin has thanks to the rock.
This is annoying, because I don't like stinking half way through the day, and it also means I have to wash my clothes way more often, and they take on more wear and tear (I have to dress professionally, so I try to wash my work clothes as little and as gently as possible).
Any suggestions on keeping my shirts from getting stinky when it's hot out?
I've noticed this also! Mostly only after I've worn the same shirt 2-3 times, and now that I think about it, it's less often lately compared to when I first started using it.
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Dumb question - you do wear an undershirt, right?
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I got my rock deodorant about a month ago and it works great.
DW says my smell has completely changed.
thanks for this tip!
I'm on my second stick in 9 years still, first stick lasted me 6 years and was only thrown out when we moved across an ocean. Granted I don't use it every day, just when I remember to. Like Cookie78 I wear my t-shirts for a few days (alternate two shirts throughout the week) and a button down shirt on the outside which goes for a week. It's cool in the office and the button down is worn occasionally if I feel cold. I also bike 3 miles to work every day.
My wife generally doesn't use deodorant because she's Asian.
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Dumb question - you do wear an undershirt, right?
Sometimes? But I'm a ladystache, so my undershirts are camis. No underarm protection.