Life Hack: To all the smelly people out there, try baking soda in a pinch

Watching dubiously as snot-like baking soda trickled down my underarms, I wondered whether this deodorant life hack would work.

Having woken up a few days ago just 10 minutes before the first bell would ring, I had frantically threw on random clothes while reaching for my deodorant, only to realize that my Dove green tea and cucumber-scented deodorant had met its tragic end.

Throughout that whole day without the protection of my deodorant, I self-consciously shielded my underarms from the people near me, worried that they would get a whiff of my overwhelming sweat odor.

In emergencies like these, a quick 30-second DIY deodorant could save anyone from having to constantly worry about their body odor for the remainder of the day.

So after reading about a deodorant life hack on Facebook, I decided to try it out in case I ever ran out of deodorant again.

After combining enough water with baking soda to create a paste-like consistency, I reached for a handful of the slimy solution and applied it to my underarms. Although the mixture looked like Elmer’s Glue in the bowl, every time I tried to put it on, the baking soda and water separated, leaving me with a trail of water running down my side and a glob of baking soda on the floor.    

When I finally managed to get the paste to stick, in just a few seconds the solution dried up and the baking soda started brushing off when it came in contact with my clothes. I was left wondering whether my 20 minutes of hard work would even last an hour.

Throughout the school day, I stealthily sniffed my pits at hourly intervals, eliciting judgmental stares from people around me. Afraid that I was unable to pick up my own scent, I even tried asking a friend to “smell my pits” for me, but she stared at me and flatly refused.

At the end of the day, I concluded that the baking soda was effective in removing bodily odors: No matter how hard or close to my armpit I sniffed, I wasn’t able to pick up any smell of my sweat.

However, although baking soda worked to conceal my body odors, it worked poorly as an antiperspirant. As the afternoon progressed, I could feel a shadow underneath my arms grow larger and larger, and I was constantly worrying that someone would notice the dark, damp patches on my shirt.

While baking soda may have succeeded as a deodorant, I was not thrilled with the idea of having two wet spots around my armpits, especially because I could not use intense physical activity as an excuse.

Despite how much I enjoyed this creative experience, I will continue using regular deodorant. Unlike baking soda, store-bought deodorant not only offers a fresh scent but also prevents sweat.

In the case of an emergency, however, I would not hesitate to reach for some baking soda and water as a convenient alternative.