Baking Soda Against the Smell of Sweat

Sweating, i.e. the release of sweat through the pores of the skin, is natural for humans. Surprisingly, sweat is odorless at the time of its secretion. However, when the sweat produced by the apocrine glands comes into contact with bacteria, the all-familiar sweaty odors develop!

Usually, unpleasant odor is due to neglected personal hygiene, as it is favored by the growth of bacteria. Nevertheless, other factors can also promote its development.

• This includes the consumption of certain sweat-promoting foods such as garlic, onions and curry. However, their effect is not the same for all people.

• Some odor problems may be genetic.

• The presence of hair perpetuates bad odors, as hair serves as a haven for bacteria. So if you are really bothered by odors, depilation of the armpits can be a good option.

Baking soda, with the scientific names "sodium bicarbonate" or "sodium hydrogen carbonate", is a white powder with the chemical formula NaHCO3. It is an anhydrous mineral with a basic pH (8), formed from the combination of salt and limestone. Despite its confusing name, sodium bicarbonate has nothing to do with caustic soda or soda crystals.

This powder is versatile; people use it both in the kitchen, in the home and in beauty care. The quality requirements in cosmetics are inevitably much stricter than in its use in household products. Thus, the particle size and purity of the ingredient in cosmetics are strictly controlled.

In deodorant, sodium bicarbonate is appreciated and preferred mainly for its absorbent properties.

However, it is important to note that there are very few scientific studies that specifically support its use as a deodorant. For example, a single study suggests that baking soda may have antimicrobial effects, which could mean that it has the ability to fight the bacteria responsible for underarm odor. However, it is important to note that this study is old and was conducted in the context of dentistry, not skin care.

So, it has been proven that baking soda absorbs the moisture present in the armpits, but its effect on odors has yet to be scientifically proven.

In addition, it is better to use a deodorant with sodium bicarbonate than to apply this ingredient pure and directly under the armpits. Indeed, pure baking soda has a drying effect due to its alkaline pH, which is much higher than the physiological pH of the skin, which is acidic (around 5-6). In deodorant formulas, manufacturers have usually lowered the pH of the product to increase skin tolerance, even though the deodorant still contains baking soda. So use a deodorant with baking soda rather than baking soda alone to combat underarm perspiration, especially if you have sensitive skin.