For many parents, the first deodorant moment arrives well before high school.
It can start with a school shirt, a sports bag, or the sudden realisation that their child still feels little, but their body is beginning to change.
It was this milestone that inspired the new Black Chicken Remedies Axilla ™ Deodorant Spray range ($21.95 / 50mL from Black Chicken Remedies) for tweens and teens.
The range, which has been over a decade in the making, includes three scented deodorant sprays formulated with natural ingredients, helping parents in that first moment their child may need deodorant.
BD spoke with Black Chicken Remedies founder, Chey Birch all about what parents should think about when introducing deodorants to their young ones, how to approach body odour without shame, and what families should consider when choosing a natural deodorant for growing bodies.
Many parents are surprised when their child starts experiencing body odour at a young age. What causes this, and at what point should parents consider introducing deodorant?
That first whiff can come as quite a surprise! Your child is only eight or nine, and suddenly you're having conversations you thought were years away.
What's interesting is that research shows some aspects of puberty are beginning earlier than in previous generations, particularly in girls. Scientists are still investigating why, with changes in childhood body composition and exposure to certain environmental chemicals among the possible contributing factors.
One area of research is endocrine-disrupting chemicals, found in some plastics, pesticides, and everyday consumer products, which can interfere with hormone signalling. Some studies have linked exposures to earlier development, although the science is still evolving.
Body odour itself is caused by hormonal changes that activate certain sweat glands. When bacteria on the skin break down their secretions, odour develops. This can happen before the obvious signs of puberty.
We can't yet say whether children generally are developing body odour earlier, or exactly why.
My advice? Don't wait for a particular age. If regular washing and clean clothes aren't enough, it's probably time for their first deodorant. And keep the conversation positive - it's a natural part of growing up.
What should parents look for when choosing their child’s first deodorant?
I'd focus on three things: ingredients, effectiveness and whether your child will want to use it!
When something is going onto their skin every day, I think it's worth understanding what's in it. For Axilla™ Deodorant, we've always chosen a natural approach without aluminium or synthetic fragrances.
It's also worth understanding that deodorants control odour, while antiperspirants reduce sweating. Sweating is a natural and important bodily function.
Of course, natural ingredients can still cause sensitivities, so I'd recommend patch testing first.
And let your child choose their favourite scent. If they love using it, they're far more likely to remember it each morning.
The new Black Chicken Remedies Axilla™ Deodorant Spray range has been developed specifically for tweens and teens. What were the key considerations when formulating a deodorant for younger consumers, and how does it differ from a regular deodorant?
We've spent more than 15 years developing Axilla™ Deodorant, so we already knew how important effective, natural odour protection was.
We wanted to bring that same formulation philosophy to the first-deodorant stage, rather than compromise on quality because the customer was younger.
The new range uses our zinc-based approach to odour control, with no aluminium or synthetic fragrances. We chose an easy-to-use, non-aerosol spray - a few quick spritzes, no fingers and no mess.
The real difference is in the experience. We've created three fresh essential-oil scents and bold new packaging designed to appeal to younger people.
We haven't made a lesser version of our adult deodorant. We've made their first Axilla™ Deodorant.
Image: Black Chicken Remedies Axilla ™ Deodorant Spray range
Scent and packaging can play a big role in whether a child actually wants to use a product. How important were these elements in developing the new range?
They were incredibly important, and we actually involved young people in the development process.
One thing became very clear: they didn't want anything that looked like a 'kids' product! They wanted something cool, colourful and individual.
That's why we created bold animal-print packaging and three distinct scents: Wave Fresh is minty and cool, Rainforest is fresh and green, and Orange Crush is juicy and fun.
Parents might make the purchasing decision, but their children need to want to use it.
We've also created a three-pack gift set containing all three scents, so young people can try them and discover their favourite.
I love the idea of making that first-deodorant moment something exciting rather than embarrassing.
You’ve spent more than a decade developing Axilla™ range. What have you learned about changing consumer expectations around natural deodorant, and what advice would you give parents navigating this first step in their child’s personal care routine?
When I created Axilla™ Deodorant more than 15 years ago, people were sceptical that a natural deodorant could actually work.
Today, people are far more conscious of ingredients, but they also expect natural products to perform. And rightly so! A beautiful ingredient list means nothing if the product doesn't work.
My advice to parents is to keep things simple. Explain why body odour happens, encourage good hygiene and let your child choose something they enjoy using.
Above all, don't make them feel embarrassed. Growing up comes with enough challenges without making body odour one of them. Growing up is natural. Their deodorant can be too.
You can learn more about and shop Black Chicken Remedies Axilla ™ Deodorant Spray range ($21.95 / 50mL) here.
Header image credit: Getty Images
