The summer heat makes us sweat, which, of course, only plays into the hands of bacteria — and with them all these smells come … The obvious solution is to apply deodorant. But so much has already been said about the dangers of chemicals in deodorants and their toxic effects on the body… What about other options? Here are 7 unexpected alternatives to deodorant that will help you stay dry and healthy, while also being a little more wallet-friendly.

Option 1: The Right Diet

A well-chosen diet can do a lot to prevent summer underarm sweating. Drink more water — this will help lower your body temperature. The inclusion of a large amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet can lead to a similar result. The use of olive oil in cooking helps stimulate digestion, leaving less work for your body and therefore less sweating. If that doesn’t work, you can also try sage to reduce sweat gland activity, or tea, which is known to be a natural astringent (reduces odor).

On the other hand, better stay away from spicy foods, garlic, onions, caffeine and alcoholbecause they all make the body sweat more actively. Try to avoid these foods during the hottest summer days!

Option 2: Essential oils

Essential oils are a fairly common substitute for artificial deodorants. They do not prevent sweating, but are able to mask unpleasant body odor caused by sweating. What flavors are best? Lavender, cypress, orange or cocoa — these seem to be the most popular essential oils today.

Option 3: Mineral salts

Mineral salts, such as those found in alum (alunite), are also very effective in preventing body odor. After all, they include natural compounds aluminum has an antibacterial effect. Today, they are sold in numerous beauty salons and cosmetic stores, so you are likely to find them without difficulty. Otherwise, grab a shovel and start digging!

Option 4: Baking soda

Baking soda has many useful uses, including as an alternative to deodorant. Just dilute half a teaspoon in a couple of glasses of waterand your own homemade deodorant is ready. Wipe the underarms with the resulting liquid — this should rid you of harmful bacteria for the whole day.

Option 5: Corn Starch

You have probably used cornstarch more than once in cooking, but never for hygiene. Did we guess? Now you can try cornstarch as a deodorant as well. Just mix it with coconut oil or essential oils — this will not only remove unpleasant odors, but also reduce sweating.

Option 6: Spices

Use spices for bad body odor? Why not? People been doing this for thousands of yearsstarting with the ancient Egyptians. They rub the spices all over their bodies, but you’ll probably only need to rub them under your armpits. What spices are suitable? Simply put, the ones that smell good! But in any case, stay away from hot spices, as they can do you more harm than good.

Option #7: Lemon Juice

Surprised? Well, no one argues — lemon juice is useful not only because it contains many vitamins; it can also serve as a good alternative to regular deodorants. Citric Acid Kills Odor Bacteriaand you start to smell like… Yes, like a lemon! A little warning — if you’ve just shaved your armpits, don’t use lemon juice right away: it burns terribly!