They say men sweat and women shine, but the green silk dress I wore to a summer wedding is not the same.
I hadn’t even finished my first glass of champagne when I noticed a dark stain spreading across my waist.
Later, I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror and my dress looked like it was tie-dyed, with unsightly dark sweat stains on my armpits, chest, groin, and even my wrists. Who sweats from their wrists? I felt embarrassed and never wore that dress again.
I learned an important lesson about wearing colored silk in the summer, but maybe all I really needed was an all-over body deodorant?
The first such product was invented by American gynecologist Shannon Klingman in 2017. Her Lume Whole Body Deodorant Cream was a huge success and the brand now offers a full range of deodorant sticks, wipes, creams, soaps and cleansing bars.
The first full body deodorant was invented by American gynecologist Shannon Klingman in 2017
This year, American brands Dove, Secret, Old Spice and Native also launched “full body” deodorants. Videos on TikTok with the hashtag #FullBodyDeodorants have received more than 23 million views.
The idea that it’s not just your armpits that need a little spray isn’t new. As a teenager, I remember covering myself from head to toe in Impulse deodorant and body spray.
After all, only 2 percent of your body’s sweat comes from your armpits—why rigorously eliminate that part, but ignore the rest of your body?
Body deodorants are now coming to the UK, with several to be launched this year. So far, the only one available is AKT (aktlondon.com).
Pronounced ‘act’, it was developed by Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, two West End performers who needed a solution to stage light-induced sweating.
Their “head-to-toe” deodorant balm is a blend of “natural minerals, powders and waxes that sit invisibly on the skin to absorb moisture without blocking pores.”
It comes in six fragrances named after high-end perfumes, although one, called No Notes, is fragrance-free and is the one recommended for use on “private parts.”
I opted for After Thunder, which contains cedar, eucalyptus and bitter orange, and smells like a delicious summer cocktail. At £21, it’s not cheap, but they claim a toothpaste-sized tube will last six to eight weeks.
At first, it feels strange to rub a pea-sized amount of creamy lotion into my armpits with my hands.
You can buy a brass applicator, but it costs £26. And, as I barely have time to run a brush through my hair most mornings, I’d never dare use it, as my fingers are so dirty.
The only full body deodorant currently available in the UK is AKT (pictured), which comes in six fragrances, although one, called No Notes, is fragrance-free.
Next, I tackle other areas prone to unsightly sweat stains: my bra line and lower back. It smells and feels so good that I’m even tempted to apply it to my wrists and neck like perfume.
I wouldn’t want to apply it all over my body or face because I think it would be quite greasy, but it absorbs well and leaves a moisturizing sensation.
I then put the body deodorant to the test: I biked to my co-working space, which doesn’t have air conditioning, and even went to a gym class.
Normally, I look at the rivulets of sweat that collect on my cleavage and feel distinctly damp all over by the end of the day, but I definitely sweated less. While I still felt a little damp in those areas, I didn’t smell at all.
Even when I did the dreaded underarm sniff test (which, in my experience, natural deodorants typically fail), I still smelled pretty good.
It’s important to note that body deodorants like AKT are not antiperspirants. Antiperspirants block sweat pores, usually using one of several aluminum-containing compounds. Deodorants only change the smell of sweat, they don’t prevent it.
But AKT absorbs some sweat (rather than blocking it) thanks to its combination of natural mineral and plant powders like diatomaceous earth (an ancient fossilized algae).
While most experts agree that it’s safe to block sweat from your armpits and other small areas, I’m not sure you want to prevent sweat from occurring all over your body, as it’s a vital part of your body’s natural cooling mechanism.
There are some products on the market designed to stop sweat from other parts of the body. Pubic hair brand Fur, promoted by Emma Watson, now offers an ingrown hair deodorant (around £14, furyou.com), which neutralises odours and prevents ingrown hairs in the pubic area and armpits.
Dove body deodorant (pictured) is not yet available in the UK. While it is easier to apply thanks to the applicator-shaped nozzle, the fragrance was found to be less sophisticated.
Although it’s not yet available in the UK, I bought a Dove body deodorant from a website that ships American beauty products (about £15 including shipping, uk.iherb.com). It comes in a large white tube and looks more like a body moisturiser than a deodorant.
Unlike AKT, the nozzle is shaped like an applicator, so it’s much easier to apply, especially on the back. But the fragrance is less sophisticated. The coconut and vanilla scent reminds me of my Impulse days.
However, once the scent has settled, I feel fresher and drier. At least for a few hours. At the end of a long day of travel in the middle of a heat wave, I did notice a slight whiff of body odor on my armpits.
For now, I am a fan of AKT balm and have recommended it to a friend who has problems with excessive sweating during menopause. It is so good that I could even wear that green dress again.
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