Why you might smell more after switching to natural deodorant

What's actually happening

Underarm odour isn't the smell of sweat itself. Fresh sweat is almost odourless. The smell comes from bacteria on your skin breaking down compounds in sweat from the apocrine glands in your armpits.

Antiperspirants use aluminium salts to temporarily reduce how much you sweat. When you stop:

1. You sweat more, which gives bacteria more to work with.
2. The mix of bacteria on your skin can shift, because the environment has changed. Some research suggests antiperspirant use alters underarm bacteria, though how this affects the switch hasn't been studied much.

Together, these can make odour stronger for a while.

What it isn't

Some brands describe this as your body "detoxing" or "purging". That's not accurate. Your liver and kidneys handle toxins; your underarms don't. We'd rather tell you what's really going on.

What helps

• Wash with soap morning and evening during the first few weeks.
• Dry completely before applying deodorant.
• Reapply midday if you need to: wash, dry, then a fresh pea-sized amount.
• Wear cotton, linen or merino rather than polyester.
• Change tops more often for a few weeks.
• Avoid strong-smelling foods before big days, if you notice they affect you.

When it's not adjustment

If you get redness, itching, a rash or darkening skin, that's irritation, not adjustment. Stop using the product. Bicarbonate of soda, which Lowena contains, is a common trigger.

If odour changes suddenly and strongly at any other time, or comes with other symptoms, speak to your GP.