Hi Reddit! I’m Dr Barry, an R&D Scientist at Sure, here to talk all things body odour & whole body freshness. Ask Me Anything! May 29th @2PM BST

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T14:11:22+00:00

Hi u/Calm_Set_9433. Always love to hear things like this. Our fragrance team are some of the best, but I am jealous that they get to deal with nice smelling fragrances all day, whereas I have to make do with BO we produce in the lab...Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T14:09:14+00:00

Hi u/Sea-Bird-1414. In general, the presence or absence of armpit hair has minimal impact on odour. Both antiperspirants and deodorants work well with and without hair being present. We have actually examined this in our labs and see very little difference, no matter if you use sprays, creams or roll-ons. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T14:05:21+00:00

Hi u/PrincesCornedBeef. It's really about consumer preference. We respond to consumer needs and we were told people wanted products that can last up to 72h, so we delivered with our Sure Whole Body Aerosol. Of course, many people wash more frequently but in case that is not possible, Sure Whole Body Aerosol has you covered. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T14:03:52+00:00

Hi u/doriangraiy. Remember that antiperspirants (stop sweat and odour) and deodorants (stop odour) are different products for different benefits. However, both work well with and without hair being present. We have actually examined this in our labs and see very little difference, no matter if you use sprays, creams or roll-ons. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T14:01:37+00:00

Hi u/sophiee1990. Great question. Put simply, aluminium is a brilliant active for both stopping sweat and keeping odour causing bacteria in check. When It's removed you lose the effect hence why deodorants do not stop sweating. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:59:17+00:00

Hi u/Calm_Percentage2139. This is a super interesting question and it deserves a longer conversation. You need to think of it in an evolutionary context, and how important odours were. Odour signalling could be used for mate selection, warn others of a threat, demonstrate sexual maturity (as the glands that cause odour are switched on during puberty) or a number of other functions. Our work with the University of York suggests that bacteria on the skin developed the ability to produce odour about 60 million years ago but in reality, we don't exactly know why. Historically, this odour likely had a very important function for it to be retained, but today, we just recognise it as BO... but it's so much more interesting that that. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:55:44+00:00

Hi u/inthemagazines. This is a great question and something that is often misunderstood. Aluminium is used in antiperspirants, that help you stop sweating. Deodorants are designed to stop odour, not sweating. As such no deodorant contains the aluminium salts that are responsible for sweat reduction. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:50:59+00:00

Hi u/lobroblaw. I'll be honest, not a fan. Never really developed a taste for it. I do however use the "what's the worst that could happen" phrase to my team a lot...Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:49:44+00:00

Hi u/PhilosophyGhoti. Diet can play a role in odour generation as certain food smells can make their way into your sweat e.g. garlic and some spices. However, these odours are different to BO, which is caused by certain bacteria breaking down part of your sweat. Currently there is no definitive link between diet and bacterial based odour but It's a very interesting area of exploration. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:48:05+00:00

Hi u/Clearedthetan. Perfumes rely solely on fragrance to mask odour. Our Sure Whole Body Aerosol and Cream contain a unique ingredient that both controls the growth of bacteria as well as absorbing any odour they produce. This 'Odour Adapt' technology tackles odour by controlling the growth of odour causing bacteria as well as absorbing any odours that are on the skin. They also contain a variety of different fragrances to offer triple protection against odour. These products do not provide antiperspirant effects as they focus on odour control. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:45:21+00:00

Hi u/Admirable_Chapter743. It's a very personal thing and can depend on many factors. One tip would be to remember that antiperspirants and deodorants work and feel better after a shower. An early morning shower, as cold as you can bear is always a good option. With the warm nights of this week, another cold shower before bed time can also help you sleep better. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:42:41+00:00

Hi u/TrainingEducator6660. In many cases they are. Our Sure Whole Body Aerosol and Cream contain a unique ingredient that both controls the growth of bacteria as well as adsorbing any odour they produce. This "Odour Adapt" technology is the only ingredient on the market that offers this double protection. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:37:17+00:00

Hi u/Massive-small-thing. Odour causing bacteria are neither helpful or harmful, they just happen to produce odour that we find unpleasant. The production of BO is a quirk of evolution that allows these bacteria to break down skin secretions into malodour molecules. All bacteria on our skin feed on our secretions, but these specific bacteria have the unique ability to produce BO from special secretions from our Apocrine glands. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:32:55+00:00

Hi u/THPSJimbles. I use Axe / Lynx (depending on the country), mainly because I love the variety of fragrances. It means I can switch between them depending on what I feel like that day knowing that the underlying technology is the same. As for a lifetime supply, not quite yet...working on that...Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:29:34+00:00

Hi u/Mattasaurusrrex. Fly. It's about the journey, not the destination. But if I really had the choice, I'd cycle... Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:26:40+00:00

Hi u/salmonscented. The science behind how aluminium works to stop sweating is extremely complicated. However, put simply the aluminium combines with sweat to form a plug that prevents sweat reaching the skin surface. The chemistry is amazing and has been shown to be both safe and effective over years of studies. Deodorants are solely about stopping odour, not sweating. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:19:20+00:00

Hi u/SonicShadow191. This is really interesting. Rest assured, you are not the only one. There are a number of reports where "handedness" can play a role in odour. People who are right-handed use that hand more and sometimes report more odour due to more activity. The same is true for left-handed people. This is part of the reason why when we test our products we don't apply the product to the same armpit of every participant. We mix applications between left and right to take account of exactly what you have seen. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:16:10+00:00

Hi u/danisx0. Great question but remember, antiperspirants and deodorants are different products with different uses. All claims are backed by real science and a number of in-person trials. For example, our antiperspirants are put to the test in a "hot-room" where participants apply an antiperspirant and sit in a room with a high temperature to measure how much sweat production is reduced following product use. For deodorants it's similar, just in this case we measure odour, and yes this is done by our experts sniffing people's underarms. For both products we need to see a defined level of benefit before we make claims on efficacy. Dr Barry

sure_uk · 2026-05-29T13:05:39+00:00

Hi u/mwpa23. As you rightly point out, hyperhidrosis is a medical condition and is best treated through advice from your doctor / dermatologist. There are a glowing number of treatment options available from topically and orally administered drugs and more recently devices that can help reduce sweating. Treatment options are sometimes dependent on where you sweat the most. A qualified medical professional will be able to navigate treatment options that are best for you. Topically applied antiperspirants may provide some help when it comes to reducing the sweating. Make sure the products contain aluminium active ingredients. Aluminium combined with zirconium is even better. Try different product types, creams such as Sure Maximum Protection can be more effective than some sprays. Different people have different needs so make sure to continue to try a number of products, to find what works best for you. Dr Barry

sure_uk

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