Over a year ago I discovered how baking soda can be used as deodorant:

I went to the grocery store (I was in Copenhagen at the time), and paid $1.50 for a small container. That night I showered, dipped two wet fingers in the baking soda, and rubbed it into my pits. I figured that it would take a few days to see a noticeable effect, like was the case with the deodorant stone.

The next afternoon I stuck my nose under each arm and couldn’t pick out a smell.

A lot of other guys swear by baking soda, but some complain about skin irritation and burning, especially if you put it on your balls. Enter Lavilin, a deodorant cream.

Here’s the mysterious product description:

A unique herbal deodorant free of aluminum and other harsh chemicals, yet so effective, just one application can eliminate perspiration odor for days — without the need to re-apply even after showering.

I used it for one month and can tell you that it definitely works, even slightly better than baking soda. But there are two downsides:

1. It’s more expensive. A small jar will cost you over $10, though you need less than a pea size amount per application.

2. It’s harder to apply. The cream is super water resistant so it will be tough to wash off your fingers after dabbing onto your pits.

The water resistance is key to Lavilin’s success: even if you sweat a lot, the cream will stay on. Compare that to baking soda where sweat causes it to run down your body. The Lavilin cream also seems to kill the bacteria that causes odor, meaning you won’t smell much even if you stop using it for days.

What I would do is put Lavilin on two days a week and then give a slight baking soda dab for the remaining days. With Lavilin or baking soda, you really can’t go wrong if you want to eliminate body odor.

Learn More: Lavilin on Amazon