About Deodorant

We all use deodorant every day, but it's easy to take it for granted. Being informed can help you make a better decision about something you use daily! It's separate from antiperspirants, but they are often combined to form one product. Deodorant works primarily to mask or stop the odor of fermented sweat, but antiperspirant actually works to reduce the production of sweat.

History

Deodorant, as we know it today, was patented by a man named Jules Montenier in 1941. At the time, the brand operating under that initial patent was "Stopette." Once the patent ran out, several other brands clamored into the marketplace. Deodorant had been previously available, but the chemical compound was more irritating to the skin.

Function

Deodorant, unlike antiperspirant, is classified by the FDA as a cosmetic tool instead of a drug. This is because it tries to create an inhospitable area to grow bacteria instead of preventing the body from doing what it naturally does (like sweat). It does so by attempting to balance out pH levels so that bacteria does not have the acidic environment it needs to grow.

Identification

Deodorant is usually made up of alcohol, perfume and sometimes triclosan. Additionally, often deodorants have antiperspirant mixed in. Antiperspirants usually contain a chemical compound like Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.

Types

Deodorants come in spray, roll on, gel, and solid forms. Interestingly, there is a definite dichotomy in deodorant preferences; Europe sells the first two almost exclusively, but the United States does the same with the latter two.

Misconceptions

In the 1990's, there were rumors going around that antiperspirants (often found with deodorants) actually cause breast cancer. These have been proven false by several extended studies. The most notable of which is the 2003 study by the Europe Journal of Cancer Prevention. It announced the find in the first place.