Can you use perfume as deodorant?

Why perfume does not do the same job

Body odor develops when sweat meets bacteria on your skin. Sweat itself does not smell, and sweating heavily does not automatically mean smelling strongly. The bacteria present and their interaction with sweat matter too. Perfume adds a pleasant scent, which is a change of soundtrack rather than a solution to the plot. As general guidance, treat perfume as an optional fragrance, not your main way of managing body odor.23

What should you do instead?

1. 1Wash the areas where odor starts. For body odor, wash your armpits, groin and feet with soap at least twice a day, then dry thoroughly.
2. 2Apply your underarm product to clean, dry skin. Choose deodorant for odor or an antiperspirant for sweat reduction; some products combine both functions.
3. 3If you use separate products, apply antiperspirant before bed and deodorant in the morning. Nighttime application gives many antiperspirants time to stay in place while sweating is lower.
4. 4Change and wash your clothes regularly. Breathable fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk are useful options.

Washing removes bacteria from the skin, so a shower after exercise or another sweaty activity addresses odor more directly than adding fragrance. Clean clothing belongs in the plan too, because perfume is not a laundry service.26

Will stronger perfume cover odor for longer?

Perfume types have different scent durations. Eau de toilette typically lasts about 2 to 3 hours, while eau de parfum lasts around 4 to 5 hours. Those are fragrance durations, not hours of body odor control. Buying a more concentrated fragrance does not change which product you need for sweating.3

Can perfume irritate your underarms?

Perfume can cause irritation or an allergic skin reaction. Deodorants and antiperspirants can also irritate skin, especially fragranced products applied immediately after shaving when skin is already irritated. Do not apply fragrance to irritated underarms or your groin. Fragranced products increase the risk of irritation in the sensitive groin area.134

Stop using a product that causes burning, itching, swelling or a rash. An allergy can develop even after years of using the same cosmetic without problems. For sensitive skin, check ingredients and look for a product labelled fragrance free or without perfume. Unscented products can still contain fragrance used to mask other ingredient smells. A dermatologist can investigate suspected cosmetic allergy with patch testing.7

Can deodorant be used as perfume?

A fragranced deodorant can provide a pleasant scent where you apply it, so you can choose that scent rather than add perfume. Keep deodorant on the areas it is intended for rather than spreading it around purely for fragrance. Even whole body deodorants should go only where odor starts, not over the entire body; applying them elsewhere does not reduce the smell.24

When should you get help for odor?

A pharmacist can help you find stronger antiperspirants or gentler soap substitutes. See a doctor if self care has not helped and odor affects your self esteem, your usual smell changes, or you suddenly sweat much more than usual. Persistent sweating and odor deserve assessment rather than another layer of perfume.5