The Reason for Deodorants
Until the late 19th century, there wasn't much to be done about body odor other than heavy doses of perfume. There were various attempts to deal with the problem, most of them simply masking the odor rather than eliminating it. People thought that malodorous sweat was the problem. They were only partially right. Science has now explained that the real culprits are the bacteria that feed on the sweat. The fermentation that results are the cause of the unpleasant smell we call body odor.
How Deodorants Work
Deodorants use alcohol-based ingredients to turn the skin acidic and kill the bacteria. There is no smell as long as there are no bacteria. A major goal of manufacturers of mens deodorant brands is to extend the effectiveness of their products. This is called persistence and some products remain effective for more than a day. Recent products include antimicrobial ingredients that can last even longer. Other ingredients activate when the body heats up or when sweat is excreted. Antiperspirants are a subclass of deodorants that seek to stop sweating at the level of the pores.
Using Deodorants and Antiperspirant Correctly
It is surprisingly important to know how to apply deodorant correctly. The first thing to remember is contact with the skin is important. Better skin contact is one reason stick deodorant is so popular. Sprays sometimes fail to penetrate beyond the hair of the armpit. One useful tip is to put fresh deodorant and antiperspirant on at night when the body is cool, and there is no perspiration. This allows more coverage of the skin. The antiperspirant is more effective when applied at night because it gains better access to the pores of the sweat glands.
Top Brand Deodorants
The choices among deodorants are staggering. There are multiple types of applicator such as gels, roll-on, sprays and sticks. You will also find various strengths of the same brands. If you have serious body odor issues, try a clinical strength antiperspirant. They contain up to four times the active ingredients of the basic offering.
The market continues to see an increasing number of new deodorant products. Many are combination deodorant and antiperspirants. Current popular deodorants, according to recent market surveys, include Axe Vice Fresh Action, Jungleman All-Natural Deodorant, Ban Shower Fresh, Old Spice Fresh Collection Invisible Solid Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, Degree Men's Body Responsive Antiperspirant & Deodorant, and Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant.
It pays to try different brands of deodorants. The bacteria on your body can develop resistance to the ingredients of any deodorant that is used for too long.
Body OdorThe author has spent a lot of time learning about mens deodorant brands and other related topics. Read more about how to apply deodorant at the author's website.