Underarm deodorants are meant for odor prevention, masking of the odor, preventing the microbes that degrades the sweat into odorous compounds. The odorous compounds produces the malodor typically associated with the sweat in the underarms.
Deodorants are applied topically on the underarms to minimize the odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration. Our deodorant is formulated to fight and kill the bacteria that grow in the apocrine region so they don't make the body odor by decomposing the sweat.
Deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same in that the antiperspirant function is to inhibit perspiration or prevent sweat formation. Antiperspirant blocks the apocrine sweat glands so that there is nothing for the bacteria to feed on to make the pit stink. Antiperspirants are classified as OTC drug by the FDA as it prevents a biological function.
Our deodorant formulation is built to achieve the following overall objectives:
- Reduce odor formation
- Mask the odor
- Long lasting odor protection
- No staining on clothes
- No irritation on the skin
Odor formation is a result of the degradation of sweat into odorous compounds that are caused by esterase enzyme. The decomposition of sweat can be prevented or reduced by using antimicrobial actives derived from plants.
In our formulation, we have achieved the above goals by using plant derived ingredients that exhibit antimicrobial effect, reduce sweat or antihidrotic, prevent the degradation of sweat and provide long lasting odor protection. Plant derived extracts have proven to have antimicrobial activity and is supported by research.
Source: Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts by Hammer KA, Carson CF and Riley TV
Hammer, K A, et al. “Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Other Plant Extracts.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 1999, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10438227.
Essential oil blends would provide the fragrance element because we want our underarms to smell good.
We do not use baking soda in our formulation. Baking soda has a high pH of approximately 9 which tends to irritate the skin and cause skin darkening in some cases. In comparison human skin pH is around 5.5. Our formulation does not contain coconut oils or any butters and therefore does not cause stains on clothes.
Why no baking soda?
Baking soda has a pH of approximately 9 compared against our skin pH of 5.5. Use of a high a product containing a high pH product would result in rashy pits and skin darkening or leathery skin. The SDS or Safety Data Sheet for baking soda or Sodium Bicarbonate can be found here or
http://www.ahperformance.com/media/files/Church-and-Dwight-Sodium_Bicarbonate_SDS_NA_031115_FINAL2.pdf
The SDS states the following when the chemical is exposed to skin:
"Skin Contact: Brush off loose particles from skin. Rinse immediately with plenty of water. Obtain medical attention if irritation develops or persists"
If you experience rash or skin discoloration after using baking soda based deodorants, it is because of unhealthy concentration of baking soda in the product.
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