shavex said:Alum is often confused to be Aluminium Sulphate but basically it is Potash Alum. It is the natural astringent properties which make potash alum heal razor burns. At the same time, alum is highly capable of reducing sweat release from underarms, making it an efficient deodorant.
(Offtopic) Sue have changed your mail address for Bear Haven, its not working!
I thought it did not so much reduce the sweat, but prevent the bacteria that actually creates the odor from growing. A plug from the website of one of these alum deodorants:
http://www.thecrystal.com/product_information.cfm
Body Odor
If you are one of those people who believe that body odor comes from perspiring, you are only partially correct. Body odor is actually a byproduct of the perspiration coming into contact with the bacteria on your skin. Eliminate one or the other and you have eliminated body odor. However, it is not healthy to try to stop your body from perspiring. Your body regulates its temperature through perspiration and eliminates a small fraction of toxins that you come in contact with on a daily basis. Eliminating the bacteria from this equation is obviously the healthier choice.
J