I haven’t worn deodorant since 2011. Or was it 2010. It was whenever my school-work took over so much that I stopped doing things like wearing my contacts or cleaning my house. [Who am I kidding, I've NEVER been good at cleaning my house.]
I didn’t stop wearing deodorant on purpose, mind you. I would dutifully apply it every morning, along with my face lotion and hair gel. Except one day my deodorant stick ran out, and I didn’t buy a new one. Every time I got out of the shower I thought, “Oh yeah, I really should buy some deodorant,” but then I was dressed and my day started, and I never remembered to put it on a list or whatever. I kept forgetting to buy deodorant.
And a funny thing happened. I noticed no difference.
Granted, this might be because of genetics. Maybe I am supremely blessed to not be too stinky. Also, I bathe regularly, almost every day. {I might skip a weekend day, now and again.} So if I smell a little bit, I am not bothered. At least it’s not like I’m an older, female version of Pigpen all up in here.
It makes me wonder. Do we really need deodorant? I think we could stand to be a bit more understanding of other people’s body odor. I notice that I only smell badly/sweaty near the end of a busy day or on a day I haven’t bathed yet. Who benefits the most from our deodorant wearing anyway? The general public (because we don’t stink anymore)? Or the manufacturers (because of the monies earned)?
Since that day I ran out deodorant a couple of years ago, I have not purchased any deodorant. And I have no plans to purchase deodorant in the future.
Experiment time: I challenge you to try a two-week moratorium on your deodorant usage. Two weeks is long enough to have the last vestiges of your deodorant to work itself out of your system. How do you smell? Good, bad, indifferent?
Note: if you do not bathe regularly, this might not be the test for you 
