Deodorants are cosmetic substances applied to the body, most frequently the armpits, to reduce the body odor caused by perspiration.

Human sweat per se is odorless. The odor of sweat is actually caused by bacteria thriving in hot, humid environments. This odor is negatively stigmatized in many cultures (see below), hence the desire to eliminate or suppress it.

The underarm areas are breeding grounds for odor-causing bacteria: the armpits are among the consistently warmest areas on the surface of the human body, the sweat glands provide water, and armpit hair contributes to perspiration odor because of the increase in surface area.

Deodorants – classified as cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – work in the following ways:

• They inhibit the growth of bacteria which cause odors. This is commonly done by antibacterial chemical compounds such as propylene glycol or triclosan.

• Deodorants may also contain perfume fragrances intended to mask the odor of perspiration.

Deodorants may be combined with antiperspirants – classified as drugs by the FDA – which attempt to stop or significantly reduce perspiration. Aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorhydrate, and related aluminium compounds are the most widely used antiperspirants. They work because the Al³⁺ ions are taken into the outter layer of the epidermis and subsequently absorb water. As more water is absorbed, the cells begin to swell, closing the ducts that perspiration would normally flow through. This approach to odor control is frowned upon by some medical professionals since perspiration is a natural process and only an indirect cause of odors.

While at one time deodorants and antiperspirants were usually applied in an aerosol spray or in a liquid roll-on forms, many other options including compressed solid powders, compressed solid gels, gels, and alum crystals have taken over the market.

Adolescence

Adolescence is usually the time when axillary sweat glands activate, resulting in body odor. As a result, girls and boys are usually given their first deodorant/anti-perspirant in early to mid puberty. (Boys usually 12-14; girls usually 10-12) Some teens see this as a neccesary application, some see it as embarassing, while other's believe it to be a "coming of age" event.

Deodorants and culture

Cultures and individuals differ in their attitudes about the need for deodorant, and on whether natural body odor is offensive. Various foods (e.g., garlic) may also affect one's natural body odor.

Other parts of the body besides the armpits are targets for commercially manufactured deodorants, most notably the genitals, and particularly the female genitals, which are a staple of sexually graphic humor and certain circumspect commercials ("Mom, sometimes I don't feel 'fresh.'").

Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues contains (among many other things) an amusing plot line that takes a stance in favor of natural body odors and presents the positions of partisans on both sides of the issue.

An episode of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends featured the lead character, Blooregard Q. Kazoo (a/k/a Bloo) as the mascot for a deodorant called "Deo", which really does not work as found out in the final scene of the program.

See also

• Air freshener

External links

• The Truth About Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer
• E-mail Rumor Links Anti-perspirant to Breast Cancer (American Cancer Society)
• Body Odor Syndromes: Berrer Institute's testing deodorants and anti-prespiratns on lab rats. (Joseph Journal)
• Ask Yahoo!: Is it true that your body gets immune to your deodorant, and if so, does rotating deodorants really work?
• No Sweat: Putting deodorants and antiperspirants to the test. (Slate Magazine)de:Deodorant