Should Wearing Deodorant Be Part Of The Social Contract?
HuffPost
It’s an incredibly subjective topic, but there’s also a medical explanation behind it.
As the temperatures climb, we wear less. We show up in public in near-nakedness, at the beach, the park, and at parties. It’s also common to update our fragrance wardrobes, swapping the heavy, dark aromatics of winter in favor of lighter, airier floral and ocean-inspired notes.
But it’s also that time of year where if you get into a crowded subway, attend a raucous concert or an intimate gathering at an art gallery, you’re more likely to smell and be smelled by others — strangers and friends alike. So, we couldn’t help but wonder: Is wearing deodorant part of a social contract?
When we wear less clothing, should we be more diligent about wearing deodorant?
There are hundreds of deodorants on the market in 2025, ranging from aerosols, roll-ons, whole-body creams, wipes and powders to natural and aluminum-free options. There’s deodorant for men, women, teens and non-binary formulas. Deodorant is a $27 billion per year industry, and it’s a market that has seen growth over the years, with the emergence of new niches, product innovations, and bespoke formulas. In short, no one wants to smell foul.
But it’s not that simple.
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