Do you think people should always wear deodorant? Is wearing deodorant against any Religion?

Question

I was told this by a few people I know, with regards to Islam. I'm always skeptical when people say things like that, because it seems preposturous to me that any group would ban something that keeps you from smelling bad. Are the people who told me this just ignorant? It always seems like the people on the bus with BO are members of minorities, so I can see where the assumption would come from. But it just doesn't make sense to me.

Also, if you are a person who doesn't wear the stuff, why don't you?

Answer 1

Not sure about other people, but I quit using deodorant a few years ago. I've never heard of any religious philosophy banning the use of deodorant, but it seems plausible some may.

As for me, I read some studies about the dangers of aluminum in deodorant (nothing definitive, but possible), so I started using "all natural" deodorant, that had such a high concentration of alcohol it would burn. So, I quit using it all together. I now take a shower every night & a quick one in the morning and I don't smell unless I get very sweaty, which my wife says is "tolerable". I believe our diets, along with hygiene habits, play a big role in our natural odor.  

This relates to a paper I wrote in school a few years ago about perfumes/colognes in advertising. We're so quick to cover up our natural smells that we all but obliterate the pheromones our bodies produce. Pheromones are chemicals produced by our bodies that trigger a response in another human, which is especially useful in finding a suitable mate. I questioned if the over-use of perfumes & colognes might be responsible for unprecedented divorce rates. Maybe we're choosing our partners based on a manufactured scent rather than our natural smell.

Answer 2

A scientist had 8 people just shower and not use deodorant for a week.  None of their family or friends noticed any difference.  That was intriguing.  Maybe we don't really need it.  .

Answer 3

Please wear deodorant.

Question #1 YES

Question #2 DUMB

Answer 4

Question One:  No, not necessarily.  If people know they smell offensive without deodorant, then they should. Others maybe dont have to.

Question Two: I have no idea - I doubt its forbidden by any religion.

Answer 5

Deodorant is virtually unknown outside of a few wealthy western countries.  It's success, and that of many other products, was the result of a campaign by advertisers to convince us that we smell bad.  In other parts of the world where people don't watch tv, they find the notion bizarre.  People smell like people.  Horses smell like horses.  Cows smell like cows.  Why should people smell like a flower?

Answer 6

I am not from the US. I never thought of using it, till I started living in a different city for my job. I never needed it due to the pleasant weather in my town.

I was told, BO depends on our body condition. I think, those who have B.O should wear it. At least for the sake of those people who have been bearing with your BO all these days. :)

Answer 7

all right, i'm a muslim and deodarant per se is not forbidden in islam. in fact, the prophet muhammad used to love perfumes and colognes because in those days water was scarce and truthfully people wouldn't take showers for a real long time, he started the practice of taking a shower every friday before friday prayers, he used to take care of his appearance and he used to look in a puddle of water to see his reflection to tidy himself up. he also used to  one islamic saying is "cleanliness is a part of faith." the only reason i can think of for deodorant not being allowed is if it's made up of some substance that is not allowed like products from swine or such, but the prophet used to love perfumes and colognes.

Answer 8

you should wear deodorant. do you want people to think you smell bad on the bus? i dont think so. Its probably not even against your religion and if it is then thats pathetic. i wouldnt even want to have a friend that smells bad. its makes me want to puke!!

Answer 9

best to be natural

instead of exposing yourself to toxic chemicals

that supposedly smell good.  (most commercial deoderant)

there are some all natural products that can be used

Answer 10

whoever told you that is IGNORANT.

I can tell you for a fact, 100% that is not part of Islam. Certain cultures don't wear it because they simply practice bad hygeine and to them it doesn't smell bad... but, by all means, it is not against a religion.. and as a matter of fact.. not against a culuture in any Islamic country.

I have seen people from India smell really bad because of lack of deoderant.. and they are not Islamic...

I can see why you would ask... a lot of middle eastern people just have bad b.o and it is personal choice.. not a religion... that is the same thing as saying is it against Chrisitanity to wear deoderant... cause I have smelled more than my share of Christian people who don't believe in purchasing a bottle of  deoderant...

Answer 11

#1 Depends on what you do. If you play tennis 6 hours a day, like me, it's best to be safe and wear some. Otherwise, it doesn't really matter.

2# I don't think so.