Day 4 and 5 Suave vs. Baking Soda

Day 4

no changes; same results as days 1 and 2

Day 5

We went to St. Augustine Beach. Both deodorants kept odor away, while they lasted, even in the hot Florida sun. I did notice that the underarm where the baking soda was applied will develop an order rapidly if the baking soda is somehow removed and not reapplied immediately.

Conclusion:

I will fully switch to baking soda as a deoderant. Although it can feel gritty at times, either that feeling disappears after a while, or I subconsciously start to ignore it.

Suave vs. Baking Soda Day 3 May 23, 2008

7.45 am cleansed both underarms, again baking soda underarm super easy to clean. suave underarm needed several scrubs and I still felt some sticky residue. repeated applications as before

10.30 arrived at work after 15 minute brisk walk. no order, but suave underarm is super sticky. baking soda feels gritty on left pit.

6pm suave underarm smells like funk is trying to build, but still covered with baby powder scent. baking soda pit smells strongly of baking soda but no funk

day 2 may 22, 2008

8.04 am shower had to scrub extra extra extra hard to remove the suave buildup and there was still traces of the deoderant under my arms. baking soda came off with a little soap and water. reapplied baking soda to left underarm and suave to right underarm

9.20am 10 minutes before work I decided that I could not face going to work. so I called in. ended up sleeping until 2pm checked pits, some wetness on both sides, no odor, stickiness under right arm

Day 1 observations May 21, 2008

8.20am scrubbed both underarms throughly in the shower; still had traces of suave underarms, so I scrubbed with alcohol. it finally came off!!! applied baking soda deo to left underarm, and suave to right. let air dry and got dressed. baking soda mixture smells like baking soda, but the smell is unobtrusive. it also dries to a smooth powder finish, but you can see the whiteness. suave smells like baby powder on crack, it bothers me some times but most of the time I get over it. suave disappears but there is a film on my skins

9.45am arrive at work after approximately 20 min walk in the HOT florida sun. check both underarms baking soda still going strong, no funk, and the white powder look has disappeared, i’m a little sweaty under both arms. suave still smells like baby powder and has gotten sticky. but overall no funk.

1.15pm return from eating lunch outside and sunning. still no smell, baking soda underarm is really smooth and not sticky at all. suave is extremely sticky.

6.00pm finally return home after 15 min walk to bus station, and waiting for the bus. again no smell from either underarm and a little sweaty under both.

went to bed at 10.30pm both arms smell as great as they did at the begining of the day. after wetness disappeared from both underarms baking soda underarm is dry and smooth, whereas suave underarm is dry, and sticky.

suave vs. baking soda

Today starts the begining of a 5 day experiment,

Hypothesis: to determine if baking soda is a better deodorant against suave deoderant and antiperspirant.

Purpose: It has become extremely hard to find a deoderant that does not contain potentially harmful and carcinogenic chemicals, so I have decided to test if a paste of baking soda applied to the under arm area once a day is an effective, cost effective, natural, and safe way to combat oder. Unfortunately this experiment will not test baking soda’s antiperspirant properties, since the actual idea of antiperspirant is potentially carcinogenic (apparently your body needs to perspire to release toxins from your body, and prevented if from doing so produces a build up of toxins in your body; citation needed). I have also been on a quest for natural, cost effective personal hygiene implements for several years, it started once I went “natural” in relation to my hair (no chemical treatments, and attempts at limiting chemical hair products). I already have eschewed commercially produced lotions (they contain petroleum) in favor for olive oil, and hair products that contain petroleum and/or alcohol. Now I have moved onto natural deoderant. I also hate the way that commercially produced deodorants are hard to cleanse from my skin, leave a sticky film, and leave my clothes yellow!!!

Materials:

1. Arm and Hammer

Baking soda

2. Suave antiperspirant and deoderant spray.

2. Water

Procedure:

1.Cleanse underarms throughly, to remove all traces of any other deoderant; preferably do not apply any for a few days (it is best to do this when you do not have to be around other people who mind stinky underarms ).

2. Mix equal parts baking soda and water in your hand to make a paste.

3.Apply mixture to left under arm and let air dry.

4. Shake the Suave can very well, and apply to right under arm, and let air dry.

5. Compare underams at the end of the day and take note.

6. Repeat for 5 days.

7. Compare notes and make conclusions.

I will update my blog everyday for the next five days with my notes, and pictures of my underarms!!! On the 6th day I will deliver a verdict and my conclusions. I will continue the experiment as long as I do not stink.