Some people say that western stuff ain’t on the market there but some others say they are 100% available since at least the 60s, etc etc.
Aluminium salts at least aren’t banned here it seems.
Also what’s up with rush hour trains smelling like some zoo. Is it the number of people on it.
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There’s antiperspirant deodorant in Japan. I’ve heard it’s less strong, but I’ve never noticed much difference. Personally, I use Kao [8×4 Men](https://www.kao.com/jp/products/8x4men/).
What is less common is stick, rather than roll-on, deodorant but it too can be found.
The only times the trains ever really smell are summer mornings/evenings and when it rains. If it always smells, the probably may not be the other people…
It was harder to find when I got here, but in the last few years I’ve been able to find several types at drugstores. You just won’t find western brands in stores here.
[Here you go](https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=Old+Spice&ref=bl_dp_s_web_0).
For the trains, some people get a bit ripe in the evening for various reasons but mornings were typically fine for me in Tokyo.
I forgot the brand but there is 1 which does not stain my clothes yellow at the armpit. It is Japanese brand though.
I have. it made my armpit itch – it was so bad that I often woke up with bleeding armpits because I was scratching them in my sleep. tried multiple brands (two types of each Nivea and Axe that I can actually remember) but it was always the same, and I still have no clue what I’m allergic to. this was never a problem with my European deodorant sticks.
I eventually gave up on deodorants here. I sweat a lot but luckily I don’t smell like a barrel of salted salmon – the diet as opposed to what I used to eat in Europe makes a world of difference, and so do cotton based clothes. (plus, I’m sweating heavily all over, including my arms, legs, and my whole back, so deodorant wasn’t a full solution anyway.)
sorry if this didn’t help your search, but be careful of allergic reactions >_<
Train smell, might also be the clothes/fabric
I always used to wear cologne before I lived in Japan. Living here has changed me.
I always bring back unscented antiperspirant when I go home now. Unscented because using public transport in Europe I realise how much people slather it on back home. Busses, trains, confined spaces reek of aftershaves and perfumes. After being away from it, I seem to have developed an allergy or something, I find it overwhelming. You walk past people in the street and can identify what they’re wearing 100m down the road.
I realised when I first came to Japan I must have been gassing people on my morning commute with my Dior aftershave. People in the staffroom in the morning must have thought I was mental.
You’ve smelled the local rush hour train and have to ask?
No, noone has ever in the history of Japan purchased deodorant here.
Mate, you go to Family Mart and buy Axe body spray.
It’s that simple, it’s not the quest for the Holy Grail yet it seems that someone is always asking about body spray without checking the many convenience stores that exist on like every street.
I buy [Deonatulle Crystal Stone](https://deonatulle.com/en/) from the local drug store. It’s the only deodorant I can use on a daily basis that doesn’t irritate my skin.
You can buy Japanese brand deodorant here, but they are like 1000 yen which seems expensive to me. I bought a 5 pack of antiperspirant on Amazon JP, but it was sent from the USA. It took like two weeks for it to arrive, but it was cheaper than buying it locally.
You can find the international stuff at other international stores.
But so far, I have found a couple of brands that have worked quite well for me. And since my skin is sensitive, they have worked quite well without destroying my skin.
Deonature has been my go-to for now, but I will definitely look into more.
And I have heard, do not know if it is true, that a good portion of Japanese people normally take a shower at night after they get home.
So when they are going to work, they usually should either be unwashed or just clothed down.
Now if you put a bunch of people together, then it creates a harmony of smells unlike any other.
And it just takes 1-2 people to smell to ruin someone’s day.
Also did hear that deodorant is not the most popular here.
I’ve always felt that it’s because a lot of Japanese shower in the evenings rather than the morning. They may or may not have the gene that causes Western-style BO, but they still have that stale sleep smell. Of course some people just fucking stink.
Personally I like 8×4 Men Smart Citrus. It’s got a very mild and non-offensive citrus-y smell and lasts all day.
I get the Rexena sticks. They are harder to find and come in unscented, floral or baby powder scents. It’s the only stick deodorant I’ve found here that doesn’t leave a sticky film, crumble after barely any use or cause skin irritation. Seems to work pretty well for me.
I’ve tried every brand of Japanese deodorant I could find and it’s never worked. So I just order 5 packs of degree from amazon. A 5 pack is about 640 yen each. Which compared to Japanese deodorant isn’t much different.
there is a wide selection of deodorant in wipe, spray, stick, roll on, powder, etc. antiperspirant – there is little selection