How Clean Is « Clean » Enough?
Let’s be honest, hygiene means different things to different people. Some shower daily, others, well, not so much. The same goes for how often we wash our hair—while many of us reach for the shampoo every 3 or 4 days, there’s a sizable crowd who’ve abandoned hair-washing altogether. To each their own rhythm and rituals!
The Deodorant-Free Experiment
Recently, news broke about a fresh trend: quitting deodorant. The most visible face of the movement is Alyse Parker, a 28-year-old influencer from Hawaii who’s decided to give deodorant the cold (or should we say, lukewarm?) shoulder. She made the bold choice to drop deodorant from her daily routine entirely—and shared her experience across social media.
Why did she do it? Alyse was convinced that deodorants contain ingredients linked to breast cancer. Determined to see the impact herself, she embarked on her no-deodorant journey and, after a year, posted all the juicy details on YouTube.
Surprisingly, Alyse reports she didn’t have any odor issues. So what’s her secret? Alyse attributes her body’s change to her vegan diet!
Does Diet Really Make a Difference?
In her video, Alyse explains,
« Your body smells different depending on what you eat. »
She reflected on how smoothie bars hardly have any scent, while bakeries and pizzerias are much more fragrant—and she figures the same logic applies to humans.
Taking things up a notch, she tried eating only raw fruits and veggies for a time, and that’s when she noticed her body odor was at an all-time low. If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to nibble on carrots all day, you may have found one.
No Sports, No Sweat? Think Again!
You might think Alyse’s results were a fluke—after all, maybe she wasn’t sweating much? Not quite. Alyse regularly works out at the gym and describes herself as a heavy sweater. In her words:
« I’m not one of those people who goes to the gym and somehow doesn’t sweat. My goal is to leave drenched! »
Despite all that sweat, she claims she didn’t stink. Quite the plot twist for a story about ditching deodorant.
Is Deodorant Really Essential for Everyone?
But what about the rest of us? Could some people skip deodorant altogether without becoming social outcasts? According to a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, about 2% of British women actually have a rare gene that prevents them from developing underarm odor at all. Talk about winning the genetic lottery!
- Hygiene habits vary from person to person.
- Some have stopped using deodorant entirely, like Alyse Parker.
- Alyse links her lack of odor to her vegan—and even raw—diet.
- She exercises intensely and still notices minimal body odor.
- Certain women even have a rare gene that means they never get underarm odor in the first place.
So maybe, just maybe, deodorant isn’t the universal must-have we’ve all been led to believe—at least if you’re eating your veggies (or have the right DNA)!
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
