Lets Talk About Pits, Baby
We talk about skincare for our faces, our feet and even our scalps, but what about our underarms? Armpit health often goes untalked about even though most people pay lots of attention to this area of the body. Like other topics that might get a glare from grandma (like sex), I think it is important to dig into why we care about how our underarms look and more importantly, how they smell.
Understanding how this sensitive area works can help inform the choices you do make (or don’t make) like hair removal or using a product to change your odor. It’s not generally approved dinner-table talk, but the truth is that everyone sweats, everyone smells and it is completely normal.
Why We Sweat
The skin in your underarms is home to hair follicles and one of the most concentrated areas of sweat glands on the body.
Sweat is our body’s healthy way of cooling down and detoxifying. When your internal temperature rises from external heat, movement or even stress, your sweat glands release moisture to the skin’s surface, where it evaporates and cools you down. Sweat also helps flush out trace amounts of minerals and waste products, supporting your body’s natural balance.
Hair Removal and Your Underarm Microbiome
Whether you shave, wax, trim or let it grow, your underarm hair plays a role in how your scent behaves.
People choose to remove underarm hair for all sorts of reasons including comfort, aesthetics, cultural norms or simply habit. There’s no right or wrong choice; do what feels best for you, and if talking about armpit hair makes you squirm a little, you’re not alone. Though, it is worth understanding what happens when we remove underarm hair and how it affects the delicate ecosystem of your underarms.
Underarm hair helps wick sweat away from the skin and provides a home for the community of healthy bacteria that live on its surface. Together, hair, sweat, natural oils and these microbes create the skin’s microbiome, which is slightly acidic pH (around 5.5)
When we remove hair (especially by shaving), we also remove some of the top layer of skin cells and are likely creating teeny tiny abrasions. This can temporarily disrupt the microbiome while increasing sensitivity and making the area more prone to irritation, ingrown hairs or even stronger body odor while your skin rebalances.
Interestingly, some people find that letting underarm hair grow reduces odor over time, since the hair can help distribute sweat more evenly and minimize bacterial growth in this one concentrated spot. For others, it feels less fresh and that’s great too.
Last, other things like hormone changes, body care products or diet can also shift the delicate microbiome balance and make the skin more alkaline and prone to extra body odor.
Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant — What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to lump them together, but deodorant and antiperspirant serve different purposes.
Deodorant neutralizes odor and helps manage the bacteria that cause it.
Antiperspirant uses strong ingredients to temporarily block sweat glands which reduces moisture.
Sweat itself doesn’t smell! It is when it mixes with bacteria on the skin that odor is created. So while antiperspirants stop sweating, deodorants simply make the sweat you do produce less stinky.
Sweating is a natural and important cooling and detoxing function of the body. Using antiperspirants, we’re essentially telling our sweat glands not to do their job, which can interfere with how the body naturally functions.
Ingredients in Natural Deodorants
Natural deodorants work with your body, not against it. Instead of aluminum or synthetic fragrance, they rely on a few key ingredients:
Arrowroot powder or cornstarch – absorb moisture naturally.
Magnesium hydroxide – helps neutralize odor-causing bacteria while staying gentle on skin.
Coconut oil or shea butter – soften and nourish the delicate underarm area.
Essential oils – like lavender, tea tree or citrus, offer natural antimicrobial benefits and pleasant smell.
Beeswax or candelilla wax – help create a smooth, easy-to-apply texture.
Not every formula uses all of these ingredients, but they are the most commonly chosen to balance comfort, effectiveness and skin health.
Baking Soda — Yeah or Nay?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a common natural deodorant ingredient because it’s excellent at neutralizing odor. But for some, it can be too effective. Its natural alkalinity can disrupt the skin’s more neutral pH and cause redness, itching or a burning sensation over time.
If you’re trying a baking soda deodorant for the first time, go slow:
Apply only to clean, dry skin.
Alternate with a baking soda–free option if you start to feel irritation.
If you develop redness, try a formula made with magnesium or zinc instead. Both are gentler but still effective.
Remember, sensitivity doesn’t mean your skin is too delicate; it just means it is giving you feedback about what it needs.
Why We Carry Different Options
There’s no one-size-fits-all deodorant. Your skin type, microbiome, diet and even stress levels will affect how your body responds to different ingredients. Some folks need a stronger formula in summer, while others prefer a gentler blend all year.
That’s why we offer a variety of natural deodorants, some with and without baking soda, some scented and unscented and some available as a stick or cream in hopes you can find what works best for your body. Talking about pits might feel awkward, but caring for them doesn’t have to be. Whatever you choose, we hope this takes away some of the taboo about body odor and helps you to love your pits.