Has anyone ever used a deoderant stone? What actually makes it work? And how do you use it, just like roll on anti -persperant or what? Any info would be appreciated.

-- Sherry Calloway (Calfarm@msn.com), February 09, 2000

Answers

I saw these at Walmart, and I have wondered about them. Evidently you dampen the stones and run them over your skin. They help you smell better, but they are not anti-persperant. I have thought about investing in one of them, because I am concerned about the use of aluminum in and on the body. The stones were pricy, but they were supposed to last a LONG time, so I imagine that they are worth it, if they work.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), February 09, 2000.

The stones do work.Unlike nearly all the commercial deoderants, they don't contain aluminum. I think they are a natural stone that is some kind of a mineral and they are cut to a convenient size. The minerals keep odor forming bacteria from living, multiplying,and smelling. You get the stone wet and rub it thoroughly under your arms. The one that I have didn't cost much,$4.15, and they are supposed to last a long time. There is also a liquid crystal spray made by the same company so you don't have to fool around with getting the stone wet all the time, butI haven't tried it. You could probably get one of these stones for a decent price at your local health food store.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), February 09, 2000.

I know some folks who swear by them (and I haven't noticed any worse odor coming from them than anyone else :)

Are you sure they don't contain aluminum? I always assumed (I know, makes an ass of u and me) that the stones were made of alum. Alum is a form of aluminum (I think a sulfate of aluminum, with maybe some postassium thrown in for good luck?)

I am probably wrong about this. I don't honestly know why I assume that they are alum. But it would be nice to know what IS in these things, before using them.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), February 09, 2000.

I read that anti persperants was linked to breast cancer because the sweat was the bodys way of excreating toxins frome the body.If you use anti persperants they are suppose to make the toxins build up around the lymph node.makes since I guess.i would be willing to try the stone just to save money But i am sure there are alot of reasons it would be better.

-- Shelly Philips (Ladysassa320@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

I have used these stones. They do stop odor but not wetness. I have read they are manufactured from potassium sulphate and one company admits they contain alum but it says alum is not absorbed by the body like aluminum chlorhydrate?????? I'm not sure I believe that! Just because something is supposed to be natural and healthy doesn't mean it is. Remember, they are out to make money just like everyone else. So if you use them, I would buy a reputable brand. Don't ask me how you would know if they were reputable! Personally, I quit using deodorant of any kind except if I am going some place where I am worried about perspiring. I find plain soap and water sufficient most of the time. I cannot help but feel that stopping up our pores with chemicals is not good and would not be surprised if it doesn't play a part in breast cancer.

-- barbara (barbaraj@mis.net), February 10, 2000.

I have no idea about the deoderant stone. My sister uses one, and I have never seen her sweat or noticed that she smelled. Of course, physical labor isn't her strong suit.

Me, personally, if I am sweaty or smelly than I must have hauled hay or built a chicken coup, so yippee! A good soak in the tub takes care of that. I rarely use deoderant, either. Only in the U.S. are people so concerned about smelling anything like people. Instead, the elevator full of people is supposed to smell like flowers and fruit.

Realistically, how often to you bump into someone who really smells offensive? I have an uncle who smells like, well, my uncle, but I remember giving him hugs as a kid and thinking that it was just fine. That was the Uncle Andy smell!

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), February 10, 2000.

I wonder if you could use the same principal as the stainless steel thing that removes fish and onion odor from hands? You wet it and rub it on your hands and it DOES remove the smell. So will the back of a stainless steel spoon, by the way. Wonder what would happen if you just washed and rubbed the spoon over your wet pits? Just a thought, might make people think you were a bit strange, but at least you wouldn't have BO for a while! Jan

-- Jan Bullock (Janice12@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

My stone says it contains no aliminum, and in the 6 months I've used it, no one has passed out or run away:) Sue

-- Sue Landress (Sulandherb@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

witch hazel makes a pretty good anti persperant [put on cotton balls or pads] unless you are working supper hard it works good.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), February 12, 2000.

I bought a deoderant stone. It sounded too good to be true. I was. I threw it away after several uses.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.mnet), February 12, 2000.

Shelly - Urban myth. Not a whole lot different than the "e-mail tax" or the "KFC is growing artifical chickens" stories. Nonetheless - we have become obsessed about perspiration and the (possible) attendant odoriferousness attached thereto! Some people are more susceptible to sweating than others, and some more susceptible to less than pleasant aroma. I cannot imagine a reason to use an anti-perspirant, except listening to Madison Avenue, who would also have you believe that Budweiser is tasty! With Budweiser's advertising budget, I could convince many people that toenail clippings can be made to taste great , AND they prevent cancer, AIDS, and heart disease, while making you irrestible to the opposite sex! But I digress! I avoid all deodorants and anti-perspirants. No one has fainted in my presence. If you've been wrestling with goats, a shower is a good idea. But lose your tendency to believe the advertising. Save that for the people who would die if there was not a sidewalk in front of their abode! Good Luck to All!

Brad, the Sweet-smelling!

-- Brad (Homefixer@mix-net.net), February 12, 2000.

Walt, You have to take it out of the plastic bag. Once out of the bag and applied correctly they work great!

-- BROOM MAKER (elmjem@aeroinc.net), February 12, 2000.

Regular deoderants started causing my underarms to sting, so I tried one of these stones. They worked really well, but are not easy to hold and apply. Ultimately they might last a year, but that means not dropping them this whole year....they shatter pretty easily as they hit sinks and floors.

They don't irritate my underarms, so I continue to use them. I've been using them for about 3 years and they are not so easy to find.

-- David (Dbunn@erols.com), May 12, 2001.

I just got one of those stones too ( by the way it goes by the name of Crystal Deoderant). It's incredible. I keep on smelling my pits to see if i smell and they just smell clean. The product really does work.

-- vmac (vmac@ematic.com), July 11, 2001.

My email address and name may be bogus, but my story isn't. I have used crystal deoderant for years. Used on a daily basis, (who does bathe daily?), it works. That's all there is to it.

I have had to get by with a spit bath while on camping trips. The crystal works even then. All you need to do is wet your skin and rub it on.

Crystal deoderant will not cover up naturally occuring smells, such as garlic when it comes out of your pores. But that is actually better than a smelly deoderant that mixes with those odors.

Another plus while using the crystal is that you can use any type of scented oil or perfume without the fear of conflicting odors.

-- Bruce Forsberg (bruceforsberg@hotmail.com), August 20, 2001.

I've been using Crystal Stick for several years. The container says it has natural mineral salts and ammonium alum. I'm allergic to perfumes and anti-persperants give me a bad rash so I like this stuff. It works pretty well. The container is more fragile than the crystal, tho. My husband prefers the spray but it is more expensive. It's easy to find here in the west. I buy it at Costco or Fred Meyer.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), August 24, 2001.