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If you are an active X user in Nigeria, you are likely aware of the ongoing campaign against body odour and the increasing call for people to use deodorants and antiperspirants. This conversation came up again because of the Ojude Oba festival.
The Ojude Oba festival, an annual festival held in Ogun State, received national attention. It trended on social media platforms for weeks for its beauty, historical dances, and horse displays.
Controversial journalist Kemi Olunloyo, in her X post, noted that most women during the Ojude Festival had a foul smell because the body fragrances used had mixed with sweat smell, providing an offensive odour.
She explained that when crowds are gathered in a place wearing thick materials like the Yoruba aso oke, they are advised to wear body spray containing antiperspirants and deodorants. “Antiperspirants prevent sweating, while deodorants stop the odour,’’ she wrote.
Different reactions followed the post. Some disagreed with what she had written. Others sought clarity on the differences and when to use each product.
Antiperspirants hold off sweat; deodorants erase odour
Deodorants and antiperspirants reduce body odour in different ways. Some people prefer deodorants over concern about aluminium compounds in antiperspirants, though research suggests this is not a cause for concern.
Antiperspirants and deodorants work in different ways to reduce body odour. Antiperspirants reduce sweat, while deodorants increase the skin’s acidity.
Deodorants
Healthline states deodorants are formulated to eliminate armpit odour but not perspiration. They are typically alcohol-based. When applied, they turn skin acidic, making it less attractive to bacteria.
Deodorants offer two forms of protection against odour. The first is antimicrobial properties that reduce the number of bacteria that produce odour. The second is a fragrance that masks the odour.
Antiperspirants
The active ingredients in antiperspirants usually include aluminium-based compounds that temporarily block sweat pores. Blocking sweat pores reduces the amount of perspiration that reaches your skin.
Antiperspirants may benefit from acting as a deodorant because of how the product works. When antiperspirants block sweat glands, they also block odours from escaping, which reduces how badly you smell when sweating.
If over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirants cannot control your sweating, prescription antiperspirants are available.
Deodorant and antiperspirant benefits
Deodorant masks odour, while an antiperspirant reduces how much you sweat. Both products work wherever applied to your body, most commonly on the underarms. Many times, deodorant and antiperspirant are combined into a single product.
Two primary reasons to use deodorants and antiperspirants are moisture and smell.
Sweat is a cooling mechanism that helps us shed excess heat. Armpits have a higher density of sweat glands than other body areas. Some people wish to reduce their sweating since armpit sweat can sometimes soak through clothing.
Sweat can also contribute to body odour. Your sweat itself does not have a strong odour. The bacteria on your skin breaking down sweat produce an odour. The damp warmth of your armpits is an ideal environment for bacteria.
The sweat from your apocrine glands, located in the armpits, groin, and nipple area, is high in protein, which makes it easy for bacteria to break down.
Antiperspirants and deodorants work in different ways to reduce body odour. Antiperspirants reduce sweat, and deodorants increase skin acidity, which odour-causing bacteria do not like.
While there are rumours linking antiperspirants to cancer, research suggests that it does not cause cancer. However, studies also recommend further research to study its potential link with the disease.
Body sprays and antiperspirants
Body sprays are similar to perfumes, containing fragrance extracts such as herbs, oils, and spices mixed with alcohol and water. They help people smell great, giving them a fresh scent that lasts for a few hours. However, they don’t stop sweating. In effect, they only mask body odours rather than stopping them.
Body sprays have the short-term effect of covering up body odours, whereas antiperspirant deodorants are formulated to address their root cause.
Sweat itself doesn’t smell. But when it mixes with the bacteria on your skin, it can cause body odour.
Anti-perspirant deodorants combat body odour in two ways: first, they cover the sweat glands that release sweat onto your skin, stopping the sweat and bacteria from mixing. Second, they reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin in the first place.
Purple.com explains that people in sports or physically strenuous activities prefer deodorants over body spray. This is because constant sweating encourages the growth of odour, which causes bacteria.
They wrote, “A deodorant doubles as a clinical agent and has antimicrobial properties, which helps it reduce bacterial growth.”
Deodorants can cover body odour, but body sprays can not cover it. Deodorants also help against sweat odour.
Conclusion
Antiperspirants effectively reduce sweat and, in turn, body odour, making them ideal for those who struggle with excessive sweating. On the other hand, deodorants focus on neutralising odour by targeting bacteria and providing a pleasant fragrance.
