Antiperspirant and deodorant are commonplace in modern society. Before heading to the lab or leaving your house, you likely apply a stick, roller or gel deodorant to keep yourself sweat-free and smelling fresh\u00a0throughout the day,\u00a0but this was not always the case. For millennia\u00a0people would bath infrequently, with only perfumes and fragrances to prevent natural odor.<\/p>\n
It was not until the late 1800s\u00a0that commercially available, chemically-produced deodorants first came into existence. Today, many deodorants and antiperspirants work together as one unit to prevent sweat and protect against bad odors. Whether you do research with personal care products or you are just a curious consumer, here are chemistry details that make deodorant work.<\/p>\n
Aluminum compounds\u00a0<\/strong> Some people\u00a0have been critical of the use of aluminum in antiperspirants because it may be absorbed into people’s systems and lead to negative health effects, such as Alzheimer’s disease. But, as the\u00a0American Chemical Society explained, this correlation between antiperspirants and Alzheimer’s is not true.<\/p>\n “In the 1970s, some researchers began to fear that aluminum in antiperspirants could lead to Alzheimer’s disease,” the ACS explained. “Subsequent studies have convinced the American Alzheimer’s Association, a patient advocacy group, and the [U.S.] Food & Drug Administration, which regulates antiperspirants, that the connection between aluminum in antiperspirants and neurodegeneration is a myth.”<\/p>\n Other criticisms\u00a0have tied aluminum in deodorant to breast cancer, but the FDA monitors active ingredient concentrations heavily.<\/p>\n Cyclomethicone\u00a0<\/strong> It was not until the\u00a01970s that deodorant producers found a quick-drying chemical that would not irritate skin. It is called cyclomethicone and is used to this day.<\/p>\n Known as\u00a02,2,4,4,6,6,8,8,10,10-decamethyl-1,3,5,7,9,2,4,6,8,10-pentaoxapentasilecane or\u00a0C10<\/sub>H30<\/sub>O5<\/sub>Si5<\/sub>,\u00a0cyclomethicone\u00a0is an odorless, colorless silicone compound that is used in a variety of personal care products. Unlike aluminum compounds,\u00a0cyclomethicone is too large to pass through the initial layer of skin, so there is no risk of absorption. In Europe,\u00a0cyclomethicone\u00a0is regulated for environmental concerns rather than personal health worries.<\/p>\n Antibacterial ingredients\u00a0<\/strong> Triclosan is used in a number of personal care products including toothpaste. Many people have been critical of this chemical in over-the-counter products. However, the FDA explained that it is not known to cause harm<\/a>\u00a0to humans and has been proven to be beneficial in some circumstances, such as fighting gingivitis.<\/p>\n Other ingredients\u00a0<\/strong>
\nAluminum compounds are critical to the success of antiperspirant deodorants. The ions of aluminum compounds are drawn into the epidermis. This causes cells to fill with water and swell, blocking the ducts that secrete sweat, HowStuffWorks explained. Common compounds used as active ingredients in antiperspirant include aluminum chlorohydrate<\/a>, aluminum zirconium tricholorohydrex glycine<\/a>, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum hydroxybromid.<\/p>\n
\nWhen deodorant was first\u00a0invented, it was not in a convenient plastic stick tube. People had to use cotton swabs to wipe the solution on themselves. However, as the ACS explained, these solutions were largely made of acid or alcohol, which would dry out skin, cause irritation and eliminate odor at the cost of physical discomfort.<\/p>\n
\nJust as aluminum compounds are the antiperspirant active ingredient in deodorants, antibacterials are the active aspect of odor reduction. Antibacterial ingredients work to eliminate the bacteria that cause bad odors from areas where sweat is common. Many types of deodorants use alcohol ingredients that kill bacteria, while others use artificial chemicals such as\u00a0triclosan.<\/p>\n
\nThe other chemicals used in deodorants vary from brand to brand. The humectant\u00a0propylene glycol is used to prevent the product from drying out,\u00a0triethanolamine and diethanolamine may be used for pH control, and other color and scent-specific chemicals may also be used.<\/p>\n