Deodorant!

[samhandwich22]

I need some help from veteran burners on this one. To bring deodorant or not to? I can imagine it being somewhat ineffective and pointless with all of the heat and the sweating and the general condition of being unshowered. Also, my deodorant usually melts in hot environments although I guess this can be remedied by purchasing a spray on can. Who has any deodorant tips for me? I am thinking about just leaving it at home as is what I do when I go on wilderness backpacking expeditions.

[kiss-o-matic]

I need some help from veteran burners on this one. To bring deodorant or not to?

Hmm... I think common sense is going to do you just as much good as a veteran burner. Or maybe more.

[Stray Dog]

You could always camp downwind of everyone else.

[DrewDubious]

Deodorant =/= anit-perspirant unless it says it is!



Either way, do yourself a favor and get the stuff without aluminum in it.

[FIGJAM]

Put a bay leaf under each arm and you'll smell like soup!

[littlebird]

Put a bay leaf under each arm and you'll smell like soup!

I, for one, suggest mint leaves. Mmmm, minty fresh.

[FIGJAM]

But I don't like mint!

I like soup.

[Stray Dog]

Pizza is good too.

[geospyder]

If you bring deodorant - keep it in the cooler or at least in a Ziploc. The heat will expand it and will create a gooey mess

[Chowski]

Leave the deodorant at home. You won't care once you get there. The dust will keep you powdered, and a quick scrub down every once in a while will keep down the stench. One of the best parts of Burning Man is ditching the deodorant.

[robbidobbs]

Skip the chemical goo altogether and get an alum salt stick, usually available in health food stores. Consider, your epidermis is a digestive organ - would you EAT your deodorant? Well, you are! These salt sticks are pricey, but mine has lasted 5 years. And its SALT so it doesn't melt, the worse you can do to it is drop & break it. Now you have a "trial size" chunk to take to the Playa.
* Just moisten and apply. I've spit on mine when there wasn't water readily available
* No chemicals that clog up pores and seep into your skin (blech)
* Just another thing you'll not have to buy from the chem factories.
* Skip on the roll on version, buy the rock. It will be yours for a long, long time.

RobbiDobbs clear
Chief Poopervisor of the Pottie-Project
"Covering your ass since 2001"

[BBadger]

Well I probably wouldn't want to eat the Titanium Dioxide in my sunscreen either, but I'll use that instead of so-called natural solutions. Still, at least it's not affecting your sweat gland areas like deodorant does.

Something that helps is to use those wet-wipes and wipe under your armpits to help kill some of that bacteria and just clean things up. Nice in general to towel off a bit.

[Simon of the Playa]

go ahead, destroy your natural pheromones...ruin your natural attractants...



yeah, thats right, i'm a free-baller...

[BBadger]

ball_sweat.jpg

[FossaFerox]

For the record, an alum salt stick still has aluminum sulfate and usually ammonia as well.

That being said, playa dust does a hell of a job keeping the smell down. I had brought a new stick of conventional deodorant with me which somehow got left in the hotel in Reno Saturday night. I blame the crazy drive. At any rate, I wound up on the playa with no deodorant this year.

Normally my BO isn't that bad to begin with, which is fortunate given my line of work, but for the first four days out there I had absolutely none (I was paranoid and checking regularly). It only got noticeable twice, both about a day after I showered and removed that layer of playa dust. When it did get noticeable (to me, still checking constantly out of paranoia) I used a baby wipe on each armpit and it was fine. Your mileage may of course vary, but don't worry about it too much.

[Zhust]

Deodorant/antiperspirant is stupid. Smelling like a human being is a good thing.

(Learn a bit for fun.)

[Jackass]

Forget that shit, I cut an onion in half and put one under each arm.

My yoga instructor taught me that one...

[Roberto Dobbisano]

(I was paranoid and checking regularly)

yer KILLING me, smalls.

[FossaFerox]

yer KILLING me, smalls.

Hey, when my prep falls through I need to be sure everything is working out. I am not okay with smelling foul. I like being close to people and I like people wanting to be close to me. Not to say that all BO is inherently foul, but it has the potential to be.

[FIGJAM]

Smell is a fact.

Stink is an opinion!

[robbidobbs]

Ok,thanks for the heads up re alum salt. I will try out milk of magnesia or lemon juice.

[Soylent Queen]

I was a virgin at this year's burn, and I didn't find smell a problem at all whatsoever, but that's probably got a lot to do with the fact that I stayed at the Poly Paradise camp, which is blessed with gifting to the masses the Human Carcass Wash! What a joy it is to have an assembly line of people soaping you up, scrubbing you down and squeegeeing your naked body dry, all in a space where you are encouraged to state your boundaries (no genitals, please don't wash my new body paint, mind the cast on my arm, etc.) and be treated gently and with great respect. After that, you can spin dry naked in the street outside. First, you have to learn how to create that space for others, so you participate in the orientation and the washing stations, taking care of bathing honored guests. Then, you graduate into receiving this yourself.

Another bonus this year: the Hiney Hygiene station right next door. Cuz goodness, that dust gets wedged up into places where you might just want a private scrub-down! Again, done with care, gentleness and respect, and with your choice of scented products to leave you smelling as fresh as a fill-in-the-blank.

So consider this all an option!

[robbidobbs]

I'm trying out lemon juice. not woking. On to mm. ned to find rollon bottle for same.

[FossaFerox]

Try lemon juice mixed with playa dust?

[Ratty]

Roll on. Unscented. No BO.

[pretty_monster]

wear some deodorant, please. i beg of you. there's too much hugging going on for people to be letting themselves get all stank. i've always just brought my usual stuff and it's held up fine.

[robbidobbs]

I am a FAN of using Milk of Magnesia for deodorant now! It totally works. I bought a bottle of mom and a package of cotton pads for application. Works like a charm. And one nice aside is that it's a mild laxative for those on the don't forget to poop thread.

[cosmic-honey]

I am a FAN of using Milk of Magnesia for deodorant now! It totally works. I bought a bottle of mom and a package of cotton pads for application. Works like a charm. And one nice aside is that it's a mild laxative for those on the don't forget to poop thread.

WIN!

[robbidobbs]

Booyah! The deodorant companies can suck it!

[fernley1]

Baby powder worked good for our group last year.
we used wet wipes and when dry, would rub on the powder.