The latest hygiene product that you can put anywhere. Yes, even there

Whole-body deodorant is the latest trend in hygiene products to hit supermarket and chemist shelves, promising to cover up any smells coming from anywhere on your body. Yes, anywhere.

Advertisements promote “fresh” and “clean” odour protection for anywhere you might stink: feet, thighs, breasts, testicles and vulvas, including a Rexona commercial with Martha Stewart who goes through the body parts and the application of the product.

With the deodorant market projected to reach about $603 million this year, according to Statista, we asked experts to give us the lowdown the products, and whether they’re really necessary at all.

Whole-body deodorants are popping up on supermarket shelves but is the product really necessary?Credit: Getty Images

What is it and who needs it?

The name speaks for itself, but whole-body deodorants come in spray, stick and cream formulas that can be used anywhere to mask odours.

But is this really necessary?

General practitioner and cosmetic doctor Dr Prasanthi Purusothaman says it’s a balance of recognising that most body odour is healthy and normal, while acknowledging the benefits to people, particularly those with medical conditions like hyperhidrosis, a disorder affecting about 4 per cent of Australians that causes excessive sweating.

“It’s about meeting people where they are. If they’ve decided they want to use a product in these areas, we want to minimise potential harm while respecting their choice,” she says.

While one product for the whole body sounds convenient, Purusothaman says that areas of skin have different requirements. The skin around the groin is thinner and more prone to friction, has a different pH level, barrier composition and hosts distinct microbial communities from the skin on, say, the underarm.

“It’s not about pathologising these areas, but recognising that if someone chooses to use a product there, it should be formulated appropriately for that environment. The vulvar area, for example, naturally sits at a pH of about 3.8 to 4.5, while underarm skin is closer to 5.5 to 6.5,” she says.

“Whole body deodorants currently generally share similar active ingredients with underarm products … The primary difference is formulation for broader application, like the creams and sticks,” says Dr Purusothaman.Credit: Getty Images

So how different are these new products? Is it all marketing?

“Current whole body deodorants generally share similar active ingredients with underarm products… The primary difference is formulation for broader application, like the creams and sticks,” says Purusothaman.

It’s also important to differentiate between a deodorant and an antiperspirant, says Purusothaman. Deodorants generally work by breaking down the sweat and the odour compounds released by bacteria. Antiperspirant stops sweat by plugging the sweat ducts and chemically inhibiting the sweat gland.

“ Most [whole-body deodorants] don’t contain sweat-controlling aluminium salts like traditional antiperspirants for the underarm, but some do,” she says.

How safe is it to use everywhere?

Dermatologist Eshini Perera recommends caution to people with sensitive skin, especially skin irritated by fragrance.

“These are among the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis or irritant reactions. Many people with sensitive skin or dermatitis flare easily from fragrance mixtures,” she says.

Perera also suggested avoiding labels that say “unscented” as they may still contain neutralising fragrances and to opt for “fragrance-free” labels.

“I’d strongly recommend patch-testing a small area, on the upper arm, for 24 to 48 hours before use. If I were advising a patient, I’d recommend starting with fragrance-free, alcohol-free formulas with minimal additives, and watching for burning, itching or rash.”

Perea says that the risk she sees with a whole-body deodorant is overuse, misinterpretation of the product and skin barrier disturbance, particularly in sensitive areas.

While the products are marketed for safe use in intimate areas, Purusothaman is wary of endorsing internal or near-internal genital application.

“The vagina is self-cleaning, and external genital skin doesn’t require special products beyond basic hygiene,” she says.

For the vulva specifically, the mucous membranes are far more permeable and products that disrupt the vaginal pH can increase the risk of complications like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.

“This is why formulation really matters: it’s the difference between providing someone with a product that meets their preferences safely versus creating new problems,” says Purusothaman.

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