Any Scouter or parent will tell you antiperspirant — deodorant’s tougher cousin — is an essential part of Scouting.
A Scout is courteous, and smelling decent is certainly the courteous thing to do while camping, paddling or backpacking with your fellow Scouters and Scouts.
This week, though, I learned I’ve been using antiperspirant wrong all my life. Apparently you should apply it to your underarms before you go to bed at night, not while getting ready in the morning.
Wait, what?
As this article on the Verge (and countless others) explains, antiperspirant — like concrete — needs time to set before it’s ready.
If you apply it in the morning, you’re not giving it enough time to effectively clog your sweat-producing pores before you begin those sweat-producing activities that are cherished part of Scouting.
My mind is officially blown.
I’ll spare you the details, but I tested the theory, and it seems to work. Give it a try!
Bear beware!
If you’re backpacking or camping in bear country, you can go ahead and ignore this trick.
Antiperspirants and deodorants are major smellables (that’s kind of the point), and they could attract bears.
If you must use them, do so only in the morning. That way the smell has all day to dissipate.
Your stick of antiperspirant, along with your food, garbage, soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellant, film, cameras and First Aid kits should go in the bear bag or bear canister.
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