We non-drivers are seasoned experts in public transport. It’s an unpleasant experience at the best of times. At rush hour in the height of summer, it might actually be hell on earth, unless you’re someone that enjoys being squished into a sweaty man’s armpit at 8am (hey, we’re not judging).
Pong be gone
The obvious answer to the problem is a regular shower, clean clothes and a liberal skoosh of antiperspirant. But it’s not as simple as that. These days people are wary of antiperspirants, both for eco reasons (aerosol sprays contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone) and for health ones. It’s easy to reduce the environmental impact by switching to a stick or roll-on, but the health piece of the puzzle is more complex.
What’s your type?
There are two varieties of underarm B.O.-buster: Antiperspirants, which reduce your sweating; and deodorants, which contain antimicrobial ingredients that kill stink-producing bacteria and fragrance to mask the smell. People have all sorts of concerns about them, particularly antiperspirants because they contain aluminum, which has been linked in some studies to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.
Myth buster
We delved deeper into the rumours by talking to Dr. Roohi Qureshi, founder of Leaves of Trees (maker of one of our favourite natural deodorants) and also a chemical engineer and medical doctor. She says: “There isn’t really good scientific data to support these concerns [about Alzheimer’s and breast cancer] at this time. The National Cancer Institute states that there is ‘no scientific evidence’ linking antiperspirants to breast cancer and the Alzheimer’s Association states ‘studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum’ in causing the disease.”
Nonetheless, the demand for natural deodorants is rising, even though conventional products appear not to be harmful. Why is this? Qureshi believes there are two reasons. “It’s in large part due to increased consumer awareness about what goes on one’s body, the skin being the body’s largest organ,” she says. “At the same time, there are now natural deodorants available that are effective in the way they work – the product actually keeps [people] smelling fresh.”
Here are six deodorants we’ve tried and tested. All kept us fresh, all day – Agent Nateur and Leaves of Trees even pass the workout test. Keep them to yourself, or silently pass one to your stinky bus buddy.
