Does Your Natural Deodorant Work? No? Here's Why

by Katie E. Boyle, MPH

​Secret®, Degree®, Mitchum®, Old Spice®, Right Guard®:  these are supremely effective deodorant/ anti-perspirants, eliminating body odor with ease and replacing it with pleasing fragrances.  Natural deodorants (hereafter nat-deos), such as Tom’s of Maine® and CrystalTM are generally less effective at reducing body odor, and here’s why:

​They do not contain the sweat blocking ingredients that anti-perspirants do. 

​And that's a good thing.  The anti-perspirants we mention, and all others, have ingredients that intentionally and artificially clog our underarm pores to stop us from sweating.  No sweat = less bacteria = less or no odor.  That's how they work.  On top of that, they contain synthetic fragrances to cover up any remaining stink our bodies may produce.  It’s a brilliant mechanism and very lucrative industry.  Deodorant/anti-perspirant is now a must-have staple item for everyone past puberty, which makes sense given that stinking to high Heaven is really not socially acceptable anywhere: at work, at the gym, on the train, wherever.

But for those of us who’ve heard about the potential links between use of anti-perspirants and breast cancer, who don’t want to put synthetic chemicals on our bodies and/or feel that the body should be allowed to sweat and eliminate its toxins, we try nat-deo. 

Our journey through the "Nat-deo Elimination Rounds" goes like this: we forge ahead through the deodorant aisle and, one-by-one, buy each.and.every.single.damn.brand of nat-deo that exists.  We start with Tom’s purchased at the pharmacy.  Ok.  Then we order from Amazon.  We scour for the best deal.  Then we shop at Whole Foods.  We may have some success but alas, $12.00 for two weeks-worth of deodorant isn’t sustainable. “Dangit!  Why is toxin-free living more expensive?” we say.  And we suffer consequences of using nat-deo:

By 10am, we stink.

With no hard feelings toward nat-deo - in fact just the opposite - with appreciation for the companies who recognize that consumers need body odor protection without the toxins, Boyle’s Naturals created a solution.  Gently scrubbing with PIT GRIT® Underarm Scrub in the shower or on-the-go before using your nat-deo makes it work better.  Using only natural ingredients, PIT GRIT® fully cleanses the underarm and lets your nat-deo be its best self! 

We now have the freedom to choose any nat-deo brand we want, you say?  The cheapest?  The nicest smelling?  Yes, yes yes!  And we can use that nat-deo with more confidence!

Combined with the fact that Boyle’s Naturals is a small, woman-owned manufacturer, we think you should try PIT GRIT® and see why people are calling it a “life-saver” and a “game-changer.”  

Order PIT GRIT® with free shipping by clicking below or here.  

PIT GRIT(R) Underarm Scrub

$13.99

PIT GRIT(R) is the first of its kind - a pre-deodorant scrub made specifically for the underarm. PIT GRIT is the poster child for performance hygiene...an odor-fighting body scrub that boosts your deodorants’ ability to defend against stinky pits and offensive body odor. 

PIT GRIT can be used in the shower or on-the-go, to cleanse, remove build-up, and inhibit body odor-causing bacteria. ​Use it before applying your favorite brand of organic or natural deodorant, or use it without! PIT GRIT inventor, Katie Boyle, uses it first thing in the morning, and in the shower, and lives without the need for antiperspirants or deodorant.

"Body odor is not a part of my life anymore. I've eliminated it." - Katie, 2018 

Try using it before working out and be amazed at how much less "smelly" those armpits can be.

Instructions: Dispense a dime-sized amount onto wet hand, rub for 5-10 seconds in each underarm and then rinse or wipe away. Apply deodorant (or not) as normal. 

PIT GRIT UPC 865738000452

PIT GRIT is a registered trademark.

Shop