Man or woman, a deodorant should be part of your grooming essential. Even during cold days, the dirt, sweat and bacteria from the surroundings may stick to your body, leading you to have a not-so-pleasant smell, especially in hidden areas of the body like the armpits. To prevent body odor, it is best to apply deodorant after bathing, and even during the in-between periods when you feel like you don’t smell good anymore.
With the frequency of use of deodorants, it’s no wonder why a lot of people stock up on it especially during the sales held by superstores or bulk supermarkets.
If you are spending prime dollar on a specific brand and variety of deodorant that works for you, you wouldn’t want to use it up all in one go. The good news is that there are plenty of ways for you to make your deodorant last longer, which we will learn more about in the next sections.
Deodorant-Related Statistics in the US
Deodorants are classified as low-budget cosmetics in the US by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are formulated to affect body odor caused by bacterial growth and get rid of the small which usually results from the bacterial breakdown of perspiration.
Some of the active ingredients of deodorants are waxes, oils, and silicones. Antiperspirants are a subgroup of deodorants and have an additional functionality of preventing perspiration on the underarms.
Now, before dishing out tips on how you can save money by making your deodorant last longer, let us first take a quick look at some deodorant-related statistics:
- For 2015, the most popular deodorant brands along with their sales in million US dollars are as follows:
Degree Men = $176.3 million
Secret Clinical Strength = $145.2 million
Old Spice High Endurance = $124.7 million
Secret Scent Expression = $100 million
Suave = $95.6 million
Axe Dry = $90.9 million
Secret Ph Balanced = $87 million
Secret Outlast = $85.5 million
Old Spice Red Zone = $80 million
Dove Men Plus Care = $75 million
- For 2014, the total deodorant unit sales of US supermarkets is 185.35 million units. For the same year, the deodorant brand Secret Clinical Strength generated 5.5% of the total dollar sales in the US.
10 Easy Ways to Make Your Deodorant Last Longer
Deodorants come in a variety of forms and the popularity is based on the country or region. Apparently, deodorants that come in aerosol spray, cream and roll-on forms are very popular in the European region. In the US and Canada, solid or gel forms of deodorants are more preferred by the buying public. The price of deodorants ranges from $3 to $25 based on the price, type and size.
You can also take your pick from deodorants, antiperspirants or combination deodorants, and antiperspirants. If you bought a $20 stick deodorant that really works for you personally, you’d want it to last for a long time. How can you prolong the life of your deodorant for you to save money while smelling good at the same time? Take a look at our top ten tips:
1. Layer on your fragrances.
You can make yourself smell really good the entire day without dousing yourself with perfume by layering scents. When buying personal care products, make sure that they are all in the same category of scents. For example, you can go for a citrusy smell by buying a shower gel with a citrus scent or a light, neutral scent.
For the deodorant, you can go with a variant that has the same citrusy smell – or use a non-scented or powdery variant as a base. Then, use lotion that comes in a similar scent to keep your skin moisturized. Finally, spritz on your favorite perfume on your body as well as your hair, and other warm areas on the body to slowly release the scent throughout the day.
2. Look for a deodorant, antiperspirant or combination product that really works for you.
In Amazon.com, there are more than 10,000 deodorants; over 3,000 combination deodorants and antiperspirants; and 300 antiperspirant products that you can choose from. Some of the most popular brands are Dove, Secret, Gillette, Old Spice, Arm & Hammer, Suave, and Axe. To make sure that the brand and variant of deodorant that you will choose truly works for you, purchase a trial-sized version of the product first.
Let’s say that you are a person who sweats a lot throughout the day. To prevent body odor, you can choose a stick or roll-on deodorant/antiperspirant with a really strong formulation. If you find out that it does work to prevent your underarms from getting all sweaty while you are at the office, then you can purchase a bigger size the next time to save money.
3. When using aerosol spray deodorant, shake the bottle well.
The best time to apply deodorant is after taking a bath or shower. If it’s impossible for you to take a shower because of an urgent work or your location, you can simply wash your underarms with water, let it dry and apply a fresh coat of deodorant. If you are using the aerosol spray type, the first thing that you need to do is shake the bottle well.
These deodorants are heavily diluted, so the chemicals inside need to be mixed well to maximize its effects on the body. Spray the deo on your underarms for about two seconds. Shake the bottle again before applying on the other side.
4. When using roll-on deodorant, wait for the product to dry completely on your skin before putting clothes on.
Another popular formula for deodorants is the roll-on type that, as the name implies, need to be rolled onto the skin. These are usually sticky liquids. After taking a shower, apply the roll-on deo on your underarms first and allow it to dry completely on the skin before wearing any clothes. This way, the product will be completely absorbed by the body.
5. Use powder after applying stick deos.
If you prefer using the stick deodorant, there are two unusual – but highly effective ways to make it last. The first one is to apply toothpaste on your underarms while showering. Leave it on while you are lathering the rest of your body, then rinse completely. Once you apply the stick formula deo, you’ll be surprised at how it will work to prevent body odor for practically the whole day.
Another option is to apply powder on your underarms after using the stick deodorant. This achieves the same effect of making the deodorant last longer on your skin.
6. Never apply deodorant on clothes.
One of the biggest mistakes that both men and women make is applying deodorant on clothes. Remember that these products are formulated to work once absorbed by human skin. So when you spritz spray-on deo on the underarms of your clothes, you are simply wasting the product. Make sure to always apply it directly on your skin after showering or bathing.
7. Apply deodorant only on clean, dry, clear skin.
The cardinal rule of wearing deodorant is to only apply it on clean, dry, clear skin. If you put deodorant on when you are already sweaty and smelly, you are simply defeating its purpose. After taking a hot shower, the pores of the skin remain open so once you apply deodorant, your skin will absorb the formula and will leave you smelling fresh all day long.
For women, it also helps if you will shave your armpits prior to applying deodorant. Armpit hair aggravate sweating and promote bacterial growth, which is why there are different formulations between deodorant for men and for women.
8. When wearing sleeveless tops, wash your armpits after every two hours then apply deodorant on newly-cleansed skin.
Summer is the best time to wear sleeveless or strapless tops. To prevent your underarms from getting all sweaty, wash them every two hours and apply a fresh coat of stick-on deo, or spritz on spray deo in your favorite scent.
9. During the summer season, wear light-colored clothes in breezy fabric to prevent sweat in your underarms from forming.
Unless you’re working out, wear light-colored clothes in breezy fabric during the summer to prevent excessive sweating. Cotton is the best choice because it easily absorbs perspiration.
10. During really hot days, shower twice a day and apply deodorant accordingly.
Finally, if the weather is really humid, shower twice a day and apply a fresh coat of deodorant accordingly. This will keep your pits dry and fresh-smelling, so you won’t have to deal with body odor.
No matter which formulation, brand and variant of deodorant it is that you are using, it makes perfect sense to use it on the body properly. As you can see, there are also plenty of ways for you to prolong the life of the product that you are using to prevent sweat and foul odor from forming on your underarms. By following these tips, you can make your deodorant last longer and make yourself smell fresh and body odor-free the whole day.
