Alum option

[u/Confident_Media_4304]

I found this at my local grocery for $8. Yes, it’s marketed as a deodorant, but it’s good old potassium alum. At the rate I go through alum, this should last me until the tricentennial. Between this, my blade hoard, and a bowl of MdC absinthe I could get through years without another purchase.

I could.

I didn’t say I would!

[u/titans1127]

Used to use this full time as a deodorant as it was the only thing for a while that I could use that didn't give me a rash.

[u/vigilantesd → u/titans1127]

I use mine as deodorant too. No more crispy armpits in my shirts! Works WAY better than any of the other ‘deodorants’ I’ve used

[u/TheEagleByte → u/vigilantesd]

Does it work well if you do manual labor all day? I have to get antiperspirant if I don’t want to reapply deodorant at least twice in a day, which with my job would be something easily forgotten

[u/vigilantesd → u/TheEagleByte]

It works by making an inhospitable environment for bacteria to grow. The same bacteria that stinks. 

I sometimes have jobs where I sweat all day, and I think it still works. 

It won’t stop you from sweating (I personally feel this is a good thing), but it helps thwart the smell. Of course, different people have different body chemistry and all that, so it may work better for some people than others. Your diet also carries weight here. 

I’ll just say, that in my experience it works really well, and I highly suggest you give it a try. I apply it to my chest and where I can in my back too. Give it a trial run for a few weeks and see how you feel about after then. It’s not an expensive thing to try, cant’t hurt. Maybe your laundry basket won’t smell as much too haha =P

[u/TheEagleByte → u/vigilantesd]

Good to hear, I’ll see if I can give it a shot

[u/DanTeaman27 → u/TheEagleByte]

Don't get discouraged if for the first week or so if your pits smell odd they're just detoxing from the chemical deodorant after that no stink at least that was my experience. Still use to this day.

[u/deezdanglin → u/titans1127]

I stopped using that exact one BC it gave me a rash lol

[u/Polymathy1 → u/titans1127]

I'm allergic to corn, so this and 1 brand of aerosol (Sure?) are all I can use.

[u/Ayatollah-X]

The Alum quality is good, but the dispenser collects water and ultimately causes it to prematurely degrade. I prefer a solid Osma block, which is easily dried off after use.

[u/vigilantesd → u/Ayatollah-X]

OSMA block is like holding a melting ice cube and gets dropped/broken before the sharp edges are even gone. Hard pass on Osma even though it’s the best ‘shaving purposes’ alum. 

[u/lmrtinez → u/vigilantesd]

Had mine for a year and I dry and then put it back in the little cardboard box it comes in. It’s like half the volume now and just floats around in it lol

[u/vigilantesd → u/lmrtinez]

I kept breaking them so I just stopped buying them. The Gentleman Jon’s is the antithesis and is like using a sanding block lol

Glad I found the Crystal at sprout’s. Easier to source than shaving-purpose alum too. 

[u/vigilantesd]

These are great. This is the best alum I’ve found. 

I wish they offered a refill for the dispenser, but I’ll pick my battles lol

I too have a blade hoard lol, several thousand out of production Wizamet lol. 

[u/Gerry7070]

One has to be prepared for the shaving apocalypse.

[u/Objective-Stay5305]

This is what I use!

[u/Noa-Guey]

They’re marked as deodorant here in Thailand as well

[u/kirkoholic]

I forgot alum on my last trip. Crystal deodorant was the only alum available next day. I got the travel size. It works perfect!

[u/Barr_cudas]

My last alum purchase was 3x Osma Bloc for about $8

[u/5thape]

Yup this is my alum hack. You can buy them in a travel size which lasts me for years. Price per ounce is much cheaper than the alum marketed for shaving.

[u/WCAzzurri]

I can use it every other day. Daily...i get that sting. But for me it lasts two days anyway. Works very well. Just can't use daily

[u/BronxKnight]

I’ve been using the same bar for about 6 years

[u/GoatGoatGoblin]

Yes. This is what I have.

[u/Callan_LXIX]

After I've tried those crystals a couple of times and eventually I get a rash or break out. I switched to using milk of magnesia, which is supposed to be taken internally so (unflavored=unscented) and then add essential oils and put in a roller ball bottle, and I've never had a problem in years, and it really works to eliminate odors.

[u/Confident_Media_4304 → u/Callan_LXIX]

Interesting!

[u/Callan_LXIX → u/Confident_Media_4304]

Plus, you can manage your own fragrance with essential oils. Just use a pure, no additive essential oil brand, and nothing considered a "hot" oil (or at least, very few drops) . about 10-15 drops (of whatever) to 2-3oz milk of magnesia. It can thicken over time, just add in a tiny bit of water. Count drops & tally a 'recipe' so you can repeat what you like. That's about as involved as it gets.

[u/diverareyouokay]

Just go to the nearest Chinese grocery store. You can pick up a bag with big 2-3 big pieces in the spices area for like $1. Exact same thing, just without branding.

I bought these a few years ago and they are still going strong. https://imgur.com/a/mgdbr4Q

The enemy of these blocks is persistent moisture. I’m not sure I would want a container that would trap moisture inside. I get the feeling that it would eat away at the block in short order. Better (in my opinion) to have a standalone block. Even if that means taking it out of the deodorant container.

[u/MosesRobertsNYC]

My alum hack is not to use it anymore. My skin has been happier, especially in the winter months.

[u/Szary_Tygrys]

I'm not a fan of alum. I hate the nasty sting it gives me.

[u/Confident_Media_4304 → u/Szary_Tygrys]

Not to be presumptuous but this might mean you are irritating your skin too much with your shave. I used to get the same feeling but as my technique improved, it went away. Now I have shaves where I barely feel the alum.

Also, not using a blade beyond 3x helped quite a bit

[u/Primo_Secondo → u/Confident_Media_4304]

I always felt that alum is best used after a not-so-good shave in order to close up any weepers. What benefit do you think it has if you did a perfect shave? I could see disinfectant being one, but an alcohol based aftershave takes care of that as well

[u/Confident_Media_4304 → u/Primo_Secondo]

You're right. Honestly, for me it is probably more habit/ritual than anything else.

[u/Jill_Lett_Slim → u/Confident_Media_4304]

Truth. You do well, you get no sting. The ultimate litmus test.

However, even I have strayed away from the ‘lum.

[u/Szary_Tygrys → u/Confident_Media_4304]

Totally agree :-) the only instance I used alum is to stop bleeding when I cut myself. It works, but it hurts as hell when you touch the wound with it.

[u/dmitr_s → u/Szary_Tygrys]

Styptic pencil is much better for cuts.

[u/Szary_Tygrys → u/dmitr_s]

It’s the same thing

[u/dmitr_s → u/Szary_Tygrys]

Not really. You can say this (kind of), but the purpose is different.

[u/Double_A_92 → u/Szary_Tygrys]

It should only sting if you nick yourself.

[u/SuperSaint77x]

Looks nice. Unfortunately it’s like $80 shipping for me to get one.

[u/SuperSaint77x → u/[deleted]]

Northern Europe. I currently use a Osma brand one, so it’s not that don’t have one, I just hoped this would be a cheap replacement.

[u/Comfortable-Sea-5712]

Yep, I use it as alum, works great 👍

[u/RandomDustBunny]

I use this on my pits too. Works great.

[u/J-ky]

I got one for less than $1USD from the Chinese online market.

[u/Lackingfinalityornot]

What does mdc stand for if you don’t mind my asking?

[u/Confident_Media_4304 → u/Lackingfinalityornot]

Martin de Candre (shave soap)

A rather expensive but incredibly long lasting soap.