It was while washing my hair over the sink at age 13 that I first noticed underarm odor, which I soon stopped with an antiperspirant-deodorant containing aluminum salts. It was the most obvious thing to do at the time.

Applied once daily, it did the trick. So I continued with it into middle age.

It was then that news broke that antiperspirants could be less than healthy, a theory that remains controversial to this day.

For my own peace of mind, I began to experiment with other ways of preventing underarm odor. This led me to discover a few personal hygiene tricks and ingredients that turned out to be far more effective than commercial deodorants.

What Causes Underarm Odor?

But before I tell you about these, let’s take a look at what causes underarm odor.

The secretory organs found in the armpits are called the apocrine glands. These produce a composition of water, lipids, protein, carbohydrates, and ammonium.

This in itself does not smell bad. But it does provide the type of moist environment in which bacteria thrive.

The cloying, offensive smell that we call B.O. (body odor) is the bacterial breakdown of the lipids and protein combined with sebum and cells shed from the skin and hair.

Apocrine glands, which become active during puberty, are also present in the nipples, eyelids, ear canal, and groin.

The rest of the body produces an odorless sweat composed of water and salt from what are known as eccrine glands. Stimulation occurs through heat and humidity, as well as stress, anxiety, nervosity, anger, sexual arousal, and certain foods.

If you’ve noticed that body odor is more prevalent in men, it’s because we have more sweat glands, which are also larger than in women.

The Difference Between Antiperspirants and Deodorants

Both antiperspirants and deodorants can help stop underarm odor. But they are not one and the same.

An antiperspirant blocks sweat glands with highly astringent aluminum salts. As I discovered over many years, it’s an effective way of staying dry. Most importantly, it will prevent damp patches and stains on your clothes.

A deodorant without an antiperspirant component neutralizes and masks odor, as well as reducing bacteria. But it won’t prevent sweat.

I wear old-fashioned white tank tops all year round. This helps me stay warm in winter and keeps the sweat off my dress shirts in summer. The best fabric for this is bamboo, but more on that later.

Underarm sweat liners or protectors are another good option. These come in several designs, both disposable and reusable. Because they don’t create undergarment lines, they’re ideal worn beneath a polo shirt or t-shirt.

DIY Deodorants

But undershirts and underarm liners aren’t the only alternatives to antiperspirants. Cornstarch works well for me, although I admit that I don’t sweat profusely.

Cornstarch and Baking Soda

A mixture of cornstarch and baking soda applied in equal parts to the underarm with an old shaving brush or cotton ball can keep you dry and odor-free all day long.

The cornstarch absorbs moisture while the baking soda neutralizes odor.

Source: Creative Commons Flickr and Pixabay

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Apple cider vinegar is an astringent that can keep you dry by temporarily constricting sweat glands in a similar way to aluminum salts in antiperspirants.

Dilute 1-to-1 with water and apply to the armpits with a cotton ball.

For good measure, add the above cornstarch and baking soda mixture after it’s dried.

Instead of apple cider vinegar, you could also try diluted lemon juice or witch hazel, which are also astringent.

You’ll notice that all of these are acidic, which can lower the skin’s pH—I’ll cover the significance of this later under the heading “Personal Hygiene.”

Zinc Oxide Ointment

I find zinc oxide ointment more effective at stopping underarm odor than any store-bought deodorant. I’m talking about the same stuff that is used for diaper rash.

I’d been using it to treat a skin complaint when I one day decided to try it in my armpits. To my surprise, the deodorizing effect lasted over a matter of days rather than hours, in spite of daily showering.

As it turns out, zinc oxide is antibacterial and water-resistant.

To apply, massage a pea-sized portion into your armpits until it becomes invisible.

To add a fresh fragrance, transfer the ointment from its tube to a sealable container, and mix into it a single drop of therapeutic-grade essential oil of lemongrass. This will also enhance the ointment’s antibacterial effect.

Personal Hygiene

Apart from deodorants, cleanliness and personal hygiene play a fundamental role in preventing underarm odor.

Showering and bathing are essential to wash away the daily buildup of decomposed sebum and shed cells. But while soap is good at killing surplus bacteria, it’s not your best option where your armpits are concerned.

Stop Underarm Odor With the Right Cleansing Agent

I also cover this in my post How to Smell Good: A Guide for Men, but the trouble with soap is that it raises the skin’s pH, creating the kind of alkaline environment in which armpit bacteria thrive.

For this reason, I switched from soap to a pH-neutral face wash.

But that wasn’t the best option, either.

Reduce the pH of Your Underarms

One day while in a drugstore, I came upon an anti-acne wash-gel containing salicylic acid. I thought it might help prevent underarm warts, which I’d been treating for a couple of years. 

I was amazed to discover that it didn’t only work for my warts. It extended the deodorizing effect of my zinc oxide ointment from days to an entire week. This was admittedly during cool weather, but it’s still impressive.

Cleanse your underarms with a face wash containing either salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Both of these are known to lower the skin’s pH.

Source: Pixabay

Does Shaving Stop Underarm Odor?

Body hair is a very masculine attribute that I’d never want to be without. And luckily, I don’t have to.

As it turns out, it’s a fallacy that shaving your armpits will prevent underarm odor.

Firstly, it’s true that bacteria multiply on hair, but it’s a much slower process than on the skin. Secondly, hair absorbs moisture, which keeps the skin dry to create an environment less favorable to bacteria.

According to my perception, underarm hair never looks ugly on a man. But if you feel it’s too bushy to be attractive, trim instead of removing it completely.

How Diet and Hydration Influence Underarm Odor

As we all know, foods containing sulfurous compounds exacerbate body odor in general. These include onion, garlic, red meat, and ultra-processed products. Alcohol consumption will also cause your sweat to smell less than sweet.

But important for the apocrine glands in particular (those found in the armpits) is hydration.

Drink an adequate amount of water (at least 8 cups). It will help regulate your body temperature and dilute sweat, making it less concentrated and less odorous.

Clothing and Fabrics that Prevent Underarm Odor

If underarm odor is a problem, consider your clothing.

Breathable and Moisture-Wicking Garments

Keep your armpits dry with breathable fabrics worn against the skin, like cotton and bamboo.

The latter works best since it is moisture-wicking. In other words, it draws sweat to the outside, allowing evaporation.

Synthetics like polyester and nylon are also moisture-wicking as well as quick-drying. But I find these fabrics more comfortable in my outer garments.

Experiment to find out what you prefer.

Laundering

Regular laundering is of utmost importance.

My undergarments and shirts go in the hamper daily. And sweaters that I generally change only once a week are always sniffed before wear.

© 2025, J. Richardson. All rights reserved.

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