Wearing deodorant is polite and necessary
By Jessica Berget, Opinions Editor
The heat of the summer comes with many diverse scents. Some are pleasant, like summer rain, barbecues, flowers, and the beach. Others, not so much—namely, the hot stink of BO that permeates whatever area it’s in. Listen, I’m not one to tell you how to live your life. I’m not your parent. You should all know how to take care of your basic hygiene. But I am of the opinion that everyone needs to wear deodorant, no excuses.
How many people have been stuck in a class, on a bus, or forced to work with someone who just reeks like a fish in a porta-potty? (If you’ve ever been to any anime or videogame convention, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about.) I’m willing to bet this has happened to everyone at least once, and it needs to stop. Making sure you don’t stink is a vital part of operating in society. People will like you more if you smell nice or at least tolerable. You have a better chance of getting hired for a job if you aren’t stinking up the office, and people are likely to ostracize you for smelling bad. No one wants to be that stinky person.
It’s disheartening that as a college student, surrounded by many other adult students, the stench of BO still assaults my nostrils when I am on school grounds. As adults, we should all know how to take care of ourselves, and we should recognize when we smell a little funky and be able to combat it. Unless you are of the two percent of the population with a specific gene that makes your armpits never smell bad you should be wearing deodorant, some antiperspirant, or at least shower every day. We have come so far as a society to recognize that not smelling like sour garbage is a nice and even polite thing to do when operating in everyday life. In this day and age we have the resources and tools to combat our BO, so why do some people still choose not to use them?
The fact is that many people choose not to use deodorant or antiperspirant because they are under the impression that it is harmful for your body. That the aluminium-based compound has links with many health problems such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Yet both the Canadian Cancer Society and Alzheimer Society Canada say there is no evidence to back these claims up. If you are still concerned about your health however there are many natural deodorants and even recipes to make your own homemade anti-body-odour concoctions. With so many resources at your disposal, there is simply no good reason to be consistently stinky.
Admittedly, there are the occasional days where you just forget to put it on before you leave the house, or you are significantly sweatier or stinkier than you originally thought. It happens, and there’s nothing you can do about it. As long as it is not a regular problem, and people aren’t holding their noses as you walk by them, it’s okay.
If you’re not comfortable using normal deodorant or antiperspirant, consider switching to a natural alternative, or just make sure you are cleaning the extra stinky spots on a daily basis. Smelling nice, or alternatively not like a dumpster fire, is courteous and makes everyone’s day a little bit easier. Please, swipe on that smell stick before you leave the house.
