Why I Smell Better NOT Wearing Deodorant

Why do i think i smell better not wearing deodorant? We’re all told from a young age how we should be. The men should be “manly” doing the DIY, chopping the wood and stoking the fires. Whereas women should be these pretty, beautiful, perfect creatures. With skin as smooth as silk. We should all wear makeup and that it’s odd if we don’t. We’re expected to shave our armpits, wear deodorant and be classy and sophisticated. But why? Who came up with these gender rules? And why should we stick to them?

Surely we should all be doing what feels right to us. Whether we wear deodorant or not. Whether you love to wear makeup or not. Or have a love for fashion, jewellery and accessories. Surely these simple, choices don’t define us as individuals? Yet somehow they do. I wanted to share my story with you incase anyone else feels the same way but it worried about opening up.

Fitting In To Societies Gender Roles

I’ve never been someone to fit into one of societies gender specific roles. With 2 very “boyish” brothers, and mother similar to me. Only ever having male friends growing up. Wearing “boys” clothes and refusing to wear “girls” swimsuits, opting for speedo’s instead. I never really stood a chance of fitting in to my gender specific role of a “female”. I remember my mum desperately trying to get me to wear a dress to a relatives wedding once when i was about 11. Refusing point blank, i ended up going in these ridiculously out there bermuda shorts that i wouldn’t take off for days!

To this day I’ve only ever worn a dress and make up once in my life – on my wedding day. Something i didn’t find too comfortable doing, but also kinda loved as it was a one of a kind day. I don’t follow fashion trends and would rather be comfortable than look good, or be on trend. You’ll likely either find me in shorts (no matter the weather), workout gear, or in my comfies. For me, life is too short to worry about how you look to other people. Do you and stand by it! Don’t let these crazy rules and expectations define you as a person. Finding out what makes you happy inside and out is more important than being excepted!

Why I Stopped Shaving

I stopped shaving my armpits around the same time a stopped wearing deodorant. On average, i shave my armpits every other month, or when I remember. I used to get such bad rashes after shaving. Yet now, doing it less often, means I don’t get any rashes or itching at all. The hair growth has also slowed down a lot meaning i don’t have to do it that often anyway. I sometimes see people noticing in the gym that I don’t shave. Some find it funny. Others look disgusted. But why judge someone on such a small, insignificant choice? A choice that affects YOU in no way at all.

We should all stop judging others for their choices. How does some one having a tiny bit of hair under their arm make them less of a person, a woman, a human? It doesn’t change their personality. How kind or caring they are. Or how dedicated they are in life or their jobs.

An Experiment

My choice to stop wearing deodorant started as an experiment. I want to know what it would feel like not to wear any, especially on a warm day. It was also after reading an article on the chemicals that go into our deodorant’s these days. I didn’t like the idea of having that many chemicals near my glands. So how has not wearing deodorant made me smell better?

Clean Up Your Diet

I read that the more clean your diet is, the better you smell as you don’t have the chemicals and other toxins coming out of your pores. This alone encourage me to have and much better diet. I cut out meat and dairy and now eat mainly fruits and vegetables. At the end of last year, I decided to go fully vegan and I’ve never felt better within myself since changing my diet. Yes it’s true, the more clean and healthy you eat, the better you smell. If you don’t believe me, try it yourself. For one whole month, eat nothing but fruits and vegetables and see how different you smell.

Even on the hottest of days, or after an intense crossfit workout, I still don’t smell. Of course I still sweat, that’s normal, however it doesn’t smell. Our bodies are designed to sweat to keep our core temperature correct. Many deodorant’s stop you from sweating, thus preventing your body from cooling down properly. Potentially damaging internal organs and clogging up our pores and glands in the process. My glands are free to breathe. I also NEVER moisturise directly in to my arm pits. If you eat a well balanced diet, you should’t need to.

Do I Smell?

At the start, I would often ask friends and family to be totally honest and let me know if I started to smell. Not once have I ever been told or heard that I do. So, not only by not wearing deodorant do I not have nasty chemicals near my glands, it’s also encouraged me to eat a healthy, balanced diet every day. Something I may never have done if I didn’t start this experiment. 

Read The Signs

If you know what to look out for, and can read the signs, your body will generally tell you if something’s wrong. If you have bad breath, have bad bio, or smelly feet. This is your body’s way of telling you something’s wrong. Try cleaning up your diet, eating more fruits and vegetables to see if it helps with the smell. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference what you put in to your body makes to the way you feel.

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