I’ve been here for 8 years. I’m still shocked at the price of roll-on deodorant. Why? Why is it so expensive? ¥630??

12 comments

1. It’s just as expensive in the states now, usually between $6-8$.

2. Just buy an Alum stone. Will last you a lifetime and you won’t smell weird synthetic fragrances.

3. Try 900 yen for soft stone that I used to buy half that. I had to settle for cheaper anything that looks similar. Women areas can have cheaper and good ones. I’m considering switching,

4. Basically.

   The vast majority of Japanese people don’t have the gene (ABCC11 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/science/japanese-scientists-identify-ear-wax-gene.html) that produces body odour, so there’s relatively little market for it, which in turn = high pricing

   Even as late as 2010 it was basically impossible to find here. I used to have to buy the six-packs at Costco on visits back home to bring back with me

   (Coincidentally, applying a small amount of baking soda is an awesome (and cheap) alternative)

5. I order packages maybe twice a year, about 6000 yen total?

6. Burgerthrow1 grout to the reason why.

   Even though you didn’t ask, iherb is a very good site to get products and they ship quickly.

7. I order from iherb or Lookfantastic because the ones from Japan are expensive AND don’t work for me 😭

8. I’ve been getting Arm & Hammer deodorant on iHerb for years, but I can’t find the non-antiperspirant version anymore, and most of the other reliable deodorants on the site have rocketed in price. I’m not gonna pay ¥1800 for some Old Spice, man 🙁

9. After 8 years you shouldn’t be shocked about the price of anything in Japan.

10. That’s not really any more expensive than in the US, honestly

11. 630yen seems mighty cheap. It’s 8 bucks a stick on Amazon.com for the deodorant I buy, and that is before adding shipping. That’s 1140en, plus shipping.

12. Maybe, but look at how much cheaper things like toilet paper or tissues are.