[SustainableTompkins] deodorant

[Tony Del Plato]

Soap & water on a daily basis works for me too.
Tony

On 2/26/08, Gail Blake <gail at kitchenchairmusic.com> wrote:
>
> Well, to take up my own challenge and stay unashamed, try not using
> deodorant. Just wash your arm pits every day (that sponge bath thing
> if you're not showering). When I first tried this 25 years ago, the
> first couple of weeks were pretty difficult. I smelled really bad -
> it seemed like I was purging all those toxins that
> deodorant/anti-perspirant had prevented me from purging for years. I
> thought, "Wow, I am going to have to abandon this experiment!" Then
> all of a sudden it got better and that daily washing took care of the
> problem. I have spoken to other people who have had this same
> experience. And if you think that I just got used to the smell, I am
> willing to bet money that my coworkers, the people in my yoga class,
> and the people I dance with don't think of me as "that smelly woman".
>
> When you think of what deodorant and anti-perspirant do - either mask
> odors or prevent your body from perspiring, which is important to
> ridding your body of toxins - you may want to look at other solutions
> to the problem you are trying to solve. The odor is there because
> there is something on your skin that has a smell you don't want to
> have. Use plain old soap and water to wash it off. No more little
> plastic bottles.
>
> Earthily, Gail
>
> At 04:29 PM 2/26/2008, you wrote:
> >I was not offended by Tony's comment (I gave him the benefit of the
> >doubt and assumed he had tongue-in-cheek); in fact, given his
> >profession (chef), I hope he does wash his hair more often than I do.
> >
> >But staying earthy (and along the lines of that great series of
> >graphics re: all our "by-products" on display at IC):
> >
> >Does anyone have suggestions for deodorants that do not come with
> >lots of plastic packaging?
> >
> >I brush my teeth with baking soda, and the cardboard container is
> >easily recycled, but Tom's no longer has deodorant in glass bottles,
> >and I hate to think how many plastic Tom's dispensers have been
> >buried in Seneca Meadows on my behalf.
> >
> >We do have to balance ecological responsibility with social
> >responsibility--minimizing BO.  Heavens, one reason Isabella
> >bank-rolled Columbus was to get all those East Indian spices to mask
> >odors.
> >
> >Margaret
> >
> >PS: actually, this has nothing to do with how smart we are: we
> >habituate to our own BO, and this can be a problem in close
> >quarters.  Ask Amy  (local girl makes good) seems to print a letter
> >on the subject of how to diplomatically tell co-workers they have an
> >odor several times a year--so scads of letters must be getting sent
> >to her on the subject.  I've been meaning to write in to her saying
> >that BO is not always a matter of hygiene; sometimes it reflects a
> >health problem such as diabetes.  Other times it's just food
> >preferences.  I know I have gone through garlic phases that were
> >probably not pleasant in close quarters.
> >
> >
> > >  > Frankly folks, I find some of this discussion a little......too
> earthy.
> > >
> > >Nothing like a little shaming to put an end to a useful discussion. And
> I
> > >was just thinking how wonderful it is when this listserv becomes an
> > >electronic "salon". I would go so far as to say that your insinuation
> here
> > >is a bit offensive, Tony.
> > >
> > >We really need to trust that everyone on the list is smart enough to
> > >figure out when they are in danger of offending their co-workers and
> need
> > >to wash. Living more sustainable is going to mean challenging many of
> the
> > >behaviors that have been marketed to us by corporations and media. It's
> > >going to bring up the ick factor for many of us. But if we don't have
> an
> > >honest and open dicussion, how can we ever hope to change things?
> > >
> > >Gail
> > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:
> > >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org
> > >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
> > >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
> >_______________________________________________
> >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:
> >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org
> >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
> >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
> _______________________________________________
> RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:
> SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org
> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
>



-- 
The health of society thus depends quite as much on the independence of the
individuals composing it as on their close political cohesion.
Albert Einstein